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Ashdown CTM15 vs Little Bastard / CTM30

Nightvision

Nightvision

May 20, 2008
253
11
43
South of France
#1
Hello folks,
Already have a CTM100 right now, but want to downsized and don't need so much power.
Owned a Little Bastard months ago, regret selling it, the sound was really great, i think it's the amp i love the most, especially the highs, who was really beautiful.
I would like to know if the CTM 15 have exactly the same sound, with an additionnal gain control and less power?
Does someone have/had both and compare them?
I'm afraid that the CTM15 sounds like a small guitar tube amp, no low end/harsh highs/no thump/thin sound…

Thank you (please excuse my english)
 
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#2
Never tried the lower wattage CTM's but the 15 and 30w versions but the 100 and 300 watt versions are amazing. They ARE all valve too my knowledge despite others claiming they're not, and will probably produce similar sounds but with much less headroom. I suppose if you have a big enough cab with lots of low end with a lot of bass response, then It should work nicely.
 
#5
I own the CTM 15. I recently re-tubed it with JJ tube to add some bottom end to it as well as have a little more gain in the pre-amp section before it breaks up.

The tone controls are passive, so the don[t give you a lot of variation in the sound. Most people turn the bass all the way up and the tone all the way down.

Adding volume to the power section increases the low end.

Adding power to the pre-amp increases the highs.

I find I get the most variety when adding an external pre-amp.
 
#7
Nightvision said:
Does it sound thin? Like if you play with a guitar amp?
Click to expand...

I've had both amps (LB30 and CTM15) and to be honest, yes, it is a little thin. The LB had way more low end but the CTM15 had such a cool OD when pushed. In a band setting the LB won but solo (for funzies) I'd go for the CTM. Now, if you pair the CTM15 with a big cab (215, 610, 810) it can give some decent low end. Still a super fun amp to rip on.
 
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#8
Nightvision said:
Does it sound thin? Like if you play with a guitar amp?
Click to expand...

I just sold my LB30 locally. The person I sold it to purchased a CTM-15 and was complaining that it was thin, like a guitar amp. I never heard the 15 or played through one so I can't say from personal experience, but it seemed he was very unhappy with the CTM-15 tone as a bass amp. This is why he wanted the LB30.

FWIW, the CTM-100 does everything the LB30 does, and then some. (which is why I sold mine) but I can see why you would want to downsize. Not the most convenient amp to move around.
 
#9
Arg... I just buy the CTM15 10 minutes ago via eBay lol.
I will see if it's too thin when it will arrives. I've got a Yamaha 210 with a very good rich sound, and a Ampeg PF410HLF (i think i'll sold it, i don't need it).
We'll see. If the CTM15 dissapoint me, i'll sold it and buy the 30 instead. I think it will be fun to push the gain on that little thing. And for my case it's essentially for practice at home, and when i had the LB30 i was a bit frustrated by the lack of Gain control.
 
#10
Nightvision said:
A\ and when i had the LB30 i was a bit frustrated by the lack of Gain control.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you know this but if you're trying to stay clean with the CTM15, you'll need to dime (max out) the master and use the gain as your "volume". Even with that approach (and considering what cabs you're running) it's going to start to dirty up around 9 or 10 o'clock on the gain….IME.
 
#13
husky123 said:
I'm sure you know this but if you're trying to stay clean with the CTM15, you'll need to dime (max out) the master and use the gain as your "volume". Even with that approach (and considering what cabs you're running) it's going to start to dirty up around 9 or 10 o'clock on the gain….IME.
Click to expand...

I swapped out the factory Chinese tubes for JJ tubes that add a little more bottom end. I usually keep my gain turned all the way down as it adds brightness to the overall tone. It gets loud when you dime the volume. I run it through a Bergantino and completely dig the sound. I had some bassists over the other day and there were no complaints.

I was going to do a comparison video of my "wall of sound" - which has the following 3 amps:
  • Warwick LWA 1000 -> Bergantino HT322
  • Ashdown CMT 15 -> Bergantino CN210
  • Phil Jones Bass Buddy -> Phil Jones C4
Everything sounds beefy through the HT322, the C4 requires a lot of EQ tweaking, but nothing sounds like a guitar amp except the Blackstar.
 
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#14
SubNoizeRat3691 said:
I've owned the LB, and currently have the CTM-30. I like the CTM-30 better, but that may just be the learning curve w/ the passive EQ section. Through a 215 the 30 watts sounds huge! It also sounds quite good with a fEARful 12/6.
Click to expand...

The CTM-30 and LB30 are the same amp in a different visual package. Both have passive EQ. Look at your transformers on the CTM-30, they are probably labeled "LB"
 
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#16
I own a Invalid Link Removed, a Invalid Link Removed and a Invalid Link Removed.
All this three amps have their own sound:
The CTM15 sounds thinner than the LB30. The LB30 has a really good sounding "vintage-Sound" with a lot of lows. The CTM100 almost sounds like the LB30, but with more mids and much "louder".
 
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#17
disssa said:
I own a Invalid Link Removed, a Invalid Link Removed and a Invalid Link Removed.
All this three amps have their own sound:
The CTM15 sounds thinner than the LB30. The LB30 has a really good sounding "vintage-Sound" with a lot of lows. The CTM100 almost sounds like the LB30, but with more mids and much "louder".
Click to expand...

I read your review and agree with you - changing tubes really alters the tone of the amp. One of the reasons chose the JJ tubes was for the increased low end. I almost never use the gain as well.

I may post a reference video for your consideration.
 
#19
Acoustic356 said:
I swapped out the factory Chinese tubes for JJ tubes that add a little more bottom end. I usually keep my gain turned all the way down as it adds brightness to the overall tone. It gets loud when you dime the volume. I run it through a Bergantino and completely dig the sound. I had some bassists over the other day and there were no complaints.

I was going to do a comparison video of my "wall of sound" - which has the following 3 amps:
  • Warwick LWA 1000 -> Bergantino HT322
  • Ashdown CMT 15 -> Bergantino CN210
  • Phil Jones Bass Buddy -> Phil Jones C4
Everything sounds beefy through the HT322, the C4 requires a lot of EQ tweaking, but nothing sounds like a guitar amp except the Blackstar.
Click to expand...

Did you swap out all the tubes or just power or just pre? Make much difference? I have an Ampeg SCR DI in front of mine and the bass boost on that makes it sound great but it really needs help to get enough bottom. Still it's a lot of fun.
 
#20
Doner Designs said:
Did you swap out all the tubes or just power or just pre? Make much difference? I have an Ampeg SCR DI in front of mine and the bass boost on that makes it sound great but it really needs help to get enough bottom. Still it's a lot of fun.
Click to expand...

I don't have the amp any more, but IIRC I swapped 3 tubes. Pre amp tube and a matched pair for the power tube. I basically read the description of the tubes and found one that said it gave a rich low end. Made a huge difference.
 

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