Ashdown MAG-200 Head

ONCE AGAIN THE BRITISH GUY IS BACK.

WE ALL know the features by now

THIS TOO

When running above half output volume into 4ohms the output stage got really hot !!! Couple of times during gigs it dropped in volume and started clipping quite badly.

Because of this problem i e-mailed Mark Gooday at Ashdown. We arranged a date when i could go up to the factory and have the amp checked out. It took about 1/2 an hour and the problem is sorted. The E-mails were rapid in response and the guys at Ashdown were kind and very helpful. Thanks Mark and The Guys

This is a single channels amp with a descent parametric EQ, a subtle sub-bass effect, bass and treble boost switches and an EQ bypass for super high impedance pickups.

I use a '71 Guild Starfire II and a flat-back upright with an Underwood pickup. For electric I can get tone similar to an Ampeg B15 if I turn on the bass boost. The upright bass tone is excellent and doesn't require a preamp.

I've had two of these things blow up on me in two years. Ashdown replaced the first one because their service center didn't touch it for three months. The second one just died on 2/14. My suspicion is that the amp doesn't dissipate heat efficiently, because both times it was the output stage that blew.

The guy I talked to at HHB (Ashdown's American distributor) is very nice, but the jury is still out. This new service center may be an improvement, but that doesn't guarantee that the amp will be any more reliable. BTW, they told me I have a two week wait before they can even look at it.

In 32 years of playing I have only blown out one other bass amp, and that was a Sound City back in '76. This one sounds pretty good, and gets a great tone for upright in particular. It also gets a real punchy tone for electric. The light weight and compact size are a real advantage for a beleaguered aging bass player like myself. However, lack of reliability overshadows a lot of these positive attributes. When this episode is over it's back to GK.

See My Previous Review (British Guy)

The Sub-Harmonics sounds FANTASTIC thru a large PA system

WOW, I have played 5 gigs in the month i have had this amp. Other people have used it when their stuff has broken down. It HAS been driven quite hard though. It STILL sounds as crisp and new as it did even after a 2 hour set, with it getting pretty hot.

Still Not Dealt With Them in a repair sense, but went to their factory to have a look around. Nice Guys, and they are passionate about what they do.

After the initial WOW factor after buying it, the feeling still is that it is a FANTASTIC amp.

Being a new manufacturer on the bass scene Ashdown only really started in 1999 or so. I got this puppy new and have had it for a year!
This bass head is particularly good for jazzers as it's got a real smooth tone. But that's not to say it can't be rarked up for the heavy stuff coz it can. I predominantly play funk (ala Jamiroquai) and ska but can do frilly jazz stuff - this head is fine for those styles.
Capable of 200 watts [solid-state] thru 4 ohms this is ideal for most places unless you're playing at some random stadium. Other features include:
* High/Low inputs for passive/active basses respectively
* A (post EQ) DI
* A digital octaver
* A funky retro UV meter (good move Ashdown)
I pretty much use everything on this amp with my only (minor) gripe being that it should probably have built in compression or limiter or something. Conversly, you can debate whether compression in a live situation is necessary anyway.

I mostly use this amp (with my other gear) as a decent foldback coz if you're going thru a meaty system, then that's all you need. On the occasions when I've used this as a stand-alone (i.e no PA system, just raw bass) I've had no problemos.
For these situations the power is just fine.

Sending this thru my 4 10s MAG cabinet you can get a lurvely palette of sounds. My Ibanez ATK 5-stringer sounds pretty pashable but I'm sure other axes would sound better thru the same given set-up.

For playing ska, I'm usually 'competing' against our drummer, 2 guitarists, 3 singers and 2 horns... so I really need something to cut thru. Look no further than this amp head! With ska I normally have bass and treble right up (3/4s of the way around) and have the mid frequencies down (less than 1/2). On the button presets I have EQ, bright and deep all engaged. This gives a phat reggae-ish sound that gives a good vibe.
Quite a head turner - excuse the pun!

When I first got it, the VU meter/needle thing didn't work and seeing as I got it new - I got it fixed under warranty (YAY). One thing that would destroy the reliabilty is overloading the amp so make sure your ohmage is right if you are using 2 cabinets.

With the aforementioned needle it took about a month to send away and get repaired. My local branch of the NZ Rockshop took care of that and that was real sweet.
In saying so, I'm a bit concerned tho coz the Rockshop isn't importing Ashdown stuff anymore.

Warranties come for 12 months but if you do silly stuff like overload the amp, you may not be covered.

I've been playing hardcore for about 7 years, one of which was at jazz school. I've got 2 Ashdown cabs (a MAG with 4 10s + horn and an ABM sub with a 15 and 10 inch + horn) and a Trace Elliot AH300 series 6 bass head with I run altogether in one big-mumma stack I call the sky-tower - it's soooo cewl.

Should this get nicked then I'd hunt down the theif and get mai dog onto them... [get em boy]

My amp was manufactured in 2000 but was purchaced in 2001.

It's a very simple design with a lot of sound versatility. I play jazz, rock, blues and worship music mostly and this amp gives me enough in the way of controls to get the sound I need but is simple enough not to cause me grief.

I play mostly smaller venues so the 200 watts is plenty of volume for me. I've never had to use it above 1/3 output volume.

I really like the ability to control my input with the input volume knob and the analog VU meter (10 on the very cool scale).

The controls are very easy to use. I really like the low and high boost. It's a quick way to move your tone to where you want it. I also like the octivator. It really fills out my tone in songs that require that big beefy bass tone.

I play with a Tobias Pro 5 (yes the Korean built basses from Music Yo). With the ability to tweek my tone both with the amp and the active circuitry in the bass, I can go almost anywhere on the tone scale. I'm playing through a 2x10 cab with aluminum cone speakers but this amp still gives me a warm, smooth tone. Unlike my old combo amp, this unit cuts right through and provides me with the sound I'm looking for and I'm not getting lost in the mix.

I use this amp exclusively without a backup. It doesn't have a cooling fan (as is normal) but the unit still stays very cool, even after running for several hours. It's still fairly new so I don't expect to have any problems with it for quite some time.

I've never dealt with the company, so I can't make any comments on that. My biggest concern is if I do have a problem. I bought this mail order (e-bay) from a shop 2000 miles from my home. The closest dealer to me is a good 1.25 hour drive away. I wish more dealers would pick up this great product. Hopefully if I have any trouble, a local dealer may have picked up Ashdown.

I've been playing for over 20 years (on and off). I would have to say that I am extremely pleased with this amp. It is by far the best amp I've had the pleasure of owning. If this amp were lost or stolen I would probably buy another Ashdown but I'd upgrade to the 400 model. I actually bought this amp after I purchaced a Hartke. But the Hartke was defective and they made me wait a long time to get a replacement. I gave up and bought this amp on the advice of several articles I read.

My only gripe is about the knobs. I wish they weren't so loose. They turn very easily. The slightest touch can cause them to turn enough to affect your sound. I wish they used a pot that was a little tighter.

I highly recommend this amp to anyone using it for smallish venues. It's a pleasure to own and work with.

I find this bass head mighty easy to use. Entirely composed of knobs and in/out buttons, this unit will not confuse the beginner, and will not
disappoint the seasoned. From right to left, Input, Bass, 220 Hz, Mid, 1.6 KHz, Treble, D.I. post-eq, and Output--all knobs (except for D.I.,
obviously). Bottom row of controls, all in/out pushbuttons--"Deep", "Bright", "In/Out EQ", and "In/Out Sub" with accompanying blend knob.
I bought it used, so didn't get the manual, but then I didn't need it either! A half-hour of noodling and tweaking the controls and playing with the
tone knob on my Precision had me familiar with what did what, and where the sweet stuff was.

When I found this head at the local music shop, I wasn't looking for a replacement for my Trace Elliot. "I'll be right back. .." Ten minutes later I
returned with my Bag End 4x10 and Fender Precision '57 reissue with '62 pickups, Rotosound strings. I found the sound to be immediately
warm and full even at lower sound levels, plenty of presence. With a pick and no palm muting I could get plenty of string growl, especially when
tweaking the 1.6 KHz and mid knobs, even an Ampegish growl if I pushed the Input somewhat. With a little palm mute and less mids, this baby
was doin' a B-15 Ampeg Motown sound no problem. Fingerstyle, I could get anything from buttery-warm mellow jazz to dub-phat rump-shakin'
house sound (thanks to the sub in/out with blend) to snarly back-by-the bridge Geddy (kinda like his voice, eh?). Slapped it delivered sweet
thumps, heavy and felt, and sweep pops.

Overall, the sound is clean, warm, and very adjustable, with plenty of presence. I can see why Adam Clayton digs this manufacturer's products!

I wouldn't be afraid to take this amp out by itself, though I haven't had it long enough to break anything, and basic rule of thumb is "always have
a back-up if the wallet will let you." However, since it hasn't been in my possession that long, I'll pass on rating this category.

I've never had to go to customer support, so I'll have to pass as well on this category.

I play rock, blues, jazz, a little fingerstyle funk and disco, punk, country, folk, and anything else anyone wants me for. I can't see any limitations
on this amp paired with my Bag End, other than its size. If I ever play arenas, I guess I'll have to get something larger! I would probably buy the
next size up of the MAG line if this one were lost or stolen, as it wouldn't be much more dollarwise.
I love how easy it is to get a warm round sound out of this head without having to push the sound levels to get it. It makes me hate that I live in an
apartment! My favorite feature has to be the On switch, as everything else after that is goooooood, baby.
I do wish I had a fifteen to go with my 4x10, but I've been wanting that even worse with my Trace Elliot head, which did 'clean' great but warm
wasn't in it's vocabulary without a fifteen. I'm now much more comfortable with putting that off. This head makes my Precision very very happy.
Even my cats dig the tone, as it just sounds like a big cat purrin'.

2001 model, and made 10 miles from my home. I play modern indie/rock music (similar to Travis and the Stereophonics). This amp is very versatile and has all the tone i could want. I never thought i'd beat my old Trace Elliot.

The only thing it misses is a switch for active/passive basses instead of 2 different sockets.

I use a custom Gibson EB-O with EMG active pickups and also a Tanglewood with Humbucker. Even with the humbucker on the Tanglewood it has tight lows and great highs (sounds like an advert for them). The EQ is probably better than my Trace Elliot 7-band and the Sub-Harmonics are absolutely BRILLIANT. Through a Black Widow equipped cab, they really show.

With a 2x10" with HF horn and 1x15" Black Widow it sounds great

It is very reliable. Although I've only had it 4 weeks. In that time it has had 4 gigs and been bashed about a bit. In all those gigs i went without a backup and left my Trace at home.

Never dealt with them

I've been playing 4 years and i never thought i'd beat a Trace Elliot for tone. THIS DOES.

If it were stolen i would have to buy another one.

Buy one, NOW.