Ashdown Reveals Origin Bass Head and Tube Preamp/DI
Ashdown debuted the Origin series at NAMM this year, including a 300-watt bass amplifier and a tube preamp and DI pedal. Both units are designed to be “lightweight, portable and stripped back” for a strong yet streamlined bass signal.
The Origin amp starts with an active/passive input switch and effects loop. It has a five-band EQ section with Bass, Lo-Mid, Hi-Mid, and Treble knobs. A Shape control adds more overall tonal sculpting with high and low boosts. The amp has a front-facing XLR output while the back panel has a headphone output and two speaker outputs.
The Origin Valve Pre-DI pedal has the same EQ section as the amp, but adds a tube drive section with Level and Gain controls. “Dependent on your playing style and attack, by tweaking the Drive Gain and Level controls in harmony, you can range from a subtle gritty valve depth that can be used regularly, to a fully responsive bass overdrive for when those moments strike,” Ashdown writes. It also has an XLR output with a ground lift, plus a headphone output and auxiliary input.
The Ashdown Origin HD-1 bass amp will have a U.S. price of $399, while the Origin Valve DI will go for $349.
Ashdown Origin HD-1 Bass Head Specs:
| Power Output: | 300 Watts |
| Power Requirement: | 115 - 230 Volts |
| Speaker Outputs: | 2 x Jack |
| High Instrument Input: | Impedance 3.9m Ohms, input range 150mV - 20mV p-p |
| Low Instrument Input: | Impedance - 1M ohms Input range 150mv to 10v p - p |
| Line Input: | Impedance 10k Ohms, input range 300mV - 40V p-p |
| DI Output: | 600 Ohm balanced / Level -20dBu nominal |
| Impedance: | Minimum 4 Ohm |
| Signal to noise: | Better than 80dB (EQ flat) |
| EQ: | Bass +/-15dB @ 100Hz Lo Mid +/-15dB @ 220Hz Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz Hi Mid +/-15dB @ 1.6kHz Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz |
| Effects Send: | impedance 22k Ohm / Level 0dBu nominal |
| Effects Return: | impedance 22k Ohm / Level 0dBu nominal |
| Weight: | 5.2 lbs |
Ashdown Origin Valve DI Specs:
| Power Requirement: | 18v External Power Supply |
| EQ: | 5-band EQ, bass, low-mid, middle, hi-mid and treble |
| Distortion: | 12AX7 powered Valve Drive |
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.
