Ashdown Bass Effects Pedals

The up-and-coming brand Ashdown who produces mainly bass-related products is full of appealing products!

Among them, I focused on bass effects pedals and summarized them here. I hope this list will be helpful to those who are interested in them!

Pro Drive

Ashdown / Pro Drive

This is an overdrive pedal. It has a simple configuration with only three knobs, so it is recommended for those who are not good with mechanical systems or for a first-time distortion effect pedal. The Gain knob controls the amount of distortion, the Output controls the volume, and the Tone controls the tone color. The key point is that it even distorts well the sound of extended-range basses. It is designed to retain the original sound firmly even when the gain and tone are set to max. It’s awesome that this pedal can be controlled intuitively!

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Double Shot

Ashdown / Double Shot

This is another overdrive pedal. The bass register is divided into two ranges (Dark and Light), and the Roast knob is used to adjust the distortion level of each range. This pedal is a bit unique as it mixes the split drive sound, so it is like a combination of 2-band EQ + drive. Even when the distortion is turned all the way down, it is not muted, so you can create unique sounds, such as distortion in only the low frequencies and leaving the mid to high frequencies clean. Nice!

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Sub Harmonic Generator

Ashdown / Sub Harmonic Generator

This is an octave pedal that adds a synth sound an octave lower. It has a simple configuration with a Sub Harmonic knob and a Clean (original tone) knob to control the volume. Either knob can be used by itself. When only using the clean knob, the effect is as if the high frequencies are rolled off. It also works well with auto-wah and distortion pedals! The response is quick and it’s easy to create the heavy sound that is often used with synths. Good!

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SZ-Funk Face VU

Ashdown / SZ-Funk Face VU

This is also the successor model of the SZ-Funk Face introduced above with the addition of a VU meter. It has a black housing and a more sophisticated design. They both look cool!

John Myung Double Drive

Ashdown / John Myung Double Drive

This fuzz pedal is a signature model of John Myung, the bassist from Dream Theater. Designed to withstand professional use, this pedal features a sturdy 1.6mm Zintek construction and 0.9mm alloy panels. There are two modes: Drive 1, which delivers a thick, natural drive with a strong push, and Drive 2, which delivers an extreme fuzz sound. Since it consists of two channels, there are also two VU meters. By boosting the power supply with the Ground Lift switch, Drive 2 delivers an intense, squishy distortion. Apparently, it was built with a lot of care to accommodate the Music Man Bongo 6 sound he uses. Nice!

Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom

Ashdown / Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom

This is a preamp pedal, the second signature model of Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler. Based on the first Head of Doom amp, it has two independent 4-band EQ sections (EQ1 and EQ2) and a Doom drive to further fine-tune the sound. For the EQ1, the basic “Bass/Treble/Hi Mid” plus “Lo Mid/Hi Mid”, and for the EQ2, the basic EQ plus “Bass/Lo Mid” can be further adjusted. For example, you can set two patterns of sounds: powerful and intense sound and soft and delicate sound. The drive can also be adjusted for distortion level and volume, and the overall volume can be controlled with the Output knob. It is obvious at a glance that this pedal allows for fine tunings. By the way, it is designed to create intense sounds like his song “Hand of Doom” and was endorsed by the man himself before its release. This pedal runs on 9V, but 18V is recommended. Nice!

Lomenzo Mega Drive

Ashdown / Lomenzo Mega Drive

This distortion pedal was presented at NAMM 2023 and it’s the second signature model of James LoMenzo, who has played in numerous bands in the hard rock and metal scenes. The Bypass Mix and Drive Mix knobs allow you to adjust how much distortion is mixed with the clean sound. The Drive knob adjusts the intensity of the distortion. An interesting feature is the patented Harmonic Enhancer function. This design adds rich harmonic distortion (distortion with overtones) in addition to the normal distortion sound. It also increases the depth and richness of the sound by focusing the distortion on HP (210Hz-3KHz) and LP (100Hz-330Hz). Since it’s 9V powered, it’s easy to use with a standard pedal board or power supply!

Triple Shot VU

Ashdown / Triple Shot VU

The Triple Shot VU is another version of the Triple Shot pedal I introduced at the beginning of this article, but with a VU meter. The concept is basically the same as that of the Triple Shot, but for the first time, an analog instrument called a VU meter is on the effects pedal. The VU meter visually provides information on levels of the sound and output, and it is useful for checking the peaks and levels of the sound you are playing. It also looks cool and adds a nice touch to your performance on stage. I personally prefer the one with a VU meter! It’s a nice design that not many will have!

ASHDOWN PRO-DI

Ashdown / ASHDOWN PRO-DI

These are the Ashdown bass effects pedals! Was there a product you would like to try?
Ashdown has built a long brand history and trust, and is used by many famous bass players. I hope I was able to convey to you the diversity and flexibility of their sound, which is compatible with a wide range of genres and styles.
I hope you will try to create your own unique sound with Ashdown effect pedals.