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What is the best bass amp combo on the market? We put bass amps by Ashdown, Ampeg and TC Electronic to the test

A good bass amp combo is vital to the sound of your bass guitar. It cannot be stressed enough, a quality bass combo is essential in giving your bass guitar the respect it deserves. Ashdown, Ampeg and TC Electronic are all big players in the bass amp combo game. They are premium brands for musicians who appreciate proper sound quality and tones. What do you look for in a bass amp combo? And can Ashdown, Ampeg or TC Electronic deliver the goods with their bass amps combos? Lets put them to the test.

Ashdown Engineering (or just Ashdown as they are commonly known) are a British amplifier manufacturer. They specialise in creating top line bass guitar amps and bass amp combos for musicians who prefer something a little bit different to the average run of the mill bass amp. Ashdown Engineering have developed and marketed themselves over the years to set themselves apart from the pack. They are now regarded as a manufacturer who specialise in creating boutique style amps. Their bass amp ranges such as ABM, Dual Tube and EVO III definitely stand out from the crowd in a music store – their look is unparalleled. Do not fear though, their style is more than backed up by their substance.

It is easy to spot an Ashdown bass amp by their prominent logo. The Austin-Healey inspired logo with the words Ashdown Engineering emblazoned upon it is definitely eye catching. One of Ashdowns most favoured bass amp combos is the ABM C210T-500 EVO III. Part of the ABM range, the Ashdown ABM C210T-500 EVO III is

Ampeg are bass amp combo specialists. In an industry where many companies try their hand at all sorts of different instruments and accessories, Ampeg stick to what they know, and that is top quality bass amp combos. Their BA-115HP model is a powerful bass amp, measuring 21 x 21 x 15.5 inches, it can deliver 220 watts of power which anyone nearby will hear… and feel! This amp is a burly thing, weighing in at 80 pounds, it is made easy to move about with handles either side, on top and wheels fixed to the bottom.

The pedigree of the Ampeg brand is impressive to say the least. The quality of their instruments and gear is recognised by some of the best and most popular musicians in the world. Ampeg bass amps have been used by The Clash, Fleetwood Mac, AD/DC, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and many, many more. I don’t know about you but that list is one of the best brand testimonials I have ever read!

TC Electronic are known for their quality of gear and instruments. Out of the three companies looked at in this blog post, they have been in the bass amp game for the shortest period of time. This does not mean they are the most inexperienced though, they have had time to create and tweak their technology and take pointers from the competition. Their first bass amp came out only a few years ago, the TC Electronic RH450 was released in 2009 to much acclaim. They have only recently released their first bass amp combo, lets take a look at it.

The new TC Electronic ComboClassic is based on the acclaimed RH450 bass amp. This amp has been matched up with custom TC Eminence drivers and a tweeter (no that has nothing to do with twitter!).  The Combo Classic is a powerful bass amp combo, it produces 450 Watts and includes a feature that they call Active Power Management. This allows you to send your TC Electronic ComboClassic bass amp combo into overdrive, meaning you get a combo which acts like a tube amp! It weighs in a lot lighter than the other two bass combos we have looked at, weighing only  60 pounds, it contains two 10 inch Eminence speakers.

Ashdown, Ampeg and TC Electronic are all the best at what they do, each bass amp combo in their respective ranges are of the highest quality. Unlike many product comparisons where there is a clear winner, this is one of those rare times where I have to admit that the choice is simply up to you and your preferences. The bass amp combos that these companies offer are the very best you can get at the mid to high end price points. Choose a bass amp combo that is best for you, hopefully this blog post has helped educate you somewhat on what is out there and available to buy.

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