OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

ABM EVO III Preamplifier, Amplifier Heads and Combos

 Thank you for purchasing your Ashdown Engineering Amplifier. If you live in the UK, please register your
purchase by completing this form and return it to the following address:

Ashdown Engineering, The Stables, Stevens Farm, Mashbury Road, Chignal St James,
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4TX, England

(Alternatively you can register online at http://www.ashdownmusic.com)

If you live outside the UK, the local Ashdown distributor may have included a specific registration form
for your country.

Your Ashdown Engineering product details:

Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Colour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tested by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 YEAR WARRANTY

Your Ashdown Engineering amplifier has been manufactured to the highest standards, using the best-
selected materials. To ensure its optimum performance, please ensure your amplifier is regularly
serviced. This product carries a one year warranty, against defects in materials and workmanship, for the
original purchaser. Ashdown Engineering will, at their discretion, replace or repair any product or part
thereof, which is found by Ashdown Engineering to be defective. This warranty shall not apply to the
damage of covering, fittings or finishes when affected by carelessness, accident or extreme climate
changes. Nor does it apply to normal wear and tear of parts such as valves, fuses, light bulbs, speakers,
controls etc.

Please complete the lower section of this warranty and return it within 10 days of purchase to Ashdown
Engineering Ltd. at the above address. In the unlikely event of any defect, please contact an authorised
Ashdown Engineering dealer. All transport charges are to be pre-paid by the Owner. Unless the
registration card is returned normal country warranty laws apply.

IMPORTANT - REGISTRATION CARD

Please complete and return this warranty within 10 days of purchase. Include any comments if possible.

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchased from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................. Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................. Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.............................................
.............................................
Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
....................................................................................................
....................................................................................................
....................................................................................................
 Important Safety Instructions

BASIC PRECAUTIONS 10. Do not attempt to service the product.

GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
All servicing should be referred to
WARNING - When using electrical products, qualified service personnel.
This product must be grounded (earthed). If
basic precautions should be followed, it should malfunction or break down,
including the following: 11. For continued protection against the risk
grounding provides a path of least resistance
of fire, replace fuses only with those of
for electric current to reduce the risk of
1. Read all the instructions before using the the same type and rating as indicated on
electric shock. This product is equipped with
product. the back of the product.
a supply cord having an equipment
grounding conductor and a grounding plug.
2. Do not use this product near water – for The plug must be plugged into an
example, near a bathtub, washbowl, WARNINGS USED ON THE EQUIPMENT appropriate outlet that is properly installed
kitchen sink, in a wet basement or near a and grounded in accordance with the local
swimming pool. codes and ordinances.

3. This product may cause permanent DANGER - Improper connection of the

hearing loss. Do not operate for long equipment grounding conductor can result
periods of time at a high volume level or in a risk of electric shock. Check with a
at any level that is uncomfortable. If you qualified electrician or serviceman if you are
experience any hearing loss or ringing in in doubt as to whether the product is
the ears, you should consult an properly grounded. Do not modify the plug
audiologist. provided with the product – if it will not fit
the outlet, have a suitable outlet fitted.
4. Make sure nothing interferes with the
ventilation of the product when in use. The wires in this mains cord are coloured in
accordance with the following code:
5. The product should be located away
from heat sources such as radiators, heat Green & Yellow - Earth
registers, or other products that produce Blue - Neutral
heat. Brown - Live

6. The product should be connected to a

power supply of the type described in
CE MARK FOR EUROPEAN
the operating instructions or as marked HARMONISED STANDARDS
on the product.
The lightning flash with the
7. The power supply cord of the product arrow head symbol within an
should be unplugged from the outlet equilateral triangle is intended
when left unused for a long period of to alert the user to the presence
time. of uninsulated ‘dangerous voltage’ within this
product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient
The CE mark which is attached to these
8. Care should be taken so that objects do magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
products means it conforms to EMC
not fall and liquids are not spilled into shock.
Directive (89/69/EEC), CE mark Directive
the enclosure through openings. (93/68/EEC) and Low Voltage Directive
The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended (72/23/EEC).
9. The product should be serviced by
qualified personnel when: to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and
a. The power supply cord or the plug maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
has been damaged; or literature accompanying this product.
b. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been
spilled into the
product: or
c. The product has been exposed to rain
or moisture: or
d. The product does not appear to
operate normally or exhibits marked
change in performance: or
e. The product has been dropped, or the
enclosure damaged.
ABM EVO III Design Philosophy

This is a NO COMPROMISE design using the • Powerful TOROIDAL mains transformer. Everything possible has been done to make
best parts available wherever possible. This is more expensive than a laminated this a reliable, top of the range, minimum
stack transformer but has better service, high quality, long lasting powerful
Some examples of this are as follows: regulation, i.e., provides more power on bass amplifier.
demand without sagging out and also
• Gold plated jack sockets for reliability and has a minimal external magnetic field We know you will appreciate the effort that
long life. which means that single coil pick up has been put into the design and
basses are less likely to pick up mains manufacture of this unit and you will be
• Powerful output stages for extra hum from the amplifier. rewarded in your choice of bass amplifier by
headroom (rated in English RMS real long life and reliability.
power and not MUSIC or PEAK power as • FET input circuit to the preamp for
these can claim to be 2 or 3 times the ‘Warmth’ even when using the CLEAN
actual real power of the amplifier). input mix setting.

• Doubling up of the cooling fans for • D.C. heaters for the TUBE section for low
reliability and reduced fan noise (2 fans noise operation.
can run at half the speed to provide the
same cooling capacity and as a • Switch on delay for silent power up.
consequence generate only half the noise
of one fan running at twice the speed). • Thermal trip for output protection.

• Speed controlled fan drive circuit. Again • Relay switched speaker output lines for
this reduces the amount of fan noise as silent power down.
the fans run slow when the unit is cool
and increase in speed with output power • Sub Bass output and Sub Harmonics
demands. facility for really serious bottom end.
 Front Panel Facilities

INPUTS - There is a single instrument input VALVE DRIVE IN/OUT - This push button A large amount of compression can be used
provided linked to a PASSIVE/ACTIVE selector switches the valve drive section IN or OUT. as an effect but it will tend to reduce the
switch. The Passive input (switch out) is high This function may also be controlled from the dynamics in your playing to such an extent
sensitivity and also high impedance to suit Ashdown 4 way footswitch. For the that the volume of the note will be the same
the output from PASSIVE basses. The Active footswitch to operate this button must be in no matter how hard or soft you hit the string.
input (switch in) is low sensitivity and lower its OUT position. Compression also adds sustain to notes
impedance to suit the output from ACTIVE making them longer before they die away.
basses. E.Q. IN / OUT - This push button switches the
Equalisation section IN or OUT i.e. the Bass, The Compression Level control adjusts the
INPUT CONTROL - The INPUT control sets Middle and Treble controls plus the two sets degree of compression applied to the bass
the signal level through the preamp in of sliders placed between each of these. signal. For this to function correctly the Input
conjunction with the INPUT LEVEL VU Meter. This function may also be controlled from the Level must be correctly set as described in
This is adjusted to give a reading of 0VU on Ashdown 4 way footswitch. For the the INPUT CONTROL section (left).
the meter for average playing dynamics with footswitch to operate this button must be in
occasional peaks into the red region. Please its OUT position. When the Input Level is correctly set there
note that the setting of this may have to be will be hardly any difference in volume
re-adjusted after modification of the EQ EQUALISATION - This consists of BASS, between Compression IN and Compression
controls. MIDDLE and TREBLE controls with two sliders OUT. This is because the amplifier
placed between each control. This can be automatically compensates for the reduction
PUSH FLAT / SHAPE - With this button in its used in a number of ways: in level that would be apparent when
OUT position a fixed E.Q. is superimposed on Compression is added by increasing the
the preamp to give a bright but punchy Firstly as a very simple Bass, Middle and overall gain to restore the volume to its pre
character to the sound. Pushing this button Treble tone control section as found on older compression level, because of this you may
IN returns the preamp to a Flat frequency traditional amplifiers. This is done by leaving notice an increase in background noise with
response. the two sets of sliders interposed between high compression settings.
these controls set in their centre positions
This function may also be controlled from a and using only the BASS, MIDDLE and TREBLE COMPRESSION IN/OUT – This push button
footswitch. For the footswitch to operate this controls to alter the overall tone. switches the Compression IN or OUT. This
button must be in its OUT position. function may also be controlled from the
Secondly, if more control is required then the Ashdown 4 way footswitch. For the
VALVE DRIVE - This routes the signal either sliders can also be used to tailor the E.Q. in footswitch to operate this button must be in
through a clean Solid State amplification the regions between the main tone controls. its OUT position.
section (control on zero) or through a Dual This provides a very versatile Equalisation
Triode Tube amplification/overdrive section section, it is simple to understand and SUB HARMONICS - This section produces
in order to add either tonal character i.e. operate, yet provides a wide degree of Sub Harmonics an octave below the notes
warmth with the control set at 9 o’clock, a variation. It retains the simplicity of a three- being played. The level of these Sub
slight edge in the sound at 12 0’clock control tone section but provides the Harmonics relative to the straight bass sound
through to an increasing degree of Tube flexibility of a graphic equaliser. can be adjusted using the LEVEL control.
distortion/overdrive as the control is This is very effective in thickening the sound
advanced to maximum. COMPRESSION – Adding a small amount of and you will find in use that only a small
compression gives a fat bottom end to the degree of this lower octave is required to
A Mix of these two amplification sections can sound and allows a greater volume of really fill out the sound and provide a
be achieved with this control. amplification to be used without the playing character that is not possible by any other
N.B. The degree of tube distortion provided peaks distorting the amplifiers output stage. means.
by this control will also depend on the You will also find that this will add definition
setting of the INPUT control. to your playing bringing out notes within a The degree of Sub Harmonics is also
run more clearly as it evens out the dynamics dependant on the setting of the BASS
of your playing. control.
Front Panel Facilities (continued)

DIRECT INJECT (D.I.) - A balanced D.I. is PUSH TO MUTE - When pushed IN this OUTPUT LEVEL - The OUTPUT control
provided on a latching XLR socket. This has a button mutes the output from the preamp to adjusts the overall level of the amplifier.
push button placed below it that allows the the power amp, mutes the output from the Adjust this for your preferred overall stage
user to choose either a Pre E.Q. signal (button D.I. socket and mutes the output from the playing volume.
pushed IN) or a Post E.Q. Post Sub and effects LINE Out socket as well. This leaves the
signal (button OUT). output from the TUNER socket still available
to allow muted tuning. An LED is provided
The output signal from this XLR socket is set next to this switch to indicate when the
to a level and impedance suitable for amplifier is muted. This function operates
connecting directly into the Microphone only from the front panel MUTE push switch.
input of a mixing desk for either Direct i.e. pressing this button mutes all sound from
Injection into the PA system or for recording. the amplifier and allows a tuner connected to
This must ONLY be used into a Balanced the TUNER socket to operate for silent tuning.
Microphone input, it is not intended for any Release the button and you are back in
other type of connection. action again.

This has a floating ground that is referenced TUNER OUT - This output socket provides a
to the mixing console it is plugged into and line level signal that can be used for a
should not need ground lifting. It is also permanent connection to a tuner.
unaffected by Phantom Powering on the
Microphone input. The signal from this socket remains when all
other outputs from the amplifier are Muted
Make sure your XLR plug does not have the allowing all sound from the amplifier to be
shell of the plug internally connected to silenced while tuning is in progress.
signal ground or this will connect the system
to chassis ground of the ABM and may cause LINE OUT -This output socket provides a line
problems with hum. level/post Output Level control signal for
connection to an external power amplifier
driving additional speaker cabinets.
 Rear Panel Facilities

I o

EVOIII 500

I o

EVOIII 900

EVOIII Rackmount Preamp

LINE INPUT - The rear panel has a Line Input 4-WAY FOOTSWITCH SOCKET - For the 4 Crossover frequency is adjustable from 35 to
socket for connection of other signal sources way footswitch to operate it is essential that 160Hz with a level control for the LOW PASS
into the system. This can be used for the corresponding front panel push buttons output to adjust the balance between LOW
plugging a CD, Tape or MP3 player into the be in the OUT position. and HIGH outputs signals.
amplifier for practising, rehearsing or for
connection of a second pre-amp into the This is a mono jack socket for connection of There is also a FULL RANGE jack line output
system. the supplied Ashdown 4 way footswitch only. provided.
Always connect this prior to turning on the
EFFECTS SEND / RETURN - A serial effects power to the amplifier as the footswitch This section is provided with switched output
loop is provided at a level of 0dB. derives its power from the amplifier and levels for simplified connection to power
The EFFECTS SEND socket can also be used as sends a serial data stream to the amplifier in amplifiers that require either a 0dB or +4dB
a Line Out socket if required as the signal order to operate the various functions. signal level. This switches the levels of all
path through the preamp is only broken Each of the 4 facilities available for selection three outputs.
when a jack plug is inserted into the EFFECTS is indicated by an LED that will light when
RETURN socket. that facility is selected from the footswitch. SPEAKER OUTPUT (except Rack Preamp) -
The Speaker Output sockets are also situated
The EFFECTS SEND is situated after the EQ, CROSSOVER AND OUTPUTS (Rack Preamp on the rear panel of the unit.
the Valve section the Compression and the only) - The BASS MAGNIFIER RACK PRE-AMP
Sub Bass Processor. has a built in high precision CROSSOVER with
separate jack socket outputs for the HIGH
PASS and LOW PASS signals.
Specifications

INPUTS
High Input Impedance 3.9M Ohms Input range 150mV to 20V p-p
Low Input Impedance 10K Ohms Input range 300mV to 40V p-p
Line Input Impedance 22K Ohms Input level 0dBu nominal
Effects Return Impedance 22K Ohms Input level 0dBu nominal

OUTPUTS
Tuner Output Impedance 1K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
Line Output Impedance 10K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
Effects Send Impedance 22K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
D.I. Output 600 Ohms balanced Level -20dBu nominal

(rackmount preamp only)

Low Pass (RPM-1 only) Impedance 1K Ohms Level switched 0/+4dBU
High Pass (RPM-1 only) Impedance 1K Ohms Level switched 0/+4dBU
Full Range (RPM-1 only) Impedance 1K Ohms Level switched 0/+4dBU

EQUALISATION
Shape (Push Flat) +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave
Bass +/-15dB @ 45Hz
Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz
Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving
Slider1 +/-15dB @ 110Hz
Slider 2 +/-15dB @ 340Hz
Slider 3 +/-15dB @ 1.3kHz
Slider 4 +/-15dB @ 2.6kHz

Frequency Response -3dB at 17Hz and 30KHz

Rackmount Preamp Crossover Variable between 35 and 160Hz

Speaker Outputs Minimum impedance 4 Ohms

www.ashdownmusic.com