Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II 307W Bass Amp Head, Black with Silver Face Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned this bass head for over a year now and have had no problems with it thus far.
It's rated at 307 watts @ 8 Ohms, thats 307 real watts not 300 @ 2 or 4 Ohms like most bass amp companies try to wow you with. Has a warm clean sound without the hiss you'd get from other amps in this price range, but is still able to get a little ratty if need be, just crank up the input. cool lit UV meter helps you visualy to see if youre pushing it too far and the sub harmonic generator pumps out serious low end sound.
my only qualm is, no footswitch for the sub harmonic gen.
paired with the right cabinet this thing will shake stuff off of your walls!

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MAG is designed for the busy semi-pro player who wants classic ABM tone without the more sophisticated facilities and connectivity. The MAG 300H head features a potent fan-cooled 307-watt RMS power section. Rotary bass, middle, and treble controls are supplemented by smaller rotary controls—providing 15dB of cut and boost at 220Hz and 1.6kHz and effectively creating a comprehensive 5-band EQ section. Additionally, front panel push switches for Bright and Deep settings provide instant access to attacking and warm, rounded sounds, respectively. On the subject of low-end response, the trademark Ashdown sub-harmonic generator is willing and able to deliver truckloads of earth-moving tone if called upon. Inputs are provided for active and passive instruments, and the front panel also features an effects send and return; a tuner/line output; and a balanced DI output for direct connection to a mixing console. The amplifier also includes a built-in compressor with precision sonic control, and the cabinet is finished in a tough, retro-style vinyl covering.

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Gallien-Krueger 800RB Bi-Amp Bass Amplifier (300/100 Watt) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was actively playing shows as part of a succession of bands for about an eight year span of time, and for about six of those years the 800RB bass head was my rig. It went through several levels of hell; clubs, outdoor shows, extreme temps, extreme moisture, etc... and it was a steady and dependable performer. I never had to have it serviced and it never quit on me.
While the amp is rated at 400 watts total, it should be made absolutely clear that this is really two amplifiers (300/100) in a single unit. It states clearly in the manual that you should never hook up both amplifier outputs to the same speaker. There's a pre-amp section that includes a basic EQ, a switchable effects loop out/in, a master volume/gain, and a footswitchable boost(loudness) adjustment as well. The boost adjustment is great because it can provide you with some pretty good distortion options.
The style of music I was mainly playing was hard rock/metal, but also used the amp for industrial/electro-rock and a little bit of jazzy lounge music. The 800RB has just enough adjustments available via the EQ section and the preamp/gain knobs so that it can deliver a wide variety of tonal options. It truly excels, however, when you're going with straight ahead rock. I liked to set mine with the "California Smile" EQ (boost the 60hz and 4khz and "scoop" out everything else...) which the 800RB was able to accomodate perfectly.
I was using the dual amp configuration to run both a Mesa/Boogie 4x10" PowerHouse 8ohm cab along with a 1x15" of indeterminate make/model. In the bigger clubs with weak or non-existent PA's, I did have trouble with filling the room, but I think that had more to do with my speaker setup than the amplifier itself. I was able to keep up with the guys that were running the Ampeg 215/SVT rigs, and the additional bite of overdrive distortion was similar to what they could acheive with their tube amps.
One thing though - after I purchased the amp I immediately secured it in a dedicated hard plastic roadcase with enough room to breathe on top and underneath, and I think that made all the difference in the world regarding it's durability.
I would definitely recommend this amplifier to anybody that wants a fairly simple, maintenance-free, and durable bass amp head to play in the practice space or take on the road. The 800RB has a well-deserved reputation as one of THE choices for 'Gig Warriors', and having used one as the heart of my rig for more than 1000 hours of playing and full volume practice, I can attest to it's ability to back up the reputation.
However, if you're looking for an amp head that is clean and pristine enough to use as a recording rig, you might want to go with something a little more high-end, because the one issue that I encountered with this amp head is that it has slightly 'noisy' electronics that can create some sound issues when you're using it plugged straight into the board.
So, while this amp may not have as many knobs or pretty lights as some of the other amps out there, it's got enough functions/adjustments to satisfy most bassists, and it's purpose-built so that it will never break.

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300/100 watt bi-amp bass amplifier

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