Ashdown FA 60 Head

(Originally written by charlou la fouine/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
60-watt all-tube amp head with effects and comprehensive connections...

I own the latest version which looks absolutely wonderful with a superb rock'n'roll touch...

UTILIZATION

Simple configuration. You won't need to read the user's manual: just turn the knobs!

Con: the sound has too much low-end and not enough mids, which pushes you to make extreme settings. So you'll have to take some time to find a killer sound.

SOUNDS

Very good for hard rock fans. Good for rock musicians. Also good for rockabilly players with an overdrive pedal.

The overall sound character is ideal for rock and blues music with guts.

Very convenient footswitch for channel selection, boost on/off and effects on/off.

But the length (or should I say shortness) of the footswitch cable is a pity... What about large stages? I also miss a footswitch for reverb on/off.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for one year and it's terrific. There's no other way to put it!

It's much better than my previous Peavey Classic 30 which had a very weak low-end. Even if I miss the high-frequency response of the Peavey.

For the price it's a great amp head with great looks. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

All lamp 60W 2-channel, boost, volume control independent
Bass, middle, treble, mid, gain, volume
No effect

UTILIZATION

Just the rear panel is not necessarily obvious but no less or more than other makes.
The manual I have not read it ... It is anyway not very complicated

I quickly got a good sound on channel 2

SOUNDS

I rock "burps", the black keys, through the eighties but hardcore
Channel 1 is not terrible in its clear, much less in any case than the hybrid DSP I owned a time. In addition to non-saturated BTW, I hardly find it growing. It flies in the granular creed
Channel 2 is very good against, we have a good beam in saturation. on the other hand, if not block any medium right, it is like losing outright decibels. The other buttons are not very versatile.
I play with a Fender tinkered with a humbucker, and a Gibson SG Faded. With Faded, it sends just enough to gain the agreement sent through the handle well smack and is dynamic.
I tested it on a Blackheart 4x12 4 Eminences.
This is a very good amp authentic, but I have no clear sound because of the inoperative channel 1 for me

OVERALL OPINION

I've had 4 months. I owned the 100W hybrid DSP version before that was not so bad, but I wanted all lamp. I am not disappointed with the change except for channel 1. Next if I have a Blackheart BH15H, which sends a lot too. I lent a few years ago a Vox AC30, the Ashdown is what the closest so far, except that it is less clear.
It works well for me in training such power trio, with his very dirty, which is a low wall. Must not hope to penetrate effectively mix with two guitars in a band that plays loud on the other hand.
Conclusion: This is a great alternative to play loud and spit well until roots have 3-4 times the budget to buy better!

This is the second edition (pots on top)
all head lamps 60w 4 x 12AX7 preamp and 2 EL34 in power.
Connectivity:
Front:
- A guitar input
back:
- 3 footswitch outputs (1 for the 4-button footswitch Ashdown and the other two switches to connect two 2 buttons failing to have the four buttons).
- An effects loop in series with volume knob
- Line-out simulation with HP
- HP Output: 1 output for a fixed 16ohms 4x12 and two parallel outputs with selecteru of impedance (2x16 can connect (with selector 8ohms) 2x8ohms (selector 4) or simply 1x8omhs or 1x4ohms)

settings: 2 channels clean and lead

setting gain, treble, middle, bass and volume on each channel ansi a gain boost on lead channel which is exclusively selectionnalbe foot while a small button on the front psa will not be too ... and it is the only negative.
2 master volumes separate selectable at the foot
A general reverb (Digital)
knob apel a DSP-FX which adjusts effect (4 chorus, flange 4 and 8 delay)
the footswitch but I have had with this apara'm not always the case: 4 buttons (selection of channel 1 or 2, the gain boost on channel 2 master volume 1 or 2, enclancement the selected DSP)

9 I note as there's everything I need and not 10 because of the boost ..

UTILIZATION

Setup is simple, even if the equalization react very differently than my old amp (Hughes and Kettner Vortex), but you soon and it is not difficult to get a good sound.
The big plus of this amp is to have the 2 master volumes which is very useful.

the manual is very clear and Sufis but I remember (I have no right under the nose) it is translated into several languages ​​or exculsivement in English, but it is on it is simple if you speak English. ..

SOUNDS

I play in a punk / hardcore and a more old school hardcore.
My guitars are:
- Ibanez RG 321 MH with a Seymour Duncan SH8 in chavalet
- Epiphone G400 (sg 62 reissue) with an easel in HS6
I do not use external effects marrive but use a little delay embarked on some solo passages since I this amp.

channel 1 (clear) changes from a clear crystal-clear to a big crunch when Marshallian up the gain. it can serve both the blues has vieu rock, emo passages clear or otherwise.

[edit on 10 January 2007] I recently rediscovered this channel with a boost before the crunch is a very great distortion present in the medium is really great for what I play.

Channel 2 s'aparente to the nearest mesa boogie (corrected) with huge bass, but without the runny side and is suitable both for the large rock, punk, hardcore nu-metal or the other stuff more Bourin

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since late July (it should be about 4 months)

I love the most:
It's
-The 2 master volumes
She is pretty too

minimum:
-The fact that the boost gain is selected at the foot, if ever my footswitch sucks I have ben more boost! (It happened to me that the cable is death with a switch marshall)
is the only negative for me

before buying it I try several other models in all lamps différant price ranges with Peavey ValveKing, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, Marshall JCM 900 ...

and it is the ashdown RAPORT with the best value for money with her to fall.

with the experience if I wanted an all-tube head in the same range I do it again this choice without problem.

T say everything has previously
Amp 60 watt lamp all with built-in effects and a footswitch with 4 interuptor
canal1/canal2, boost, volume1/vlume2, effect

UTILIZATION

Head with knob you turn and it works
To obtain a bin must turn knobs
the manual and English

SOUNDS

Then the sound the sound ... Well it is frankly a lot but considering the price is a big worry at the middle frequency, this may be because of the baffle marshall rotten (just destroy a MG412A), well no worries at low c is the same for low treble but the bin middles are almost identical to acute ca fact that we do not hardly play on the middles in groups so it tends to disappear behind the drums and bass
So the middle knob has donf
after the basic sound without pedals c is the rock, do not want to play heavy metal with good, clean channel sounds very british but she could amerloc saturation, strange but nice ..

OVERALL OPINION

I have the last 2 months
I adore ... the price of 450 euros a head lamps
I hate the lack of middle, middle cursed AAHHRRRGGG
ben j ai not try hundreds of thousands of amps, but compared to MG100 dfx me that we are not ready before picture is very much better c (c MG100 is ugly)
ben the quality / price for a miracle like the amp manufactured with our friends face brick and not in China ...
The choice I do not know if I would do so in view of finance but the middle bothers m