• 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.

Why no love for Ashdown?

#241
MAJORA64 said:
I've never played an Ashdown amp before but they've always been in the back of my mind because of bassists like John Entwistle, Adam Clayton, James Lomenzo and more recently John Myung using them.

From what I've heard from YouTube demos and live recordings is that Ashdown amps have treble and top end. That's all I can really say about them. I've never really been convinced on the quality of the low-end in said demos, videos and recordings. I happen to like Entwistle's absurdly overdriven/chorus'ed tone on the Royal Albert Hall DVD, but listening to the U2 Chicago 2005 DVD on the other hand all I could hear from Adam Clayton was a lot of clank, not a lot of low end (Then again it could be because of the pick).

That being said I did find a demo that convinced me somewhat of Ashdown's low end quality, and I think I was won over more by the Retroglide head (Especially at the 1:45 mark) and it's one I wouldn't mind buying second-hand.

Am I missing something or would I have to try one out to "get it"?
Click to expand...

I've owned a range of Ashdown and never found them shy in the low end. If anything they tend to have a natural warm tone ie. slightly heavier in the low end than the top end. Currently using an ABM500 and have to dime the treble to get enough. Low end though is a different story..plenty at the get go. The Ox had his own tone, which was very trebly and processed in the final range of gear he used
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dasgre0g and MAJORA64
#242
MAJORA64 said:
I've never played an Ashdown amp before but they've always been in the back of my mind because of bassists like John Entwistle, Adam Clayton, James Lomenzo and more recently John Myung using them.

From what I've heard from YouTube demos and live recordings is that Ashdown amps have treble and top end. That's all I can really say about them. I've never really been convinced on the quality of the low-end in said demos, videos and recordings. I happen to like Entwistle's absurdly overdriven/chorus'ed tone on the Royal Albert Hall DVD, but listening to the U2 Chicago 2005 DVD on the other hand all I could hear from Adam Clayton was a lot of clank, not a lot of low end (Then again it could be because of the pick).

That being said I did find a demo that convinced me somewhat of Ashdown's low end quality, and I think I was won over more by the Retroglide head (Especially at the 1:45 mark) and it's one I wouldn't mind buying second-hand.

Am I missing something or would I have to try one out to "get it"?
Click to expand...


Ashdown makes some serious kit. I own a CTM300, Small Block 427 and have played through an ABM 900 EVO II.

IMHO all of these are awesome amps, but they have quirky EQs that are a bit challenging to dial in. The CTM300 and 427 are voiced significantly different from one another, so there is not one defined "Ashdown" voicing.

The CTM300 is the darkest voiced tube head I have in my collection. IMHO it seems voiced to make a modern full range cab sound a bit like an Ampeg SVT running through an 810E. You get a similar low mid push, but not the upper mid grind of the SVT. The CTM is slightly lighter and less bulky than an SVT, and also slightly more powerful in my experience. The SVT tone controls are far easier to work with. The CTM300 also has a fairly high gain preamp that can easily be adjusted for OD at low volume. The CTM100 should sound almost identical to the CTM300 since they share the same exact preamp design that runs 12DW7 tubes.

The LB30 and CTM30 should sound closer to the 427 since their preamps are very similar...I believe all three would be classified as variants of Ashdown's "Dual Tube" preamp series that run 12AX7 tubes.

IMHO, it's always a good idea to try before you buy. An Ashdown might provide some secret sauce that you can't find anywhere else...or you may think it sounds awful. IMHO and YMMV are important concepts behind this guidance, because everybody has different needs and taste.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Arthur U. Poon, Dasgre0g and MAJORA64
#243
Well since you're unlikely to find an Ashdown dealer in Nova Scotia without taking a road-trip to Montreal or Maine I wouldn't mind doing a blind buy on an Ashdown originAL preamp/di pedal to see if I can get anything out of it that I like. Low-mids are my personal favorite frequencies, and as long as it has good low-mids and bass I'll be a happy camper. Good to know the CTM has dark tone, but having looked up the CTM I was surprised it doesn't have a Line-In input in the back like their other amps (I've recently learned I could run my Dug Pinnick pedal through my Genz-Benz aux/line-in input and it was a game changer for me).
 
#244
MAJORA64 said:
Well since you're unlikely to find an Ashdown dealer in Nova Scotia without taking a road-trip to Montreal or Maine I wouldn't mind doing a blind buy on an Ashdown originAL preamp/di pedal to see if I can get anything out of it that I like. Low-mids are my personal favorite frequencies, and as long as it has good low-mids and bass I'll be a happy camper. Good to know the CTM has dark tone, but having looked up the CTM I was surprised it doesn't have a Line-In input in the back like their other amps (I've recently learned I could run my Dug Pinnick pedal through my Genz-Benz aux/line-in input and it was a game changer for me).
Click to expand...

Have you read through this thread and listened to the videos? NEW Ashdown OriginAL Valve Pre-DI Pedal
 
#247
MAJORA64 said:
I've never played an Ashdown amp before but they've always been in the back of my mind because of bassists like John Entwistle, Adam Clayton, James Lomenzo and more recently John Myung using them.

From what I've heard from YouTube demos and live recordings is that Ashdown amps have treble and top end. That's all I can really say about them. I've never really been convinced on the quality of the low-end in said demos, videos and recordings. I happen to like Entwistle's absurdly overdriven/chorus'ed tone on the Royal Albert Hall DVD, but listening to the U2 Chicago 2005 DVD on the other hand all I could hear from Adam Clayton was a lot of clank, not a lot of low end (Then again it could be because of the pick).

That being said I did find a demo that convinced me somewhat of Ashdown's low end quality, and I think I was won over more by the Retroglide head (Especially at the 1:45 mark) and it's one I wouldn't mind buying second-hand.

Am I missing something or would I have to try one out to "get it"?
Click to expand...
Do you have Instagram? Look up Mike Prince. He uses pretty much nothing but Ash down gear for all of his demos and he sounds like a absolute beast
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickter and MAJORA64
#249
Having looked at the originAl thread I can't say I was a fan of that 20-second "demo" Ashdown put out, and some of the testimonies have been mixed (Especially about the overdrive), but I did have a listen to an originAL 300 amp demo that sounded pretty good.

Having read some of these posts and listening to Mike's demos (The finger demos, I'm not that much of a slapper... Yet) has put me in a much better mood about Ashdown, but once again I'd have to try one out before committing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeff7bass, Wasnex and Rickter
#256
I’ve also wondered why there wasn’t more love for Ashdown. As fate would have it, I did a church gig years ago and the amp provided was an Ashdown combo. I liked it so much I bought an ABM-600. It’s turned out to be one of my all time favorite heads. I find it very musical sounding, and not lacking in the lows at all. I bounced around trying all the latest and greatest offerings.... always seem to come back to my 600. I’ve let a few of my bass player friends borrow it, and they never want to give it back! Lol.

I’m currently considering a CTM-300. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet... but I’m close. :-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BaltBass5, emjazz and Rickter
#260
bassjam said:
I’ve also wondered why there wasn’t more love for Ashdown. As fate would have it, I did a church gig years ago and the amp provided was an Ashdown combo. I liked it so much I bought an ABM-600. It’s turned out to be one of my all time favorite heads. I find it very musical sounding, and not lacking in the lows at all. I bounced around trying all the latest and greatest offerings.... always seem to come back to my 600. I’ve let a few of my bass player friends borrow it, and they never want to give it back! Lol.

I’m currently considering a CTM-300. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet... but I’m close. :)
Click to expand...

FWIW...I own several Ashdown ABM500’s and feel the exact same as you. I picked up the CTM300 and it just wasn’t for me. It’s LOUD as hell and a little harsh sounding IMO. I prefer the Ampeg V4-B.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassjam, Rockbobmel and BassGreaser

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back