Ashdown AL 1500D
With Ashdown ABM bass amps already the choice of so many high-profile rock players, Ashdown Engineering has established Ashdown Labs as a new division, concentrating on innovating new breakthroughs in bass amplification technology. In addition to the revolutionary Superfly portable programmable bass amp (see right), Ashdown arrives at Winter NAMM 2006 with a series of groundbreaking Ashdown Labs designs, setting new standards for performance, versatility and ease of transportation.
New Ashdown Labs AL-D600 and AL-D1000 rack-mounting bass amp heads combine ultralight weight, high-performance digital power amp stages with an advanced preamplifier featuring 12-band graphic EQ and Harmonic Emphasis, a unique circuit which synthesizes a top end 'zing' – like permanently playing with new strings.
In addition to a conventional balanced DI output, the new heads also feature a USB digital recording output for direct interfacing with computers and laptops. An identically featured rack-mounting bass preamp (the AL-ADRP-1) perfectly complements a new range of active Ashdown Labs bass cabinets, powered by the same remarkable digital power stages. With controls for input and master level, shape and pad switches, line in/out, DI out and built-in illuminated VU meters, the 1000-Watt 4x10" and 8x10", and 600-Watt 1x15" cabinets feature European-manufactured, custom Ashdown BlueLine Neodymium bass speakers, delivering stunning performance coupled with exceptionally light weight. Indeed, the digitally powered Neodymium Ashdown Labs 4x10 cab weighs-in at less than a conventional, passive, Ceramic-speaker 4x10 bass cabinet.
Finished in a tough, PA-style spatter paint finish with no protruding parts (for easy flight-casing), the new Ashdown Labs cabinets are also available in passive versions.
