disssa

I got a really quick answer from the Ashdown Support: [i]"The Preamp on the CTM15 is solid State driving a tube back end[/i]..." [quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1388701767' post='2325179'] EDIT: And having had a quick Google, the Hayden Mofo 15W clearly shows another valve between the two EL84s, which would explain the spare location in the pictures above. Also, the Mofo 15 can be switched to 2W mode - perhaps this additional valve does this, taking the EL84s out of circuit. [/quote] It is only a "Magic Eye Indicator"-Tube, maybe a EM84 between the two EL84:

I bought a ValveAmp from Gareth. Well packed, great communication, Perfect Deal!

My english isn't so good...

[quote name='JamesXP' timestamp='1388431816' post='2321956'] The amount of rack preamps on the market is pretty dire... all I can see is the Sansamp RBI and BBE.. theres a few others that have astronomical price tags but they're not for me! so people of BC.. what can you suggest? [/quote] I collected all that [url="http://www.stoffer-net.de/reviews.html"]preamps[/url]: There are some good preamp for less money. Look at ebay...

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1388657531' post='2324369'] 1. I didn't notice any crackling pots on my head. 2. Mine wasn't hissy at all with the gain knob fully ccw, but it did increase as you turned the gain up. Not so much to be unpleasant though. 3. I [i]loved[/i] the tone with the gain knbob fully ccw, but the moment it was turned up the tone seemed to change quite dramatically. As you say, it becomes much more upper-mid and treble orientated. I guess that's just the way it is. 4. Not sure about swapping out the EL84s for something else, certainly no idea about re-biasing. I tried a set of JJs in mine (12AX7 and 5751s in the pre, EL84s for the power) and they sounded good, but certainly didn't change the core tone to any extent.[/quote] Yepp, that is true. I found out, that the CTM15 dont like high output active basses. I play a Music Man Reflex with high output and the CTM15 with gain full ccw. With only a litte bit of gain the sound goes more middle and treble way... With no gain and master, there is a little hum, but not dramatically. On page 7 at the [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/files/product/file/user_manual_20130911060258_28463.pdf"]manual[/url] are the info, that it is a "Automatic BIAS for Plug&Play Easy Valve Replacement"... I dont know exactly, what the preamp valve do for a job.: Is the only 12ax7 (on pic "V1") valve a phase inverter? It seemed, that the preamp is SS, not tube driven... Or what?