lowhand_mike Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 the RM sounds ace, just the sort of thing to upgrade from my MAG 300 (which i love the tone of) has anyone had the chance to compare the Rootmaster to the Toneman? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) I believe the Toneman is simply the last MAG range re-badged if that helps at all Edit: and Ashdown say that the preamp for the RM was completely redesigned! Edited August 18, 2015 by Merton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1439685042' post='2845034'] Dare I say it but I prefer this to the old valve drive on the ABM EVO [/quote] Oh. I need to find a darkened room to lie down. Oh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I'm still thinking shall I get rid of my Ashdown LB30 which is the same as the CTM30. Running it with a trace elliot 15 atm but not enough juice if no PA support, but with PA support its all good. BF cab is too expensive for me atm but I keep hearing the BF goes well with the ashdown LB30/CTM30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 [quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1439982544' post='2847203'] I'm still thinking shall I get rid of my Ashdown LB30 which is the same as the CTM30. Running it with a trace elliot 15 atm but not enough juice if no PA support, but with PA support its all good. BF cab is too expensive for me atm but I keep hearing the BF goes well with the ashdown LB30/CTM30. [/quote] Don't ditch the LB30, I still regret selling mine. I was using it with a single BF Compact and it was great. I used it with a pair of Compacts for a while, and that was just lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Yeah, maybe I need to save up for a VF cab. Got to admit I like the LB30 tone. Even the break up sounded lovely. To behonest you can't really hear the break up unless you isolate the bass track. For songs with bass intro I just play it with less attack and when the drummer kicks in I start smacking away the strings lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 Yeah keep the head dude, get saving for some Barefaced goodness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Is the BF retro 2x10 any good? The price for that is £449. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 It is supposed to be lovely; in three weeks I will find out and let you know as I'm meeting up with Stew (Huge Hands) who has the Retro Two10 so we can run the CTM30 with the Retro Two10 and see how good it sounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 [quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1439995642' post='2847388'] Is the BF retro 2x10 any good? The price for that is £449. [/quote] I hope so because ive just recently brought one :-) Still to really let rip with it, only played it at work so far, but i have a rehearsal with it on Sunday. Cant wait. So far my thoughts are very positive. I think it would work well with the warm Ashdown heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I needed something light to transport but dish out decent volume for my LB30. Most likely I will be DI to the PA but I still want decent volume to monitor on stage. Price wise the retro 2x10 is pretty cheap and affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 I gigged the CTM30 with one BF Super Compact last week and it was plenty. I had a small bit of bass in the PA but not loads; the SC is probably more "forward" to ally than the Retro Two10 though. I'll give you some feedback in three weeks comparing the two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 ok mate, I shall wait for your review. At the moment I'm pairing the LB30 with a Trace Elliot 15" cab. Nice sounding but lack abit of volume. I will probably need to run 2x Trace cab to get good volume but that would be a pain to transport lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I tried the RM 800 today as I'm on the lookout for a new head and boy what a sound! I tried it against a Fender rumble 500, TC Electronic BH550 and Aguilar Tonehammer 350 and for my money it beat most of them hands down although the Tonerhammer deserves an honourable mention. The only decision now is whether to go for the RM420 or 800.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBass3901 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 [quote name='bassix' timestamp='1440180493' post='2848948'] The only decision now is whether to go for the RM420 or 800.. [/quote] You can turn the RM800 down to RM420 levels, but you can't get the same volume from the RM420 as the RM800 can manage Plus the RM800 is lovely, lovely chrome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I would definitely go for the 800. I also think it looks much nicer than the other two. I notice the two lower powered heads are called MAG's, whereas the 800 isn't. I assume the 800 is the same but louder? Edited August 21, 2015 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Yeah they're all the same but different power amps. They were originally brought in as the new MAG line/replacement but I wonder if the MAG moniker will be dropped in favour of the RM... Or they will keep the two lower powered units MAG Rootmasters. Who knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 PS definitely go for the 800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 The deed is done. My heart wanted the RM800 and my head the RM420, the head won out for once! Should give me what I need and is a fair bit cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1440192416' post='2849064'] Yeah they're all the same but different power amps. They were originally brought in as the new MAG line/replacement but I wonder if the MAG moniker will be dropped in favour of the RM... Or they will keep the two lower powered units MAG Rootmasters. Who knows [/quote] Thanks. Just been reading your wonderful review of this head in the reviews section. Im pretty much set on getting one (RM800), just need to make sure i have gigs coming in to warrant it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 bassix - good to hear, let us know how you get on! Dave - thanks! If you're around in a couple of weeks there's a couple of us getting together where there's going to be an RM800 getting fired up with a Retro Two10 so would be a useful little test for you One thing I haven't mentioned - because it doesn't bother me - is the fan is very... prominent shall we say? I've seen it mentioned on the VT500 thread as something which is a deal breaker for some but I've failed to mention it on my review because frankly I've had much worse fans than this one, but it is not the quietest ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks for the invite (again). Actually I'm out for now. I've decided to sell my Darkglass and have brought a compressor, and im going to give my old BDI-21 another shot. For now a new amp isn't going to happen, although I'll be interested in how the day goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Fair play Thought a second invite was worth it because of the combo of cab and amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Oh, the offers have been very appreciated, thanks for taking the time to make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1440622029' post='2852533'] One thing I haven't mentioned - because it doesn't bother me - is the fan is very... prominent shall we say? I've seen it mentioned on the VT500 thread as something which is a deal breaker for some but I've failed to mention it on my review because frankly I've had much worse fans than this one, but it is not the quietest ... [/quote] i thought the same of the fan on my mag 300 EVo III, but at gigging levels it really doesnt matter but quiet home practice it really is noticeable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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