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Ashdown MAG 300H Head
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Ashdown MAG 300H Head

Bass Guitar Amp Head from Ashdown belonging to the MAG series

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tontonseb tontonseb
Published on 05/01/07 at 06:06
Value For Money : Excellent
Technically, everything has already been said, is a bass amplifier transistor (MOSFET) of 307W under 4ohms. It delivers about 180W on a single baffle 8ohms. The machine is broken but the fan is fairly quiet.

The connection of the 300 Mag is very comprehensive: passive entry and passive input, effects loop (jacks) and line-out to play on a table and mix (XLR) on the front. Behind two outputs HP jack. It is not just regret the lack of XLR or Speakon outputs (jacks verouillent but good).

Simple adjustments: an equalizer with five knobs, a gain control input display with backlit VU meter very pretty and vintage (and handy if you play an active low), according to a deep (bass boost), brihgt (capacity midrange and treble) and a function sub (small octave).

nb: the version I just bought, Mag 300H, seems to be more recent than that of the photo. This is the version dressed Mag 300R, installed in a 2U rack carpet, except it is narrower and does not have side vents. So a little lightheaded, but with its huge.

I put 9 / 10 because no amp is perfect.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple and I got rapidemment the sound I want. The English manual is succinct hyper (common electric-blue series, Mag and ABM), but it will be going very well.

SOUNDS

I play punk HxC-Oi!, But I&#39;m open I also play reggae, ska, dub or garage. I love vintage sounds, old sounds and especially tube amps. Like a big Mesa Boogie, a Marshall VBA, a Fender Bassman Pro or an Ampeg SVT were completely off-budget I turned to the brands more affordable and tried several bestiauds:

. Hartke HA 3500: in spite of the lamp preamp, too cold for my taste, and snapping. Not more powerful.
. Behringer BX4500-H: in spite of the less powerful 450W announced Hartke sound for the worse (lack of warmth and roundness). Just cheaper than Ashdown.
. Peavey Max 450: a versatile but its too neutral for my taste
. Galen Kruegger Backline 600: big sound, not bad at all, too much midrange for my taste, distortion-free interest
. Ampeg B-1 RE: unworthy to Ampeg and expensive for what it sounds.

The revelation was the Ashdown Mag 300 from home, tried to head and combo version in many stores. And I fell for the head coupled with the 4x10 cabinet.

I play it with a Squier Precision and an Ibanez SR customized, all four strings the two. No effect for now.

To play punk rock with a pick that sent his grave with a round, inflated in the media and "pushed" without being saturated (or nearly fully gain, sub function activated). It&#39;s almost like a rumbling Ampeg SVT (there is still a significant difference but the price difference is huge). In short its a little greasy as heard on albums by Motorhead. By pushing a little more treble and midrange that sounds NOFX. And the power of a 4x10 is enough since I am barely over half of the knob while playing with two well-equipped scratch (4x12) and a drummer who bangs like a deaf man.

The surprise is that giving up the pick to play the fingers of reggae, soul and funky stuff you get an amazing sound (I&#39;m totally lacking in objectivity) as Motown. The function that fills the deep bass is a feast for Dubber.

In fact I&#39;m addicted to the Ashdown. It&#39;s modern with a vintage sound that mimics many lamps. For better (Ampeg SVT series Mpulse Mesa home, in Ashdown ABM) you have to spend much more money!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week (bassist of happiness). I can not find much to complain about.

The price / quality ratio is excellent. Ashdown made a big offensive this momment on prices. It&#39;s true that everything is assembled in China, but it seems much stronger than the Berhinger (which has yet pumped the look Ashdown, but not the sounds, with its BX 4500 H).

Head + 4x10 cabinet shown at 555 euros at Thomann. 595 purchased at music store near my home: 40 euros more expensive are not paid for a test and a local service (without crazy shipping costs) if something goes wrong.

PS: the glitch happened almost two years under the warranty!

I play it with even more happiness for a few months with an Epiphone Thunderbird Pro (active): the ultimate rock sound (in my modest means, in case of big lottery will be Orange, Hiwatt and Ampeg ... but good).

And an evening of repeats, bam! Addition to its output. The preamp section is still working (the DI output), but nothing as output. And it&#39;s not a fuse problem, or pregnant, or trivial connection ... Mystery and return for service. We&#39;ll see.

In the meantime I lower my rating to 6 / 10 for the limited robustness of the machine.

Ashdown seriously! Amp recovered after less than a month. Just a weld that had sold in the amplification. Here we go again.