Ashdown MF484 2.N review

Ashdown’s new 30-watt head features Two Notes’ integrated speaker emulation and reactive load, making it a powerful tool for live and studio

Ashdown MF484 2.N head
(Image: © Future / Phil Barker)

Guitar World Verdict

While it may not be the cheapest 30-watt tube head available out there, Ashdown’s MF484 2.N is a serious powerhouse of tone that’s built to last. As an amp that’s aimed at professional players and serious amateurs, we reckon it’s great value for money.

Pros

  • +

    Well-made, straightforward, compact head.

  • +

    At home on stage or in studio.

  • +

    Vintage and modern tones.

  • +

    Plenty of power.

  • +

    Embedded Two Notes speaker emulation.

Cons

  • -

    No front-panel switch for boost function.

  • -

    Positioning of hand-grips makes it quite awkward to carry.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

While best known for its bass amps, which is practically an industry standard, Ashdown’s guitar amp range is just as tempting – perhaps even more so now as the company is one of the latest manufacturers to produce a Two Notes Torpedo-loaded amplifier. 

Now, speaker cabinet emulation has come of age in the last decade, with analogue filtering replaced by digital impulse response (IR) technology, which in turn is being superseded by dynamic impulse response tools. These combine hundreds if not thousands of static IRs in apps and create real-time changes in virtual room size, cabinet type and microphone type and placement for often scarily realistic ‘amp in a room’ effects.

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Nick Guppy

Nick Guppy was Guitarist magazine's amp guru for over 20 years. He built his first valve amplifier at the age of 12 and bought, sold and restored many more, with a particular interest in Vox, Selmer, Orange and tweed-era Fenders, alongside Riveras and Mark Series Boogies. When wielding a guitar instead of soldering iron, he enjoyed a diverse musical career playing all over the UK, including occasional stints with theatre groups, orchestras and big bands as well as power trios and tributes. He passed away suddenly in April 2024, leaving a legacy of amplifier wisdom behind him.