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Ashdown MK500 Mark King Signature Bass Amplifier Head (575 Watts)
12-band graphic EQ. Pre or Post EQ switchable DI output.
Our 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on this item. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!
Description
Docs
Developed in conjunction with bass legend Mark King, the MK500 is all about precision, hi-fidelity, hi-power amplification with masses of attack. With the Ashdown ABM range satisfying the needs of players looking for fat, warm tones, Ashdown Labs recreates the sound of the 80s - think funk, think slapping, think graphic EQs - but the MK500 does it soooo much better using all analog components (strictly no integrated circuits) and 500 watts of power to achieve an amazingly wide frequency response and masses of clout. Plug in the right instrument and the MK500 is truly thrilling.
OK, so what do you get? A conventional jack input, plus a balanced XLR input for the ultimate low impedance connection between instrument and amplifier. Harmonic Emphasis - a circuit that takes the bass signal and emphasises harmonics within it to produce a bright zingy top end - not an EQ circuit, it actually synthesises new harmonics, adding these to the original sound (the best way to describe this is that it is similar to the top end zing you get from a new set of strings. Incredible.). A 12 band graphic EQ for the most versatile tone shaping available. Pre or Post EQ switchable DI output, a tuner mute for silent tuning - all the features you'd expect in a professional bass amp head.
Output Impedance: 4 Ohms
Jack Input Impedance: 3.9M Ohms
Jack Input Range: 150mV to 20V P-P
XLR Input Impedance: Balanced 600 Ohms
XLR Input Range: 100mV to 10V p-p
FX Return Impedance: 10K Ohms
FX Return Level: 0dBu Nominal
Tuner Output Impedance: 22K Ohms
Tuner Output Level: 0dBu Nominal
Line Output Impedance: 1K Ohms
Line Output Level: 0dBu Nominal
Effects Send Impedance: 22K Ohms
Effects Send Level: 0dBu Nominal
DI Output Impedance: 600 Ohms Balanced
DI Output Level: -20dBu Nominal
Digital Output: None
Graphic EQ: +/- 15dB @ 12 Centre Frequencies
Dimensions (HxWxD) mm/inches: 3.5 x 19 x 10.5 in. (90 x 483 x 267mm)
Weight: 30.8 lbs (14kg)
OK, so what do you get? A conventional jack input, plus a balanced XLR input for the ultimate low impedance connection between instrument and amplifier. Harmonic Emphasis - a circuit that takes the bass signal and emphasises harmonics within it to produce a bright zingy top end - not an EQ circuit, it actually synthesises new harmonics, adding these to the original sound (the best way to describe this is that it is similar to the top end zing you get from a new set of strings. Incredible.). A 12 band graphic EQ for the most versatile tone shaping available. Pre or Post EQ switchable DI output, a tuner mute for silent tuning - all the features you'd expect in a professional bass amp head.
Technical Info
Output Power: 575W RMS / 900W PeakOutput Impedance: 4 Ohms
Jack Input Impedance: 3.9M Ohms
Jack Input Range: 150mV to 20V P-P
XLR Input Impedance: Balanced 600 Ohms
XLR Input Range: 100mV to 10V p-p
FX Return Impedance: 10K Ohms
FX Return Level: 0dBu Nominal
Tuner Output Impedance: 22K Ohms
Tuner Output Level: 0dBu Nominal
Line Output Impedance: 1K Ohms
Line Output Level: 0dBu Nominal
Effects Send Impedance: 22K Ohms
Effects Send Level: 0dBu Nominal
DI Output Impedance: 600 Ohms Balanced
DI Output Level: -20dBu Nominal
Digital Output: None
Graphic EQ: +/- 15dB @ 12 Centre Frequencies
Dimensions (HxWxD) mm/inches: 3.5 x 19 x 10.5 in. (90 x 483 x 267mm)
Weight: 30.8 lbs (14kg)
What Our Customers Say About zZounds
"The zZounds website is at once easy to use AND wholly accurate." - customer on November 9, 2009
Ashdown MK500 Mark King Signature Bass Amplifier Head (575 Watts) Reviews
9 out of 10
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Awesome Tone, Sex Appeal, and Value..."
Feature:
It's actually quite the Spartan head, with not a whole lot of bells and whistles compared some brands (think: Trace). That said, the simplicity is what makes this thing really great: plug in, great tone, play.
Value:
Well, if you doing the quality divided by $$$ divided by tone factor, this thing is a great deal. Cool boutique AshdownLabs head, for about the same price as a bunch of other mid-level bass heads. If you can get one blem, like I did on this site, you're really doing okay.
Desirability:
Absolutely the coolest thing going in my rack. Red face, blue lights, graphic, and Level42 accoutrements...I get comments ALL the time. It helps that this head will likely be more popular in the UK where Mark King is more well-known. Here in the US it's a really unique piece of equipment.
Sound:
Phenomenal sound: very pure and, as the man himself says, "organic." 12-band graphic eq is very sensitive and tweakable, but leaving this flat still gets you a great tone with the right bass. Harmonic emphasis is possibly the coolest bass effect I've seen in a long time...much more usable than subharmonic generators.
Ease of Use:
See above. Very easy to use.
Support:
I'll give Ashdown a 9...I had a question about a bass cabinet to pair with this head, and they got back to me, from the UK, the next business day and kept corresponding with me until I had the answer I needed.
It's actually quite the Spartan head, with not a whole lot of bells and whistles compared some brands (think: Trace). That said, the simplicity is what makes this thing really great: plug in, great tone, play.
Value:
Well, if you doing the quality divided by $$$ divided by tone factor, this thing is a great deal. Cool boutique AshdownLabs head, for about the same price as a bunch of other mid-level bass heads. If you can get one blem, like I did on this site, you're really doing okay.
Desirability:
Absolutely the coolest thing going in my rack. Red face, blue lights, graphic, and Level42 accoutrements...I get comments ALL the time. It helps that this head will likely be more popular in the UK where Mark King is more well-known. Here in the US it's a really unique piece of equipment.
Sound:
Phenomenal sound: very pure and, as the man himself says, "organic." 12-band graphic eq is very sensitive and tweakable, but leaving this flat still gets you a great tone with the right bass. Harmonic emphasis is possibly the coolest bass effect I've seen in a long time...much more usable than subharmonic generators.
Ease of Use:
See above. Very easy to use.
Support:
I'll give Ashdown a 9...I had a question about a bass cabinet to pair with this head, and they got back to me, from the UK, the next business day and kept corresponding with me until I had the answer I needed.
Submitted: 08/05/2006
Style of Music: Alt
10 out of 10
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"This amp is Mark Kings vision and inspiration for everyone to try --buy one, before they're gone forever"
Feature:
Everything on the amp worked flawlessly with incredible versitility in the overall sound shaping and control of the sound that you need or want.
Quality:
The knobs are very sturdy and responsive --and I can imagine with years of use this amp will still work as well as the day I bought it.
Value:
I purchased a B-stock amp and I'm totally satisfied with every aspect of this amp (flaw --what flaw, I haven't seen anything to be alarmed about)
Desirability:
This amp is total perfection. I love the red colour it is stunning and sounds even better than it looks. The harmonizer circuit makes this amp a cut above the rest. Mark King knows the sound he wants and has captured that sound for everyone to try for themselves.
Sound:
The best amp I have ever heard, amazing clarity and brilliance.
Ease of Use:
It took me about 3 minutes to find the sound that best fits my playing style and I played for several hours, without even blinking an eye ----total perfection right out of the box.
Support:
I haven't called the Tech support, there's no need ---when it works flawlessly.
Overall:
This amp will stay in my arsemal until the day I die -- but then again I'm already in heaven just listening to this amp (HE HE HE )
Everything on the amp worked flawlessly with incredible versitility in the overall sound shaping and control of the sound that you need or want.
Quality:
The knobs are very sturdy and responsive --and I can imagine with years of use this amp will still work as well as the day I bought it.
Value:
I purchased a B-stock amp and I'm totally satisfied with every aspect of this amp (flaw --what flaw, I haven't seen anything to be alarmed about)
Desirability:
This amp is total perfection. I love the red colour it is stunning and sounds even better than it looks. The harmonizer circuit makes this amp a cut above the rest. Mark King knows the sound he wants and has captured that sound for everyone to try for themselves.
Sound:
The best amp I have ever heard, amazing clarity and brilliance.
Ease of Use:
It took me about 3 minutes to find the sound that best fits my playing style and I played for several hours, without even blinking an eye ----total perfection right out of the box.
Support:
I haven't called the Tech support, there's no need ---when it works flawlessly.
Overall:
This amp will stay in my arsemal until the day I die -- but then again I'm already in heaven just listening to this amp (HE HE HE )
Submitted: 01/26/2007
Style of Music: Alternative/Techno/Contemporary rock and other styles
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