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Ashdown Little Bastard question

two fingers

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,684
55
Eastern NC USA
#1
I am looking for a tube combination that is slowest to break up on this little beast.

I love the tone. I just want to he able to push it harder with less breakup. It's not even really about volume. It's more about pushing it hard to get that "about to break up but not gonna" tone. Or maybe more accurately I want it to break up, but just a little, not a lot.

I'm willing to change pre and output tubes.

Thoughts?

(By the way, I really dig this little thing. I play it out whenever I think it will handle it.... which is almost all the time.)
 
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#3
I run an ART Tube MP thru the Effects return. You can crank the volume on the LB30 then use the Input and Output on the MP as the Gain and Master, respectively. 'Course you'll need some tone-shaping since you are bypassing the preamp on the LB30. I also use a fdeck HPF to keep it from farting out on the bottom end. Overall, using the Input on the MP as a gain switch gives you more control over the breakup. You can also boost the signal with a preamp and keep the 'gain' really low to get max volume with minimum breakup.
 
#4
The fix most regularly discussed is substituting a 12AU7 for the 12AX7 preamp tube. I've got an LB30, but never cared to try the swap. Search for "12AU7" plus "Bastard" and I'm sure you'll find the discussion.
 
#5
Lowbrow said:
The fix most regularly discussed is substituting a 12AU7 for the 12AX7 preamp tube. I've got an LB30, but never cared to try the swap. Search for "12AU7" plus "Bastard" and I'm sure you'll find the discussion.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but doesn't that just move the breakup point higher up the dial rather than actually give you extra headroom?

Honestly, it's been my experience that 25w and 30w amps are what they are, and even if you could squeeze a little extra out of them, it's not going to be enough to matter, as the overall design will be the limiting factor.
 
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#7
I've tried the 12AU7 thing with my Bastard, didn't seem to do all that much, I haven't tried swapping power tubes yet.
I've actually considered getting another one, I love mine. Does the CTM-100 have the same tone stack?
I would love to have this tone, but louder.
 
#8
GrooverMcTube said:
I run an ART Tube MP thru the Effects return. You can crank the volume on the LB30 then use the Input and Output on the MP as the Gain and Master, respectively. 'Course you'll need some tone-shaping since you are bypassing the preamp on the LB30.
Click to expand...
The effects return is pre-EQ on my CTM-30 (LB30 successor) and on the schematic I have for the LB30. There is an unconfirmed report that some LB30's are post? The EQ on these is pretty subtle as it's a Fender style (AKA cheaparse) tone stack, boost only on the Bass and Treble and cut only on the Mid.
 
#9
Thanks for chiming in guys. It's really hard to explain what I am going for because more volume, in and of itself, isn't the intended goal. If that's a byproduct, fine.

This little beast gets pretty stinking loud through my EA VL210.

This may be inaccurate so no flames please. I almost feel like what I want to hear is more the power tubes than the preamp? I probably need to just sit and study the circuit a little. I may even be able to play with an input resistor or something else, which did wonders for my old Fender PA 100 (which also sounds really good as a bass amp).

I will have to look up the schematics for mine and see where it falls as far as pre/post loop.
I have all kinds of 12a*7 tubes laying around too. Might be time to do some rolling.

This EQ section took some time to get used to. But I am really enjoying the amp. It's perfect for small club, private party or church gigs. And the line out tapping off the output tranny is a nice touch. Every sound guy I work with loves it.

I am no fan of the maxed out dirt sound of it. But there is a lot more to be squeezed from this amp in clean (ish) volume than it gets credit for sometimes. It has been a fun piece to own so far. My attention span for gear is usually short but this one still has my attention.
 
#10
I have a CTM-30, and I feel like there's a little too much preamp gain and preamp distortion when I plug directly into the "Low" input. Since I gig with two basses, I use a little two-channel tube preamp in front of it, an A/B switch, and run that into the "High" input. This gives me better control of the level through the preamp (as well as balancing levels between the two basses). I like it a lot better when I don't hit the preamp as hard, and turn up the volume more knob a bit. I like it when the VU meter is just pushing into the red on the loud attacks.

Have you tried just plugging your bass into the "High" input? That should give less preamp distortion, but still let you drive the power amp hard.

If that doesn't do it, you might try some different output tubes... maybe some that are selected for early breakup? That might give you a wider dynamic range with a little distortion, but not too much, instead of going directly from clean to full fuzz?
 
#11
i too have the CTM-30 and went for the TAD EL84 STR tubes which are supposed to have a bit more clean power and low end - but therefor break up harsher when they finally do. The opposite of those would be JJ EL844 tubes which are specifically made to break up earlier and softer (extra small plates - mostly for guitards). And yes, my active "P" into the hotter input will overdrive the preamp a bit. I actually use a power soak so I can overdrive the outputs at any volume, usually set to about 1/2 in rehearsal and I still need earplugs.
 
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#13
rickdog said:
I have a CTM-30, and I feel like there's a little too much preamp gain and preamp distortion when I plug directly into the "Low" input. Since I gig with two basses, I use a little two-channel tube preamp in front of it, an A/B switch, and run that into the "High" input. This gives me better control of the level through the preamp (as well as balancing levels between the two basses). I like it a lot better when I don't hit the preamp as hard, and turn up the volume more knob a bit. I like it when the VU meter is just pushing into the red on the loud attacks.

Have you tried just plugging your bass into the "High" input? That should give less preamp distortion, but still let you drive the power amp hard.

If that doesn't do it, you might try some different output tubes... maybe some that are selected for early breakup? That might give you a wider dynamic range with a little distortion, but not too much, instead of going directly from clean to full fuzz?
Click to expand...

Yes I use the high output. Great suggestions though! Thanks!
 
#14
RoadRanger said:
i too have the CTM-30 and went for the TAD EL84 STR tubes which are supposed to have a bit more clean power and low end - but therefor break up harsher when they finally do. The opposite of those would be JJ EL844 tubes which are specifically made to break up earlier and softer (extra small plates - mostly for guitards). And yes, my active "P" into the hotter input will overdrive the preamp a bit. I actually use a power soak so I can overdrive the outputs at any volume, usually set to about 1/2 in rehearsal and I still need earplugs.
Click to expand...


Good info on the tubes. Thanks!
 
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