Errm, real knowledgeable bloke, right?? A bit more water with your whiskey mate!
Considering the fact I've been "endorsing/endorsed by/using" (Better?

) by Peavey, Eden, and played Professionally for 39 years with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Henry McCullough, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce,
Peter Green, John Mayall, Etc., and been on 22 albums (some reissued) since 1995. Played in Spain 7 days a week, 4 sets a night for 3 years (Using Trace Elliot, I might add!) I have a degree in Computer Science, working on a Master's in Audio Production and synthesis, and lived in the U.K. for almost 20 years...
Yeah, I think I'm qualified to post knowledgeable commentary regarding a bloody amp fer' chrissakes! Ha!!
I could go on... but I have a sense of humor.
I'll state my OPINION again "mate"

, I view Ashdown in the same light as Hartke. All of this stuff sounds great in a practice room usually (Where I mostly see the crap, because they got it cheap and don't care if the kids rehearse with it and destroy it), or if you have an endorsement
and can blow the crap up and get more for free like Jack Bruce (told to me by Pete Brown and Malcolm), but my personal experience is from roadwork... In and out of the Van. The stuff the average "punter" gets from Ashdown I find questionable for my uses. Also, sometimes professional musos speak about gear in different tones when cornered by a peer. Ashdown, among the cats I confer and hang with, isn't even worth considering. I like Hartke, but I've blown up several of their heads at festivals. (That's where I first used Glockenklang) I like to buy gear once and not buy it again if possible.
People like bells and whistles, I believe... (VU meter maybe? GREAT marketing ploy!)
In terms of sound and reliability, give me Ampeg, Gallien Krueger (800) or anything comparable... Most people I know request a Hartke cab and a GK head for rented gear... There's a reason for that.
I've also noticed (and heard) that some pianists prefer Yamaha when on the road, because the sound is the most consistent.
If you like the gear, go for it... but, IMO, British bass amps are second tier gear. That is, "production" line British bass gear... and unfortunately, I can't say much on the "alleged" American gear either these days. I haven't decided how I feel yet about the newer stuff...
And I like Stout or Guinness... and for shopping, give me Sainsbury's!
