Gorgeous new little Amp from Ashdown - CTM-15

[Grand Wazoo]

Ashdown CTM-15 15 Watts All Tube Mini Bass Amp Head

[url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Valve/13/CTM15/"]http://ashdownmusic....Valve/13/CTM15/[/url]

Edited September 3, 2013 by Grand Wazoo

[Urban Bassman]

Very sweet. Would mind having a go on one of those

[clauster]

If you look in the instruction manual there's also a CTM30. Possibly a re-packaging of the LB30?

[badboy1984]

I did think about this amp before i purchase the LB30. No CTM30 in the shop at that time so i can't compare it side by side. I do like the idea of having a separate gain and volume.

My LB30 only have a master volume only ...... but i do like the tone of it tho

[spaners]

I got one
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/jtrb.jpg/][IMG]http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/69/jtrb.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/r0hs.jpg/][IMG]http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/189/r0hs.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/skuy.jpg/][IMG]http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/827/skuy.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/jnfu.jpg/][IMG]http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/31/jnfu.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Loving it. Got a VS112 to go with it and should be getting a VS115 next week. The Fender Excelsior next to it is modded for bass too (was good before mods too)as is the EVJ.

Edited September 4, 2013 by spaners

[eude]

[quote name='spaners' timestamp='1378335212' post='2198976']
I got one
[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/jtrb.jpg/"][/url]
[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/r0hs.jpg/"][/url]
[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/skuy.jpg/"][/url]
[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/jnfu.jpg/"][/url]

Loving it. Got a VS112 to go with it and should be getting a VS115 next week. The Fender Excelsior next to it is modded for bass too (was good before mods too)as is the EVJ.
[/quote]

Very nice mate!
How does the VS112 compare to your outgoing RS112?

[spaners]

Hi Eude, bit slow replying
Well the TC cab has now gone. Not because its not a good cab though. TC is smaller lighter louder and with the BH250 head I hade before sounds awesome. The VS cab has a more vintage tone to it and in my opinion matches the CTM15 a little better. I would of liked to of kept the TC gear too !! I do love the tone of the tube amps though, now there are a few lower wattage heads available that are suitable for home use I got one. You have to have very understanding neighbours to get the best out of a 100w+ tube amp at home, and very deep pockets.
I should have a VS115 to go with it by the end of next week

[eude]

Thanks mate!

[franzbassist]

The new version of the Little Bastard... the CTM30.

[u][color=#0066cc][url="http://ashdownmusic.com/files/product/img/img_20130828162406_52796_med.png"][/url][/color][/u]

Edited September 13, 2013 by walbassist

[spaners]

I think I prefer the LB, all that chrome

[RandomBass]

What's with the CTM30? The LB30 in a new dress? Not even a gain control to differentiate it by the looks of it. Oh well.

[franzbassist]

[quote name='spaners' timestamp='1378508433' post='2201412']
I think I prefer the LB, all that chrome
[/quote]
[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1378530966' post='2201483']
What's with the CTM30? The LB30 in a new dress? Not even a gain control to differentiate it by the looks of it. Oh well.
[/quote]

I agree. The LB30 is one the best looking amps there is. I understand that Ashdown changed it because they had complaints about the name and took it as an opportunity to re-house the same amp in a CTM chassis. Personally, I'd have just taken the name off the existing head!

Edited September 11, 2013 by walbassist

[RandomBass]

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1378539419' post='2201524']
I agree. The LB30 is one the best looking amps there is. I understand that Ashdown changed it because they had complaints about the name and took it as an opportunity to re-house the same amp in a CTM chassis. Personally, I'd have just taken the name of the existing head!
[/quote]
Fair enough, I hadn't realised they'd actually had complaints about the name. I have both of the Bastards, therefore I must be a rude boy lol.
Like you say, the LB30 really is one of the best looking ones out there. It's a naughty rebellious Bastard, with a denim jacket, tattoos and piercings. whereas the CTM is dressed for the office, with short hair and a suit.

EDIT: I never thought I'd get the 'B' word twice in an internet forum post. Result.

Edited September 7, 2013 by RandomBass

[Matte_black]

Who's the bastard who kept complaining about the Little Bastard?!?! I liked that little... well... bastard? The look was nice, I actually hoped they made a 100w model with the same look but they went for all black instead...

[RandomBass]

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1378581670' post='2202179']
Who's the bastard who kept complaining about the Little Bastard?!?! I liked that little... well... bastard? The look was nice, I actually hoped they made a 100w model with the same look but they went for all black instead...
[/quote]

Absolutely - a 100W version would be storming. The 550 version is close tonally, however.

I reckon a 60w would do me, actually.

Edited September 8, 2013 by RandomBass

[EliasMooseblaster]

I'm now the proud owner of one myself. Don't know for how long, though.

I tried the CTM15 and LB30 in the shop on Saturday and took the CTM15 home. It seemed nice and loud in the shop but I worry that it's not going to keep up with the rest of the band. I might have to see if they can part-exchange it for a CTM30 - the CTM certainly sounded very different from the LB, much more to my particular tastes...but apart from the extra wattage, I see the CTM30 has a DI socket on the back, which could prove invaluable.

Still the 15 is getting put through its paces tonight. Wish me luck...

Edited September 9, 2013 by EliasMooseblaster

[Matte_black]

My LB30 was probably loud enough for quiet gigs if used with a very loud cab... I doubt you'll be able to gig with a 15wamp, unless you play in an "acoustic" band. Maybe using an 8x10"?

[EliasMooseblaster]

Yeah, limited to a 1x15 at the moment. But I am prepared to run the amp pretty hard (main appeal was the valvey overdrive it could produce)...I just have a feeling it might cope with a rehearsal but not a full-on gig. Increasingly convinced I might be heading back to the shop later this week. (Pre-emptive sadface.)

[Matte_black]

Uhm... I remember the LB having a nice dirty sound but still not being loud enough. Who knows?

[Musicman20]

The LB was a much nicer design, from an aesthetical point of view.

[Ashdown Engineering]

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1378723641' post='2203613']
Yeah, limited to a 1x15 at the moment. But I am prepared to run the amp pretty hard (main appeal was the valvey overdrive it could produce)...I just have a feeling it might cope with a rehearsal but not a full-on gig. Increasingly convinced I might be heading back to the shop later this week. (Pre-emptive sadface.)
[/quote]

It was never designed to gig with.... That's what the CTM 100 and CTM 300 are for... It's a recording, studio, practice amp really. Although saying that do you not have PA at your gigs? Stick a mic in front of your cab and sorted.

[EliasMooseblaster]

[quote name='Ashdown Engineering' timestamp='1378754866' post='2204338']
It was never designed to gig with.... That's what the CTM 100 and CTM 300 are for... It's a recording, studio, practice amp really. Although saying that do you not have PA at your gigs? Stick a mic in front of your cab and sorted.
[/quote]

Well, it was certainly loud enough for rehearsals, and it sounded wonderful! But enough headroom to fill a venue - well, as you say, it wasn't designed for that.

Ordinarily I'd be all up for mic'ing the cab, but I've found that sound engineers at most venues have a strange phobia of doing that to the bass cab. They'd rather take a DI off the head (fine with me) or straight off the guitar...which then defeats the point of bringing a nice valve amp! Though I notice the CTM 30 has a DI socket on the back, and I think my budget might stretch to the extra. I might take my 15 back to the shop and see if they can order in a 30.

(If not, is there a DI on the back of the LB30?)

[RandomBass]

Yes the LB30 has a DI on the back. It is taken from its own tap off the output transformer, so you get the full glory of the those output tubes. I've used it a couple of times and it works just fine if you need to add a little of your sound into the PA.

I'm assuming the CTM30 is the same - Captain Ashdown will be able to confirm that.

Cheers

Geoff

Edited September 10, 2013 by RandomBass

[Ashdown Engineering]

Yes the CTM 30, 100 and 300 all have transformer derived DIs

[badboy1984]

Tried this in the shop, lovely small valve amp for bass. Reason i didn't buy it because the LB30 i got (made in china version) cost the same as this CTM15 (also made in china). So i went for the LB30 instead. Tone wise is different, not sure is it because the CTM amps have a separate gain/volume.