Ashdown - ABM 600 W

The Ashdown ABM 600 EVO IV UK doesn't play in the shy league. This is a bass amp head that hits hard and knows how to make itself heard. Hand-assembled in the UK, it combines tradition and modernity to deliver audio that leaves a lasting impression. Its 600 watts can handle the stage without batting an eyelid, while remaining easy to dose in the studio.

The 12AX7 tube in its preamp is a real groove machine. It adds that lively warmth that gives grain and depth to every note. And if you want a change of register, the foot-activated ValveDrive Plus will propel you from a mellow clean to a wild saturation that will pierce any guitar wall.

With the 9-band EQ, you can become an acoustic pro. You can slice through the low end like a scalpel, boost the midrange to cut through the mix, or brighten up the highs as you see fit. The integrated compressor tames the most muscular attacks, while the sub-harmonic generator adds that abysmal layer that shakes floors.

There's no shortage of connections: jack and Speakon outputs for your speakers, effects loop for your favourite pedals, line input and tuner output. You can build a simple configuration or a gas factory, everything is under control. And the 2U rack kit supplied proves that this head loves the road as much as the stage.

It's impossible to miss its illuminated VU meter, the visual signature of the ABM series. Weighing in at 12.5 kg, the ABM 600 EVO IV UK can be transported without drama, but its sonic output still makes it sound like a bulldozer. This is an amp that doesn't just follow your playing: it enhances it at every moment.