NAD! Little Stubby PROTOTYPE - all tube

[Dynacord]

Sounds great with the BF and Fodera. Really cool and great engineering for sure. Lack of DI seems odd though?

It actually does have a DI (post only) but is 1/4" jack. I imagine to save space inside.

 

[ctmullins]

Sounds great with the BF and Fodera. Really cool and great engineering for sure. Lack of DI seems odd though?

See above. Not all DIs use XLR.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Here are pictures of the production model, with the DI out labeled on the back. I actually have a 1/4"--XLR cable for it, but I haven't tried it.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yes and yes. DI is the top 1/4" jack. Would be nicer with an XLR but not a lot of extra space for one. While a lot of venues should be able to accommodate the 1/4" out, I'll pick up a short 1/4" to XLR pigtail.
Essentially a re-cased Little Bastard with a modified preamp. Gets the lower profile by mounting the power tubes horizontally (same concept as used in the Dynacord though that only has two power tubes - after this whole lockdown thing I'd be curious to see what the real volume difference is between the two).



I have one of the UK made ABM 500 EVO III heads. I really like it and used on many gigs without any problem though it and the Stubby are very different sounding from each other. Also like that Ashdown makes an effort to make their stuff visually interesting as well.
That amp at More Music? Say hi to Handloff for me!

Haha! Will do, small world. I do all the repairs for More. Met Dave at E-MU 20 plus years ago. Take it you’re local?

 

[ctmullins]

Make sure your DI adapter cable is TRS (3-conductor) and not TS (2-conductor).

 

[707GK]

Very cool amp!!! I dig the new color.

 

[Dynacord]

Haha! Will do, small world. I do all the repairs for More. Met Dave at E-MU 20 plus years ago. Take it you’re local?

From Big Sur and have known Dave since the early 90's at least (back when it was "More Music on Maple Street"). I think we might have had a similar exchange on this earlier. I live in Europe now but return every year to work the Monterey Jazz Festival and usually see Dave there as well.

Make sure your DI adapter cable is TRS (3-conductor) and not TS (2-conductor).

Thanks for posting this! Saved me from potentially buying the wrong pigtail/adapter.

 

[donahue]

So the pre in this model is slightly different than the LB?

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

So the pre in this model is slightly different than the LB?

I don't think the preamps are similar at all (I used to have an LB as well). Added feedback knob, added gain control, no EQ switches, and the bass/treb/mid don't seem as nearly as interactive.

Frankly, I like the LS a whole lot better.

 

[Relsom]

So the 1/4" DI is TRS? That would be nice but post only still sucks IMO.

It looks like Ashdown has got some blowout deals on these, even the green one , on Reverb.

 

[donahue]

This thread has really spiked my low watt tube head gas. It comes and goes but is on 11 today. Aaaahhhh

 

[donahue]

So how does the Lil Stubby compare to the Ampeg PF-50T tone-wise?

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

So how does the Lil Stubby compare to the Ampeg PF-50T tone-wise.

This gets super subjective, so I hesitate to offer my own very limited personal opinion. But here goes, with all usual disclaimers:

I had both the 50t and the 20t. I could not get the wet blanket off either one of them--they just don't have any presence at all. I bought each one in turn a year or so apart because I wanted so badly to like them. They could boom and thump all day, but that was it. At the time I was using a Hathor 1203 and a Two10.

I wouldn't say that the LS could go hi-fi necessarily, and certainly not through a cab like the Retro One10, but presence, growl, and grind are easy to find, as are pillowy lows when you want them.

I also really like that I can set the bass/mid/treb knobs to noon or max, and then just season to taste with the feedback knob.

Versus the LB: the LB had one or two really good usable tones, but the EQ controls made it difficult to find other tones or even variations. The LS controls are much more straight forward, and make it easier to sculpt.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Many players much more skilled and accomplished than I am have lots of love for the Ampeg 50t/20t. I'm not disagreeing with them at all. Just offering my own personal counterpoint.

 

[donahue]

Now I can't shut up about this Ashdown amp. Anyone know what the eq point is for the mid control? I looked on the site but could not find it?

I ask because that really has an impact on the overall tone of an amp with passive,non semi parametric mids IMO

 

[Dynacord]

Now I can't shut up about this Ashdown amp. Anyone know what the eq point is for the mid control? I looked on the site but could not find it?

I ask because that really has an impact on the overall tone of an amp with passive,non semi parametric mids IMO

I don't know - not in the manual either. Could be worth messaging Ashdown. They've been responsive IME.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Anyone know what the eq point is for the mid control?

I don't know, I'm afraid.

 

[Dynacord]

Now I can't shut up about this Ashdown amp. Anyone know what the eq point is for the mid control? I looked on the site but could not find it?

I ask because that really has an impact on the overall tone of an amp with passive,non semi parametric mids IMO

Reading this review - Invalid Link Removed - translated from German, makes me wonder if the EQ points may shift somewhat (?) depending on where the feedback knob is set:

"The 3-band equalizer also works here purely passively. This means that a 12 o'clock position of the controller does not mean a flat setting. "Flat" is a little more difficult to set on the Little Stubby, since this setting also depends on the position of the feedback control. Feedback influences the negative feedback of the power amplifier and thus also the sound."

I don't really know but it sounds good to my ear...

On the DI, from the manual: "This is transformer derived from the output and as such will have all the adjustments made with the tone controls , all effects in use and some influence from the speaker in use. The level obtained is dependent on playing volume."
Restated in another review, "to capture as much of the tube sound as possible, the tap is made by a secondary winding of the output transformer."

 

[chrisan2]

Has anyone played there LS with there band yet?

 

[Dynacord]

Has anyone played there LS with there band yet?

I haven't but think it would be loud enough depending on what kind of band, venue and speakers used. @two fingers might be able to speak to it as he's used the Little Bastard which is the same wattage.