The Ashdown Legacy: Better Bass Since '97 - Available at El Cajon Guitars
Better Bass Since '97
As seen on major stages across the world with some of the biggest and most famous bands of our time, the status of the Ashdown Bass Amp rig has firmly secured its place in Rock 'n' Roll history. Setting the stage since '97, Ashdown have been dedicated to providing bassists with the best possible tone, on stage and in the studio.
The Mark Gooday Story
The Ashdown story began back in 1997, but this certainly wasn't a new venture for company founder Mark Gooday. Having previously been managing director of industry giants Trace Elliot for the 12 years prior to forming Ashdown, Mark was already somewhat of a bass amp pioneer. You could say that Bass was in his blood.
Mark's natural eye for design and enormous attention to detail in terms of bass tone has helped to establish Ashdown as one of the world's leading amplifier manufacturers on the market.
The Birth of Innovation
So, it's 1997, and armed with a wealth of experience and a head full of new ideas, Gooday kickstarts Ashdown Engineering to life with a simple vision – to build and 'engineer' a better bass amp.
With a knack for innovation and a flair for design, many would've jumped straight in, but Gooday was smart enough to first court feedback from some of the world's most respected bass players, including:
- John Entwistle (The Who)
- Mark King (Level 42)
- JJ Burnel (The Stranglers)
And So The ABM Was Born
Inspired by the comments from these trusted advisors, Gooday focused his efforts on designing a new kind of bass amp, where superior tone was matched by unrivalled power and tour-grade performance in a truly engineered, uniquely-styled package.
The ABM series simultaneously set new standards in tonal flexibility, power and reliability. The original name for these first amps was Klystron Bass Magnifier, inspired by a scene from Flash Gordon (one of Gooday's favourite movies) in which Doctor Zarkoff says: "Turn up the Klystron Magnifier".
These early units were built by Gooday, his wife Jane, son Dan, and daughter Daisy in the living room of the family home every evening, allowing him to visit dealers and artists in the daytime. It didn't take long for the reputation of these incredible new amplifiers to get around.
Global Recognition & Legendary Artists
Reaction to these first ABM's was overwhelmingly positive, as they found favour with leading bassists and soon the familiar sight of Ashdown's trademark VU meter would be seen adorning bass amps on major tours around the world. The Who's John Entwistle, immediately impressed by what he heard, became an early Ashdown advocate.
Among the legendary bassists who have embraced Ashdown's superior tone is Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler, the founding member and bassist of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. This monster bass player, who has also recorded and performed with Heaven & Hell, GZR, Ozzy Osbourne, and Deadland Ritual, collaborated with Ashdown to create the iconic Pedal of Doom Geezer Butler Bass Distortion Pedal - one of our hottest-selling signature products.
The Next Generation & Current Team
With Mark's son Dan Gooday now leading the company in product development alongside electronics engineer Dave Green, the range of new products on the horizon for Ashdown is exciting for all involved. Dan is responsible for most of everything you see in Ashdown today, from the website to the product design and artist photography and videos.
Now with the support of a great team, Ashdown's in-house marketing department features Joe Branton heading up the marketing and content strategies with the support of Georgina Tanswell-Lowe for all the coordination required. The Ashdown team continues to go from strength to strength.
A Family Business at Heart
Ashdown is a team of 8 people who live and breathe what they do. From Sales to service and production to R&D, each member plays a vital role:
- Chris Bates heads up the sales team
- Guy Morell, the formidable team member who has been there since 2001
- Dave and Jo Green - the heart of operations, with Jo producing all of the UK build PCBs populated by hand with love, care and devotion
"We are a family and we love what we do and we are so grateful that so many of you share that same sentiment and have done for so long," says the Ashdown team.
Bass in the Blood
With a global family of users that runs across all spectrums of the bass playing community, Ashdown Engineering remains as true to its roots today as in 1997, giving it a unique place in the hearts of bassists who know that just like them, Ashdown has bass in the blood.
Complete Ashdown Range at El Cajon Guitars & Music
At El Cajon Guitars & Music, we're proud to offer the complete range of Ashdown amplifiers, instruments, and pedals through our drop-ship partnership. Our current Ashdown inventory includes:
- Ashdown Pedal of Doom Geezer Butler Bass Distortion Pedal - The legendary Black Sabbath bassist's signature distortion
- Ashdown ABM-300-EVO-IV 300 Watt Bass Head - Professional touring power
- Ashdown Engineering RM-500-EVO III 500 Watt Bass Head - Studio and stage ready
- Ashdown Bass Amp Cab ABM-810H-EVO-IV - Massive 8x10 cabinet power
- Ashdown Bass Amplifier ORIGINAL-EVO-C112 300 - Perfect combo solution
- ASHDOWN-PRO-DI - Professional direct injection
Whether you're looking for their legendary ABM series, RM-800-EVO-III heads, professional cabinets, or signature pedals like the Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom, we can get you any product from Ashdown's full catalog.
When you choose Ashdown through El Cajon Guitars, you're not just getting world-class amplification - you're joining a global family of bassists who understand that great tone comes from passion, dedication, and having bass in the blood.
Contact us today to discuss your Ashdown needs and discover why these amplifiers have been the choice of professional bassists like Geezer Butler for over 25 years.
