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Ashdown Dual-Band Compressor problem

E

Espidog

May 19, 2006
580
9
UK
#1
I've just acquired this unit and I'm not happy with how it's behaving.

The box carries a sticker saying "For low Output/Passive Basses only". This should be no problem, as I've only got a passive Ric 4003.

It produces a spitting, mushy, low-level distortion, even when the input signal is peaking nowhere near the red zone of its VU meter. If I back off the input level control to a point at which the distortion has disappeared, the VU meter needle is barely moving, and the input signal is too low to trigger proper compression!

The distortion is worse on the low-frequency side of the circuit (hardly surprising - more signal energy to deal with). The hi-freq side is fairly (but not totally) clean.

The battery is brand new, so it isn't suffering lack of juice.

Has anyone else got one of these units (I know they're only just coming into the USA, but there must be some UK TBers who own one or have tried it). Surely they're not meant to behave this poorly? I'm seriously fed up. :(
 
#2
interesting.... I'll do some quick ProTooling microscope work with it tonight to see how it really reacts when nothing else is in the way.

btw, I am using it with an Aguilar OBP-1 equipped Bongo5 and a Sterling dual H...... haven't noticed the "passive basses only" sticker though

lemme see about running it about tonight..... about.... :smug:
 
#5
alexclaber said:
How ridiculous! Considering the heritage of this box it seems rather bizarre - my old TE Dual Band Compressor had no problems with my loud active bass. And how hard would it be to have an input pad?

Alex
Click to expand...

Exactly - I'm beginning to think that somewhere down the line between Ashdown and me, somebody has been pulling a fast one, in order to justify selling a faulty unit. I ought to ring Ashdown and ask if they've ever put such a sticker on their boxes.

If you want to hear just how bad it is, there's an mp3 (900kB) [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It contains 4 samples in this order:
1) Bypass
2) Lo-band comp only (control at 2 o'clock)
3) Hi-band comp only (control at 2 o'clock)
4) Lo-Hi mix (balance control at 1 o'clock)

Horrible, isn't it?

Throughout recording, the Input Level control was at 10 o'clock and the VU was barely peaking to -5. All the distortion you hear was generated by the compressor itself.

Big thanks to cmhgreg and Psychicpet for the effort they've been putting in on my behalf - much appreciated.
 
#6
No need to ring them, that sticker is from Ashdown. It was mentioned in this month's Bass Guitar Magazine (the British one). It seems that all of the new Ashdown pedals are labelled this way (in fact it's more likely that a dubious dealer would take it off!).

I'm quite tempted by the compressor but until I can try one with my own basses (a Cort Curbow which is active but not incredibly high output, and a Washburn MB6 with huge output), I won't be buying.

Cheers,
Alun
 
#7
Alun said:
No need to ring them, that sticker is from Ashdown. It was mentioned in this month's Bass Guitar Magazine (the British one). It seems that all of the new Ashdown pedals are labelled this way (in fact it's more likely that a dubious dealer would take it off!).

I'm quite tempted by the compressor but until I can try one with my own basses (a Cort Curbow which is active but not incredibly high output, and a Washburn MB6 with huge output), I won't be buying.

Cheers,
Alun
Click to expand...

Hi Alun,
Thanks for the info on the sticker - very curious. Your post came in so quickly that you've probably missed the extra bit I added to my last post, about the mp3 example. Go have a listen - it's not a nice experience! :crying:
 
#8
Yeah, I did miss that bit. Ouch - that is not good and doesn't sound intentional.

Have you tried taking it back and trying a different one? I'd be amazed (and concerned ) if that was the "acceptable" quality for a brand new compressor.

If that is how they sound with a signal over a whisper, then Ashdown have done themselves out of a large part of the bass market.

Cheers,
Alun
 
#9
Alas, if only it were that easy. Returning it isn't really a viable option, not without a lot of hassle anyway. The guy I bought it from received it as a present (so he doesn't have the receipt), but he has an active bass, so realising he couldn't use it, he put it on eBay without even trying it. It's effectively a brand new item, but I'm too many steps away from the original purchase to attempt a return.

Not to worry! If it's definitely faulty (and it seems pretty clear that it is), I'll fix it. I'm used to doing electronic repairs, although I normally prefer working on valve circuitry. Solid state is so FIDDLY!
 
#12
Panda said:
I have same problem with Ash comp and 18V :/ Now, im trying to sell unit and Im thinking about EBS Multicomp...
Click to expand...

Did I read that correctly? You've been running it off an 18V supply? I'm really not sure that's advisable, as it is specified for a 9v supply only.
 

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