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new amp day!!! Ashdown Little Bastard

#182
Just replying to my own query above:

got a reply from Ashdown Tech support: the LB is flat when everything is at 12 oclock. They also told me that the DI runs off the output transformer and so captures the power tubes distortion as well. How cool is that! In built speaker DI!
 
#183
OK, you guys are not good for my wallet. Put down my money for a LB today...my first all tube amp. Just loving the tone when i've tried it in store. Just nothing like any of the solid state or hybrid amps i've tried before, Hard to explain. As Tommy Kooser says in this vid "once you turn the volume past 12 oclock it just tells you how cool you are". Its says it all!


IMO it really solves the issues i've had with tubes:
1. Weight. its doesn't weigh a ton...i can actually lift it on my own (i jest but i'm not getting any younger)
2. I don't need to get it biased each time i change the tubes out, it can be done at home
3. I can get some gut crunching tones at realistic volumes that are doable in the kind of gigs i play (small to medium). I figured i'm happy with my hybrid amp for clean warm tones that i can get ample volume at if i want, it just doesn't do dirty tones well which is where the LB will come in. A 200 or 300W valve head would just be insanely loud to get a decent break up. If i start doing stadium gigs i'll rethink but until then...
4. It comes with an inbuilt speaker DI for when its volume isn't quite enough
5. I got it at at 1/3 - 1/4 of the price i can get a 200W or 300W head (Traynor's excluded)

What more can you ask for?
 
#184
KPJ said:
Just picked p a second VS-115. All i have at the moment is a cellphone pic from last night's gig, stacked with my older VS-115 and Little Bastard. I grabbed it on the way to the gig.

IMG_0134.jpg


The newer one has some differences, the logo, the port is bigger, it only has Speakon jacks and it is made in UK instead of China.
Click to expand...

Hi, the cab made in UK it is the one on the top ? or the one with the little logo ? I want to buy this one but i found the two and i prefer the one made in UK.

Thanks.
 
#192
I've just pulled the trigger on an LB30. It just arrived. I'm looking forward to using it this Friday in a duo gig I do regularly. I'm going to use it with one Ampeg PF115HE cab and my 60s CV P with flats.
I had a homemade 30watt tube head back in 65 and 66, playing in a loud RnB band with hard-hitting drummer. I seem to recollect I never had any problem with volume back then.
 
#197
factorplayer said:
I've had mine about 6 months and love it. Definitely a keeper. Anyone ever upgraded the stock tubes on their LB-30? I'd like to look into that at some point.
Click to expand...

Mine came with very microphonic Chinese Ruby tubes. You could tap on the case and hear the high-pitched ringing. And periodically the amp would start oscillating. I'm not crazy about Ruby 12ax7AC5s just for that reason. I replaced V1 with a Ruby 12ax7AC7 HG+ (graded for V1, and a very quiet tube - I have three of them in various V1 positions), V2 with a NOS Philips 12ax7, and, since I was in there, V3 (the PI) with a Tektronix-branded RCA 12au7. Problem solved. All the microphonics gone with only minimal loss of gain (the Philips isn't quite as hot as the Chinese Ruby).

I left the power tubes alone, but I have purchased a set of JJs as a backup.
 
#198
That is good info, thanks for sharing that.

I am looking into tube replacement even more so as I've noticed a very high-pitched signal from the speakers when the amp is turned up past 9 o'clock or so. Not loud thankfully but at that frequency it is very noticeable. Anyone else ever have an issue like this?
 
#199
factorplayer said:
That is good info, thanks for sharing that.

I am looking into tube replacement even more so as I've noticed a very high-pitched signal from the speakers when the amp is turned up past 9 o'clock or so. Not loud thankfully but at that frequency it is very noticeable. Anyone else ever have an issue like this?
Click to expand...

Mine does not do this.

Sounds like a tube issue, ie needs replacing.
 
#200
factorplayer said:
That is good info, thanks for sharing that.

I am looking into tube replacement even more so as I've noticed a very high-pitched signal from the speakers when the amp is turned up past 9 o'clock or so. Not loud thankfully but at that frequency it is very noticeable. Anyone else ever have an issue like this?
Click to expand...

The review in BassGear Magazine Vol. 9 indicated that the LB30 could go into ultrasonic oscillation when the volume and treble were turned up. Mine just exhibited enough high-frequency ringing to be annoying. I would try changing the tubes. The supplied Chinese (Ruby) 12AX7AC5 tubes are not known for being free from microphonics. The 12AX7AC7 was developed in part to fix this problem. I replaced my V1 with a Ruby 12AX7AC7 HG+ (and put decent NOS tubes in V2 and V3) and it seems to have solved the microphonic/ringing problem. I don't really know about ultrasonic oscillation, as I haven't hooked up a scope, but I haven't noticed the usual other signs (such as reduced power output when all the power goes into producing the ultrasonics).

In a word, try a tube swap, at least in V1.
 

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