Ashdown MAG 300H Head User Reviews at zZounds

"Awesome amp" submitted November 20, 2004

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Musician for fun

Music Style: Rock

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Sound: The tone is great on this head. I like a nice warm tone, not alot of high-end noise, and this amp hits the spot.. very clear sound. I've also played around and found tones on the other end of the spectrum that sound really good too. I used to own an ampeg and this head can really compete with it for alot less cash. I bought the MAG410T deep bass cab to go with this, and they sound great together. MAG series seems to be all around high quality at an affordable price. Feature: It's a pretty simple head, 5-band eq is all I need. High and low boosts work quite well, and although I don't see myself using the sub-harmonic switch much, it does sound cool. The VU meter is a nice touch too. The cooling fan is nice, works great. Quality: The knobs seem a little cheap, but thats my only complaint. The carpet covering on this amp is good quality, not the cheap stuff. All other componets seem a-ok as well. Value: I always believe in music gear "you get what you pay for", but this time I got more than what I payed for. This amp is great. Manufacturer Support: The only dealing I've had with ashdown was emailing them on when these amps were being shipped out. I got a reply the next day saying it would be a week. A week later it was available on zzounds.com. So two thumbs up for that. The Wow Factor: It's a very good looking, awesome sounding amp, and it's good quality as well. It seems like these are hard to get your hands on here in the states. There are only two ashdown dealers in my huge state of Texas and they said the MAG series seem to always be "on order". Overall: I'm just a college student playing rock music with a band that gigs around town, this amp fits my budget while not sucking! I'm very happy with my purchase. People who buy this will be pleasently surprised at how good it sounds.

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"Incredible sound at an incredible price" submitted December 19, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: pro sound engineer as well as hobbyist musician

Music Style: Rock, funk, jazz

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Sound: amazing sound for the price! incredible. I've compared with much more expensive Ampeg, SWR, and I finally chose this one in conjunction with a 410, I firstly tried the 15 but noth enough at all. Both is really an ideal solution for an affordable gig. Feature: A more accurate eq woul have be fine such as the graphic on the MK version but not the same price! Quality: almost perfect, nothing to say. Value: THE BEST quality/price by far Manufacturer Support: Not really easy to find a dealer in my region, so I prefer not to think of a possible failure. But it's good on the road as well as in the studio for now. The Wow Factor: could'nt play on another anymore, I think. Overall: I don't intend to get another product as long as it works as actually. Otherwise, I vould buy the same or newer series, an ABM perhaps but I don't see why I would spend so much more money as I'm happy with this one. Never change a winning team as I could say!

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"Call Ashdown for Good Head" submitted November 28, 2006

By a customer from aol.com

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Music Style: Rock, Blues

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Sound: For $300, it blows alot of my other amps out of the water. Those amps being 2 peaveys (max 160 and a century), randall, and one of those ace new fender bassmans. I paid the same price for that Max 160 head last November and when I bought this things 2 months ago, I wish I'd gotten this first and not bothered buying anything else. I play blues, rock, classic rock, etc, and I have to say it fits all the styles pretty well. I can turn the gain all the way up and no feed back or hum. Nothing plugged in, everything turned to 10, still nothing except for the fan. Awesome, I plan on sticking with this head for a long time. Well, at least till I save up enough to get a nicer Ashdown... (note I stacked this on an Ashdown 4x10 extra deep, as well as on top of the 1x15 making this a full stack. Even with just one cab hooked up, I've felt the house vibrate... and I'm not one to turn up the low frequences) Feature: I didn't like the subharmonic generator all too much, and it didn't have any footswitches. I never found a use for a footswitch before I bought this amp, and now I'm going to call Ashdown soon to see if any are available for this model. VU meter is a cool is slightly pointless touch. I've gotten it to go all the way. Tuner line out is a nice touch as well. I was never a fan of built in tuners, and this is just simple. I hook up my Korg and taa daa... Ease of Use: Simple and easy. The knobs on the 5 band EQ are alot simpler than sliders found on pricier models. This amp is basically plug and play which is great. Quality: Very reliable product. Fell out of a moving car and still works perfectly. The thing is built like a tank. While the knobs and stuff are all of good quality, they still feel like cheap plastic and I'll eventually replace them with metal knobs even though I don't need to. I don't very much like the plastic corners either, but they help blend in with the carpet. The carpet on this thing is tough! I've put it throuh alot of abuse, not rips tears or scratches. Good solid stuff. However cosmetically, stuff gets stuck to it and it can look gross. However so far its just dog hair... I plan on replacing it with tolex. Again this isn't needed and its just a personal preference of mine. With the knob and carpet changes aside, (again which aren't needed I'm just a jerk) this is a very good quality amp and is comparable to amps more than twice the price. Value: Best amp for the money. Ashdown could have easily charged twice this and it would have still been a good buy. I'm sold. Manufacturer Support: Had a run in with them once and they were very helpful, though ultimately not needed as it turned out my bass was making the scratchy noises. The Wow Factor: Very pretty and looks great right outta the box. Personally I prefer tolex, but the thing is an eye catcher. Overall: I forsee myself sticking with this head until I can afford some of that top of the line Ashdown gear. So probably a year or so. However I don't plan on ditching this amp once I get the new head, its just too nice to let go of.

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"space cakes" submitted April 7, 2005

By a customer from meatmail.com

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Musical Background: Some dude.

Music Style: Stuff I can't explain.

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Sound: This thing works nicely. Low lows and clear highs. It's easy to adjust to your own preference. Feature: Big knobs. VU meter. 2 inputs (1 passive, 1 active). 1/4" and speakon outputs. Built in fan. Low and high boosts. The covering is nice too, and the handles are a perfect fit. Quality: I'd say well made... Don't think it's going be problematic at all. Value: I'd pay a lot more for this if I had to, absolutely. The Wow Factor: I creamed my jeans as soon as I saw it. Overall: Ashdown has done a good job on this affordable unit. It's very intuitive and user-friendly. It can pump out a great deal of volume, and I haven't noticed any distortion when it's cranked up.

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"Noisy - OK for rock, but look elsewhere if clean power is what you need!" submitted January 28, 2006

By a customer from fit.edu

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Musical Background: Active weekend musician

Music Style: jazz / flamenco

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Sound: The problem I'm having is the unit is noisy. Very noisy. I'm playing jazz / flamenco music in a trio setting. My cabinet is an Aguilar GS112 and I like the tweeter about 1/2 way up. There's a great deal of high-frequency buzz even with nothing plugged in the front. There's also low-frequency noise. I've owned this for a few months now, and it's bugging me more and more. Here's a second example of the quality problems. If I'm plugged into my Boss ME-50b multi-FX unit, and have headphones plugged into that - no noise. If I now still listen through headphones but the Ashdown amp is plugged in - lots of noise, even when the amp is turned off! If I unplug the amp, the noise goes away. The noise is the only beef I have with this amp - if it weren't for this electrical noise problem, I'd rate is very highly. Feature: It's spartan, but fine. I usually just run it with the eq-bypass and modify the tone on my bass (a Conklin GT7-BD). Quality: Cosmetically fine, but cheap components make this a very noisy amp. I guess it might be OK for a rock setting, but definately not optimal for jazz or quieter settings. Value: It's ok value, but I wouldn't buy it again. The Wow Factor: Nothing fancy in the looks department. Overall: I'll need to be saving up my gig money for a better amp. I was hoping I'd be able to use this for a year or more, since I've got other bills I'd like to get paid, but I need an amp that will deliver clean power.

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"Look elsewhere." submitted August 17, 2006

By a customer from fit.edu

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Musical Background: Active weekend musician

Music Style: jazz / flamenco

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Sound: Average tone. Solid state - not too lively Feature: Adequate for the price point. Knobs are a bit cheap feeling. Only 1/4" outputs on the back - no speakons. Ease of Use: Fine. Quality: Mine has a high-frequency buzz - electrical noise. Can't use the tweeter on my Aguilar cabinet at all. I'd recommend staying away from this unit. Value: For reasons above, I don't recommend purchase of this unit. Manufacturer Support: I sent the unit in, and was told "there's nothing wrong with it". An Ashdown amp should be dead quiet with nothing plugged into the front jacks, and this one isn't. Either I got a bad unit and they wouldn't replace the assembly, or this is typical and isn't worth buying. In any event quality control isn't good. There's other amps at this price point so I'd recommend looking elsewhere - Hartke, for example. The Wow Factor: Bland design. Overall: I wouldn't purchase again.

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"Its OK !" submitted September 21, 2006

By a customer from aol.com

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Musical Background: Active old Pro Musician

Music Style: R&B - Funk- Rock

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Sound: Run of the Mill Sound ! eq is fair. Lacks a little in bass tone ..if you want a ampeg sound better buy ampeg. A 12x7 would do alot for this ashdown. Warn it up some. Behringer bass head sound about the same. Best way to work is Amp is turn up and it work. A 4ohm Cab. Gives you a little more head room. at about a 100watts Ashdown starts to Sound good. Sound cheap at lower volumes. If you slap play or funk it. The High end is not that Clean. This ashdown model is No Mesa Pulse or Ampeg Svt.Peavy firebass head smokes this amp. Fatter sound. Best Cabs for this Ashdowm is 4x10 or 2x15 . Good Luck Feature: vu meter is cool .clean look.. thats about it ! Ease of Use: Easy to use. Quality: Amp is put together fine. Pots are cheap . Hope it will last a few years Value: Not bad for the money. Nice and Little too. thats the best part of this amp. Good looking unit Manufacturer Support: Don"t call Ashdown. You be put on hold for 15 mins or better. Then get a so so tech. The Wow Factor: Cooling looking Head. you don"t buy it for sex appeal. Buy for the sound. If the Bass player looks hot and play good. you will score. Overall: Well resell soon. looking at Great sounding little wieght head. had G&K 400. It was ok. Can"t beat old Fender bass head For tone. Mesa 400tube. SVT pro ..Sound Great.

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Ashdown MAG300H Bass Amplifier Head (307 Watts)

User Ratings

"Awesome amp" submitted November 20, 2004

"Incredible sound at an incredible price" submitted December 19, 2005

"Call Ashdown for Good Head" submitted November 28, 2006

"space cakes" submitted April 7, 2005

"Noisy - OK for rock, but look elsewhere if clean power is what you need!" submitted January 28, 2006

"Look elsewhere." submitted August 17, 2006

"Its OK !" submitted September 21, 2006