Ashdown ABM-900

Amp was made in 99' Very versatile for all kinds of styles. Amp is a solid state amp with a tube preamp stage for getting a bit of "grind" on the signal. More than enough power

Sounds very good...when it works...(see below)

Ok..here is the problem with this amp and I assume other Ashdowns in the ABM line. I have had this amp for about 10 years and have used it exclusively for home studio/jam type applications. During its life, I fired it up maybe at best 1 time every 2 months or so. (we are talking extremely lite use here) About 2 years ago, the cool looking input meter pooped out...no light,,no movement..completely dead, however the amp continued to worked fine. Then about 4 months ago I fired it up to noodle around on the bass in my bedroom and began to smell something burning. Volume dropped about 90% and I could see a little smoke coming up from the right side of the chassis. I popped the hood on the amp and there was clearly a burn mark on the transformer. Now granted..I have had this amp for a long time..but if you add up all the "on" time that I have actually played through the thing, it would be about the same as maybe a years worth of use for a professional musician. Basically..if this amp had an hour meter, the numbers would be very low. In doing some research around the net, I have come to realize that 1.)the input meter fail rate on these things is off the hook. Just about every review I have read on this and other ashdowns with the 'Cool' input meter have had it fart out. 2.)There are also many cases of the transformer failing, leaving you dead in the water at a gig. I have personally talked to owners of these amps that love this amp and the great sounds it gets, yet would not dare gig with it because of the fear of failure. It makes one particularly frustrated because you have a sound that you love but at the same time your scared to use the product. Please beware that these amps are quickly becoming notorious for breaking down. and if you thought that was bad...wait until you hear about the lousey customer support below

OK, so I have a blown transformer and dead input meter and need it fixed.I go to the Ashdown website and send them an email about my problem. After bouncing me back and forth for a couple weeks, Ashdown finally put me in touch with a Derek Lawrence who was going to work on getting a new transformer shipped. 3 months and countless emails later, I still have no transformer, Derek has stopped answering my emails as well as anyone else at ashdown. What is very strange is that I am willing to pay the nearly 400$ for a replacement transformer and I still cant get any help here. The handling of this has been so bad, that as I come up on the 4 month mark with no transformer, I am going to just chaulk this up as a loss and a learning experience and wash my hands clean of the whole Ashdown experience. I feel very sorry for the musician who would be using this amp and relying on Ashdowns customer service to put the food on the table. Absoutely terrible

There is about 3 more weeks before I reach my 4 month breaking point, so I will try to update what happens here. This has been a very rough experience to say the least. Very sad that company's still put people on the backburner like this. I am moving on.
L.P.

Year 2001 model. Non-EVO. Classic/vintage look - powder blue with input meter (cool).

Versatile amp. I play jazz, gospel, rock, and funk. The AShdown does it all well. Push flat eq and play back on the bridge to find the Fender J bass growl and punch. Defeatible EQ is nice.

Dual channel. 575Wx2. Effects loop in back. No headphone jack. Tuner/Line out okay.

Newer models have a mute button. EVO supposed to be a bit quieter. DI works well.

MONSTER power. Hang up to four cabs directly from the back -- can daisy-chain others. This is a monster amp -- never need that much power with the DI, but the headroom is nice.

Hybrid amp: tube pre-amp and ss power amp. Semi-Parameteric eq with rotary controls AND linear graphic sliders. Nice.

Subharmonizer control, input grind, good effects loop, etc. Overall, an awesome piece of engineering.

This amp has its own niche: not Hi-Fi, not entirely vintage. Can do rock and ballsy stuff as well as sweet, warm tones. Can modify the input gain to dirty / clean the signal.

Been regularly playing with it for years now -- and no problems except for the Input Meter failing me recently.... Currently having a tech take closer look at the amp to ensure its integrity. May post follow up if I find that repair is expensive (hoping this is a minor maintenance issue).

I've emailed Mark Gooday and he's been very pleasant to work with -- answers my emails without a hassle. The Ashdown web site has a forum for users and can be a good resource to answer questions. Only downside: they're in the UK so repair/service in the states may be a problem 00 though I am happy to report I've not needed any yet (except: see above).

Been playing for years. Gigged with Edens, SWR, Fender, Ampeg (newer), among others. I love this head (though I probably could have gotten by with the 500 watt model - ABM500). Study -- built like a tank. Has cool enclosure. Weighs about 40 lbs. Considering going to an SVT classic, but unsure at this point. Overall -- this amp is one of the BEST bass amps I've ever played... You won't be disppointed with the Ashdown tone. Subharmonics cool, though limited usage.