Ashdown jump on the B-15 bandwagon

[Aussie Mark]

[OldManC]

Oh my... What's it got under the hood?

[Psycho Bass Guy]

If it sounds as good as it looks, that seriously beats Ampeg at their own game!

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Oh my... What's it got under the hood?

It's not listed on their website, but they do show a 30 watt tube bass amp called the Little Bastard that uses a quartet of EL84's. The pictures of the power tube size relative to the preamp tubes seems to indicate this is the same amp in combo form. It should have a VERY different sound than a B-15N.

[gweimer]

Nice!  I love my Ashdown.

[Basvarken]

Crashdown flop tip?

[jumbodbassman]

that i must try.  Ampeg prices have gotten out of hand....

[Basvarken]

The only Ashdown that ever managed to impress me is the BTA400. With eight KT88 powertubes it is a real tonemonster.

I'm afraid the rest of the Ashdowns just don't do it for me...

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Did you notice they've redesignated the BTA series as hybrid and have a new tube amp called the Small Block 427?

[Pilgrim]

Shouldn't that amp be sitting on Dadagoboi's table?

[Highlander]

For my budget I'm happy with my MAG300 - does what it sez on the tin

[birdie]

30 watts? Puh-leeze....really? That's what I don't like about b-15's. Not nearly enough power for bass. Hope that's not right.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

30 watts? Puh-leeze....really? That's what I don't like about b-15's. Not nearly enough power for bass. Hope that's not right.

What? Do you mean that you don't subscribe to the "correct" theory of bass stage amplification that all bass amps should be only small monitors with your super-powered line array run by a tonedeaf guitar player wannabe handling all the "ting" of your frets and the "click" of the strings??? Next thing you'll say is that a bass sound should have audible low end and punch...crazy!!! 

Seriously though, EL84 bass amps are very rare. Traynor made a combo, the YBA-2 Bass-Mate which had two later iterations, the "A" and "B," and that's the only one I can think of.  It's a very unique tone: think AC30. For what it is, it's refreshing to see this twist on the the B15 formula. Ashdown has some big-boy tube bass amps, too. It's ironic that the Trace Elliot remains are now more "Ampeg" than Ampeg.

[nofi]

speaking of volume, i saw an early picture of the patti smith group where someone was miking a pignose. wonder how that sounded.

[Basvarken]

Did you notice they've redesignated the BTA series as hybrid and have a new tube amp called the Small Block 427?

Yes, I've tested and reviewed the new BTA 400. Very impressive amp. But way too heavy for my hernia...
Would love to hear that 427.