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Ashdown higher wattage tube amps. Any thoughts?

two fingers

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,684
55
Eastern NC USA
#1
Anybody use them?

I love the tone of my Ashdown LB30. I'm just thinking of moving up mainly because of the added features. I'm talking about the CTM 100 and CTM 300. But, honestly, the big gun has my attention too (BTA 400).

But I never see/hear anything about them.

How about it? Any experience with these?
 
#4
I have an LB30 that I purchased used from the classified section here. VERY happy with it so far. I also have a CTM300 that can seemingly do no wrong as well. I play it primarily through a Dually, but I've experimented with it through a 12/6 Cube cab as well. Before I switched over to Greenboy cabs, I was running it through an old Trace Elliot 1524 cab loaded with kappalite 3015 drivers.
The EQ is VERY subtle, but I think most people with the CTM amps have mentioned this. You get most of your tone sculpting from "mellow", "deep", "shift" & "bright" buttons. As for power, it's never been lacking and to be honest, I can hardly get the VU to move beyond the -8 position. In other words, I've never been able to push it into overdrive, but that's what pedals are for. I play G&L basses with MFD's in them.
Oh, and the amp weighs more than the Dually.
 
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#7
BlushResponse said:
I have an LB30 that I purchased used from the classified section here. VERY happy with it so far. I also have a CTM300 that can seemingly do no wrong as well. I play it primarily through a Dually, but I've experimented with it through a 12/6 Cube cab as well. Before I switched over to Greenboy cabs, I was running it through an old Trace Elliot 1524 cab loaded with kappalite 3015 drivers.
The EQ is VERY subtle, but I think most people with the CTM amps have mentioned this. You get most of your tone sculpting from "mellow", "deep", "shift" & "bright" buttons. As for power, it's never been lacking and to be honest, I can hardly get the VU to move beyond the -8 position. In other words, I've never been able to push it into overdrive, but that's what pedals are for. I play G&L basses with MFD's in them.
Oh, and the amp weighs more than the Dually.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Those MFD pickups run kinda bright. Is that the sound you are going for or do you manage to take them a bit with the amp?.... or even the knobs on the G&L?

In other words, does the amp do from old school thump the more bright and edgy?
 
#8
two fingers said:
Thanks! Those MFD pickups run kinda bright. Is that the sound you are going for or do you manage to take them a bit with the amp?.... or even the knobs on the G&L?

In other words, does the amp do from old school thump the more bright and edgy?
Click to expand...
I follow you.
I usually leave my basses wide open, tone wise, so I do all my fiddling from the amp. For example, I tend to engage the Bright feature when playing it through the Dually, but didn't need so much high end when playing through my 12/6 cube. I've pulled off synthy new wave Peter Hook type stuff and gritty rock stuff mostly using pedals. The CTM has handled it remarkably well.
I don't regret my purchase at all so far.
 
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#9
BlushResponse said:
I follow you.
I usually leave my basses wide open, tone wise, so I do all my fiddling from the amp. For example, I tend to engage the Bright feature when playing it through the Dually, but didn't need so much high end when playing through my 12/6 cube. I've pulled off synthy new wave Peter Hook type stuff and gritty rock stuff mostly using pedals. The CTM has handled it remarkably well.
I don't regret my purchase at all so far.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I have been really happy with the LB30 and wondered if the bigger amps in the lineup kept the magic of that little guy. I put the LB30 somewhere between the Fender fat and warm clean sound and the brighter, more mid range Ampeg tone. Sure, you can brighten up a Fender or beef up an Ampeg. But the LB30 goes to that place right out of the gate. So I can fatten it if I want to go more Fender and add a little mid bump if I want it to do an Ampeg impression. It doesn't "nail" either one. But it's close enough for rock n roll and I love it's stock tone anyway.

Thanks for your help.
 
#13
quickervicar said:
Maybe he's a home remodeller?

How does the tone profile compare to the Trace?
Click to expand...
My old V-Type 4001 amp came pretty close to the CTM. Not a Hi Fi tone like my old SMX or SM series Trace amps I had. The deep, mid shift and bright buttons are straight up similar to the layout on my V-Type.
For years I've been a Trace Elliot fanboy. If you cut me, I'd bleed green, but since I've been playing the CTM, I've slowly sold off almost all of my Trace gear for Ashdown tube heads and Greenboy cabs. The only Trace gear I have now is an awesome 2103x cab and my BLX130 with matching extension cab.
That's how much I like the Ashdown tube heads.
 
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#14
Downunderwonder said:
What do you need with 300 or 400 tube watts?
Click to expand...
The bta400 is a 350w. A lot depends on cabinet selection. As wrong speakers lose those critical Hz as they drop. Amps from the specs five string might lose a little of those lower Hz too.
You never know when you'll need the amp as a room warmer and A warm tone.
A good tube amp at home is better 10 class D's at the gig
Then again us humans don't hear bass as well as tremble.
 
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#15
Drgonzonm said:
The bta400 is a 350w. A lot depends on cabinet selection. As wrong speakers lose those critical Hz as they drop. Amps from the specs five string might lose a little of those lower Hz too.
You never know when you'll need the amp as a room warmer and A warm tone.
A good tube amp at home is better 10 class D's at the gig
Then again us humans don't hear bass as well as tremble.
Click to expand...
OP has tube warnth and enough power with his 30w.
 
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#17
Downunderwonder said:
OP has tube warnth and enough power with his 30w.
Click to expand...

I get it. I have just become a fan of the tone of that brand and am thinking of trying another product from them. I haven't had any trouble being heard at all. The LB30 provides the tone and enough power and the Epifani UL410 makes it kick you in the ribs.

There is nobody on Earth who "needs" an SVT, but nothing does what it does better. This isn't about needing more volume per say. This is more like "I like the Chevy truck so I think I'll try a Corvette for fun."
 
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#18
two fingers said:
I get it. I have just become a fan of the tone of that brand and am thinking of trying another product from them. I haven't had any trouble being heard at all. The LB30 provides the tone and enough power and the Epifani UL410 makes it kick you in the ribs.

There is nobody on Earth who "needs" an SVT, but nothing does what it does better. This isn't about needing more volume per say. This is more like "I like the Chevy truck so I think I'll try a Corvette for fun."
Click to expand...
to borrow from your car analogy, you would only be able to use first gear.on a monster tube amp.
 
#19
Downunderwonder said:
to borrow from your car analogy, you would only be able to use first gear.on a monster tube amp.
Click to expand...

Man, I appreciate the advice. In really do. But even though the LB30 is enough for most stages, that doesn't mean 100W is overkill. Gazillions of bass players use all tube Ampeg V4 (never mind SVT), Fender Bassman 100 (never mind the Superbassman), and other 100-300W amps with no small animals getting killed or damage to the structural integrity of buildings. I'm fine with the LB30. I'm a fan. But, really, you have made your point.

I am interested in something OTHER than the LB30 from Ashdown. I would like to read as many real world experiences as possible about the CTM series. I have stated several times in this thread that some of the other FEATURES have me interested. It's not all about watts. Thanks.
 

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