Ashdown ABM 500 evo vs Rootmaster 500 evo

[Stinga1990]

Hello talkbass.

First thread starter ever. I've been looking up youtube demos and reading the forums like mad and I am strugging to find the knowledge I seek as only one. Information on the new rootmaster heads and how they compare to the abm series would be much apprieciated. I can either pick up a new rootmaster 500 for 719 AUD or an older series ABM 500 evo III for 500 AUD plus postage from gumtree (like craigslist). I'm really liking everything I hear from the demos of the rootmaster, especially the overdrive, but I hear the ABM is meant to be superior. I'm chasing clarity with a vintage vibe and I really dig the ashdown tone. Help.

 

[The Terror]

Greetings and Welcome!

Sorry, I have no experience with Ashdown, but this thread would probably get more attention and responses if you post it to the "Amps & Cabs" sub forum on the Bass Guitar side of the house...

Good luck!

I remain,
Your Obedient Servant,

The Terror.

 

[Stinga1990]

I was rather drunk when I posted this and completely forgot to check where I was posting.

 

[techbassist22]

I own a rootmaster 500 and the clarity is classic ashdown but unlike the abm series there is no tube pre amp this puppy is competely solid state. It offers plenty of power. I have hooked up to a 15, 18, 2x10, and a 4x10(one at a time) and had clarity on each cab. The rootmaster is also much less in weight than the abm because it is solid state.

However do NOT buy the rootmater evo 1 cabs you will not be able to gig with them especially with a 5 string. I bought the 1x12 from Sweetwater and when I unboxed it, it sounded like total crap especially with the low b, it sounded like the speaker was farting air. I took it back sweetwater(I live 10 minutes down the road from them) and they looked at it and came to the same conclusion I did, defective cab, the bottom of the speaker was kicking out significantly farther than the top of the speaker and it was loose and sloppy so they brought out a 15 from the warehouse that had never been unboxed and it did the exact same thing....I wanted matching cabs for my head but after 3 defective cabs within an hour and a halfs time I walked out with a Fender 2x10 that they knocked down to within $20 of the price of the 1x12 I had originally bought.