Author Topic: Ashdown FA (Read 10951 times)

Petre · « **on:** June 14, 2006, 01:06:38 AM »

Ok, the decision has almost been made. After extensive research it sounds liek the fallen angel is EXACTLY what im looking for. High gain, and an insane low end. (chime in now if you think its a bad amp). Plus reviews have told me customer service isnt true to all the ghost stories.

However, i notice the FA 60 watt head and combo are the same price. Now if im right in thinking the combo can connect straight into a cab too, surely the combo is better choice as id be able to play at both bedroom levels (without cab) and have a nice big sound for gigs (with cab)?

Cheers for any input on both wether the amp is a good choice, and whether i should go for combo or head.
Petre

38thBeatle · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2006, 07:46:47 AM »

I would say a combo is more versatile so yes, go for that if it does have the option to use an extension cab later if you so wish.

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2006, 10:41:45 AM »

I've got a Fallen Angel 60 combo and it's a great (and surprisingly versatile) amp. The clean sounds from it are really great, and obviously the gain and bass available are insane.
The RRP and the "real" retail price for the head is somewhat less than the combo though :?
Unless you're playing to 2000 people plus though, the combo should be fine.

Word Bearer · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2006, 11:30:01 AM »

It's an awesome amp, definetely go for it.

The combo should be fine, even for gigs you shouldn't really need an extension cab.

Jappse · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2006, 12:02:20 PM »

Has anyone tried the 40w combo? How it is compared to the 60w combo?

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:15:44 PM »

I'm guessing its pretty similar although I havent played either, theres not really a great difference between 40w and 60w valve amps, at least I dont think there is?

Petre · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:07:15 PM »

Sweet, looks like i'll go for the combo then

.

btw, the diff between 40watt and 60 watt, is 40 watt = 1 speaker, 60 watt = 2

and yea soz i got confused with prices across diff websites. looks like head is £50 cheaper than the combo.

Oh and one last question, what do i have to look for in the amp specs to find out if it will connect into an external speaker cab? Thx very much

Petre

Jappse · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:25:22 PM »

Quote from: Petre

Sweet, looks like i'll go for the combo then .

btw, the diff between 40watt and 60 watt, is 40 watt = 1 speaker, 60 watt = 2

and yea soz i got confused with prices across diff websites. looks like head is £50 cheaper than the combo.

Oh and one last question, what do i have to look for in the amp specs to find out if it will connect into an external speaker cab? Thx very much

Petre

I was not thinking about wattage, i was thinking about the audial differences.

About your last question, the 40w combo, the 60w combo and the 60w head has all the same back panel, so thats no problem. check for yourself:

http://ashdownmusic.com/tech/manuals/FallenAngelManual05.pdf

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:57:51 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

I'm guessing its pretty similar although I havent played either, theres not really a great difference between 40w and 60w valve amps, at least I dont think there is?

i think the 40 watter has el84 power tubes, while the 60 watter has el34's- so the power tube overdrive at higher volumes will be different, presumably.

I've only tried the 60 watt head, and at low volumes. Seemed pretty good (obviously no match for a recto, but then again, it's about 5 times the price!), and had a nice crunch on channel 1, with the gain cranked.

I have no idea about the reliability, obviously, I only tried it in sound control.

:drink:

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2006, 06:11:49 PM »

A mate of mine occasionally borrows my Ashdown for live work if his triple rectifier is in the shop, and he never has any complaints.
I just checked my back panel and there are in fact 2 speaker outputs, an 8ohm and a 16ohm, so you should be able to connect tp whatever you want.

chrisola · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2006, 10:21:35 PM »

I had a FA 40w combo (without the DSP fx)

£230 it cost me, was mint but 'ex demo'

Clean sounds were ok.

Gain channel was ok and sounded great when boosted by my SD-1. Amp was VERY VERY bass heavy though...so watch the bass control (this was with a Jackson RR5 which is a pretty 'light' sounding axe)

It did get REALLY hot, mine was one of the newer ones with the cooling fans on the back.

Not a bad amp at all!

It was sold for a JCM800 though ;) (then i thought feck it and bought ENGL which is what i always REALLY wanted)

Petre · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2006, 12:05:33 AM »

Ok, turns out i can get an amp like, by end of this month by using up my early 18th bday money. so erm... Im seriously tempted by the 60 watt FA DSP. Just a little concerned the newer ones might not be so great. Ive heard some say the newer ones are cr@ppy :? . Ive heard alotta good things too tho, and my Jackson RR3 is bright as anything, as i even have my SD dimebucker in it. Need to really make sure this is a good purchase as this is basically my 18th bday present instead of driving lessons and i dont wanna make a bad decision :( . And before anyone suggests, i really cant try one out. I dont live anywhere near any shop that would even think about stocking these amps.

Only other real option i can think of for around 400 - 500 is an engl 50 watt head. But the FA just seems alot more based around what im into, and seems alot more versatile

By the way i currently use a marshall MG15 CDR (broken) so im kinda assuming anything is gonna be an upgrade. Just if this amp is gonna be shitety im gonna have to live with it !

Thanks for input
Petre

P.S, @ dave , ive checked and pretty much specs of both are identical.

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2006, 11:27:18 AM »

The Ashdown is very good value for money, however you cut it.
There are a lot of fans for the Engl Screamer on this site, but from what I've been able to ascertain there is a reason that the Thunder is so much cheaper. Some people have raised questions about the built quality of the Thunder, so I shouldn't worry too much about the construction of the Ashdown , and I'm sure much of the criticism of the newer Ashdowns is simply perception (I mean even the Vox AC30 is made in China now!! And it's no cheaper!!!!!!).
To fit the Thunder into your price bracket I'm assuming you're looking at importing it from Germany, so I don't know what the shipping is, and remember it won't work without a cab, and if you buy the cab separately you're going to be up to £700.

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2006, 11:31:13 AM »

I must also agree with Dave here, channel 1 really driven hard gives an awesome rock tone, you might want to get something like a Digitech Bad Monkey (only about £35) to dirty up your clean channel at the touch of a button.

Petre · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2006, 01:40:51 PM »

Yea the engl head really would stretch my wallet, and i need to begin saving for my new guitar as soon as possible. ashdown seems way too tempting for me also. Versatility, bass-heavy, and great price.. plus they look pretty mean 8) .

And about driving the clean channel.. im not really into "rock" as such. Metal all the way for me. And ive heard even tho the ashdown is sposed to be metal, the gain just doesnt quite reach what it should, so i was thinkin of getting some sort of overdrive pedal to push it that extra.

Petre