Ashdown Engineering Little Bastard

[Thurbs]

Here is my review of the Ashdown Engineering Little Bastard.

[url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=229"]http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=229[/url]

[b]Gear used[/b] - Ibinez BTB575, Squier Vintage Jazz Modified, Yamaha RBX 170, Zoom B9.1ut, Ashdown ABM 115, Ashdown MAG 410.

[b]Styles[/b] – Rock, Indi, Jazz, Blues & Acoustic.

[size=4]Spec & Blurb[/size]
Ashdown Little Bastard: an iconic, all-tube mini bass amp head.
Rated at 30-Watts, the Ashdown Little Bastard won’t rip your head off, but its EL84-equipped power section is more than capable enough for small gigs. And, of course, it won’t put your back out on the way.

The Ashdown Little Bastard preamp stage employs ECC83 and ECC82 tubes and features High and Low gain inputs, front panel-mounted Effects Send and Return, rotary Bass, Middle and Treble controls with Mid Shift, Bass Shift and Bright switching, Mute switch, rotary Volume control and balanced DI output.

Ashdown Little Bastard main features:
• Controls: Middle, Bass, Treble, Volume
• Bass Shift and Bright switching, Mute switch
• ECC83 and ECC82 tubes
• High and Low gain inputs
• Effects Send and Return on the front panel
• Power Output (RMS) 30W
• H x W x D (mm) 220 x 400 x 225
• Weight (kg) 14

[size=4]Finish – 8/10[/size]
I have little idea about the quality of a product made from valves or electronics so I can only comment on the finish as I perceive it.

The box was large, solid and protected in the innards very well. The amp was wrapped in plastic and had a little label on it extolling it’s virtues. The finish was highly polished, not a mark on the exterior and looked factory fresh as you would expect. The amp is covered in some kind of faux leather (I think they call it tolex or something) with corner protectors made from plastic.

After peering inside the amp through the many grills it all looks good, shiny and new! The sockets have a solid feel, the dials turn smoothly and linearly and I love the old school switches.

The unit didn’t get full marks because of the plastic edges on the case and the switches and dials are a little close together for my big fat fingers. It is easy to knock a dial out when trying to make quick change in-between songs…

[size=4]Tone – 9/10[/size]
I bought this amp being sceptical about the whole valve thing but I am now a total convert. I just love the tones the little amp can produce from its completely passive EQ. I have played for hours and am constantly amazed how a single flick of a switch or the twist of one dial can completely change the feel and tone it produces. It really is a versatile little amp and goes dirty, clean, boomy, tinny, fat, thin... anything really! However as it is a passive EQ, each setting has an effect right across the frequency range and as a result takes some time to get used to.

I personally haven’t heard better but have restrained from a perfect 10 because it would be nice if Ashdown could give more guidance or suggestions in their manual about how best to use the 10 different settings switches and dials in combination with each other.

[size=4]Power – 6/10[/size]
This is a 30w amp so it is never going to blow your head off. What I can say about the 30w’s is they are not 30 SS watts, it sounds more like the Ashdown Mag 300 head I had a few months back. Funny how our brains perceive volume isn’t it!

I am in a 4 piece rock band and the amp is good for on stage monitoring, but that is about it. Sure for quiet pub gigs you might get away with it but for anything bigger then you need to DI in to the desk. Personally I don’t find this a problem however for those who like to kick out massive stage volume or a singer who is possessive about the PA, this is not for you.

For acoustic, jazz or other lower volume gigs it is just perfect.

It is because of the limited power output and the high retail price I have knocked off 4 points. This is the compromise in the amp, make no mistake.

[size=4]Practicality - 9/10[/size]
15kg’s, pretty small, handy handle it is no chore to carry this around. Not sure about public transport or walking long distances but if you use a car/van, it is a doddle.

My only niggle is for (what I can only assume) aesthetic reasons the top handle is centred to the dimensions, not to the weight. As a result you carry it on the piss as the valves weigh down the rear and there is no weight at the front.

[size=4]Value – 7/10[/size]
I paid £450 for a Chinese made ‘B’ stock item from DV247.com with a 3 year warranty. It looked and sounds brand new and I consider that pretty good value. Not sure I would pay £550 or £650 for a UK one though. I feel it is worth £500 for what you get overall.

At the time of writing there is a second hand UK one for £350. A bargain if I ever saw one at that price.

[size=4]Overall - 8/10[/size]
If tone is your aim and you don’t mind about keeping up with insanely loud guitarists then this amp is the one for you. If on the other hand you like a precise EQ and a massive output stage volume then look elsewhere. This is a amp which is very clear about its aims and does not dissapoint.

[Wylie]

Great review, thanks.

tg