new amp day!!! Ashdown Little Bastard

[steve_rolfeca]

In physics you don't get anything for nothing...

More voice coils require and absorb/eat up output power.
Unless of course Ashdown have discovered perpetual motion.

Bzzzt. A less efficient driver will "eat up" power. But as long as you're comparing apples to apples, adding cone area WILL convert electrical into acoustic energy more efficiently, and provide a useful volume increase. Anyone who has ever plugged a 5 watt guitar amp into a 4*12, has experienced this.

Simple physics, not perpetual motion.

I've been eyeing one of these. I have a trust worthy solid state amp, I want to compliment my rig with a tube. I'm a little concerned about the 30W, how would you compare the lb's 30W to solid state Wattage?

That depends on how much dirt you like, and what compromises you're willing to put up with. I was using a little tube combo with 2 6V6's for weddings back in the early '70's, but it used to get pretty farty towards the end of the night, even with a very efficient Jensen 15 in a sealed cab.

Guitarists going for crunch tones expect a 50 watt tube amp to out-punch a 100 watt solid-state amp, but you're unlikely to want that much compression and distortion for bass.

Pair this amp with a small, deep-tuned, modern sounding cab, and it will disappoint. But with a highly efficient cab or cabs (like a couple of BFM's horns), it should roughly equate to a compact 50 watt SS combo. Of course, having to haul a pair of cabs in order to cover coffee-house gigs, might get old pretty quickly...

 

[monsterthompson]

Wow! I used mine with our 12 piece motown band rehearsal last night- 3 horns, percussion etc & was fine. Different strokes....

I could see it working for a Motown style, but it seemed to share too much sonic overlap with the distorted guitar and get lost in our mix

Just curious: Possibly others are playing too loud?

Or not enough mids in your EQ?

I boosted and cranked the mids, but it wasn't enough. Possibly the compression at that volume. We were on the north side of reasonable, but it wasn't close enough to work if everyone just turned down a notch. It sounded loud enough solo, but just got lost in the mix, and lacked the low-end to be felt.

I bought it knowing it might not be what I was after. Fortunately, I have time on the 30 day return policy. I'm also looking into some other gear options, so the cash is needed elsewhere.

I can see how it would be a cool amp for a few different reasons, particularly recording. Solo and turned up, it sounded way cool, from just a bit of warmth, to Motörhead style grind.

 

[sad_katz]

Point taken. Still sounds like an awesome little amp that just can't keep up with loud, distortion-happy band.



Although I wonder how loud can the LB-30 go with a 810 or a 412 cab?

 

[monsterthompson]

Point taken. Still sounds like an awesome little amp that just can't keep up with loud, distortion-happy band.



Although I wonder how loud can the LB-30 go with a 810 or a 412 cab?

it would help to have the extra cone area and to be at 4ohms instead of 8ohms (full 30w vs 15w). but, i can only speculate.

 

[Bassman62]

Bzzzt. A less efficient driver will "eat up" power. But as long as you're comparing apples to apples, adding cone area WILL convert electrical into acoustic energy more efficiently, and provide a useful volume increase. Anyone who has ever plugged a 5 watt guitar amp into a 4*12, has experienced this.

Simple physics, not perpetual motion....

And that added cone area requires added drive power. From Where?

 

[Bassman62]

it would help to have the extra cone area and to be at 4ohms instead of 8ohms (full 30w vs 15w). but, i can only speculate.

Isn't it a valve tube/amp and not solid state? if so the impedence business surely doesn't apply, I was told that tube/valve amps work better on higher impedences.

 

[Bassman62]

sadness. i took this guy to the studio for a jam with drums, vox, and guitar with a combo amp. ran the bastard through a 410 backline GK cab. it sounded rad until the others started playing, then the fail kicked in. it lacks punch and guts for my style of playing. i don't slap/pop, but tried a bit just for giggles, which resulted in some cut through the mix, but not enough. for recording, i'm sure it would be grand. however, i can't crank it loud enough in the living room to get the sweet spot without annoying the neighbors, and it won't cut in a small rock rehearsal. time for the return shipping process to begin.

Sadly I think that in the long run there will be many dissapointed purchasers of the 'LB'.
30 watts of all valve/tube in 1962 when I started gigging was quite awsome but as the 60s passed into the 70s The Orange 120 watt series were the norm for Bass along with Marshall and Hiwatt, Fenders (Dual Showman/bassman 100) were also increasing power.
True todays speakers are more efficient but the LB will not stand todays requirements without FOH support and backline bands like mine that want to be in and out without the malarky of 2 hour setups will find 30 watts way down in power.
Plus you can get two Little Giants for the price of an LB.

 

[sickest beast]

awesome! these amps look sick.

congrats!

 

[sad_katz]

And that added cone area requires added drive power. From Where?

"Doubling volume by doubling speaker area" also factored in the divided power from the amp into both cabs.

Halving the wattage doesn't automatically halving the volume

More to the LB, it is a budget all-valve amp for those who want all-valve tone without the weight and price tag. Micro amps, as cheap and light as they be, still don't produce the same tone as all-valve. I don't anyone purchased the LB-30 to fill an arena with clean tube tone. At least, I hope they don't

 

[KPJ]

This gets pretty loud, with some decent low end. The EQ is very interactive. Using the high input allows good volume without all out buzz. Using the low input gets you to total saturation! I usually keep the volume on the amp dimed and control the volume with the bass volume. I used it with my blues rock band at our last gig. We're not too loud and the rig kept up well on stage. One of the guitarists actually said there was too much low end. I ran direct in to the PA which has a Peavey sub powered with a 500 watt power amp, so no problems out in the room. You can see videos if you click the link in my sig; but as I said I am going through the PA as well. The DI is very clean and gives a very good signal to the board. If recording, I would definitely mic the cab. I'm very happy with this set up and will use it as my main amp where ever possible (especially if I'm supplying the PA).

 

[Bassman62]

This gets pretty loud, with some decent low end. The EQ is very interactive. Using the high input allows good volume without all out buzz. Using the low input gets you to total saturation! I usually keep the volume on the amp dimed and control the volume with the bass volume. I used it with my blues rock band at our last gig. We're not too loud and the rig kept up well on stage. One of the guitarists actually said there was too much low end. I ran direct in to the PA which has a Peavey sub powered with a 500 watt power amp, so no problems out in the room. You can see videos if you click the link in my sig; but as I said I am going through the PA as well. The DI is very clean and gives a very good signal to the board. If recording, I would definitely mic the cab. I'm very happy with this set up and will use it as my main amp where ever possible (especially if I'm supplying the PA).

So in reality your LB is just a stage monitor your FOH is still solid state. and that is the point I'm making it is not a stand alone true backline amp.
No disrespect meant to LB owners.

 

[JimmyM]

Sadly I think that in the long run there will be many dissapointed purchasers of the 'LB'.
30 watts of all valve/tube in 1962 when I started gigging was quite awsome but as the 60s passed into the 70s The Orange 120 watt series were the norm for Bass along with Marshall and Hiwatt, Fenders (Dual Showman/bassman 100) were also increasing power.
True todays speakers are more efficient but the LB will not stand todays requirements without FOH support and backline bands like mine that want to be in and out without the malarky of 2 hour setups will find 30 watts way down in power.
Plus you can get two Little Giants for the price of an LB.

Way to totally miss the concept 100%. Bassists who get 30w tube rigs use them in the following situations:

1. Recording

2. Live work where a lot of stage volume isn't required and/or it's mic'ed into the PA (my main usage)

3. Live work where the bassist wants power tube distortion but doesn't want it to be so loud it gets him/her fired

If you get a B-15 or LB for any other reasons, especially if you're used to gigging with 500w into a 410 turned up as loud as it can go without blowing up, then of course you're going to be disappointed. But hopefully you're smart enough to know that going in. And if you're not, then of course you'll be disappointed. The vast majority of us know exactly what we're getting, though, so no need for the lecture, thank you

 

[sad_katz]

I like the concept and how the LB-30 sounds.

I cannot, however, shake the stigma that it totally looks like a big old-timey toaster

 

[JimmyM]

So in reality your LB is just a stage monitor your FOH is still solid state. and that is the point I'm making it is not a stand alone true backline amp.
No disrespect meant to LB owners.

Um, yeah.

So you can do one of two things for live work...

1. Mic it.

2. Run a speaker level DI between the speaker out and the cab.

I used to do #2 but the mic works a million times better IMHO. Of course, not getting the concept of the B-15 or LB, you probably don't get the concept of micing a bass cab, either

EDIT: Just saw your equipment list..Orange and Fender tube heads...maybe you DO get the concept of micing a cab

 

[sad_katz]

Um, yeah.

So you can do one of two things for live work...

1. Mic it.

2. Run a speaker level DI between the speaker out and the cab.

I used to do #2 but the mic works a million times better IMHO. Of course, not getting the concept of the B-15 or LB, you probably don't get the concept of micing a bass cab, either

EDIT: Just saw your equipment list..Orange and Fender tube heads...maybe you DO get the concept of micing a cab

What about hooking up bigger cabs? a B-15 with an SVT 810 should sound big, shouldn't it?

 

[JimmyM]

What about hooking up bigger cabs? a B-15 with an SVT 810 should sound big, shouldn't it?

A B-15 into an 810 sounds amazing and is not a quiet rig by any means. It takes 10x the wattage to get twice the perceived volume, so an SVT will go twice as loud, but with the B-15 it'll definitely rip louder than I could ever turn up on my loudest gigs.

 

[Duke21]

Way to totally miss the concept 100%. Bassists who get 30w tube rigs use them in the following situations:

1. Recording

2. Live work where a lot of stage volume isn't required and/or it's mic'ed into the PA (my main usage)

3. Live work where the bassist wants power tube distortion but doesn't want it to be so loud it gets him/her fired

If you get a B-15 or LB for any other reasons, especially if you're used to gigging with 500w into a 410 turned up as loud as it can go without blowing up, then of course you're going to be disappointed. But hopefully you're smart enough to know that going in. And if you're not, then of course you'll be disappointed. The vast majority of us know exactly what we're getting, though, so no need for the lecture, thank you

Exactly what I thought, how can a 30W amp can be compared with a 500W amp? Even with a bag full of tricks one need about 236W to be as loud as a 500W amp.
But that aside I love the idea of owning a LB30!!

 

[monsterthompson]

Agreed. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to owning one if my needs were different. However, I just can't justify the cost and floor space (small, I know). There is certainly a sweet spot it has.

 

[Bassman62]

Don't know what they cost in the US but £500+ ($800 USD) in the UK, is a luxury I certainly can't afford when it isn't even powerful enough for band rehearsals (We rehearse how we perform).
Rich kids may like the idea but seasoned musicians especialy those who don't want distortion (for a few dollars you can buy a distortion pedal) will see it for what it is.

 

[Bassman62]

What about hooking up bigger cabs? a B-15 with an SVT 810 should sound big, shouldn't it?

And what are you going to use to drive them.