Pantera’s Rex Brown & Ashdown Unveil the RB-800: A Signature Bass Amp with Muscle

Pantera bassist Rex Brown has teamed up with Ashdown Engineering to create the RB-800, an 800-watt bass amp packed with features for “power, versatility, and durability.” The new model is an extension of the company’s Rootmaster series.
“From one of the most comprehensive EQ systems in the industry to Ashdown’s renowned Sub Harmonic Generator, this amp offers deep tonal flexibility,” the company writes. “It also features a smooth Compression control and a variable Valve Emulated Drive, giving bassists the tools to craft everything from clean tones to gritty, overdriven sounds.”
Ashdown also states that one of the RB-800’s key features is its analog cab sim DI output. This allows for better direct tone for in-ears or front-of-house monitoring.
Hear the bass in action with more on its features in this demo video:
The Ashdown RB-800 Rex Brown Signature is available for $1,075.
Ashdown RB-800 Rex Brown Signature Amp Features:
| Power Output: | 800 Watts |
| Power Requirements: | 115-230 Volts |
| Speaker Outputs: | 2 x Neutrik Speakon/Jack Outputs |
| Frequency Response: | -3dB @ 22Hz and 25KHz |
| High Instrument Input: | Impedance 3.9m Ohms, input range 150mV – 20 p-p |
| Low Instrument Input: | Impedance 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal |
| DI Output: | 420 Ohm balanced, Level 0dBu nominal |
| Impedance: | Minimum 4 Ohms |
| Signal to noise: | Better than 80dB (EQ flat) |
| EQ: | Bass+/-15dB @ 100Hz, Lo Mid +/-15 dB @340Hz, Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz, Hi Mid +/-15dB@ 1.6kHz, Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving |
| Effects Send: | Impedance 22k Ohm, Level 0dBu nominal |
| Effects Return: | Impedance 22k Ohms, Input Level 0dBu nominal |
| Distortion: | Less than 0.5% THD |
| H x W x D (mm): | 89 x 311 x 235 |
| Weight (kg): | 2.5 |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.