Ashdown - CTM-15

The Ashdown CTM-15 is a 15-watt all-tube bass head that packs the essence of vintage groove into a package that weighs just over five kilos. It answers a simple question: how do you get the warmth and dynamic response of the old amps, without the logistical constraints? The answer lies in its circuitry, fed by an ECC83 preamp and a pair of EL84 outputs. You hear the difference immediately - a sound that lives and breathes with you.

Take control of your tone with passive three-band EQ. The Bass, Middle and Treble knobs interact in a musical and intuitive way, sculpting your audio without ever distorting it. The prominently placed analogue VU meter gives you a visual indication of your output level. It's an invaluable asset during recording sessions, to avoid unpleasant surprises and guarantee an optimum signal at the mixing desk.

The versatility of this model is one of its major assets. The balanced DI output, fitted with an internal transformer, sends a studio-quality signal directly to a console. So you can record silently or connect the amp to a subwoofer. The headphone output lets you rehearse at any time. With jack sockets for 4 or 8 Ω impedances or an internal load, it can be used with most loudspeakers.

This head is at home wherever character takes precedence over raw volume. In the home studio, it captures defined, full-bodied bass. On a small stage, it delivers a punch that sits perfectly in an acoustic mix.