NAD ASHDOWN LB-30

[rodl2005]

Just got this, literally a few mins ago.
Tried out quickly thru my Berg AE112
Sounds great & plenty of volume. Will post pics asap.

[rodl2005]

Used the new LB-30 & AE212 cab tonite.
Just beautiful & easily loud enough with our 11 piece Motown show band.
More later.

[4-string]

Cool!

Pics please.

[T. Alan Smith]

Very interested in how this would pair up with my ceramic Berg 1x12"s.

[rodl2005]

Pics coming......, I haven't got any other Berg cabs than my AE's, so I can't really comment there, but I had a NV215 up until last week. It would've sounded great thru that.
I didn't have time to play around with it last nite(as in play with eq, I just got a nice tone & left it)-busy rehearsal!
But will later today, & amm taking a 1x15" with me to try.
Will let you know my thoughts.
I was just pleased it had a great easily dialled-in tone & had enough headroom.

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

I was just pleased it had a great easily dialled-in tone & had enough headroom.

...and THOSE are the 2 criteria I was most interested in.

[rodl2005]

Yeah, me too!
I actually had my Mesa Walkabout there for the rehearsal, I didn't know the LB-30 was arriving that day.
So I ended up plugging in the WA too. Amazing how much the WA sounds 'all tube'!
But I was almost running out of headroom (probly more from the single 12" driver than the WA's pwr) with the 1x12" WA, so the whole band turned down
Running the LB-30, I had about the same amount of volume-but thru a 2x12" cab.
Will take a cuppla pics & try it with my Mark Bass HR115 cab (which has the horn & x-over bypassed) later today.
Am looking forward to the weekend, where Sat's gig is a BIG corporate function, in the entertainment center, & so, has a nice big PA, & the engineer knows us well. So I might take the LB-30 & 2 115's.
It seems to have a decent amount of punch & 'girth' too.
Surprised me actually.
I'd heard conflicting reports that it gets dirty real early, not enough clean headroom, not enough headroom overall....etc...
I thought, that it might be a li'l on the light side re punch, volume..everything really. But I've found the opposite really.
Sure, it ain't 300w tube, but, I owned an Ampeg V4BH(100w all tube) & this ain't far off.
On early opinion at least, (I did only get it yesterday & Have only used it 2x, once in my office & once with our Motown show band rehearsal) it has
a really nice tone & lots of punch. Typical all tube sweetness, with that natural compression & very interactive controls-which I must play with later today.

[rodl2005]

Quick update. Had a quick fiddle
in my break at work.
I had my passive Pbass plugged into the active input-duh??
So it's got more volume than I previously thought.
More later.
Pics:

[rodl2005]

Well,I found out how to get it dirty!!
simply use the 'low' input (typical Ashdown) low on this is backwards to my other amps, meaning it's for low output basses....so it's a louder input.
Wow, it sure overdrives, but will stay pretty clean up to about where I used it at last nite.(plugging my passive P into the "high"input (usually for active or hot basses)
Won't give you the Range of tones a modern amp like GB shuttles, Ampeg D class etc, but what is there is a sweet valve "old school" tone.
The eq is all very interactive & the"shift" toggle switches are topsy turvy, but work ok.
Looking forward to gig this w/end. 2 x 15"s
I might try swapping the v1 tube (12ax7) for a lower gain au7, supposed to give you a li'l more clean..... That can't be a bad thing in a 30w tube bass amp.
Also look fwd to using it with our jazz/blues band, it'll suit that perfectly!

[sad_katz]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

I had my passive Pbass plugged into the active input-duh??
So it's got more volume than I previously thought.

At least now you (we) know how to get more headroom out of the bad boy

That's a very nice amp there. Can you post video/audio samples of it? I've been interested in the little, less than 22lbs all tube head.

[T. Alan Smith]

Thanks for all the additional feedback. Looking forward to reading more as you get more time with it.

[JimmyM]

Nice score! Should make a nice low wattage rig a la B-15.

[rodl2005]

I've never posted sound samples....
Any hints? My wife just bought a nice li'l Sony vid camera, so I suppose, I could you-tube....
Again, never done it b4, so any hints & I'll be glad to post lots

Yep, Jimmy, it's a nice li'l B. A poor mans B15-for Aus. Don't see many B15's around here....
Works better than I thought it would. I still think a lower gain tube in V1 will make it even nicer.

[sad_katz]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

I've never posted sound samples....
Any hints? My wife just bought a nice li'l Sony vid camera, so I suppose, I could you-tube....
Again, never done it b4, so any hints & I'll be glad to post lots

Yep, Jimmy, it's a nice li'l B. A poor mans B15-for Aus. Don't see many B15's around here....
Works better than I thought it would. I still think a lower gain tube in V1 will make it even nicer.

Point the mic at the speakers. Quiet room with minimal reverb. Less talk, more playing Would be even better if you play fingers, pick, and slap to show the versatility of the amp.

[spaz21387]

Please post videos. I have been drooling over this amp for practice. I really hope you post videos.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by sad_katz

Point the mic at the speakers. Quiet room with minimal reverb. Less talk, more playing Would be even better if you play fingers, pick, and slap to show the versatility of the amp.

Yeah, I gather this much, & can certainly do finger, pick & "ok" slap playing.
Was more wondering how to actually post the video online. This I've never done.
Did play my Alleva-Copollo EUT5 (Ni rounds on) thru it yesterday.
Whoooo sounds great modern style too! It whumps thru 2 15"s too! Enjoying it!!!

[sad_katz]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Yeah, I gather this much, & can certainly do finger, pick & "ok" slap playing.
Was more wondering how to actually post the video online. This I've never done.
Did play my Alleva-Copollo EUT5 (Ni rounds on) thru it yesterday.
Whoooo sounds great modern style too! It whumps thru 2 15"s too! Enjoying it!!!

You can upload it through youtube.

Just create an account if haven't had one (you can use gmail for youtube, I think), log in, and click upload. When done, copy/share the link back here

[rodl2005]

Sounds pretty simple. Thx.
Will try some later today.