Let's talk about the Ashdown Little Bastard

[rickdog]

Some years ago I used to run my LB30 with an EA VL210. That little cab was heavy as CRAP but it hit pretty hard with the LB.

I gigged my CTM-30 and VL210 just last night. I love that combination in the wine bars and coffeehouses where I usually play, when it's turned up to the sweet spot it's just the right volume to match a drummer who plays with finesse rather than brute strength.

But I'm getting really tired of lifting that cab, did they put concrete in the bottom to help keep it upright?

 

[two fingers]

I gigged my CTM-30 and VL210 just last night. I love that combination in the wine bars and coffeehouses where I usually play, when it's turned up to the sweet spot it's just the right volume to match a drummer who plays with finesse rather than brute strength.

But I'm getting really tired of lifting that cab, did they put concrete in the bottom to help keep it upright?

It's gotta be about a pound per cubic inch. That little sucker was heavy.

 

[Joris 55]

It's been on my GAS list since I found out about them. You don't see them up for sale for sale too often which, to me, is another sign of their quality.

Yeah, the quality definitely is up there with the big boys. I haven't had a single issue with mine. Took it to a tech for general maintenance, he didn't even charge me as he didn't have to do anything. My Blues Junior on the other hand...

 

[Joris 55]

I gigged my CTM-30 and VL210 just last night. I love that combination in the wine bars and coffeehouses where I usually play, when it's turned up to the sweet spot it's just the right volume to match a drummer who plays with finesse rather than brute strength.

But I'm getting really tired of lifting that cab, did they put concrete in the bottom to help keep it upright?

That must have been a pretty sweet sound though. What kinda bass did you use it with?

 

[Nuage420]

It's been on my GAS list since I found out about them. You don't see them up for sale for sale too often which, to me, is another sign of their quality.

My LB had scratchy pots and was a bit wonky with some of the EQ positions. But I loved what I got out of it so I sent it off for a refresh and some mods that may cost me as much as I paid for it. No regrets.

 

[rickdog]

That must have been a pretty sweet sound though. What kinda bass did you use it with?

The band I was playing with last night says they'll stage an intervention if I ever bring three basses to a gig, so I only brought my two (current) favorites: my fretless Fender Frankenstein, and Epiphone Jack Casady. Both of them sounded great. Usually with this rig I can get a little singing feedback out of the Casady, but stage and sound setup didn't let me quite get there.

 

[Joris 55]

The band I was playing with last night says they'll stage an intervention if I ever bring three basses to a gig, so I only brought my two (current) favorites: my fretless Fender Frankenstein, and Epiphone Jack Casady. Both of them sounded great. Usually with this rig I can get a little singing feedback out of the Casady, but stage and sound setup didn't let me quite get there.

I like the way your bandmates think All joking aside, those two basses should be able to cover pretty much anything. Sweet!

 

[Wasnex]

For context. We are assuming the LB550 has the same Dual Tube preamp found in the Smallbock 427. The LB30/CTM30 preamp is similar, but has some structural differences as explained above in post #8 of this thread: Ashdown Little Bastard 550

My LB30 arrived today. This is one of the recent LB30s made by the UK custom shop. I played it a bit and my impression is it's definitely voiced closer to the Smallbock 427 than the CTM300, but it's not exactly the same. The lows from the LB30 seem rounder and more organic/resonant. In comparison the 427 is looser and less focused. Between the 427, CTM300 and LB30, I think I prefer the overall tone of the LB30, but IMHO it is not really loud enough for most live performance situations. However, it should be a great choice if you need an amp for recording. I did not try the DI but the amp has no fan and the signal seems to be virtually free of noise.

Other observations:
The LB30 tone controls behave different than both the 427 and CTM300. On my LB30 the bass control is pretty much dominant. Depending upon the position of the buttons, the mid control does little to nothing at all. Even if you turn the Bass and Treble fully CCW (off), and then do a sweep with the Mid control, the change is rather subtle.

Also, I could not hear any difference when I toggled the Bass Shift selector. On the 427, CTM300, and Trace Elliot V-Types from which the Ashdowns evolved, the Bass Shift or Deep Switch puts a rather large dip in the mids. I do think the switch is working as the amp makes a little pop when the switch is toggled.

Can anyone confirm the Mid control and Bass Shift on their LB30 or CTM30 behaves the same as mine?

In regards to my comments in this post: Let's talk about the Ashdown Little Bastard My LB30 has a choke. I also found an image of another LB30 online with a choke, so apparently some have chokes and some do not. The choke is not shown on the LB30 schematic.

You can see the choke bottom right in this image (not my amp):

Image from Ashdown LB-30 Little Bastard + VS112 - 8143516149 - oficjalne archiwum Allegro

Much of this was reposted from: Ashdown Little Bastard 550

 

[Nuage420]

 

[Wasnex]

View attachment 4513315

View attachment 4513309

Notice any differences on the front panel ?

Low and High input labeling is reverses...However, the function of the inputs is not .

Location of Bass and Middle rotaries and switches are reversed.

You can see the choke through the right front panel vent.

I am probably going have to pull the chassis from the sleeve and take a look at the circuits and compare to various archived images I have.

 

[Nuage420]

Low and High input labeling is reverses...However, the function of the inputs is not .

Oh no! Mine seems to function and be labeled as intended. That would be annoying. I'm absolutely in love with this amp. I'm really getting a hang of the EQ and I have an always on light compression with a high pass that keeps things nice and punchy.

 

[Nuage420]

@Wasnex not sure if these help but i snapped some pics when i uad it out of the case last.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

For context. We are assuming the LB550 has the same Dual Tube preamp found in the Smallbock 427. The LB30/CTM30 preamp is similar, but has some structural differences as explained above in post #8 of this thread: Ashdown Little Bastard 550

My LB30 arrived today. This is one of the recent LB30s made by the UK custom shop. I played it a bit and my impression is it's definitely voiced closer to the Smallbock 427 than the CTM300, but it's not exactly the same. The lows from the LB30 seem rounder and more organic/resonant. In comparison the 427 is looser and less focused. Between the 427, CTM300 and LB30, I think I prefer the overall tone of the LB30, but IMHO it is not really loud enough for most live performance situations. However, it should be a great choice if you need an amp for recording. I did not try the DI but the amp has no fan and the signal seems to be virtually free of noise.

Other observations:
The LB30 tone controls behave different than both the 427 and CTM300. On my LB30 the bass control is pretty much dominant. Depending upon the position of the buttons, the mid control does little to nothing at all. Even if you turn the Bass and Treble fully CCW (off), and then do a sweep with the Mid control, the change is rather subtle.

Also, I could not hear any difference when I toggled the Bass Shift selector. On the 427, CTM300, and Trace Elliot V-Types from which the Ashdowns evolved, the Bass Shift or Deep Switch puts a rather large dip in the mids. I do think the switch is working as the amp makes a little pop when the switch is toggled.

Can anyone confirm the Mid control and Bass Shift on their LB30 or CTM30 behaves the same as mine?

In regards to my comments in this post: Let's talk about the Ashdown Little Bastard My LB30 has a choke. I also found an image of another LB30 online with a choke, so apparently some have chokes and some do not. The choke is not shown on the LB30 schematic.

You can see the choke bottom right in this image (not my amp):
View attachment 4513289
Image from Ashdown LB-30 Little Bastard + VS112 - 8143516149 - oficjalne archiwum Allegro

Much of this was reposted from: Ashdown Little Bastard 550

Here’s mine.

Mine behaves as it should I suppose.

If you really want to hear what the mid-shift knob does, put the mid control to 0 and dime the bass all the way up. Mid-shift in the up position, you can hear the bass (low mid) being pronounced. And with it down, a much thinner produced bass tone.

 

[Nuage420]

Here’s mine.
View attachment 4513450
Mine behaves as it should I suppose.

If you really want to hear what the mid-shift knob does, put the mid control to 0 and dime the bass all the way up. Mid-shift in the up position, you can hear the bass (low mid) being pronounced. And with it down, a much thinner produced bass tone.

Yea I stumbled on that the other day. It's kinda crazy how the switches change everything and the difference combos available. I can see how it can become frustrating for some but I'm patient and if I find a tone I want to revisit I have a notebook to annotate the settings.

 

[foal30]

There’s no question the CTM is an eccentric EQ

Merry Xmas everyone and a big shout out to Wasnex for all his helpful advice

 

[Wasnex]

View attachment 4513403 View attachment 4513404

@Wasnex not sure if these help but i snapped some pics when i uad it out of the case last.

Thanks. I opened my amp and the circuit card is labeled LB30 MK2.

There appears to be minor changes to the layout of components throughout. The connection for the Bass and Middle controls are in the same location as yours. However, flying leads are used instead of soldering the pots directly the circuit board. So the leads for the Bass and Middle rotaries cross and connect to the junction labeled for them.

However, I probed the circuit, and it looks like their placement in the circuit is actually switched. I did a continuity check and the bottom of the bass pot is connected to ground, the top of the bass pot is connected to the bottom of the middle pot, and the top of the middle pot is connected to the bottom of the treble pot.

Additionally, the bass pot is connected to K4, which is the Mid Shift switch on the schematic. But K4 is labeled Low Freq on the front panel of the amp. The value of R42, R43, and R47 are all 1Meg. This is apparently intentional because the board is labeled 1M.

One side of C15 appears to be relocated to the previously unused junction of K3, which is labeled Mid Shift on the front panel. You can actually see the solder trace in the board for this connection.

Probably easier if I just show you. Not sure this is 100% correct. But I believe the circuit is now something like this (Edited version on left. Unmodified version on right):

I guess this explains why the Middle control does not do much and some of the switches are not operating as expected.

At least the amp sounds fabulous. Unfortunately, I have no idea how close it is to the original LB30/CTM30, which is why I bought it in the first place .

 

[Wasnex]

Mine behaves as it should I suppose.

If you really want to hear what the mid-shift knob does, put the mid control to 0 and dime the bass all the way up. Mid-shift in the up position, you can hear the bass (low mid) being pronounced. And with it down, a much thinner produced bass tone.

Yes that is the way it's supposed to work. The Mid Shift on this style of tone stack does not actually have anything to do with the middle control IMHO. What it actually does is control the upper knee of the bass control. In one position the bass control only adjusts relatively low frequencies, and in the other position the bass control reaches way up into the mid range. Turn the bass control all the way down, and turn up the middle control and flipping Mid Shift switch has no effect. It only does something if you turn up the bass control.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Yes that is the way it's supposed to work. The Mid Shift on this style of tone stack does not actually have anything to do with the middle control IMHO. What it actually does is control the upper knee of the bass control. In one position the bass control only adjusts relatively low frequencies, and in the other position the bass control reaches way up into the mid range. Turn the bass control all the way down, and turn up the middle control and flipping Mid Shift switch has no effect. It only does something if you turn up the bass control.

Agree, I also feel the mid control can dial in punch or mud, depending on how the mid switch is set. In my photo you can see where I find the punch on my mid control. I adjust bass and treble to taste.

 

[Nuage420]

Thanks. I opened my amp and the circuit card is labeled LB30 MK2.

There appears to be minor changes to the layout of components throughout. The connection for the Bass and Middle controls are in the same location as yours. However, flying leads are used instead of soldering the pots directly the circuit board. So the leads for the Bass and Middle rotaries cross and connect to the junction labeled for them.

However, I probed the circuit, and it looks like their placement in the circuit is actually switched. I did a continuity check and the bottom of the bass pot is connected to ground, the top of the bass pot is connected to the bottom of the middle pot, and the top of the middle pot is connected to the bottom of the treble pot.

Additionally, the bass pot is connected to K4, which is the Mid Shift switch on the schematic. But K4 is labeled Low Freq on the front panel of the amp. The value of R42, R43, and R47 are all 1Meg. This is apparently intentional because the board is labeled 1M.

One side of C15 appears to be relocated to the previously unused junction of K3, which is labeled Mid Shift on the front panel. You can actually see the solder trace in the board for this connection.

Probably easier if I just show you. Not sure this is 100% correct. But I believe the circuit is now something like this (Edited version on left. Unmodified version on right):
View attachment 4513577


I guess this explains why the Middle control does not do much and some of the switches are not operating as expected.

At least the amp sounds fabulous. Unfortunately, I have no idea how close it is to the original LB30/CTM30, which is why I bought it in the first place .

Yeah. I would say it's worth your time an effort to sort it out. I bought mine with nothing wrong except the mid pot being a little scratchy. Spent another 250 shipping to and from having some leds installed and I still love it.

 

[Wasnex]

Thanks. I opened my amp and the circuit card is labeled LB30 MK2.

There appears to be minor changes to the layout of components throughout. The connection for the Bass and Middle controls are in the same location as yours. However, flying leads are used instead of soldering the pots directly the circuit board. So the leads for the Bass and Middle rotaries cross and connect to the junction labeled for them.

However, I probed the circuit, and it looks like their placement in the circuit is actually switched. I did a continuity check and the bottom of the bass pot is connected to ground, the top of the bass pot is connected to the bottom of the middle pot, and the top of the middle pot is connected to the bottom of the treble pot.

Additionally, the bass pot is connected to K4, which is the Mid Shift switch on the schematic. But K4 is labeled Low Freq on the front panel of the amp. The value of R42, R43, and R47 are all 1Meg. This is apparently intentional because the board is labeled 1M.

One side of C15 appears to be relocated to the previously unused junction of K3, which is labeled Mid Shift on the front panel. You can actually see the solder trace in the board for this connection.

Probably easier if I just show you. Not sure this is 100% correct. But I believe the circuit is now something like this (Edited version on left. Unmodified version on right):
View attachment 4513577


I guess this explains why the Middle control does not do much and some of the switches are not operating as expected.

At least the amp sounds fabulous. Unfortunately, I have no idea how close it is to the original LB30/CTM30, which is why I bought it in the first place .

Sorry I transcribed the values of C14 and C15 wrong. Corrections below: