Ashdown Electric Blue 15 User Reviews at zZounds

"Best in its class, easily" submitted July 4, 2004

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Value

The Wow Factor

Music Style: anything from light indie rock to melodic hardcore, and some worship music

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zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Very clean sound, with some good EQing and use of the bright and deep switches you can get it to fit just about any style of music you want. I have the lows, mids, and highs down a little and the low- and high-mids up, and it gives it a killer growl when I play with a pick. I use a cheap Japanese Fender P-J bass and I can get it to sound like a $1000 Stingray through this amp (well maybe not quite, but almost). The only thing that keeps me from giving this a 10 is that the sub-harmonic generator makes things a little muddy if used with lower notes. It also distorts somewhat and gets some noticeable noise at very high volumes, but chances are you won't have to push it that hard anyway. Feature: For the price, the amount and quality of features is amazing. Seperate in and out volume amplification knobs, LED meter showing if you're about to overdrive the preamp, high and low impedance ins, very effective 5-band EQ, "deep" and "bright" switches (which boost the extreme lows and highs respectively), subharmonic generator with level control, effects loop, XLR direct out, tuner out, along with a plug in back for an extra cab.... The amp even has a dual-speed cooling fan. Quality: The carpet covering seems durable enough, along with the front grill. It would probably take a lot of abuse to take this amp out of commission. The only thing I have some doubts about is the top handle, it's just a hard rubber strip (like most combos in this price range) and it will probably last for a while, but handles on the sides would have been better. The knobs are also a little loose, which just means that your settings might get messed up a little while you're moving it, but nothing major. Value: I looked at a number of other low-end 15" combos -- Gallien-Krueger, Fender, SWR, Ibanez -- and the Electric Blue is not only cheaper and has almost double the power, but it even sounds at least as good or better in my opinion. The Wow Factor: This was actually the first reason I noticed this amp. The blue amp head and speaker are cooler than heck, much more so than your normal black cabinet/black speaker motif. Plus it's British, 'nuff said. Overall: I was playing through my dad's old Gallien-Krueger GMT 300B head and a homemade 15" cab before I got this, and I don't think I could have found a better deal on a "first" amp (although I've been playing bass for almost four years). It just goes to show that you don't have to buy an amp from a well-known brand like Fender or SWR to get good quality. If it was stolen I would definitely buy another one. With 180 watts RMS and its extention cab out I can't see myself needing more power anytime in the near future, and if I did I could always just mic it or plug it straight into the PA. Someday if all goes well I'll probably end up getting a higher-end tube amp like an Ampeg SVT or Ashdown ABM, but until then the Electric Blue will do just fine.

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"I'm not trying to sell you this product. Nor do I work for Ashdown. Nor am I lying about the awesome sound. This is just an awe" submitted May 30, 2005

By a customer from comcast.net

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Value

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active vocals/bass at club gigs and parties.

Music Style: Indie pop, dream pop, leftfield techno, garage rock revival

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: We all by Ashdown amps for sound. The 'electric blue 180' delivers the warmest tone that I've heard on any amp, and it truly stands out from other bass amps with its lound, clean, soft tone. Feature: Many of today's amps come with built in effects. Ashdowns don't, but the effects on most amps sound artificial and boring anyway, so I don't really care. This ashdown is loaded with features, though, such as multiple imputs and effect/tuner imputs, an easy to use but powerful 5-band EQ, and in/out switches for bright and deep. Quality: Tough as nails. I have had no problems with my amp so far, and over the past 6 months that I've owned it, I've noticed no diminishment in sound quality or max. volume. The bulky buttons and switches don't fall off, the carpet cover is completely in tact, and I've taken it all around Illinois without it falling apart or breaking. Value: I bought this amp for it's dollar-to-watts ratio, and it's better than any other amp I've found. Totally worth it, this amp packs serious punch in a cheap package. The Wow Factor: blue amp + awesome sound + fifteen inch speaker with blue accents + really cool head with cool buttons + smooth carpet covering + British flair = really really sexy amp Overall: Awesome sound, great price, lasting quality, cool features, knowledgable support, huge speaker, not too heavy, insanely loud (but doesn't lose sound quality when playing quietly), sturdy construction...need I say more?

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"Ashdown tone, ashdown quality, ashdown looks, what more can you ask for?" submitted January 18, 2007

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Alternative, Soft rock, Prog rock, Jazz, etc.

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Sound: Ohh waht can I say. oh, yes. ASHDOWN PEOPLE. This brand is reckognized for one thing: TONE. and their lower end products (unlike many other brands ones) are faithful to this reputation. Far better sound than a Behringer, and just slightly more expensive. I love the sound from this thing, It's extremeley well balanced, Sharp highs, thump'n mids and booming lows, all the way. This thing sounds so good even without EQ'ing that I only use the EQ for a slight bass boost. Feature: Well, not many fancy incorporated effects, so what? most amps with built in effects suck. The sub harmonic is great, but you have to understand one thing, when you are setting the Sub harmonic's knob you'r actually setting the volume of the effect, not the degree of Octaves. high boost, low boost, 5 band EQ, XLR out, Efect's loop, EXTENSION CAB CAPABILITY PEOPLE! The only thing I wish this thing had extra is making the Sub-Harmonics foot switchable. Ease of Use: You dont even need to EQ this thing to sound good. No fancy knobs, no nothing. if you cant use this thing you might aswell give up playing bass right ahead. Quality: I havn't had a single issue with it in the 1.5Year+ I'v had it. Value: Not 10 simply put becouse I am still to try a Perfect amp. Manufacturer Support: Sometimes it takes ashdown a while to answer inquiries in time, but you wont have to wait over a week for anything. At least I havn't, and I'v bothered them, ALOT with random questions about may of their items. The Wow Factor: C'm on people, this thing looks amazing. the VU meter is stylish, as is the brand's logo, and the Blue speaker just looks amazing. Overall: The only thing I'm thinking about upgrading now is my bass! Allright, you caught me, I do want an EXT. cab to go with this sucker But I wont trade this thing until it's absolutley necesarry.

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"Best amp in it's class... Suppurb tone! Sexy blue speaker" submitted June 29, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Pro

Music Style: Heavy Latin Jazz Metal fusion

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Great brittish tone.. Sub harmonics set it apart from other amps in it's class. Parametric sweep on EQ is fantastic stuff you find in more expensive units. Best amp sound for dollars paid by far. I play an active bass and have a tube preamp and tube compressor on the effects loop. It pushes it a little too far and the speaker with fart and chirp if i turn it up too loud, but I usually dont need that much volume. Also fades a little on my five string's low B my 4 string passive bass rocks this amp nicely Feature: The sub harmonics totally rock... The give you that gutsy tone your after in bass. Quality: This amp is solid and well built.. the amp itself it near indistructable.. the cabinet is made of real plywood and not that particle crap... the only thing I would change is the speaker... the blue one is sexy but doesn't handle the power the amp can put out. Value: this is a fantastic amp for small gigs... practice.. I have actually blow out lights in my house with this amp because it shakes the roof. Manufacturer Support: zzounds is great... you can call and actuall people will answer... Ashdown is cool too everyone I've ever talked to knew what they were talking about... The Wow Factor: This thing is hot... chicks like the blue.. they come up to me and go I like that blue thing.. and I say then you'll like my purple thing even better... LOL.. jk... The 15 is nice.. people can respect a 15' speaker... It say.. I mean business! Overall: I have already moved up to bigger more powerful gear to play out bigger events.. mostly because my guitar player bought a Boogie.. I could keep up with his Marshal 100 watt but the Boogie drowned me out... but I would never sell it... I use it at home and when I go goof so I dont have to lug big stuff.

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"great price, great amp, awesome sound and control!!!!!!!!!" submitted December 14, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: 45 years

Music Style: progressive country

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Sound: i have used many different bass amps through the years from Hartke to Peavey and everything in between.It has its own sound and a tone and clarity and sustain that is unmatched in anything in its price range.plenty of power for gigging in local clubs but you do need to run it through the board when playing large or outdoor gigs.the sound and sound controls are phenomenal.i also like having the 2 inputs for active and passive basses as i use both when playing out and can have them both hooked up and only have to change basses. Feature: the eq works amazing and with the bass and treble boost buttons you can really get the sounds you need. i do wish they offered a foot switch though, my favorite thing overall is the weight, my back loves this one. Ease of Use: super simple to use Quality: very well made and designed,the large cooling fan is a big plus in my book. Value: if you can find a better amp for the money ,i want to know about it. Manufacturer Support: by best i mean i have never had to use it. what more can you say? The Wow Factor: this amp just looks cool. very well done and the uv meter is cool too. Overall: if lost or stolen i would buy another, i love this amp!!!!!

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"A must buy with its strong power and sound for the money." submitted December 19, 2004

By a customer from aol.com

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Musical Background: former active musician now hobbyist

Music Style: clasic rock & jazz

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: The Ashdown Electric Blue 15-180 Bass Combo Ampllifier produces a variety of sounds. It gives the heavy bass sound of more expensive amps along with the contemporary tones. The unit competes well with other notable bass amps. Feature: The external speaker jack is a very nice extra. Many comparable systems lacked this feature. The 5 band EQ with the deep and bright are nice additions to this unit. Quality: The amp is solidly built. The unit is heavy but expected with such sturdy construction. Manufacturer Support: Not at this time. The Wow Factor: The blue speaker and front panel adds serious visual appeal to the amp. It gets noticed. Overall: 5 to 6 years. I campared it to the Crate bass combo & the Fender Rumble 100. The Ashdown Electric Blue out performed these two units.

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"best amp ever" submitted December 26, 2006

By a customer from gmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: im a hobbyist of 3 years and now im in a band about to record

Music Style: blues,rock n roll. hevey metal

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Sound: this is the best amp ive ever played on sound great and is loud the only problem is if you play hard you cant turn the input up past 1/4 or it will sound distorted. also its 180 watts rms and a 300 watt peak but the speaker is only 150 watts idk if thats rms or peak Feature: the sub hurmonics are cool but if u notice its a bout 1/2 a second befor they kick in but if you r playing you cant notice Ease of Use: its so easy to find your sound and it sounds great on any type of bass Quality: the is th ebest amp made ever it can take a beating. i dont think this would ever break but the onlything im worried about iss blowing the 150watt speaker it comes wiht Value: this is the most watt at the price exept banger i think and they suck and ashdown makes some of the best amps ever so its worth it Manufacturer Support: i haavnt needed support The Wow Factor: its cool mean sleak and sex Overall: im going to buy an ashdown external cab to blow everyone back farther than the combo amp does by its self

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"the (SEX() electric blue (the master)" submitted July 18, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: in band, grade 5, hobby

Music Style: nu metal ,rock, punck, funk

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Sound: the sound is very versitile but it isnt clear enough at higher volumes Feature: it doesnt have unesearry extras i really like the octave divider it is a good extra Quality: this product is sturdy and has corner protectors and rough carpet sides and a strong kick-proof grill on the front protecting the speaker Value: this is such good value you wont find another amp of this quality for the price The Wow Factor: the blue speaker is quite eyecatching Overall: good sound and perfect for small gigs (pubs)ect good build quality use ful features looks good easy to use and exelent value

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"BUY NOW!" submitted June 8, 2006

By markdodson'hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Christian

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Feature: No accessories include with this Ashdown unlike with a fender. but comes with 2 inputs for a guitar or 2 to choose from, about 3 or 4 outputs to other amps and a DI for PAing and recording. i got the ne "face lift" ELECTRIC BLUE EB 15-180 Combo which has a new revised grill and proper backlit VU as on the Ashdown MAG series which Ashdown are creating now which i wanted but wasnt sure if i was getting cos i got it off the internet (not this site) so there are as many features as i need and wanted. Quality: This is a quality produce. its proper solid, carpet covering (that picks up the bits cos its new), rubber corners, big buttons, big speaker and watts. Made by Ashdown which is a known make of amplification. HOWEVER this produce is HEAVY, heavier than the specifications which says its only 18.6kgs... rubbish, mine wieghs around 25kgs so its a struggle for me gettting it up the stairs. Value: only amp combo i found in this price range wth similar spec is Behringer Ultrabass BX1800,(15" 1800watts was

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"No greater bang for the buck." submitted August 12, 2004

By a customer from intuitiveinc.com

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The Wow Factor

Music Style: Christian Rock

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Sound: This amp provides a full, rich sound. The bass boost will blow you out of the water. We've found it blends well (strong and yet not overpowering) with the other instruments, which use Line 6 and Fender amps. Feature: The amp is pretty basic in its features. I know some other amps in this price range come with a foot pedal for effects that this one lacks. However, instead it comes with more power and cleaner sound. Quality: The amp is solidly built and will probably be around long after I'm gone. It has held up well to use and looks no worse for the wear. I saw one review before I purchased this amp that said the amp could withstand a bomb blast. The guy was telling the truth. Value: Nothing else in this price range compares when it comes to quality or bang for buck. When you do your research and find something that is a "no-name" product in the US but that seems like a good bet to take a risk on, it is very satisfying to find out that it exceeds your expectations. I'd recommend this amp in a heartbeat. Manufacturer Support: I had a question and went to the Ashdown webpage to contact their service department. They responded within 24 hours and provided excellent trouble-shooting ideas. I found them to be very personable and interested in satisfying the customer. Even my wife was impressed by the way they responded (and that's a miracle!). The Wow Factor: I think the sex-appeal of this product comes from its uniqueness and performance. When other musicians walk up to see what is behind the sound you're generating, you know you've got something. Overall: I don't believe I'll be in the market for another bass amp for many moons to come. When I outgrow the performance of this thing, I'll be having to dig DEEP into my pocket book. However, I don't think that will happen for many, many years.

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"This thing owns!!" submitted February 15, 2005

By a customer from yahoo.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: In a punk/ grunge band

Music Style: punk, alternative, emo

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Sound: great bright sound good distortion too. Feature: this thing has a bunch of inputs...im not sure what they all do but its pretty useful i can plug in 5 guitars on it. Quality: this is a very sturdy and durable product and it hasn't failed me yet. Value: i got this at a local music store for about $320 its worth every penny and is better priced than hartkes and other brands of lesser quality. Manufacturer Support: none The Wow Factor: this is sick its got a chrome grill protecting its massive sexy blue speaker adn its got a nice shape and overall look to it. Overall: This is a great product i play in a band with my friends and this amp is perfect for the job its easy to transport and it packs quite a punch.

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"nice amp" submitted February 18, 2005

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Musical Background: hobbyist

Music Style: punk all the way

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Sound: it sounded great i like how it got nice and loud Feature: it had a lot of awsome features i wish it had a destortion chanle and i wish it was a tilt back amp but ill compermise for this thing Quality: seemed stable Value: what u get is what u pay for i payed very little and got alot back The Wow Factor: liked the blue type theme blue speaker blue head Overall: great sound great look great effects wut more could u want

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"THE WORST AMP EVER!!!!!" submitted April 10, 2008

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Sound: no it stands for itself Feature: hard to find and controls Ease of Use: nobs were hard to turn and input was not the right size Quality: there was alot of excess plastic and litte chip on it Value: i got better uses of my money Manufacturer Support: no support was offered The Wow Factor: it makes me vommit Overall: I want my refund

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Ashdown Electric Blue 15-180 Bass Combo Amplifier (180 Watts, 1x15 in.)

User Ratings

"Best in its class, easily" submitted July 4, 2004

"I'm not trying to sell you this product. Nor do I work for Ashdown. Nor am I lying about the awesome sound. This is just an awe" submitted May 30, 2005

"Ashdown tone, ashdown quality, ashdown looks, what more can you ask for?" submitted January 18, 2007

"Best amp in it's class... Suppurb tone! Sexy blue speaker" submitted June 29, 2005

"great price, great amp, awesome sound and control!!!!!!!!!" submitted December 14, 2011

"A must buy with its strong power and sound for the money." submitted December 19, 2004

"best amp ever" submitted December 26, 2006

"the (SEX() electric blue (the master)" submitted July 18, 2005

"BUY NOW!" submitted June 8, 2006

"No greater bang for the buck." submitted August 12, 2004

"This thing owns!!" submitted February 15, 2005

"nice amp" submitted February 18, 2005

"THE WORST AMP EVER!!!!!" submitted April 10, 2008