• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NAD ASHDOWN LB-30

#5
Pics coming......, I haven't got any other Berg cabs than my AE's, so I can't really comment there, but I had a NV215 up until last week. It would've sounded great thru that.
I didn't have time to play around with it last nite(as in play with eq, I just got a nice tone & left it)-busy rehearsal!
But will later today, & amm taking a 1x15" with me to try.
Will let you know my thoughts.
I was just pleased it had a great easily dialled-in tone & had enough headroom.
 
#7
Yeah, me too!
I actually had my Mesa Walkabout there for the rehearsal, I didn't know the LB-30 was arriving that day.
So I ended up plugging in the WA too. Amazing how much the WA sounds 'all tube'!
But I was almost running out of headroom (probly more from the single 12" driver than the WA's pwr) with the 1x12" WA, so the whole band turned down :)
Running the LB-30, I had about the same amount of volume-but thru a 2x12" cab.
Will take a cuppla pics & try it with my Mark Bass HR115 cab (which has the horn & x-over bypassed) later today.
Am looking forward to the weekend, where Sat's gig is a BIG corporate function, in the entertainment center, & so, has a nice big PA, & the engineer knows us well. So I might take the LB-30 & 2 115's.
It seems to have a decent amount of punch & 'girth' too.
Surprised me actually.
I'd heard conflicting reports that it gets dirty real early, not enough clean headroom, not enough headroom overall....etc...
I thought, that it might be a li'l on the light side re punch, volume..everything really. But I've found the opposite really.
Sure, it ain't 300w tube, but, I owned an Ampeg V4BH(100w all tube) & this ain't far off.
On early opinion at least, (I did only get it yesterday & Have only used it 2x, once in my office & once with our Motown show band rehearsal) it has
a really nice tone & lots of punch. Typical all tube sweetness, with that natural compression & very interactive controls-which I must play with later today.
 
#8
Quick update. Had a quick fiddle ;)
in my break at work.
I had my passive Pbass plugged into the active input-duh??
So it's got more volume than I previously thought.
More later.
Pics:
2011-11-09131323.jpg


2011-11-09131357.jpg


2011-11-09131858.gif
 
#9
Well,I found out how to get it dirty!!
:D simply use the 'low' input (typical Ashdown) low on this is backwards to my other amps, meaning it's for low output basses....so it's a louder input.
Wow, it sure overdrives, but will stay pretty clean up to about where I used it at last nite.(plugging my passive P into the "high"input (usually for active or hot basses)
Won't give you the Range of tones a modern amp like GB shuttles, Ampeg D class etc, but what is there is a sweet valve "old school" tone.
The eq is all very interactive & the"shift" toggle switches are topsy turvy, but work ok.
Looking forward to gig this w/end. 2 x 15"s :)
I might try swapping the v1 tube (12ax7) for a lower gain au7, supposed to give you a li'l more clean..... That can't be a bad thing in a 30w tube bass amp.
Also look fwd to using it with our jazz/blues band, it'll suit that perfectly!
 
#13
I've never posted sound samples....
Any hints? My wife just bought a nice li'l Sony vid camera, so I suppose, I could you-tube....
Again, never done it b4, so any hints & I'll be glad to post lots :)

Yep, Jimmy, it's a nice li'l B. A poor mans B15-for Aus. Don't see many B15's around here....
Works better than I thought it would. I still think a lower gain tube in V1 will make it even nicer.
 
#14
rodl2005 said:
I've never posted sound samples....
Any hints? My wife just bought a nice li'l Sony vid camera, so I suppose, I could you-tube....
Again, never done it b4, so any hints & I'll be glad to post lots :)

Yep, Jimmy, it's a nice li'l B. A poor mans B15-for Aus. Don't see many B15's around here....
Works better than I thought it would. I still think a lower gain tube in V1 will make it even nicer.
Click to expand...

Point the mic at the speakers. Quiet room with minimal reverb. Less talk, more playing :bassist: Would be even better if you play fingers, pick, and slap to show the versatility of the amp.
 
#16
sad_katz said:
Point the mic at the speakers. Quiet room with minimal reverb. Less talk, more playing :bassist: Would be even better if you play fingers, pick, and slap to show the versatility of the amp.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I gather this much, & can certainly do finger, pick & "ok" slap playing.
Was more wondering how to actually post the video online. This I've never done.
Did play my Alleva-Copollo EUT5 (Ni rounds on) thru it yesterday.
Whoooo sounds great modern style too! It whumps thru 2 15"s too! Enjoying it!!!
 
#17
rodl2005 said:
Yeah, I gather this much, & can certainly do finger, pick & "ok" slap playing.
Was more wondering how to actually post the video online. This I've never done.
Did play my Alleva-Copollo EUT5 (Ni rounds on) thru it yesterday.
Whoooo sounds great modern style too! It whumps thru 2 15"s too! Enjoying it!!!
Click to expand...

You can upload it through youtube.

Just create an account if haven't had one (you can use gmail for youtube, I think), log in, and click upload. When done, copy/share the link back here :)
 
#19
Just want to clarify abit about the clean headroom thing and advice you. I have this amp and use it with a TC BC212 cab last time and my amp went pretty dirty because i need more volume and the volume knob were around 12 o'clock position.

Their are many factors on that gig which could cause that to happen and they are the following:

1) The TC BC212 cab might not be a good fit for this amp (I not longer have this cab and now have replace it with a Trace Elliot 1153 15" cab)
2) Using the 0db input (for passive bass)
3) Using my jazz with both volume full on (mid scoop tone)
4) Using a MXR M80 pedal with the color switch turn on by accident (another mid scoop)
5) Light touch on less heavy songs sound fine but pluck harden it drives the amp

Basically I have lots of low end coming through the amp/cab which sucks alot of power and that means I'm running out of headroom. I haven't try the amp with my trace cab yet.

You were saying to get more clean headroom use the -15db input (for active bass)? Doesn't that reduce the volume? so when I crack the volume up it still drives the amp to dirty?

Correct me if I'm wrong.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back