Ashdown Peacemaker 40 112 Combo

Lots of knobs. Lots of features

Very trebly amp. Have to turn the highs all the way down even on the clean channel. Clean channel sounds like a good EL84 amp. Has a British sound to it. The natural overdrive sounds good, but it has too much treble. The overdrive channel is again, too trebly. It sounds decent at lower gain levels, but at the higher gain levels, there is too much treble. need I say more.

Fender 72 Telecaster Deluxe- Gibson Les Paul Studio - Fender US Jazzmaster.

The glue holding the larger components together inside the amp chassis has melted and dripped into the tube sockets, gluing power tubes 1 and 4 into place. Amp gets very hot, so I can forsee the PC board and components being damaged in the future.

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Decent amp if you can get it for cheap. Not very well designed or well made, but the sound is surprisingly better than it should be.

Made some years ago, so I bought it as "used". I bought it mainly because I needed an amp that can produce sound with a huge bunch of pedals I use. This is the best amp to do that, so far. I t has as you know two channels, of which I use clean, very seldom(actually never) drive channel. So my opinions are based only clean channel. Reverb if fine enough and it certainly has a lot of power to do little gigs. I normally switch my guitar to effect return via pedals and therefore I must say that even Digitech GNX-3000 sounds great in live sessions. And that is a lot!

I play paisley tele(Tokai -84) and I play any kind of music that you can hear in restaurants and pubs, mostly covers, and therefore I need a lot of things to sound as original as I can. Ashdown is very silent when not in use, it does not have this typical humming that for instance Marshall/Vox has. And if you use this return loop, sound does nor effect your pedals sound at all! So if you need rotosound you get it!

Had this amp six months so far with no troubles. No backup, it seems confidence enough.

Never dealt with them. The store who sold this to me is the best in Finland(Topsound, Sein??joki, Finland).

I??ve played guitar three decades, mostly with Vox tube amps and with Marshall 1974 tube amp. This was, and I really mean it, so good that I sold Marshall. Someone says "jerk" here, but to my needs it is better now than noisy, dirtier Marshall. Vox is of course nr 1(I have 60 anniversary AC-15 with extra cabinet) to bigger gigs, but to pubs and small events Ashdown is great. Try it with pedals you use and use return loop, and you believe me!!!

Features covered amply below. I give it a 9: extremely versatile, but not exactly up there with the Mesa Nomad, (which is quite frankly over the top).

As others state: the clean channel is great: nice EL84 spank and the reverb can be as jangly or as "surf" as you wish depending on where you set it.

The dirty channel is what everybody argues about... this is NOT a Mesa by any stretch of the imagination, but then again, in my experience NOTHING sounds like a Mesa: they have the most brutal distortion available, period, bar-none, end of discussion. If you want to sound like John Petrucci, then by all means go get a Mesa... (and practice 'til your fingers bleed while you're at it).

With that said, the Peacemaker has two non-Mesa styles of dirty: the first, tamer style is almost like hitting an overdrive pedal: doesn't do much, but does give either fuzz or bite depending on where you set the gain. The second style is a bit heavier, right there in Marshall territory when compared to any of the Marshall EL84 offerings.

Voicing: the voicing of the amp seems to suit Gibson style guitars (ahogany / humbucker)... but maybe that's just me: I usually play a strat through Mesa Rectoverb, so it's a radical shifting of gears to the Peacemaker. BUT... I can play my usual gig just fine with either the Mesa or the Peacemaker: it sings just as well in all areas except for that low end muted "chunk." Otherwise, with a tubescreamer, it nails everything that the Mesa does just fine. Tonally slightly different (i.e. less midrangey) than the Mesa, but

Tubes: swap the Sovtek power tubes for most anything: tone will improve slightly. In general let this thing warm up for a good half hour too... I think some doorknobs left reviews after plugging and playing for just a few minutes: they probably never even got the tubes hot!

Seems well built but I haven't owned it long enough to give a rating.

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Overall, given the insanely low prices these seem to be going for lately, these are EASILY a 10. Even aside from the price: it's an excellent sounding Class A EL84 combo that is quiet yet powerful and extremely versatile... made in the U.K. and comes stock with a Celestion Vintage 30... reall ought to be a ten in anybody's book.

These features have been discussed in detail.

I rate the clean channel an 8. I have opted to only use the clean channel with a metalzone on low gain.

If you want a solid fix for the older Peacemaker 40's read my review
2/5/04. I also added computer fans and retubed with Ruby tubes. My amps have not blown since.

Ashdown UK has always been great.

This is a great light little tube amp if you take the time to make it more reliable with my changes.This amps low weight makes it easy to transport.

All tube class A 40W amp.
I find this amp very versatile as the 2/3 channels allow lots of different ranges of oversdrive/distortion. The tone can be ajusted using the bass, middle & treble (obviously) but what i am saying is it really does work!! The tone really does change unlike some other amps i have used in the past which just amplify noise in different eq bands! channel switching is footswitchable as is the different master volumes although i dont use them much. The amp has enough features to play lots of styles except metal as the distortion doesnt quite get there, however it is close! I play rock, jazz and other electric stuff to accompany acoustic guitar and it handles these styles no bother!

Lots of variety of sounds as meantioned before and the clean channel is amazing. It stays crisp and doesnt distort alsthough i havent got it up to full volume yet which leads me to my nexdt point....This thing is loud! playing on stage is no problem. The distortion is meantioned in the last section. I play a fender strat with 3 single coil pickups and all sound nice with it. It can be a tad noisy on the 3rd channel but its not much to get worked up about.

Cant really say since i havent had it that long. I've had it in bits to replace a cracked VU meter and the components all look solid and secure, the electrics seem sound but the VU meter is easy to crack as it isnt protected and protrudes out from the metal casing a little bit. It doesnt affect the sound of the amp though....

Never dealt with them

Been playing for 8 years but only seriously for about 3 or 4. Had other solid state amps but they are nothing compard to this! I would definately get another one if stolen, its such a nice sound and such a good range of sounds. I love the different sounds and the reverb is lovely and very "real" but its not foot switchable which is a bit of a bummer. I chose this one as it was sooooo cheap compared to others as well as the lovely sound.
This is an amp for people who want a good sound for lots of different music styles but dont want to break the bank either!

I used to have this amplifier, but in the end the sound was not what I was looking for, so I sold it.

Ashdown Peacemaker 40 is a 1 x 12" all tube combo with 2/3 channels. A clean channel, a gain channel, and a pseudochannel as a third. This is really the gain channel with some more gain and a lot more noise. The preamp tubes are 12ax7 (4 pieces), and the power tubes are el84. Mine was equipped with JJ tubes, which seemed to work well in this combo.

This is one versatile amp. The cannels are switched either with a footswitch, or via a push button in the front panel. It also has two independent master volumes, allowing you to have 2 different volume settings. An effects loop is present with wet/dry -pot. Didn't use that though, all my effects are between my guitar and the amps input.

The tone knobs actually work in Peacemaker. It is not like Marshall, where you can turn the knobs all you like, but end up getting the same (albeit good) sound.

It pretty much has all the features I wanted and needed, and then some.

Mine was a year 2004 product, I used it at home and with a band. Like most tybe amplifiers, the sound doesn't really open at bedroom volumes.

I play a Gibson Les Paul.

The sounds produced by Peacemaker are pretty much vintage. This is not a high gain modern metal machine, but lets out some very nice vintageish rock/blues/jazz sounds.

I'll go with the worse sounds first. This is the gain channel. The distortion sound produced in the gain channel is grainy, dull and uninspiring. It has a cardboard quality to it. I tweaked and tweaked with the settings, but just couldn't get it to sing. It gets a little better at band volumes, but just refuses to open up.

The extra gain 3rd "channel" is also very noisy. It is - or would be - a nice feature, if it was not so noisy. It's like having a built in boost pedal.

For the gain channel sound, I'd give a 5.

I'm still giving the Peacemaker a total sound rating of 7, and that is because of the clean channel. This thing has one of the best clean channels I have had the priviledge of operating. It has everything the gain channel does not have - the sounds have a wonderful chime and a three dimensional quality to them. The tone knobs really make a difference, and you can get a great variety of different sounds.

This channel also has a gain knob, and with a Les Paul, I needed to roll back with the guitar volume a bit to get an actually clean sound. This channel breaks up really nicely, and goes up to AC/DC'esque crunch. Some very nice Rolling Stones sounds there too.

All this at band volumes. At bedroom volume, the Peacemaker's clean channel sounds sort of odd, and tweaking with the tone knobs doesn't really help. But as soon as you turn up the volume, this channel starts to sing.

Peacemaker's clean channel responds nicely to boosting, and with an overdrive pedal, you can dig deeper in the realm of rock n' roll. I used a Digitech Bad Monkey here.

I also tested the clean channel with a distortion pedal (Proco Rat II), and it works reasonably well with that too, although I was not entirely pleased with the distortion. A bit harsh for my liking.

For the sound of the clean channel, a 9 is in order.

I didn't have it long enough to comment on reliability. When I bought it, it made noises, but that turned out to the speaker being a bit loose.

Didn't deal with customer support.

I have been playing for more than 20 years. I have played all kinds of music from trash metal to irish folk music. Nowadays I mostly play blues and classic (vintage hard) rock.

I sold this amp, because it was not what I was looking for, so it can't be stolen. And I wouldn't have bought a new one like it if it had been stolen.

I liked the clean channel alot - but didn't like the gain channel.

I have used tube amplifiers for about 20 years, and either owned or used many if not most of the major brands. For the price, Ashdown Peacemaker was ok. Nothing more nothing less. But - as I said - I sold it, and bought and Orange, which seems to suit my needs.

As a total, I'm giving Ashdown Peacemaker a 7. Having great features and lots of versatility just doesn't help if the sound is not there.

This amp, as far as i'm concerned, has two channels. The "third" is just a bit more gain on the 2nd channel. i'm not complaining about it, but it seems redundant. With two footswitchable volumes, who needs a bit more gain? Not me. i need more volume. EQ makes a world of difference, very pure, very reactant.

Very first thing: this amp needs a retube when you get it. I don't want to hear any complaints about crappy sound from this amp if you haven't changed the tubes. sovtek? no. JJ's. put all new tubes in, all JJ's, and this amp sounds supreme.

To me, nothing sounds better than a tube amp cranked up loud. also, I must compliment the cleans of this amp. they are supurb.

It's been reliable for me most of the time, but i wouldn't gig without a backup. no guitarist with a brain would gig with any 1 amp. things can go wrong with any amp.

haven't dealt with the company, but i've heard great things.

i've been playing for four years. i'm not claiming i know everything about gear, i'm not saying i've played everything through everything with all the effects in the world, i'm saying that i like this amp. if it were stolen, i would get a fallen angel as the peacemaker 40's are out of production. Ashdown's won me with this amp. I've read that this amp is like an AC-30, or a Fender tube amp, but i think it is its own personality. i can see where people are comming from with that, but the AC-30 is another very versitile amp. both amps are versatile, along with Fender tube amplifiers. Great amp.

Pretty straight forward old school amp with three channels( clean and two overdriven), reverb,effects loop,celestion speaker, 12ax7 and EL84 tubes,single input,vu meter,speaker out,footswitch,40 watts,pretty loud,nice looking amp.
Footswitch could do with a channel indicator light, can be a little confusing as the two overdriven channels don`t have a huge difference in sonic quality, so I`ve found myself doing little tap dance routines on stage to get to the correct channel.

I use a Gibson Flying V for playing rock/pop/blues styles of music. The amp suits this style of music but the Peacemaker 40 is not for metal heads,look elsewhere! The clean channel is quite nice but would probably be a lot brighter with maybe a strat, Flying V`s aren`t renowned for offering the best clean tones. The overdrive channels give a nice blues/hard rock sound,very 70`s classic rock feel but the amp lacks a little top end on the eq side of things.

Ok here`s where things get very sticky. Now I`m not one to slag companies off just for the hell of it but this amp has been a disaster for me,or should I say these amps( on my second Peacemaker 40)
I bought my first one summer 2003!! For six months worked and sounded great, then the problems happened. Died on me twice,both times sent back to Ashdown and repaired. Third time the amp "popped", back to Ashdown and credit to them they sent me a new unit.
The second amp has been worse. First six months things great then problems started once again. Now before anyone asks "does this guy know how to treat tube amp?", the answer is yes. I`ve owned Boogies,Fenders and Marshalls and I treat my amps like royalty, plenty of time to warm up, warm down etc etc.
Anyway I`ve had to replace power supply, cooling fan, main transformer, two sets of valves, two control pots, input jack, and three diodes have blown on the main circuit board. And two weeks ago (June 4th) she "popped" and died in front of 400 people on the opening song of a set. Not impressed.
Ashdown have been good in so much they are willing to take the amp and repair but it`s not been a happy experience and I will probably look elsewhere. Maybe I`ve been just unlucky,one of those freak occurences that nobody else suffers. The shame is, the amp sounds great when working. So if you`re in the market for one of these amps, just be wary!!

Good and so it should be after all the problems!!

Will not buy again!!

The amp is from 2000. It is a valve class A 20 watter, with 3 ECC83s, and 2 E84Ls. It isn't particularly versatile, but having made some modifications it is a nice clean amp for studio/home use. I play blues, rock and jazzy stuff all mixed up together. It has 2 channels, 1 clean (which is now really nice), 1 slightly dirty (too toppy/trebly for me) with a third dirty channel available via a footswitch (which is very poor, particularly with single coils). I only use the clean channel.
It has an effects loop which I don't use for anything other than reverb and delay, as the built in reverb is not to my tastes (it sounds cheap).

I use a 1995 G&L tele, an 84 Tokai goldstar sound strat, an old Ibanez studio with seth lover humbuckers, and an SG with P90s. I use a mk1 marshall bluesbreaker pedal in front of it for overdrive, plus numerous other effects (it sounds nice with a Morley wah).
It isn't very noisy, and it doesn't distort much through the clean channel even at 10 (with gain half way up) since I changed the valves and the speaker (here is the key). I replaced the rockier sovtek valves it came with (nice for Marshalls, but not this amp, which sounded too boxy) with Tesla ECC83s and expensive Harma E84Ls. I then output the amp through a customized open back Marshall 1x12 cab with a celestion G12m 70 watt speaker (the ashdown peacemaker comes with a 10 inch celestion - I much prefer the sound of 12 inch speakers). Bingo, lovely sound, bright, with body, but it won't cut it in a club band with enthusiastic drummer and another loud guitarist due to simple lack of power.
I think modifications with inexpensive amps always mean you have more chance of getting the sound you want. This is now a 1 trick pony, but it is the trick I was after for my studio, as loud amps are pointless in my fairly small live room. This is not for metal heads at all.

no problems since I bought it second hand, and looked untouched when I got it.

I emailed Ashdown for a bit of valve advice, and they replied very helpfully within a day, AND it wasn't under warranty. Impressive.

I have been playing for about 20 years. My gear changes as does most guitarits, but at the moment I'm using the Ashdown through a Marshall cab, and I've been toying with a Pod xt live through an HH power amp and a 100 celestion equiped custom cab (I have to say I am not convinced). When I play live again I suspect I will have to get myself another valve head as this little thing won't have the volume, but have you tried using a 100 watt amp in a small studio (impossibly loud)!
I like the fact that it is really light, as my back isn't what it was, and therefore I'm portable with a small cab to go with it and a few pedals when I go to other people's places to play. If it was stolen I wouldn't cry, but this is nice with modifications if you are after clean, reasonably volumed sound.

I do not know what year this amp was made, but it's relatively new.

Features have been covered before.

All tube, auto-bias (EXCELLENT!)

It has plenty of features for me.

It's loud enough for band practice, but I don't know about gigs.

It used to have a greenback speaker, but I replaced it with a classic lead.

It has some fresh JJ tubes also.

The VU meter looks awesome btw!

I mainly use a Gibson les paul special with humbuckers with this amp.

I play classic and alternative rock, and the amp is perfect for that.

It can get noisy, but it doesn't bother me.

The distortion is pretty heavy when you turn the gain up all the way, but it's not all muddy.

I haven't cranked it yet, so I can't comment on the cranked sound.

Very nice clean a distortion channels.

Here's the bad part of my review...

While it may sound great, the design has a few problems...The tube sockets are so close to the circuit board, it melted over time.

The guy I bought it from said there was a "popping" sound that happens sometimes, but I'm pretty sure that was the speaker (I don't know why he put a 25W speaker in a 40W amp?) and the old tubes.

I've only had it for a few days...so far, so good......

I haven't needed to call them.

I've been playing for about four years, and I own a bunch of other gear.

I would probably replace it if it was lost or stolen..I would probably buy the ashdown fallen angel instead...Sadly, all they sell in this country is the DSP model :(

I think $300 was a good deal on this amp though.

I'm happy with it, I just wish it was more reliable.