Ashdown Tone Pocket: What Gig-worthy head sounds like it?

[JAC77]

I got a Tone Pocket for Christmas and love it. I especially like the tone I get thru headphones with my P bass. I want to get a head that has the same character, any recommendations? I've owned an Ashdown ABM-500 before, liked it but it didn't have the tone that this preamp does. I've never had a Trace Elliot amp before…. Thanks for any and all input.

p.s. I did try headphones out of several other amps so I know it's not just that I'm using headphones that creates the tone I'm looking for.

 

[Wasnex]

AFAIK, the Tone Pocket is intended as a headphone amp. It's very easy to get a good sound in headphones. In my experience, it's virtually impossible to get the same tone acoustically in a room.

From the Tone Pocket webpage.

I suggest trying the Tone Pocket as a preamp. Unfortunately the OM does not appear to identify what signal level the Line Out work at. If it's instrument level, you will need to run it into the front of another amp. If it's line level, you should be able to plug it into and effects return, which usually bypasses the preamp. To run it to a mixer, you should be able to use a TRS to XLR adapter.

 

[JAC77]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm actually looking for an amp that has that tone, or as close as I can get.

 

[Wasnex]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm actually looking for an amp that has that tone, or as close as I can get.

Have you asked Ashdown? How much power do you require?

AFAIK, The Ant is the only solid state amp in their line that appears to have the same tone controls (BMT). It may have the same preamp architecture. 196W at 4 ohms and 140W at 8 ohms...so not particularly powerful.

In my experience, different models of amps tend to have their own unique personality. Good luck finding another amp that sounds and responds like the Tone Pocket.

 

[Obese Chess]

I would also probably ask Ashdown which of their amps has the most similar tone. My recollection from reading reviews when the Tone Pocket came out is that it's pretty neutral/flat - the CTM series seem to have the same simple three band EQ, as @Wasnex noted above, but the tone may be very different since it's a tube amp. Perhaps the OriginAL?

 

[JAC77]

Good tips, thanks all!