Text: Martín Sequeros
ASHDOWN LABS has brought a very powerful amplifier to our stores, especially well suited to amplifying our bass on stage or in the studio without taking up the traditionally large amount of space, despite the efficiency and force of its majestic, bright sound.
An Instrument That Is “Hard Work”
We often feel a certain “punishment” for not playing instruments like the flute or the trumpet in the orchestra, which seem to need far less staging than our bass/upright bass. Besides being “a guitar with longer strings” compared with one of the “normal” ones, when it comes to amplifying it, its lowest frequencies also demand more power and more physical volume in the corresponding speakers.
We have generally used amps of no less than 120 or 200 watts with our bass/upright, and above all with speakers almost always housed in cabinets too big and heavy to carry comfortably, so we have almost always had to ask for the help of at least one other person to move them.
Today, on stage, it's rather absurd to set up “our upright bass monitor” using enormously powerful speakers “buzzing in our ears” from behind until we go deaf, just so that we can be heard in the room beyond the second row.
In my view it's much more practical to have what feels like enough power on stage so that we can always clearly hear what we're playing at any given moment, but without irreparably damaging our hearing. As for amplifying it to the rest of the audience beyond the stage, the best approach is without a doubt to send the cleanest possible signal from our own preamp to the room's main mixing console, where a smart engineer, positioned strategically among the audience, will fit our sound properly in with the other musicians. Our amp on stage should therefore be just an “excellent MONITOR” that we use “exclusively,” where only our upright bass is heard.
In Two Separate Parts
One of the smartest solutions ASHDOWN has developed, and the one it offers us here, is to separate the amplifier and its well-designed preamp, which holds the inputs, outputs, control options and corresponding sends (in other words, a “head”), which is connected by one or two cables to the one or two cabinets or enclosures that contain the speakers.
Today I'm testing an amp head that ASHDOWN calls the “SUPERFLY500” (sold for 795 €) and its companion cabinet, the “ABM210T COMPACT 300 W” (for 450 €). The two pieces work together, joined by a single cable, and are already on the market as an excellent option.
SUPERFLY500 Head Features
At barely 5 kg, it packs very good specs, comfortably so, despite its small appearance.
We'll almost never need to use its full 250+250 = 500 watts, even if we had to play the loudest music imaginable. The sound it delivers, even in extreme conditions, is clear but “with body,” as many bassists like it. Even so, we can shape it at will with its equalizer and onboard programs, depending of course on the songs we want to play at any given time.
It has a very effective seven-band equalizer that provides plenty of high-end definition, which is also important when amplifying the upright bass, quite understandably, since each note carries, in addition to its fundamental pitch, many added harmonics that identify its overall sound and its character on each instrument.
It is precisely the highest frequencies that allow the greatest identification. They are also very present when we insert an extra sound effect between our bass guitar and the amplifier. And of course, we should never neglect the quality of the rest of the frequencies delivered, including the lowest ones, where our instrument's range generally lies, as it works in the bass clef.
This head also stores up to 100 “presets,” or different programs, that we can use with preset settings or differentiated for each song we perform with our instrument. Ten of these presets come set from the factory, and the remaining 90 we can readjust to our liking and convenience.
These settings can also be made via MIDI, since it has a connection for that purpose, in which case up to 30 factory-defined presets can be reached.
It has a USB connection that makes it easy to control from computer systems. It has send and return connections for perfect sync with external effects units. Thanks to all this, control over our sound is powerful, managing every detail before the sound reaches the speakers.
The equalizer responds to frequencies from 20 Hz to 20 kHz within +0/-0.5 dB, with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 95 dB over a range of 22 Hz to 22 kHz, which is to say extreme quality, as much as our ears can perceive.
It's housed in a strikingly portable case, with a sturdy handle on the front and a dark cloth bag to carry it comfortably. Its controls and “Input” (where we plug in the cable coming from the guitar) are on the front. It's very simple and intuitive to use, with input impedance adjustment by a knob and a very effective visual level meter.
The equalizer shows its seven contiguous but separate bands, each lit individually and clearly under each of its seven “bars.” For each one, a pair of buttons lets you raise or lower that individual EQ across all its frequencies, which work around: 50, 100, 230, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000 Hz.
Farther to the right is an effective adjustable compressor, along with the controls for editing its 100 programs, which also shows the final audio output signal with lights and can be readjusted with another knob to avoid clipping.
The rest of the connections are on the back, with a balanced XLR output (the professional CANON type) for, say, a mixing console. There's also a POST/PRE switch to send the signal, processed or not, through the preamp to that output. Besides that, it has another conventional audio output, as well as ¼" jack sockets for sends and returns when using other external effects.
The traditional MIDI connector (five-pin DIN) and the USB port are also there, with a switch to alternate between the two connections (since it can also be controlled via MIDI over USB).
It has special outputs to connect up to two speaker cabinets, though one (which is what I'm testing here today) is more than enough.
Next to the socket where the power cord plugs in, there is a fuse holder that is very easy to replace if necessary.
“ABM210T COMPACT 300 W” Speaker Cabinet
It comes as a big “crate” with an impeccable black finish, made of birch plywood reinforced with metal, with black metal corners. Its total height reaches roughly to the musician's knees. Each side has very sober-looking, effectively comfortable handles.
The weight of this cabinet makes it hard to hold easily with both arms (the musician is generally not an athlete either...), so the help of another person will be necessary, as I explained earlier. I would fit it with a small “wheeled dolly” that picks it up from underneath, for more reasonable linear transport. I'd even include this accessory as standard with the cabinet.
Inside are two magnificent ten-inch speakers and a notable tweeter, or high-frequency driver. These speakers were designed exclusively by ASHDOWN (from the “Blue Line” series), which ensures the sound projects much farther than the position where the musician using them is standing.
On the back there is a pair of “Reflex” type vents and a special switch to get the most out of them, depending on the wattage we feed them.
ASHDOWN LABS makes many other amplifier models
Across several series, many of them forerunners of the one I'm presenting here.
For example, the AL series, with graphic equalizers of up to 12 bands and various power ratings.
There are also other COMBO types where the head and speakers are integrated into the same cabinet rather than separate, as in the case we've seen.
In another series called AMB we can also choose different types of heads and cabinets, as well as among other series designated MAG, EB or ELECTRIC BLUE, with varied prices and features. Finally, there is the ALL ACCESS BASS series, which generally offers fewer features, less power and a lower price.
It also makes excellent electronic effects pedals for upright bass (“octave,” “dual compression,” “Envelope,” “Chorus,” etc.)
Conclusions
This amp head is magnificent for its small size, ample power, comfortable, very precise and abundant controls, and an excellent solution for transport.
The cabinet, with its excellent looks, speakers and sobriety, can hardly be moved by one person, despite its magnificent handles on each side, which is why I lower my “Finish score” a bit. Even so, it's an EXCELLENT PRODUCT.
08/05/2007
To see the spec sheet and rating table, download the PDF magazine
