Ashdown is renowned for its amplifiers and effects units, produced primarily for bass guitar but also for electric guitar. Based in Chelmsford, Essex, England, the company was founded in 1997 by Mark Gooday—formerly the chief engineer and manager at Trace Elliot—who designed the logo based on the badge of the Austin-Healey sports car brand. Ashdown’s unwavering focus on design and innovation is evident across its product range, which includes tube and hybrid amplifiers, combos, practice amps, effects pedals, and more.
Ashdown Engineering remains true to its roots today, just as it was in 1997.
Handcrafted in the UK at the Ashdown Custom Shop, the CTM series tube heads are built to last, utilizing only the finest components to ensure superior sound quality and years of reliable performance. The CTM-100 is a powerful 100-watt all-tube bass amplifier that blends the timeless sonic essence of classic tube amps with modern construction and reliability. Designed to withstand the rigors of the stage, the amp is housed in a robust 18mm marine-grade birch plywood cabinet, featuring durable folding handles and an internal cooling fan to ensure optimal performance during long sets. Built with premium components, the CTM-100 guarantees years of trouble-free operation, night after night.
At the heart of the CTM-100 lies a classic five-tube preamp configuration and a fully driven power stage featuring dual KT88 output tubes, allowing the amp to deliver its commanding tone with unwavering consistency—even at small- to medium-sized gigs. Its tonal versatility is unmatched, ranging from smooth '60s bass tones and growling '70s sounds to a thick, powerful modern tone. A suite of tone controls—along with Deep, Mid-Shift, and Bright switches—allows for precise fine-tuning to suit any musical context.
The CTM-100’s passive tone circuit delivers a wide spectrum of musical sounds, with highly interactive controls that let you dial in exactly the tone you want. Maxing out the controls opens up even more sonic possibilities.
A standout feature is the user-adjustable bias for both output tubes; this minimizes costly trips to a technician and extends the amplifier's lifespan. This function is easily accessible via the dual-function VU meter on the front panel. Furthermore, each output tube is individually fused and user-replaceable without removing the chassis from the cabinet, and the meter indicates if a tube or fuse fails.
For studio or stage use, the CTM-100 features a transformer-coupled, tube-driven DI output with ground isolation, ensuring maximum signal purity and consistent performance. Additionally, the front-mounted effects loop is also tube-driven, preserving the full integrity of your sound.
Flexible tone shaping! From smooth '60s bass tones and growling '70s sounds to thick, powerful modern tones, the CTM-100 covers a vast sonic range. Engage the "Mellow" switch for soft, warm, clean tones—or disengage it to unleash pure, overdriven tube growl. Standard tone controls allow you to create a wide range of musical sounds, while the Deep, Mid Shift, and Bright switches enable fine-tuning of the tone. The EQ section is a passive circuit, meaning that if all controls are set to zero, no sound passes through the amplifier. All controls are highly interactive, giving you the ability to dial in exactly the sound you want. Don't be afraid to turn the controls all the way up to get the most out of them.
Tube protection! The CTM-100 saves you from expensive and time-consuming trips to the technician and ensures your amp sounds better for longer. It features user-adjustable bias for both output tubes, which can be set by activating the bias mode on the front panel's dual-function VU meter. Each output tube is individually fused and user-replaceable without removing the unit from its chassis (the meter also indicates tube or fuse failure).
Tube-driven DI and effects loop! To send your tone directly to the mixing console in the studio or on stage, the CTM-100 features a tube-driven, transformer-coupled DI output with ground isolation, ensuring maximum sonic purity and consistent performance night after night.
The effects loop is tube-driven, ensuring maximum tonal fidelity.
Classic all-tube tone! Featuring a classic five-tube preamp configuration and a fully driven power stage utilizing two KT88 output tubes, the CTM-100 easily delivers a powerful sound night after night at small to medium-sized gigs.
Specifications:
Output power: 100 watts
Power requirements: 115–240 volts
Speaker outputs: 3 x 1/4" jacks (8/4/2 ohms)
DI output: Transformer-coupled, tube-driven
Impedance: Minimum impedance 2 ohms
EQ: Passive EQ section (Bass, Middle, and Treble) plus Shape switches
Effects send jack
Effects return jack
Preamp tubes: 2 x ECC832, 2 x ECC82
Output tubes: 2 x KT88
Dimensions (H x W x D in mm): 279 x 590 x 254
Weight (kg): 18.8
Custom Shop, Made in UK
