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Ashdown Electric Blue 180 amp

Ashdown Electric Blue 180 amp: Warm vintage tone?

  • Yep. It would work for that

    Votes: 27 50.9%

  • No. You're barking up the wrong tree

    Votes: 6 11.3%

  • There's something better... and I know what it is

    Votes: 20 37.7%
  • Total voters
    53
  • Poll closed .
jumbosilverette

jumbosilverette

Oct 21, 2005
2,412
27
L.A. (the Valley)
www.myspace.com
#1
Since everyone else asks I will too...

I have a Crate combo which is just dandy, 12" 50 watts. I play with unamplified acoustic instruments (ukuleles, a guitar or two) but would like some seperates in the unlikely event I'll play outside the group or, just to have something nice to listen to while I practice at home. I'm a beginning player, fingerstyle, 4 string PJ, influenced more by country and jazz than rock.

I've been thinking about a 15" cab for low end (but could go 210's with Avatar). Would the Ashdown Electric Blue give me a warm vintagey tone?
 
#4
Hi, I actually did a side-by-side review of an Eden vs. Mesa Boogie... these were thousand dollar heads. Just for the fun, I threw an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 combo in the mix. I must say that the power and quality of the Ashdown was really good for the price... I was impressed. Good luck.
 
#7
I've got the 12" combo myself, it does sound fine (although is's my 1st amp, not tried any Ampegs!) The versitality of the 5 band eq + deep & bright, means good variety, warm and mellow to a good modern slap (even w/out a tweeter).
If you want a vintage tone, and by that I think you mean a tubey Ampeg/Bassman/Marshall tone, then you would nedd something to help it. I'm thinking of a Behringer BDI21, to warm things, and give a bit of growl and drive, a la Geddy.:)
 
#8
ive played through the 12" combo aswell, its a good little amp. although when cranked it just cant cope. though thats irrelivent to your question! i think with almost any 15" youll be able to get that vintage tone due to lack of responce, but are you sure you want to limit yourelf that much? try before you buy mister.
 
#9
Warm Vintage tone?

That's exactly what the EB180 does best :D In my opinion it's quite characteristic of the "Ashdown Sound".

I own an Electric Blue EB12-180 (the 12" model), and love it.

I've also had the Ashdown Mag 300 head and Mag 410 cab.

I sold the Mag head and cab, but won't ever sell my EB12-180 combo.

Lovely warm vintage tone, portable, affordable, and plenty loud. I use mine mostly for rehearsals playing rock and blues with a moderately loud drummer, and two guitarists with 90w Fender combos.

For rehearsals and small gigs - it has heaps of headroom...I set the gain a little under clipping, and the master doesn't go past about 11 o'clock.

Sit it on top of an extension cab (either my Warwick 211 Pro or Warwick 410 Pro), and it is a huge little box!

For anything bigger, I use my GK 700RB-II head with the Warwick cabs.

I've tried both the 15" and 12" versions - my preference is for the warmer, more mid-centric 12". You should try both, and decide which you prefer.

They're a fabulous combo. I recommend it.

:bassist:
 
#11
at the level of the EB I woul think that the Eden CXC110 would do you amazing justice. You would have that warm tone, ability to make it harsher, and add a cab or two later if you want.

I heard this amp and was amazed at its reproduction of a jazz sound and in the blink of an eye it reproduced hard rock, punk, and funk. It was as loud as the apartment front room could handle. --- the windows were rattling ---

I have nothing against Ashdown. I love the British sound.

Just My Opinion.

Stumpy
 
#13
You guys have been great. True to form opinion at this point is evenly divided: 50% yea, 50% nay. I should remind you guys that I'm looking to build a rig, not a combo. The Ashdown is available for $164 shipped at a few places so I have a little money left over for a cabinet -- what size, I don't know.

Anyways, thanks again for helping out, Remember, vote early and vote often. Now back to our regularly schedeuled program.
 
#16
The ashdown will give a warm toned down type of sound. The thing is that its so warm that it kills all effects you try playing throught regardless is its through the effects loop or not. I don't know what basscase^ is talking about because thats not true i don't know what was wrong with his amp. If you liked a toned down feel with a growl(with the EQ set up right) is can be a great amp for what your looking for. If you have any questions about this amp shoot me a PM
 
#17
basscase said:
I own an ashdown 180-15 BLUE and I'm sorry to say but it
does not have a warm tone. I've tried several basses thru
it and always got a treble like tone,even with flatwounds.
You might would look elsewhere.
BASSCASE
Click to expand...

Maybe you should double check dude ;)

Could be your EQ, your amp, or your definition of warm...but Ashdowns Trademark sound is a very warm sound and the Electric Blue combos articulate it well. They are Far from trebly...
 
#18
I had an EB for a few weeks. Worst amp I've ever played in all my 30+ years. Tone wasn't anything to rave about and it distorted too easily. Saved my money and went with an Eden Nemesis... MUCH better choice. I spoke with some local musicians who are also familiar with the Ashdowns and they confirmed, the quality that Ashdown is known for won't be found in the EB line.
 
#19
I just bought an Ashdown EB12-180 today, for a pretty killer deal! ($200) I was surprised that it had a nice warm tone to it and when you change the eq by different combinations, you can get a lot of different tones. But from trying other (more pricey) amps, I would say Ampeg is the best for the Vintage tone. They sound excellent, but too pricey for my range.

So you're looking at the Ashdown Electric Blue HEAD I assume?
 
#20
Saw a classic rock cover band about a month ago, bass player was using a electric blue 15 combo with a 2-10 ext. cab. The place was a meduim size club/bar. Was plenty loud, clear and deep. Know how to turn the knobs and you can get "vintage" sounding warmth from it. sounded great for being smaller amp. He was playing a Musicman through it.
 

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