Ashdown 220 VS --HARTKE 60

eSGEe

eSGEe

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YEP-- 220 watts-- vs 60 watts......
Ive put my little 60 watt --60.00 Hartke up against
Marshall
Peavey
Ampeg
Acoustic
ORANGE
and Vintage Kustom

and for liveable home use-- the HARTKE has coime out on top every time--

well a NEW contender has emerged----- I scored a 499.00 ASHDOWN rootmaster 220 (to my DOOR) for 160.00 customer return "like new" still with FOOL factory warranty blah blah blah-----
THis
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AND HERE: is a FOOLS report
after 3 hours -- of comparing the ASHDOWN ROOTMASTER 220 combo to my HARTKE B600 back to back to back-- to back-- to.....you get the picture------

uhm somethings ARE impressive-----the list of features for the ASHDOWN exceed the hartke ---
comes with 5 band EQ not 3
Drive--adjustable
Compression--adjustable
SHAPE-- (on off button)
Hartke-
Bass-mid -treb EQ
adjustable shape knob
Score 1 Ashdown.

Ashdown (fan) does not bother me like the reviews videos-- I cant hear it-- others bitched about it
Hartke --no fan
"tie"

Ashdown-- I cant get a totally CLEAN tone form this amp-- always seems to be just a "touch" of distortion
HArtke--pure clean tone every time
SCORE 1 Hartke
(TBTH this might be user error more testing required)

VOL---
Ashdown is listed as 220 watts------(no) must be a weird British to 'Merican conversion because -- just, NO -- this is NOT 220 watts
--I Owned a 1970 KUSTOM 150 w/ 15" woofer tuck n roll combo--- that thing MOVED AIR-- this---- meh not so much... :(
TBTH its about the SAME or less loud than the "rated 60" watt Hartke---- honestly---
SCORE--well HArtke

NOW-- the Ashdown HAS -- "drive" and Compression-- features needed to be ADDED to the Hartke...
Features "on board"
Score --Ashdown.

so its a BLEEDING TIE DAMN IT!

now factor this--- NEW the Ashdown was 499.00
the HARTKE was 199.00 I think -- I got it (new) from Musicians Friend on a year end model blow out for (sit down) SIXTY DOLLARS -- yes 60.00 -- IT was marked down to 99.00 free freight--I bought it--mine came in with a missing screw causing the metal grill to rattle -- I called and "bitched" --- they offered to take it back-- I said "hold on-- its going to cost you more in freight back -- plus the freight TO ME -- your LOSING $ cant you knock a bit off if i can live with it?> customer service repo said "hold on" -- put me on hold -- came back said -- how bout we refund your card-- and your sale price is 60.00 ??????--- I said SOLD!@

so-- I am still not sure which to keep -- the features make the Ashdown seem better------and it DOES sound very nice at LOW volume (something I wanted) -- I think further testing is required!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yes!!! Further testing!!!.....much further testing!....every bass you own must be played through each amp, every day, for three months per bass. Differences must be noted, and presented for debate here. Sound samples should also be presented for full review.
Congratulations!...and best of luck!
 
Well Don--- her ya go.............
TBTH -- the VOLUME -- (lack of) and HORRIBLE cabinet vibration!!! --- are REALLY turning me off ---
I can take pics for proof if you wish-- but --
60 watt hartke at volume level 2.5 is vibrating shite off the walls-----

220 "watt" Ashdown----with input and out put levels at 1:00 (comp to hartke at 6 on the dial)
VIBRATING ITSELF APART nothing on the walls shaking-----

SEE--- I have an "issue" (well I have LOTS but lets focus shall we) -- Im a bass player at heart, that HATES rattling/vibration -- the smallest of vibrations while Im trying to achieve RICH DEEP LOW BOOM-------- PISSES ME RIGHT THE "F" OFF -- and I CAN hear it will playing --- and I want to kill it with fire or a hammer or a hammer and fire!

Ill say this -- -for 160 to my door its NOT COMPLETE SHITE---and I will give it FAIR shakes and go over it with a screw driver--- make sure all is tight and right before passing final judgement----stuff gets banged about in shipping----BUT-- IF I had paid the "original retail" (still available)
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/ashdown-rootmaster-220w-1x12-bass-combo-amp

of 499.00 Id be EFFING PISSED TO THE MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!! a 100 watt Fender Rumble for what 299.00 will SLAY this thing as it sits now-- period -- end of story--well at present a 60.00 HARTKE is beating its arse!

500 for a bass amp SHOULD get you into some "SWEET" solid low down AIR MOVING house VIBRATING territory --- naw-- this --- this is sad ASHDOWN -- very very sad
I expected better for sure--- frankly I haev half a mind to contact them and ask -- really WTF?????
 
Jeez...I was just egging you on.:wink:
I had no idea of the level of suck that was involved.
I have no horse in this race either...if it sucks...so be it.
Ashdown has made some ok stuff over the years, but not exactly “top shelf” stuff.
Sorry to hear that you may have a dog on your hands.
As to the power rating disparity...these days, class D switching amps get high power ratings, but don’t always have enough grunt to live up to the numbers. This is not just an Ashdown thing, it runs quite a bit broader than that.
Cabinets are not built like they used to be in affordable range amps anymore. It’s a rare piece that comes along now, that is even remotely solid, in the lower price range, that lives up to some of the older “bargain gear”.
 
Agreed-- and I mention the venerable Fender Rumble because of ALL the amps metioned in the opening post--- the RUMBLE was the ONLY one (aside from the beloved Hartke) that DIDNT rattle itself apart WAAAAY before max volume.
THAT SAID -- in light of day and with tools in hand I shall have a go at "fixing" the thing( TBTH I was (was) shopping for a LOWER volume amp----when I came across the :"220" --buwahaha) Ashdown -- maybe I need to enjoy its features and low volume tone?
AND -- TBTH I HAD TO FIX the Hartke (which had a HORRIBLE vibration) when I got it (several esxtra screws in the metal grill fixed that issue) -- so time will tell
 
Adrian, Here is the type Hartke's I was looking at when shopping for bass heads and cabs eraly to mid 2000's

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Also some Trace Elliots similar to these.

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My Current AMPEG is my Speaker cab, a BSE 115T


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Here is a writeup.

Here's an American 1x15" Ampeg cabinet that will work perfect on its own or as a complement to 2x10" or 4x10" cabs.

The BSE115T produces a fat and round sound, and will make you feel the lows thanks to the 119db SPL. There are two inputs at the back: one for the single 15" speaker, plus another one that activates the built-in tweeter so you can use one or the other depending on what you prefer or need.

The cab weighs in at 22Kg, so you can move it around easily.
 
this is mine ....but I imagine the one you pictured is an older model
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1 thing I notice in my comparos to other bass amps is the cabinet---- the hartke cabinet is 1" thick
most others are 1/2" or less--- and they dont have the power of that little 60 watter
 
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