Ashdown AAR1 Vinyl

The Ashdown Radiator 1 is a transistor amplifier of 100W, with 2 channels.
The first is used via an input jack for guitar with microphone active or passive.
The second is used via a low Z input jack or XLR to plug a microphone, a switch alimentaton phantom.
Each channel has an input level adjustment, equalizer and a minimum (but very effective): bass and treble, no midrange and is therefore easy to see why we can do without.
Together with two channels was the output level (output volume), the reverb (choice of types hall / flat patterns long / short, more than a knob), and an LED yellow / green / red level Input facilitating optimum setting whatever the desired listening volume.

To this must be added to channel 1 the possibility of contrasting highs and low with a button (shape) very effective for type of play acoustic picking, phase one button that minimizes the effect of feedback (very useful when is played on a guitar case), and a notch filter to eliminate resonance effects at high volume.

Behind the facade there is a line output jack, an input + output effect, an XLR DI for post Eq

Note: no power saw, to my mind is the little downside because you can quickly forget to turn off the beast ... (Behind the power button)

In use, the different settings are very effective, we will have essentially each parameter is really useful, no gadget.

UTILIZATION

In basic use, simply adjust the channel input, output level, and leave everything else default position (noon) when the unit is operating to render with great fidelity and expressiveness the sound of an acoustic guitar or electric in the clear.

The manual is succinct reading once to become familiar with the logic of the settings, then we can put it away.

SOUNDS

I play this amp with a guitar electro-acoustic nylon Esteve equipped with a Fishman preamp and an epiphone 3 / 4 body jazz emperor equipped with micro Bartolini.
With my two instruments, the sound is literally transcended.
With the classic, we understand we are dealing with an electro-acoustic amp of high quality, on my first test store, I felt to play a concert guitar high-end impressive .
With jazz, the sonic possibilities are very interesting, every nuance is met: the roundness of the bass, the treble clear sound, more robust to attacks mediator, playing softer finger agree or octave, beautiful.
Even the reworked sound of my pedals KORG AX-1500G give more satisfactory results.
The sounds are exactly what I was looking for a long time: a change in clean sounds very accurate.
Ideal for playing jazz / bossa and possibly acid-jazz/groove/funk.

The power is there, with just enough to play in trio or quartet setting without necessarily using a very powerful amp.

Note: Channel 2 in micro singing is remarkably effective, my wife singer was taped by the quality of the reverb equalizer and heat of sound.

OVERALL OPINION

For a long time I was looking for a power amp for my honest and versatile two guitars, and I first thought about the Roland AC-60, or AER Compact 60.

I played so far with a 85 Fender Deluxe and a Roland Micro Cube.

It took a 30 minute test in acoustic jazz with this amp to persuade me that I could never do without ...

The price at which one can touch (€ 475) fully justified the purchase because of the quality of the product.