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 from Austin-Healey sports cars. 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.
In July 2025, Black Sabbath bade a final farewell with a historic hometown show in Birmingham. For this special evening, Geezer Butler collaborated with Ashdown to design custom purple-and-black speaker cabinets, perfectly matched to his "Head of Doom" (HOD-600) signature amplifier head. Following the passing of Ozzy Osbourne just weeks later, it was clear that an era had come to an end.
The "Combo of Doom" (COD) keeps that moment alive—both sonically and visually. It is a UK-made, 200-watt bass combo featuring a purple finish that captures Geezer’s vision of a raw, massive, organic bass tone while remaining practical for everyday use. Technically, the UK-COD-PURPLE12 is based on the UK-SBM-112-200, sharing the same fundamental concept and layout but sporting the distinctive "Geezer" look. The high-quality Sica 12" speaker delivers punchy lows and clear mids, while Pre-Shape, Pre-Gain, and a 5-band EQ allow for quick tone shaping. The Drive/Overdrive section adds warmth and growl when needed; features for stage and studio use include a balanced XLR DI, FX loop, Line-In, and a headphone output (with speaker mute).
Specifications:
Limited to 70 units worldwide
Geezer Butler
200 watts of power
1x12" Sica speaker
Purple finish
Black weave grille
Tube-emulated drive
Pre-Shape switch
5-band EQ
Pre-Gain control
Active/Passive switch
XLR DI out
TRS FX loop
Line-In
Headphone output
17.14 kg
Dimensions (mm): 535 x 490 x 600
Made in the UK
