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Average Price: $367

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$801+

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Description

Unleash the power and precision of your bass tones with the Ashdown Engineering ABM 500 EVO III Bass Amplifier Head. Designed for the discerning bassist, this formidable 575-watt powerhouse is your ticket to a world of dynamic soundscapes. Whether you're holding down the groove at a cozy club or commanding a festival stage, this amp head will have your back.

The ABM 500 EVO III is all about versatility. Its hybrid solid-state and tube preamp gives you the flexibility to craft tones from clean and crisp to warm and overdriven. The intuitive 3-band EQ, further enriched by dual sliders, allows for precise tonal sculpting, making it easy to adapt your sound to any musical genre or venue. The integrated compressor ensures your bass lines remain punchy and controlled, even in the most demanding of performances.

For bassists seeking to add depth to their sound, the Ashdown sub-harmonic generator is a standout feature. It tracks your signal and adds a rich octave below, perfect for those moments when you want to shake the room. With a balanced DI out, effects loop, and a tuner output, the ABM 500 EVO III is as functional as it is powerful, making it a reliable partner for both live gigs and studio sessions.

Built with durability in mind, this amp head is ready to endure the rigors of the road, ensuring you're always ready to deliver your best performance. Experience the blend of innovation and reliability with Ashdown's ABM 500 EVO III.

Key Features:

  • 575W bass amplifier head
  • Hybrid solid-state and tube preamp
  • 3-band EQ with additional sliders for detailed tone shaping
  • Built-in compressor and effects loop
  • Ashdown sub-harmonic generator for octave-lower sound
  • Balanced DI output, tuner output, and external line in
  • 2 x speakON outputs
  • Durable construction for touring musicians
Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Ashdown ABM-500 Evo III 575-watt Bass Head Demo - Sweetwater Sound

Video thumbnail for Ashdown ABM-500 Evo III 575-watt Bass Head Demo - Sweetwater Sound by Sweetwater

Ashdown ABM-500 Evo III 575-watt Bass Head Demo - Sweetwater Sound

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for Guy Pratt presents Ashdown ABM Evo III by DV247 Music Store UK TV

Guy Pratt presents Ashdown ABM Evo III

DV247 Music Store UK TV

DV247 Music Store UK TV

Video thumbnail for A First Look: Ashdown Engineering ABM-500 EVO III by forerunnermusicgroup

A First Look: Ashdown Engineering ABM-500 EVO III

forerunnermusicgroup

forerunnermusicgroup

Video thumbnail for ASHDOWN ABM-500 EVO III by session

ASHDOWN ABM-500 EVO III

session

session

Video thumbnail for Cimar 2072RD & Ashdown ABM 500 Evo III by Béla Jámbor

Cimar 2072RD & Ashdown ABM 500 Evo III

Béla Jámbor

Béla Jámbor

Reviews

PROS

  • Superior tone quality compared to high-end bass amps

  • Maintains clarity, avoiding "muddy" sound

  • Effective subharmonics enhance depth

  • Boost slides for adjustable lows/highs

  • Reliable performance for endorsed artists

  • Unique in being a first-generation Chinese assembly with original quality

CONS

  • Mute function has a slow response

  • Temporary shutdown after removing input jack

  • Questionable reliability reported by some users

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III.

Features and functionality

  • The Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III's tube pre-amp and built-in octaver are key features that distinguish it from solid-state competitors like Aguilar and Darkglass.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Owners note the Ashdown ABM series' tone stack as a unique sound design toolset, contrasting it with the tube-like sound of Aguilar Tone Hammer and Ampeg Venture V12.

    Source

User experience

  • The ABM 500 is praised for opening up and delivering a "magical" sound when the volume is halfway, offering significant headroom compared to the 300W version.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The 600W model provides double the power for only a 15% price increase, making it a preferred choice for those seeking future-proofing without needing a second amp.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • For live performances without PA support, the 600W model is favored as it maintains clarity and articulation in louder settings, especially with multiple high-gain guitars.

    Source

Other

  • A common recommendation is to consider cab sensitivity and SPL over wattage alone, as these factors significantly impact overall performance and sound quality.

    Source
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 10 Ratings

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davidcrickett

Engineers bass amp

I love this amp, one of the last before they f... u... and got chinese. Well, EVO III is actually assembled in china, but the first generation, so still with the originals insides and outs. ;)

jimmarchi1

I had one of these briefly on trade, forgot all about it! damn I liked it!

davidcrickett

Me too, I mean, I like it. :)

B

Versatile | Powerful | Warm

A great amp, easy to stay out of the mud. Great subharmonics, and the boost slides are handy as well for cranking up some extra lows or extra defined highs.

dustx85

the great one!

Unfortunally i never try it in a live gig. I used it just fore rehearsal with my band. Great tones and personality!

Genres:
justin_emord

I'm an Ashdown artist

I've been an Ashdown endorsed artist for several years. I can rely on their product to give me consistently great tone night after night

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Paul McCartney uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Paul McCartney

Bassist, Singer

The Beatles

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video "Paul McCartney teaches bass" by Rickdd2, Paul McCartney is seen using the Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III bass amplifier head in his studio.

See how Ross MacDonald uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Ross MacDonald

Bassist

The 1975

...
Verified via Photo

Ross posts this image on his Instagram saying "Ashdown whore.". We can see two 500s stacked on top of each other.

See how Jon Stockman uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Jon Stockman

Bassist

Karnivool

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video "That Pedal Show – Jon Stockman Part One," between 2:42 and 2:46, Jon Stockman can be seen using the Ashdown Engineering ABM 500 EVO III. This is identified by the layout of the knobs, which includes a 7-band EQ and a knob for compression; features that distinguish it from the EVO II model (which lacks the compression knob) and the EVO IV model (which has 600 watts and a 9-band EQ).

See how Dave Hollingworth uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Dave Hollingworth

Guitarist, Bassist

Dorje

...
Verified via YouTube

Currently his main amp used live

See how Masaru Teramae uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Masaru Teramae

Guitarist, Bassist

Demetori

...
Verified via Livedoor

He talks about using this amp for his bass in one of his blog posts.

See how Kevin Ray uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Kevin Ray

Bassist

Walk the Moon

...
Verified via Ashdown Engineering

"Kevin uses an ABM 500 RC EVO III head with a ABM EVO III 6x10 Cabinet."

See how Alex Espiritu uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Alex Espiritu

Bassist

Badflower

...
Verified via Photo

“I play a Fender Jazz bass because, since its creation along with the P bass, they’re the basses that all basses have been compared to. My Jazz bass has a simple, straight-to-the-point tone. I’ve had this bass since I really started pursuing music seriously and it’s been a great journey to able to grow with my instrument as a player and have it age with me—it sounds better every day. I play an Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III head with the matching 6x10 Ashdown cabinet. It gives me the clarity I desire, with tons of bottom end to rattle the stage and crowd. I love having the accessibility of pumping a single ECC83-S tube through the head as well. It offers up just enough grit to help me really pump the tone throughout the mix and not use any pedals for boosting or overdrive.”

See how Andy Gilmour uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Andy Gilmour

Bassist

Hundred Reasons

...
Verified via YouTube

In a live performance video from Manchester in 2019, Andy Gilmour of Raging Speedhorn is seen using the Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III, which he has relied on for over 20 years.

See how Mark J. Adair uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Mark J. Adair

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Ashdown Engineering

"[My Evo III] gives a solid warmth for softer, acoustic acts and my own compositions for TV & Film", says producer, composer and session musician Mark J. Adair.

See how Sishuo Liu uses Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III

Sishuo Liu

Bassist

David Boring

...
Verified via Photo

Sishuo Liu can be seen using the Ashdown Engineering ABM 500 EVO III bass amplifier head in the first, second, and fourth slides of a post on the official David Boring Instagram page, taken during their 2017 China tour stop in Chengdu.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ashdown Engineering Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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frederic_campmas

frederic_campmas

Gear IQ 95

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