Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

NAD ashdown rm500 evo2


la bam

Recommended Posts

Evening all,

I've been looking at the ashdown rm's for a long time and today finally managed to pick one up second hand, with the idea of if it worked well, I'd look at getting the 800 and that would give a great easy lightweight set up and this could be used as backup amp.

Well....let's just say this thing has blown me away so far!

Lovely depth to the sound through my elbee 1210, but what I found really nice and pleasant was it had plenty of tone. A real quality to the sound. It's not just a flat power amp. Nice.

Ridiculously lightweight, and easy to grab with one hand and move.

Looks lovely too. The little vu meter looks nice and warm and also turns blue when muted and warm yellow when the amp is live.

I've had loads of ashdowns in my gig life: mag 307, superfly, little giant 1000, abm ii, abm iv, ctm300 and so far this is right up there with them.

Obviously it's only been at low levels so far, but if it holds up at volume, it's a quality amp and could replace my current set ups.

 

20200701_220035.jpg

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm, this is a bit weird though...

Initially I played it through my sire v7 jazz (pretty much flat) and it sounded glorious.

Now I've plugged in the fender precision and it needs some eq changing to get that richness and punch. Flat it sounds a bit synthetic. It's there though.

Could be strings too. Jazz is loaded with daddrio exl170s and precision still on stock strings.

I might swap them about and see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The rehearsal room I used to rehearse in, before the lockdown, had one of the original RM500s through an Ashdown 410.

It sounded great with a precision.

I brought my Ashdown ABM EVO III in, to make a comparison and the RM 500 was at least as authoritative as the ABM and just as loud.

I think the technical term for the RM 500 is that it, 'kicks a$$'.

It's a great amp if you like the Ashdown  sound.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, jezzaboy said:

That cab looks interesting.

I havent had chance to open it up fully yet, but it sounds so good at lower levels (although we know that's no guarantee).

It's a real rich vintage sounding cab, which suits what I do, rather than a hifi one.

It's a db elbee 1210. Contains a 10" and 12" speaker both of which are angled - the 12 downwards for depth and the 10 upwards so its pointing at ear level when you play.

It's also 4ohm. Which all one cab solutions should be in my opinion.

It's very very loud. And very light - around 14kg.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will be opening up my RM for the first time on Saturday. I have the combo with the 12" speaker + the 12" extension. Does the job at bedroom levels but when we meet for a socially distant rehearsal I'll be able to try it in a band setting. 

Of course I also want to try my Trace Elliot Elf but that serves me right for being greedy. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do like the look of these. I played through one of the first generation RM's at a rehearsal room a couple of years back (through a Laney 2x10 iirc) and it sounded great. The only thing that I couldn't get on with was the shiny fascia. That coupled with a dimly lit rehearsal room meant I couldn't see a thing. Now they've changed the fascia finish I may well look at them again as an occasional alternative to my trusty old Trace heads. I actually preferred the RM over the ABM 600 I briefly owned.

Edited by Deedee
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That’s why I bought the EVO II and sold the EVO I, middle aged eyesight meant I couldn’t see what I was doing on the amp on either overly bright or overly dark stages. The weight saving of 2.5 odd KG didn’t hurt either.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, stewblack said:

Ah, so it's not just me! I made the mistake of shining a torch at mine the better to see the control labels. 

Made it so much worse. 

Need a creative solution 

Just buy a sheet of clear matt-finish  self-adhesive vinyl and stick it over the front. Obviously remove the knobs first to do this and then cut around the VU meter with a craft knife. Sorted. 🙂

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Painy said:

Just buy a sheet of clear matt-finish  self-adhesive vinyl and stick it over the front. Obviously remove the knobs first to do this and then cut around the VU meter with a craft knife. Sorted. 🙂

That's so much simpler than my insane solution

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 01/07/2020 at 22:22, la bam said:

Hmmm, this is a bit weird though...

Initially I played it through my sire v7 jazz (pretty much flat) and it sounded glorious.

Now I've plugged in the fender precision and it needs some eq changing to get that richness and punch. Flat it sounds a bit synthetic. It's there though.

Could be strings too. Jazz is loaded with daddrio exl170s and precision still on stock strings.

I might swap them about and see.

I won't change my RM500, there may be "better" amps out there but this is an uncomplicated and high quality way to get the job done! 

I found with my Sire V7 I was bypassing the amp EQ but mainly because the on board EQ was so good on the Sire and I didn't want a clash of EQs. With my Precision (which goes to a new owner tomorrow, sadly) I used the amp EQ, bit of mid boost and dig in with the fingers for some clank.

With my MM Stingray I do use the amp EQ but I pretty much set and forget the inboard EQ for that bass. 

Just need to spend the time finding what's best for each bass and then it gets easier. I'm not a knob twiddler when playing live, pretty much like to have a good tone and stick with it unless I need a drastic change for any reason, but then it's very easy to forget to change back! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeh, that's where I'm at now. Coming out of a different band into a new one, where i can find a good sound and it, and the rest of the band sound, stays the same all gig.

I've reverted back to a simple set up abm600 and rm500. Plug in, sound great, and enjoy.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, la bam said:

Is there any difference between the rm500 and rm800?

In particular does the 800 stay fuller sounding at louder levels like the abm?

I think it does but I’ve based this purely on memory of the two, I’ve never compared them directly, so there could be a HUGE dollop of psychology involved. I wouldn’t say the 800 is much louder per se, just fuller like you suggest.

Edited by Merton
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's good to hear.

I've been doing some jamming along to backing tracks via my phone directly into the rm and using lozz's settings - pre shape on and mids boosted, with a bit of drive and compression, it sits smack bang in the middle of the mix perfectly.

Very impressed.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...