Thunderpaws Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Does anyone make a decent quality small all valve combo that would be particularly suited to home, rehearsal, recording use then combined with another cab for more volume? Thinking 5 - 20 watt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Have a look at the Drophead http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/15w-all-valve-drophead-combo-amp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=Cj0KEQjw44exBRCu8vfS_bPEtNoBEiQACrt00wgusFtXjoKD_gzuEHA-7pPneNU75AlbsL7wrKBilpEaArdN8P8HAQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazWills Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) I was wanting something like this a while back, but the choice was very limited! Ashdown makes this: [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Custom-Shop/110/Drophead15C110/"]http://ashdownmusic....Drophead15C110/[/url] but I personally don't rate their gear in the slightest, so didn't look into it much further... EDIT - beat me to it! Edited October 17, 2015 by GazWills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 The Drophead 30 watt would be the better option of the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 [quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1445103919' post='2888854'] I was wanting something like this a while back, but the choice was very limited! Ashdown makes this: [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Custom-Shop/110/Drophead15C110/"]http://ashdownmusic....Drophead15C110/[/url] but I personally don't rate their gear in the slightest, so didn't look into it much further... EDIT - beat me to it! [/quote] Ashdown's valve gear is ace, don't knock it til you try it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naetharu Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Not a combo but Ampeg have just started doing valve portaflex heads that might suit your needs? I would link but writing on my mobile so to fiddly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) Ashdown dropheads are stupidly expensive compared to the separate head/cab combination. Be aware that the CTM15 is NOT all valve. It's a solid state pre and valve power. Like Gareth (Walbassist) I'd recommend you go for their 30 watter the CTM30. I had an LB30 for a while but sold it in a moment of madness. When Merton of this parish bought a CTM30 I followed suit. Magic wee amp and a fraction of the price of Ampeg's recently announced pf20 and pf50. Edited October 17, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpaws Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Yeah, those new Ampegs are a great idea but stupidly expensive for what they are. Can't believe Ashdown are the only ones succeeding at this kind of level at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo-E Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 [quote name='Thunderpaws' timestamp='1445112422' post='2888937'] Yeah, those new Ampegs are a great idea but stupidly expensive for what they are. [/quote] The pf-20t is a little spendy, but not unreasonable in the States. How are they priced in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpaws Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Thomann says £515 for the PF20! That's over 1000USD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo-E Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) It's just under 800 US dollars, unless I'm mistaken. Granted, that's still a lot more than the $600 it sells for here. Edited October 17, 2015 by Lo-E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 didn't someone one here have a mini Matamp amp for practice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk8 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1445188647' post='2889451'] didn't someone one here have a mini Matamp amp for practice? [/quote] Tayste did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I own a Ashdown LB30 which is exactly the same as a CTM30 but have a much aggressive name to it lol. I run the amp to a Trace Elliot 15" cab and it serves well for practice, recording and my stage amp. It works on stage because I DI my bass all the time so I just need something to monitor onstage. Plus my band play quiet onstage so the vocal can hear herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I wouldn't worry about all valve. Go for valve pre and transistor power. 99% of the tonal benefits, with cooler running and no expensive power tubes to replace. Lighter/cheaper, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashdown Engineering Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1445103919' post='2888854'] Ashdown makes this: [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Custom-Shop/110/Drophead15C110/"]http://ashdownmusic....Drophead15C110/[/url] but I personally don't rate their gear in the slightest, so didn't look into it much further... [/quote] Seems a bit harsh? Whilst we can't be all things to all people you've tried a representative product from every range we make and didn't like any of it? We make/have made a lot of different stuff from £60-£3500... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpaws Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='Ashdown Engineering' timestamp='1445350234' post='2890785'] Seems a bit harsh? Whilst we can't be all things to all people you've tried a representative product from every range we make and didn't like any of it? We make/have made a lot of different stuff from £60-£3500... [/quote] Don't worry. Most sane people just ignore such sweeping generalisations. I have used some Ashdown gear and have been impressed so far. Was thinking of shipping out my Streamliner for an ABM but only thing holding me back is Streamliners headphone and no speaker load capability. Love the Tourbus 15 and the proper big valve stuff sounds great and looks great to me. Good to see a manufacturer making an appearance here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='Ashdown Engineering' timestamp='1445350234' post='2890785'] Seems a bit harsh? Whilst we can't be all things to all people you've tried a representative product from every range we make and didn't like any of it? We make/have made a lot of different stuff from £60-£3500... [/quote] I keep going back to Ashdown gear. I tried to shift my LB30 but end up keeping it all the time lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pow_22 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Mr Ashdown Sir, can you confirm/deny all the talk on here re: the CTM15 being hybrid rather than valve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 It's an astonishing little beast whether or not it's 100% strictly "all valve" or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SingleMalt Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) The Ashdown chap, Mark, who appears in their videos certainly said it was all valve a few times, and I'm pretty sure it used to say all valve on their website. edit: infact it still does - "15 Watts All Tube Mini Bass Amp Head" http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Custom-Shop/13/CTM15/ I certainly brought my thinking it was all valve... Edited October 22, 2015 by SingleMalt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) [quote name='SingleMalt' timestamp='1445492801' post='2891814'] The Ashdown chap, Mark, who appears in their videos certainly said it was all valve a few times, and I'm pretty sure it used to say all valve on their website. edit: infact it still does - "15 Watts All Tube Mini Bass Amp Head" [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Custom-Shop/13/CTM15/"]http://ashdownmusic....-Shop/13/CTM15/[/url] I certainly brought my thinking it was all valve... [/quote] That's naughty... bordering on downright lies... Internal pic: [url="http://www.gitarrebass.musikmachen.de/Magazine/GITARRE-BASS/2014/6/Ashdown-CTM-15-Watt-Bass-Top-Testbericht/AshdownCTM15-01"]http://www.gitarreba...AshdownCTM15-01[/url] There are 4 valve locations on the PCB, only 3 are populated (I remember reading somewhere that the CTM15 shares its PCB with one of the Hayden line of guitar amps which populates the 4th position with one of those magic eye valves. EDIT: It's the Hayden Mini MoFo 15). At an educated guess I'd assume that's the 2 EL84s and the phase inverter. The preamp will be run by the little boxes of sand next to the input jack... I've never tried a CTM15, and this wouldn't put me off. The vast majority of my "noise boxes" are solid state only after all! But the OP was looking ALL VALVE - this isn't it. It's hybrid done a different way. I'd be very interested to know WHY it was done this way Mr. Ashdown? Edited October 22, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SingleMalt Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1445517363' post='2892064'] That's naughty... bordering on downright lies... Internal pic: [url="http://www.gitarrebass.musikmachen.de/Magazine/GITARRE-BASS/2014/6/Ashdown-CTM-15-Watt-Bass-Top-Testbericht/AshdownCTM15-01"]http://www.gitarreba...AshdownCTM15-01[/url] There are 4 valve locations on the PCB, only 3 are populated (I remember reading somewhere that the CTM15 shares its PCB with one of the Hayden line of guitar amps which populates the 4th position with one of those magic eye valves. EDIT: It's the Hayden Mini MoFo 15). At an educated guess I'd assume that's the 2 EL84s and the phase inverter. The preamp will be run by the little boxes of sand next to the input jack... I've never tried a CTM15, and this wouldn't put me off. The vast majority of my "noise boxes" are solid state only after all! But the OP was looking ALL VALVE - this isn't it. It's hybrid done a different way. I'd be very interested to know WHY it was done this way Mr. Ashdown? [/quote] Interesting, op amps have no place in an all valve amp! Surely this is false advertising? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 You have to crank them (CTM15) right up to hear them alongside a drummer, and with the input gain down and master up almost maxed, all you hear is the power stage distortion anyhow, so whether the pre is SS is moot really. With the front end turned up it gets overdrivey and fuzzy pretty quickly. I rehearsed with mine into 2 12" cabs in a small room with drums + guit and it was about right, though I was stood right next to it at chest height. The chaps could hear it and liked it. It sounds really nice with guitar too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) [size=4][quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1445605895' post='2892786'] You have to crank them (CTM15) right up to hear them alongside a drummer, and with the input gain down and master up almost maxed, all you hear is the power stage distortion anyhow, so whether the pre is SS is moot really. [/quote] Not moot when they're telling people it's all valve! Hayden sell the Mini MoFo (the guitar version which uses the same PCB as previously discussed) as "[color=#000000]15 watts of all valve power" and "[/color][color=#000000][font=Tahoma]ECC 83 tube preamp" [/font][/color][color=#000000]which is sailing a bit close to the wind too![/color][/size] Edited October 23, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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