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Why no love for Ashdown?

#81
I dig the sound of their 810 cabinet. I went to a few music stores checking out cabs, and that was definitely in my top 5. Unfortunately, in the days of lightweight gear, I don't really want to carry around something the size of a refrigerator. If I was a part of a house band or some place that it could stay permanently, it would be a part of my rig.

Now... on to amplification. The PiBass caught my attention first. I do a fair amount of studio work now, so I was hoping to get something lightweight and versatile. This seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately, the first one that I purchased had severe noise problems, popped speakers when turning it on and off... I was politely asked to bring another amp next time.

I subsequently sold that a and bought another one a few months later same issue.

While I realize that this isn't their top of the line gear, it did kind of push me away from wanting to look at their other heads, although I would try a MiBass 500 if one showed up locally...
 
#82
eyeballkid said:
Chuck levins carried the abm line for years.
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I went to Chuck's in my Peavey and then Eden and SWR days (many years ago, 1970's - 90's), so I probably walked right by the Ashdown stuff and never even looked at it. I spent most of my money at Veneman Music in Springfield until the store closed, Chuck's was a bit of drive and always a mad house. After Veneman closed I followed Steve Bristow (former manager there) around as he was assigned as the manager at various Guitar Centers.

Rolls, Giant, Mars, Zavarella's and The Guitar Shop (Steve Spellman's place over in DC) were the other places I did a fair amount of business and probably walked right by Ashdown stuff. Now that I think about it, there may have been an Atomic Music in there somewhere along the way and I bought an Epiphone 12 string ata Harmony Hut in the early 80's which I still have to this day - it's not as nice as my Taylors, but it's not bad.
 
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#83
bdplaid said:
Interesting, as I know they were sold at Chuck Levin's at least for a good while. I bought a combo, a head and a cab there myself from Tod. I liked them, should never have sold the head, but I was on a lightweight binge and the Mag 600 weighed about 25 lbs. The 410 was a heavy beast, as was the combo.
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Paul Schein and a guy whose face I can see in my head, but I can't recall his name (maybe Don something) who was a really good bass player were the folks I bought most of my stuff from. I also recall Abbe Levin running around like she was herding cats.
 
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#86
Al Kraft said:
I went to Chuck's in my Peavey and then Eden and SWR days (many years ago, 1970's - 90's), so I probably walked right by the Ashdown stuff and never even looked at it. I spent most of my money at Veneman Music in Springfield until the store closed, Chuck's was a bit of drive and always a mad house. After Veneman closed I followed Steve Bristow (former manager there) around as he was assigned as the manager at various Guitar Centers.

Rolls, Giant, Mars, Zavarella's and The Guitar Shop (Steve Spellman's place over in DC) were the other places I did a fair amount of business and probably walked right by Ashdown stuff. Now that I think about it, there may have been an Atomic Music in there somewhere along the way and I bought an Epiphone 12 string ata Harmony Hut in the early 80's which I still have to this day - it's not as nice as my Taylors, but it's not bad.
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Rolls, Giant, Venneman's - great memories from those places. I'm sure that I had seen something Ashdown at Guitar Center Fairfax. Did not pay it much attention. I recall the VU meter on the front. Just checked GC website and they do carry them.
 
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#87
I'm in the minority here, but for similar ampeg solid state stuff nothing was satisfying. I've had my ashdown amp and cab for 14 years. I just upgraded the head to the root master 500. I love it. It's one of those salt and pepper to taste things. I like the ampeg pf50t, but it's a bit high in my price range.
 
#89
I have used many various ash down heads and cabs over the past 3 years that have been provided at rehearsal rooms, venues and festivals and have not found any that I liked how my bass sounded through. To be fair I can say the same about ampeg gear. Maybe I've just been a victim of badly maintained gear. Most of those gigs now I bring my own rig if it's practical ( usually it's not) or bring my own pre amp and ignore the rig or go from it direct to the power amp of the head and give FOH their feed from the preamp DI OUT.
 
#90
Anyone have any experience with their tube amps, the CTM-100 and the CTM-300? Was thinking about trying the 300 but of course, can't find them anywhere. The online demos I've heard have sounded great.
 
#91
Acoustic356 said:
I dig the sound of their 810 cabinet. I went to a few music stores checking out cabs, and that was definitely in my top 5. Unfortunately, in the days of lightweight gear, I don't really want to carry around something the size of a refrigerator. If I was a part of a house band or some place that it could stay permanently, it would be a part of my rig.

Now... on to amplification. The PiBass caught my attention first. I do a fair amount of studio work now, so I was hoping to get something lightweight and versatile. This seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately, the first one that I purchased had severe noise problems, popped speakers when turning it on and off... I was politely asked to bring another amp next time.

I subsequently sold that a and bought another one a few months later same issue.

While I realize that this isn't their top of the line gear, it did kind of push me away from wanting to look at their other heads, although I would try a MiBass 500 if one showed up locally...
Click to expand...

I also spent some time with the Ashdown CTM-15... I have to admit that it's a brand that piques my curiosity often enough...
 
#96
Al Kraft said:
Paul Schein and a guy whose face I can see in my head, but I can't recall his name (maybe Don something) who was a really good bass player were the folks I bought most of my stuff from. I also recall Abbe Levin running around like she was herding cats.
Click to expand...
Paul is a great guy. Tod is the guitar dept manger, very tall and thin. I knew Robert Levin pretty well (RIP), but don't know Abbe and only know Alan to see him through the glass in the "nerve center."
Anyway, they had a whole bunch of Ashdown for a good while before I left that area some time ago.
 
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#99
I think that my perception of them was that the SS stuff I played through didn't do it for me BUT I've always wanted to try one of their tube amps. But have never even seen one. The Little Bastard has always intrigued me. Having owned a B-15 or SB-12 much of my life I've wanted to know how they stack up since they came out. So how long has it been, just guessing here, 6-8 yrs. why have I never even seen one. I go into different music stores all the time. I guess the brand is just very poorly represented in this country. So in my view that makes it bad or lack of marketing plain and simple. If I can't try them how can I be expected to like them?
 
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#100
I've owned an ashdown ctm30 and ctm 100 and both were fantastic in my opinion. i loved both amps for different reasons, ctm 30 or lb rips for such a lightweight all tube amp and the ctm 100 is thunderous! I also loved that you can bias new tubes yourself in them without paying a tech. As a bonus the ctm 100 can be turned down on master volume(if I recall correctly) so you can silent record out of the DI(still hooked to a speaker but no sound) and you get the tubey-goodness to the Your daw. I miss both all the time.
That said, speaking as an ashdown fan it seems difficult to get info on this side of the pond as to understand where the good stuff starts and their budget line ends, which has kept me away from trying other stuff. It might just be a lack of marketing in the US but I feel like other companies that have been discussed already do a better job of seperating entry level from pro line
 

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