ASHDOWN CTM-15

TUBE-FIRED TRACKING AMP

While Ashdown’s solid-state bass amps rock the world’s biggest stages, their tube amps are a huge hit with recording bass players. Packing more than enough juice for smaller gigs, the new CTM-15 tube head was specifically developed for the recording world. A straight shot through a three-band EQ, ending at a pair of EL84s, provides pure tube-fired tone at lower wattages. And the onboard VU meter is more than window dressing: Push it into the red, and the CTM-15 goes from bell-like clarity to wooly overdrive.

–Phil Selman