Ashdown ABM-MINI 48 Cabinet

The price I paid was for 2 of these cabs, on ebay. Each one has 4x8" blue drivers, 600w, ported (at the back), lightweight (about 25kg each, I think), very portable. I use this at gigs and at rehearsals. I have 2 of these - 1 is usually plenty but if extra power is needed (e.g. medium size venue with no PA) then I will take both for extra coverage and punch. Excellent, I love these babies. I use them with my old Trace Elliot AH300 SMC amp, and this combination works extremely well. It's almost as if these cabs and amp head were made for each other (... and if you know your bass amp history, you would know that they probably actually were...)

Some info for comparative purposes:

Bass: Passive Fender Jazz (tuned BEAD)
Head: TE AH300 SMC 300w head
Effects: Aphex Punch Factory, Aphex Bass Exciter, Boss Phaser, Boss Flanger, EH Tube Zipper, Dunlop 105q wah
Music style: Punk rock / ska / reggae

The cabs gives a very punchy and clear sound at high volumes. EQ settings are however, extremely important. If you have the bass EQ on max then you will get distortion, however if you know how to set EQ properly (like I do) then you can get an incredibly full, punchy, round, phat bass sound, without compromising volume. One of the other reasons I chose these cabs is the clarity of sound - when I use my effects I can HEAR them, they don't have the top end and life sucked out of them as I have found happens when using larger cabinets (especially 15's).

The cabs also handle my low "B" absolutely no problem, and that's in a 3 piece punk rock setting at pretty loud volumes.

Don't get me wrong though, if I was playing only huge venues all the time then I would probably be using 10s and 15s, but for the small-medium gigs I play, these cabs are absolutely perfect for me and my band. Having said that, I seriously reckon both my 48s together could give a larger rig (i.e. a 2x15 or a 1x15 + 4x10) a run for it's money (I have played all types but have not A/B'd different configurations). Oh, I also have a mesa 1x15, and this works incredibly well with a mini48, but I prefer using the 2 48s together as they look better together and i reckon they give a better sound anyway

These were stashed away in a garden shed for months and knowcked about but they still work like they are new.

Excellent - for the size of gigs I am playing and the style I play these are perfect for me. Bear in mind though that my other gear may influence how good these things sound - especially my compressor and bass exciter which are always on whenever i am plugged in. Having said that though, I have been playing bass for 15 years and have played through all types of cabs, and these are my favourite, but each to their own I guess!

2004 Model, 4- 8" blue speakers, Ported cabinet. Uber small. But, very bulletfroof. 600w power handling. Two 1/4" inputs (I would have preferred Speakons, but oh well).

I'm currently playing with a classic/southern rock trio and an original/modern rock band, and with the work load increasing, I was getting sick of bringing in a SWR Goliath Sr. (6x10) to every club. So on a whim I ordered it, and as pleasantly suprised. When placed on the ground, it has plenty of bass response and is punchy and has the highs when needed. I'm running a Zon Sonus 4, '71 Fender Jazz, and Dean Edge 6 through a Bass Pod XT and a SWR Mo'Bass (400w/side) and gigged 4 times with it already and it cuts though fine.

Well, I pounded some serious power through it and it took it well, I did however order the matching Mini 15, just for those outdoor gigs and larger clubs. I really would use this without a backup.

Never have, hope not to either.

I'd recommend it to anybosy else who wants a small, powerful rig that won't break the bank!!

2004 model ultra-compact Speaker Cabinet, 600W RMS through 4-off 8" Ashdown Blueline (Sica?) speakers in 8 ohm configuration, single 1/4" jack input and Neutrik Speakon connector. Dual rear-firing tuned ports.

About as wide and high as a 19" rack unit, 13" deep and incredibly heavy for its size - 25kg/55lbs, very substantial and industrial looking inlaid side handles, tough buffalo hide PVC covering, steel corner protectors and built like a sodding tank.

Bought to use as a compact cabinet with an Acoustic Image Clarus amp for rehearsals, to save lugging around my gigging rig.

I rewired it to 2ohms to use with the Clarus so it could develop its full 300W output - would have been nice if Ashdown could have done this to order (more on that later), and my preference is for Speakons. Apart from that, what more can you ask for from a speaker cab?

I play alt.rock, funk, emo, occasionally use heavy synth and distortion effects, and use MusicMan basses. At low levels this cab has an amazingly flat frequency response, so much so it's quite disconcerting especially with an ultra-transparent amp like the Clarus.

This cab doesn't handle heavy bass response too well - the speakers fart out easily and I ended up running at a reasonable level with the bass rolled off on the Stingray, Clarus totally flat and a faior degree of compression. It also sounded godawful with any synth or distortion effects, just a mid-rangey wall of noise.

Rewired it back to 8ohms thinking that may be the problem, but no... still the same degree of farty bass and midrange dominance at a reasonable volume.

Same thing with my Hartke HA3500 head - it failed to have any punch, clout or delivery at all. In desperation, I borrowed a friend's Ashdown EVO500... nope, still sounded flat and weak. I can't see how this can be rated at 600W, 1200peak, when it starts to fart out uncontrollably at 120Watts input with a virtually flat input!

Oh, and five string? No way Jose... fart fart farty fart fart brumph!

I have to say I was EXTREMELY disappointed with this cab, until I picked up a very reasonably priced Ashdown MAG250 combo as a cheap lightweight rehearsal unit, and tried it as an extension cab with the combo...

... absolutely stunning. The two seem perfectly partnered to each other, huge bass response and a thick balanced mid which seems really articulate. The Mini48 also does a good tweeter impression without adding hiss and fizz. By sheer chance, I'm stumbled on an incredible compact bass mini-stack (which matches dimensionally) but my rating's based on the Mini48 in isolation.

Can't see this going wrong unless I pump too much low end through it... certainly built to last and is heavy enough to fool you into putting out your spine when trying to lift it!

When this combo was on order, I was quoted 3-4 week delivery time while it was manufactured as I couldn't find one ex-stock. The outlet gave me Ashdown's details to see if I could get them to wire it to 2 ohms for me while it was being built.

Not difficult is it? I mean, they just have to wire the 8ohm speakers in parallel, not series? But no, I was told over the phone and in email that "We don't do custom orders anymore".

Hmmm... maybe I should have said I was Mark King and could they ship a new signature rig to my house for a jam session???

Still, it has a 5-year warranty, if I haven't invalidated it by rewiring and wiring back... 20-odd years of electronics experience should mean I know what I'm doing though.

Been playing bass for 4 years, guitar for many more before that - total gearhead with a Hartke stack, Acoustic Image Clarus, Ashdown MAG250, a few Stingrays (Five and Four string), plenty of outboard effects.

I love the way this thing is compact and portable, love the way it partners the MAG250, but am incredibly disappointed by how it sounds on its own without some serious bass reinforcement.

Maybe it's personal taste, but I'm not the sort of player who likes a neutral sound - I'm a bassist, I play in a band, I need to provide the balls, and this can't cut it, even with the matching Mini15 cabinet.

This was bought on personal recommendation and word of mouth, should have used my ears first - a lot of Ashdown stuff is brilliant, brilliant gear, and this would maybe appeal to someone who likes a neutral balanced sound for low-volume jazz gigs.

If it were stolen, I don't think I'd bother with another (they're pricey for what they are, retailing at #525UK), but it does partner the MAG250 very well - wouldn't use it in isolation though or feel comfortable putting more than 120-odd watts through it without doing a good kazoo impression...

This cab has a 600 watt capacity (1200 watts) peak and it's only 4 x 8 speakers. I got this to replace my old Trace Elliott 7410 Combo, because it was smaller, more powerful and I don't need major back surgery after moving it around!!. Don't get me wrong, this little beauty is heavier than it looks but it beats the Trace Elliot hands down for sound and portability.

I use it with a Hartke 350 watt head and this thing kicks everyones arse !!. I play anything from Rock to Jazz, Ska to Ballads and it's never let me down. I play a Fender 75 Jazz and a Status Energy through the cab and the sound and punch is frightening !!

This little beauty has not let me down in the past 2 years and I suspect that its quality build will mean that it will be part of my rig for a long time to come.

The Ashdown Customer Support has been beyond my wildest dreams. EVERY music shop in the world should send its snotty, shuffling, know-nothings to Ashdown for training in how to HELP a customer. Everything I asked, they delivered on and also did it quickly and it seems that nothing is too much trouble.

Unless you're one of those bassists that has to have a huge stack of amps behind him, get yourself one of these beauties and watch everyone marvel at how you can get that volume and clarity from a smaller amp that the lead guitarist is using !!. I tried loads before I bought this and nothing came close. I've said it once and I'll say it again, GET ONE TODAY !!