PeteJ Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Just wondered if the Ashdown FS Origin Valve Pre-DI Pedal is any good? Subjective I know, but that's what counts. PMT are selling them for £199 which seemed reasonable. Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Have they changed the name? When I bought one it was called the OriginAL Valve DI and it's still called that on Ashdown's page... Anyway, I have the yellow Norman Watt Roy edition and it's brilliant. Here's a review that @Merton wrote last year which covers pretty much everything. I think at £200 it's a great deal. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Are PMT still doing that 10% discount offer for BC users? "BASSCHAT10" IIRC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 I love it. £199 is a great price! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_bassist Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 3 hours ago, Muppet said: Have they changed the name? When I bought one it was called the OriginAL Valve DI and it's still called that on Ashdown's page... Anyway, I have the yellow Norman Watt Roy edition and it's brilliant. Here's a review that @Merton wrote last year which covers pretty much everything. I think at £200 it's a great deal. I heard they had to change the name when it first came out, but I don't remember its previous name. This review by Merton is gold. I love mine (I sold the Tone Hammer and I kept this). The EQ is really powerful. If the Valve Drive could be more subtle it would be awesome. I think it's too aggressive and you have to play with the input and get used to it. But IMO, it's one of the best preamp pedals out there. And at that price... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Originally (erm...) it was called the Origin, but that was a bit too close for comfort with another brand, so they added the "al" on the end. Not sure if PMT have just given it a weird name, as far as I'm aware it's the just OriginAL valve pre-DI still. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Foot switch FS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Btw I did another demo of this last weekend. Sounds pretty good to me, save the crap playing! 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Nice sounds! Not familiar with the material but like it a lot, will have to check them out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 2 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: Nice sounds! Not familiar with the material but like it a lot, will have to check them out. Cheers! They did one album and an EP back in the mid 2000s, then the singer went on to form The Union with Luke Morley from Thunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 5 hours ago, javi_bassist said: If the Valve Drive could be more subtle it would be awesome. I think it's too aggressive and you have to play with the input and get used to it. Have you tried to swap out the valve? I started to give it a go but you can't get to it from the rear or the front of the pedal, so unless I'm missing something a pretty comprehensive dismantle may be required... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Any of these: 12AX7 - gain of 100 12AT7 - gain of 60 12AU7 - gain of 20 because they’re preamp valves they don’t need biasing, and can literally be unplugged from their socket and replaced; they only fit in one way, so knock yourself out! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 46 minutes ago, Muppet said: Have you tried to swap out the valve? I started to give it a go but you can't get to it from the rear or the front of the pedal, so unless I'm missing something a pretty comprehensive dismantle may be required... Fiddly as hell but I did it. you need to remove all the k lbs and basically take the whole thing apart. Or send it to Ashdown and get them to do it 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Looks like it would be easier to replace the drive knob with a smaller value logarithmic pot - that’ll also reduce the gain, and will give more control over lower drive settings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_bassist Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Merton said: Fiddly as hell but I did it. you need to remove all the k lbs and basically take the whole thing apart. Or send it to Ashdown and get them to do it 😄 Which valve are you using now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 34 minutes ago, javi_bassist said: Which valve are you using now? Just a different 12AX7; I think it’s a Ruby but can’t remember! Will check over the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 I sense a Saturday purchase of one of these, I can feel its presence. Good to know the valve can be changed as I wouldn’t want too much gain, being able to swap for a lower gain one sounds ideal. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) I bought one last a few weeks ago. It's absolutely superb. So punchy and clear. I'd say it's better than the pre in the abm. There are loads of wiring options and tonal adjustments. The drive is a proper drive rather than the warmer on the ABMs. Very loud, very solid pre. I got mine from pmt where it was indeed labelled the "FS origin" pedal, but it was in fact the new "originAL". £199 compared to £379. It's a big saving. Edited January 23, 2021 by la bam 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_bassist Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 4 minutes ago, la bam said: £199 compared to £379. It's a big saving. Wow, great deal!! I agree about the ABM pre. It's punchier than my ABM EVO II. I actually bought mine because I love the preamp of my RM EVO. I have bought a 12AT7 valve and I will try to swap the stock valve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Well I did it, one on its way from PMT. I think it was the massive saving that instigated this along with @Mertons very good demo, both factors meant I just HAD to get one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 40 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: Well I did it, one on its way from PMT. I think it was the massive saving that instigated this along with @Mertons very good demo, both factors meant I just HAD to get one. Congrats mate, be interested in getting your thoughts on this one. Ignoring my slight disappointment that "Showtime" = mute button and not some mega fuzz option to overlay the drive of the valve, from what I've been able to gather it provides: - a 5 band EQ (including 3 mids) i.e. comparable to what you would find on a decent amp or EQ pedal; - a preset shape button, which I think delivers a slight mid-scoop; - its magic sauce of the valve drive which kicks in at 0.40 on this clip: Ashdown Engineering OriginAL preamp pedal demo - YouTube My question is to what extent that valve sound differs to a mild fuzz setting on a decent fuzz pedal or what you would be able to get from something like your Paradriver v2, which I know you're a big fan of? Look forward to your feedback once you've had a chance to put it through its paces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 8 minutes ago, Al Krow said: - its magic sauce of the valve drive which kicks in at 0.40 on this clip: Ashdown Engineering OriginAL preamp pedal demo - YouTube My question is to what extent that valve sound differs to a mild fuzz setting on a decent fuzz pedal or what you would be able to get from something like your Paradriver v2, which I know you're a big fan of? That’s my other demo video which I did way back in Lockdown #1 😂 Check out the video linked above in this thread for a more balls-out overdriven valve tone. It can go further than that too PS - other features include an aux in, headphone out and a “thru” output which is not affected by any of the pedals settings at all. And the DI is a transformer-based one so rather lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 2 minutes ago, Merton said: That’s my other demo video which I did way back in Lockdown #1 😂 Check out the video linked above in this thread for a more balls-out overdriven valve tone. It can go further than that too PS - other features include an aux in, headphone out and a “thru” output which is not affected by any of the pedals settings at all. And the DI is a transformer-based one so rather lovely. Cheers Martin - and it was a very good Lockdown #1 demo video, if I might say so! Is the "thru" output in effect a "DI pre" output then and the "DI" a "DI post" output then. I think I read on your other thread not to use quality headphones with the unit though? 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 I’d be interested to know whether the valve itself is actually overdriven when engaged, or the overdrive created with a pair of diodes (as in most Marshall guitar amps). I don’t suppose anyone noticed a diode pair in there when changing out the valve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 11 minutes ago, JapanAxe said: I’d be interested to know whether the valve itself is actually overdriven when engaged, or the overdrive created with a pair of diodes (as in most Marshall guitar amps). I don’t suppose anyone noticed a diode pair in there when changing out the valve? Interesting point. If it's done by diodes, what's the valve actually doing? My skepticism about valves in pedals is whether sufficient voltage is available to really drive them?I think purists / experts would say that even with the 240v in an amp, preamp valves are not going to provide the same tonal impact as power amp valves. I don't have the engineering nous to expand on this, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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