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new amp day!!! Ashdown Little Bastard
- Thread starter DerekP
- Start date
You'll be discovering the fountain of youth next.
Damn, I'd like to try some of whatever you're on.
I am planning on doing what KPJ did, an Ashdown LB head on a Ashdown VS-115-200 cab. Should be a pretty sweet little all tube bass rig!
Little being the operative word.
Try telling Matamp, Orange, Hiwatt, Morrel etc that 30 watts will do for backline on its own.
OK!
All joking aside, 30 watts of all tube power through a 15" speaker will be fine for what I do. Our main gig is in a small club, and our other regular gig is in a casino with a killer PA for support. That, and my guitar player and drummer are professional, mature musicians who know how to play at a volume that works for these types of gigs.
Chef
In Memoriam
Good for you.
You're welcome to your preferences.
You're not welcome to be insistently rude to those who have other equally workable points of view.
Lay off.
You're welcome to your preferences.
You're not welcome to be insistently rude to those who have other equally workable points of view.
Lay off.
Chef
In Memoriam
People:
please hit the report post button early and often, we could have interceded here much sooner.
please hit the report post button early and often, we could have interceded here much sooner.
Wow. I saw the thread title and clicked on it because I've been passive interested in the LB, but I'm worried about the whole 30w thing not bring oomphy enough.
You can imagine my disappointment to find the thread to be mostly a p****ng match.
If it'll help salvage what's left of this thread; I saw an LB St a local music store for $749 over the weekend, but I didn't get a chance to try it out. I may try to go back, though if I buy it I may be sleeping on the couch for weeks.
You can imagine my disappointment to find the thread to be mostly a p****ng match.
If it'll help salvage what's left of this thread; I saw an LB St a local music store for $749 over the weekend, but I didn't get a chance to try it out. I may try to go back, though if I buy it I may be sleeping on the couch for weeks.
Chef
In Memoriam
Howdy!
No need for pissing matches. I'm sorry we got hailed into this thread late, this could have all been squelched much earlier.
thx
No need for pissing matches. I'm sorry we got hailed into this thread late, this could have all been squelched much earlier.
thx
Chef
In Memoriam
Haven't tried one, but, I happily ran a Fender Bassman blackface (about 35 watts on a good day) pretty happily for a long time.
Small watts and efficient cabs can be a winning formula.
Small watts and efficient cabs can be a winning formula.
Chef said:
Yeah, I'm wondering about smaller stuff because most of my gigs are at either pubs, or now we've gotten hooked into that house-concert circuit that the folkies are getting into in such a big way. My ABM 500 EVO II is just too much for the house shows. For the pubs, I could probably get away with something a little smaller.
I agree, I have had more success getting my tone with low watt amps. I have used a 500 watt Fender amp and a 600 watt Kustom amp in the past. For clubs and stages with PA support, they were just too much. I would much rather drive a 50 or 100 watt amp.
If you are playing metal or incredibly loud bar rock without PA support, this is NOT your amp. With solid PA support and playing music that does not need to be ear-splitting loud, this amp is killer. My main gig is a blues/classic rock gig that I run the PA for. The amp is fine for stage volume and the tone is fantastic going through the PA. I have used the LB with its matching VS115 without PA support on blues gigs in small rooms with great success.
The point I'm making is that there is still quite a decent scene in the UK that doesn't cater for FOH and relies totaly on backilne, well over 90% of venues for local bands etc expect the visiting band to provide their own PA, carrying a large full band rig is not an option, fees don't cover roadies in a get in and get out as quick as possible situation.
I played from 1962 with 8 to 30 watt amps (Watkins, Vox AC30 etc) throughout the 60s progressing to the likes of 120 watt Orange amps in th 70s, even the Orange 120 struggled at times in the UK working mens club circuit concert rooms.
I still gig, I've just played the last two nights and gig every week, I averaged 4.5 gigs per week in the early 60s, I use an Ashdown RPM1 preamp into an Ashdown Little Giant.
Less experienced members should be told it from all angles.
The Little Bastard may sound great but I cerainly wouldn't consider it for pure backline on the soft rock circuit that my band plays on.
PS One thing I foregot to add is that back in the day of 30 watts speakers were limted to power handling and today bottom the 'B' strings that didn't exist way back then will more than likely cause clipping in the output stage of low wattage amplifiers.
I understand and respect where Bassman62 is coming from. Yes, things changed from 1962 to 1968 to the 70s and 80s regarding live sound for rock bands.
And I cannot speak to what expectations are in England when playing pubs and such.
However, in my area, loud bands in bars and pubs are on the way out. I have walked into bars and onto festival stages with my Ampeg B50R and sound people are very happy, as they can better control the FOH sound.
Some places still cater to loud rock music, but they are few and dwindling. If you go in with a loud drummer, a 30 watt guitar amp, and a 500 watt bass amp, odds are you will be told to turn down and not asked back.
When my band first started, our guitar player used a 30 watt amp, I had a 200 watt bass amp, and our drummer used sticks. We were always being told to turn down and were not asked back. Then our guitar player got a 12 watt amp, our drummer started playing with brushes, and I started using a 50 watt bass amp. Audiences and bar owners loved it and now we get gigs on a regular basis. And no, our sound is not wimpy, it has pop and a lot of evergy. Because WE do!
And I cannot speak to what expectations are in England when playing pubs and such.
However, in my area, loud bands in bars and pubs are on the way out. I have walked into bars and onto festival stages with my Ampeg B50R and sound people are very happy, as they can better control the FOH sound.
Some places still cater to loud rock music, but they are few and dwindling. If you go in with a loud drummer, a 30 watt guitar amp, and a 500 watt bass amp, odds are you will be told to turn down and not asked back.
When my band first started, our guitar player used a 30 watt amp, I had a 200 watt bass amp, and our drummer used sticks. We were always being told to turn down and were not asked back. Then our guitar player got a 12 watt amp, our drummer started playing with brushes, and I started using a 50 watt bass amp. Audiences and bar owners loved it and now we get gigs on a regular basis. And no, our sound is not wimpy, it has pop and a lot of evergy. Because WE do!
Chef
In Memoriam
