Ashdown FA-180H Fallen Angel 180w Head

I purchased this amp new in the USA. It was made in 2003 and purchased in 2007.

Features? Well the best feature is that it is a 180 watt all tube amp that you can just plain plug in to and depending on your axe and pups get just about any sort of sound you want.

It has 4 12AX7 Preamp tubes with DC heaters and 6 JJ EL-34 Power Tubes making in excess of 180 Watts of tube amp power.

You do not need to put any sort of overdrive or distortion box in front of this amp, it has massive amounts of gain, nice tube gain, and in addition has a boost feature on the second channel. In fact Ashdown suggests not using active pickups due to the massive inherent gain to prevent uncontrollable feedback. I have been using a USA Jackson KE-2 Kelly with the stock SD pups, the JB and the SH-2N Jazz pups. With these medium gain but nice sounding pickups I can still achieve more than enough gain. I did an EMG 85/81 install in to a Schecter C-1 EX Baritone today and the actives sounded great, but did increase the feedback. But it is to be expected when your axe is in close range with a 180 watt tube amp with the gain cranked up. Since I have not had the chance to play it at full volume I dont yet know how bad it can get, but I do know that with the passives the louder you are able to turn it up the better it sounds.

This is a TWO channel amp. Channel one and Channel two.

There is only one input that serves use for both channels.

It has the three basic tone knobs, Treble;Mid;Bass for each of the two channels.

It has a 4 button foot switch that operates the channel select, boost for the second channel, channel 2 Master, and Effects. It has a round
muli-pin cord that connects to the foot switch and a jack on the back it plugs in to, there are all sorts of warnings including on the input jack on the back of the amp to only use this stock foot switch or damage will occur. So heed this warning.

There are separate and adjustable effect loops for both channels, there are push in push out buttons on the front to do this. In the back there is an effects level adjustment knob for the effects loops.
And of course, like the boost, can be activated with the included foot switch.

One of my favorite features is that it has an audio taper master volume, this allows me to play a half stack at high gain but at practice levels. I like this as while the amp does just keep sounding better as the volume is turned up, it is still close to what you will play live with more than a practice amp, so I like that.

Both channels, the lower gain channel 1 and the higher gain channel 2 are both very useful, since they are both all tube channels you get the all tube tones be they clean or mean.

Many of the "features" are in the engineering on the inside (eg. DC Preamp tube heaters) but the knobs and the pots they control are all very nice and very responsive. The layout is done well and easy to understand.

There is a cool looking red lit VU meter on front. I lets you know how much power is being put out, but I just think it looks cool. I believe this is an Ashdown touch of their personality.

This amp head is heavy. It weighs close to 70 Pounds. There are two very nice quality handles on either end of the top of the amp mounted the short way. For me this makes it easier to carry, plus if I somehow drop one handle hopefully I will hold on to the other one so I dont watch a bunch of money go down the drain. This means that it is hard to carry with just one hand, but considering the weight and the not want to drop factor, you probably should be using two hands anyway, holding on to a 70 pound amp head with a regular one handle design seems like a lot of weight for ones hand and when carried with both handles it does not even feel heavy.

So this has all the features that one needs in a professional style amp, and none that it does not. I was seeking an amp that I could just plug the appropriate guitar in to and go. This does

This amp sounds great. I like sounds that go from hardcore metal type sounds to cleaner 80's new wave type sounds. Between the two channels I can get all of this.

It is not a particularly noisy amp, of course if you have the gain cranked all the way and the boost on there will be a little sound from the amp until you start to play, but I have not played any other all tube high gain high power amps act differently. I do use a power conditioner like any other expensive electronic gear so I am doing my best to send high quality electricity in to it.

The distortion is great tube distortion, it is not quite a brit or American tube amp sound, it is sort of in the middle. This makes it sound a bit different, or unique, take your pick, but I like unique.
There is more than enough gain for any sort of playing. And it is all tube gain coming from the amp.

One thing I have found different about this amp compared to my other amp rig, a Peavey JSX 120 watt tube amp with matching straight cab (which I also really like) is how the bass and treble seem to be unrelated in the sense of not having a "teter-totter" that you are trying to balance, instead the tone adjustments sound very independent, so you can crank up the bass and the treble and both come through just great.

I use various guitars, but I guess I would have to call my main axe my Jackson KE-2 Kelly which is stock and has a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and a SH-2N in the neck. I run this amp through a Mesa Rectifier slant top cab with celestion vintage 30's. The oversized cab is great for the bass aspect and considering that Ashdown has been making high quality Bass Amps for years this is no surprise to me.

I dont feel like even with those very nice, but medium gain pickups that I need more gain than the amp has. With actives it sounds great too, but Ashdown warns against using them with this amp due to uncontrollable feedback at high gain and volume, I have not had a chance to turn this 180 watt amp head up all the way with the actives
so I cant say from experience, but I think that much depends on how you use the amp, for example if you are close to it or far enough away
to expect a tube amp to not feedback with any pups. Also while I got the amps I have so, except for any effects I may decide to use, I can plug and play and not need to use any distortion box. I can get loud very saturated distortion with my KE-2, and loads of rumbling Bass. I have run it with very high gain and loud volumes with the KE-2 and the first thing that came to mind was that this amp sounded "mean" I did not have to think about it or pick it apart, it was just the obvious appropriate word to describe the sound.

If you need to you can run a limiter or a product like a Rocktron Hush were one to have feedback issues, so it is very dependent on the axe you run through it. But if you do use actives I suspect that either rolling the gain back a bit would help a lot, otherwise as a last resort an anti-feedback device would suffice for too much gain coming in since the amp also has monster gain on its own. Since Ashdown built this amp and did a ton more testing of it at all volume levels than me I have no reason to think that they are wrong about the Active pickups creating too much feedback.

It is a well engineered all tube, high gain, high power output amp, and that is what it sounds like.

This amp is very well engineered. The construction is high quality. I am not worried in the least about this amp breaking down.

I dont know that the question if I would use it without a backup applies to me specifically since I run the FA-180 and the JSX half stacks together via the voodoo lab selector. So I sort of already have a back up amp in effect, my intention is to layer them, but were one to stop working suddenly I could simply switch to the working amp and it would be a foot stomp away from going to the other amp.

I can say that I consider the JSX worthy of being called "built like a tank" which the FA-180 is more "very well engineered".

Obviously the FA-180 was made for live performance, it has 6 EL-34 power tubes, it is made to get really loud. But if I were to be taking it to gigs often I would go ahead and buy an amp case for it. I dont know how much abuse it can take and dont want to find out. So if you want to have an amp that you can toss across the stage and expect it to be all fine, then get something else, like a bunch of cheap amps that you dont care if you break them. Just dont abuse it and you should be fine. I dont mean to not crank it up as loud and long as you like, that is what it is meant to do best, but common sense and using it properly should make it last a long time. I dont think that Ashdown spent a ton of time trying to make an amp for professional live use that sounded great and is very meticulously engineered with the thought that some monkey would not use common sense practices in maintaining it. But a case is a good idea, it will keep the amp safe and easier to transport at the same time. Considering the cost of the amp, for me new 1550, the cost of the amp case at 100 bucks is good insurance. This amp is discontinued, so you likely cant find a new one to buy, especially in the US since this is a UK amp. I dont have the money to abuse my gear and just have loads of money to buy replacements. And even if one had that attitude and money they would have to buy used ones to break.

Ashdown has been very responsive to me. I had questions about the gain when I first purchased the amp and they got back to me fast and had me take it to a local amp shop. No complaints there.

I contacted them from their web site, www.ashdownmusic.com and this sends emails to their home office in England, then they contacted their regional rep and he set up the amp checkout fast.

There are a couple of UK magazine reviews that can be found on the Ashdown site that will give you another opinion, and it did win a guitar magazine readers award in the the UK. So there is a way to get more opinions on this amp than the couple here to help form an opinion. Unfortunately here in the US it is not too likely to find them to play in person. It is very difficult for me to buy anything expensive that I have not every played before. Since sound is subjective I think it is always best to try out all the gear you are interested in person, and test it with the guitar you will actually use to get the best information to form your own opinion.

The only thing that I have not received yet is a reply I sent when I read their magazine review and it said that it had some red preamp tube covers with it that gave a cool look to it. I will email them again. If they came stock with those then I would like to have them.
They have so far been very good about customer service issues, even though the shop I took it to was apparantly confused as to why I brought it there, but that is not an Ashdown issuse

I have been playing on and off for 25 years, more off than on, and had a lot more time to play when I was younger. But when I started trying to get serious again I had always intended to have two amps as my rig, and I love both the JSX and this FA-180 together. I am satisfied enough with them that I have no future plans to buy any other amps. I have tried every amp available in big music stores such as GC, and I did not even like them enough in the store to bring one home. Then I found this pair and have only liked them better as I have had more time to play them at home.

I was only interested in all tube amps, and ones that needed no distortion or overdrives in front of them, and that is what I have.

If the amp was stolen I would buy another one, though it would have to be used and hard to find. I will be buying insurance to cover my gear in the event this occurs.

The only thing that I wish the FA-180 did differently would be to make the 4 way foot switch more fool proof. While it does have all sorts of warnings on the pedal and the amp input jack on the back, were they to just have a multi-pin connector such as on the end that plugs in to the switch part it, or some design that made it impossible to plug any other standard 1/4 inch jack in to the one meant for the foot switch, it would save any possible damage from occuring.

Otherwise I am glad it does not have low end effects on board or anything else extraneous that can be done by using your favorite high quality effect unit through the effects loops. It is capable of processing your own effects and other gear through it, and then control the effects with the foot switch and buttons on the amp and return level knobs on the back, and there are loops for each channel.
So it it a great straight forward, good powerful tube amp that you can add your personal touches to as you like.

But the fact that I can practice with a high wattage tube amp as well as being loud enough for any potential gig I could ever eventually grow in to gives me a sense of security and this amp is one of the two reasons that I dont feel the need for researching, testing, and buying more amp gear. I can do more important things with my time like practicing. This is a great feeling.

I dont think that many people would be disappointed with this amp.

It may be the best amp they have ever used or may not, but I dont see anyone hating this amp. I cant think of a reason why. You have a nice all tube amp that is well engineered and you can just plug your guitar in to it and go. It has a very conventional two channel layout that is not tricky to understand or dial in your sound. It is the time spent engineering the inside that makes it such a good base to build upon with any effects you may wish to use and I dont know what more can ask for from an amp.

If you have a chance, try one. I bought mine new and think it is worth what I paid. I dont see these amps come up for sale often, so I dont know the used value but suspect that there are many more around over in the UK where Ashdown is more well known.

As all FA-180's are, this was built when ordered in 2005. All tube sporting 4 x ECC83 pre amp valves (not sure which brand) and a whopping 6 x JJTube EL34 valves for the power stage, this amp has a tonne of power. Its basically a marshall!

Although its officially a 2 Channel amp, Its technically 3 Channel as Channel 2 (Overdrive) has a boost button to effeectivly double the gain. This is actually pretty useful as it gives the option for just having an all amp high gain tone or having a dirty tone with a tubescreamer or ZW-44 in front of it whilst still having control over feedback etc.

Switchable Series and Parrallel effects loop with mix dials for each channel. I dont really use effects so i havn't had chance to use these to thier full potential, but its nice to know i have it

Simple - Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume tone dials

Two Master Volume settings that can be switched between.

Switchable 4 -16 Ohm output which is great as this gets used through 8 ohm cabs with one band and 16 ohm cabs with another!

Special 4 Way footswitch - which i broke! but when i had use of it proved very useful. Switch was for Channel 1/2, CH2 Boost ON/OFF, Master Volume 1/2,
Effects Loop ON/OFF

Check out ashdownamps.com to get the total specs for this beauty!

In pure terms of number of features, this amp doesn't sport anything epic, but what it does have is totally useful and practical.

Ive only been playing around 4 - 5 years now but im an audiophile. I dont buy it unless its the best and exactly what i want. Im the kinda guy that buys 3 individual pedals because i get the perfect sounds rather than an mutli FX that gives me more FX but it not exactly what i want.

To be quite honest, its even shown by the valves, this amp is basically a JCM 800 with more gain. (although when both are at 10, the marshall is louder!) I play in a band and the other guitarist uses an 800 and they compliment each other perfectly.

The FA-180 has a beautifully versatile clean (channel 1) that suits electro acoustics to high output / active electrics. The clean is relativly punchy and bright, but still keeps that valve warmth we all should want! It does distort at high volumes, but what do you expect from something called a Fallen Angel!

Channel 2 is the overdrive channel. This is still a very versatile channel. With the boost off, throw a strat in front of it turn down the gain, it can pull off bluesy chops and such but it doesn't bury them.
With the boost on and full gain, scooped with a les paul this baby outburns anything ive tried out. An outragiously high gain amp.
My usual set up is the FA-180 through a stock marshall 1960a, an Indie Custom Shop ILP4000 with bare knuckle warpigs and GHS 10 - 60 strings. Channel 2 with boost off, Gain 6, Treb 7-8, Mid 6-7, Bass 5 and an MXR ZW-44 (zakk wylde distortion) in front on output 10, tone 5, gain 7-8. This sound is clear as day but crushing as steal. still a very thick sound but bright enough to cut through the mix. Perfect for Heavy metal.

One issue i have is the fuzz i get when i turn down the guitar and turn off the pedal, but this is to be expected when i use so much gain!

I play metal and heavy metal / rock n roll. This amp is my dream.

Heavyily gigged over the last 2 and a bit years and not once has it broken down, stopped, popped or anything. I dont take a back up amp as i know this gets me through the show!

the only thing im a wee bit apprehensive about is the amount of transformer hum i get sometimes. I think this is to do with venue stage power etc but sometimes i get a real, abnormal hum. But a little 'gentle persuasion' (hit it!) always gets it to stop!

I broke my 4 way footswitch by accidentally plugging it into one of the output sockets instead of the footswitch socket. Dumb thing to do yes!

However i got in touch ashdown and they fixed it under warrenty. The massive 5 year warrenty that comes with it. Friendly and profession but human!

I feel greatly loyal to ashodown for the help they gave me

I own and play at home a Fender Strat, Jackson 7 string kelly, Epiphone Bully SG, Indie Custom ILP4000 LP Copy with warpigs and my lastest edition is an Ibanez VBT700 V. I can get a epic variety of tones out of my gear. The Ashdown is what allows me to do this.

My indie gets me as close to zakk wylde tones as i can.
My ibanez gets me all out tight metal.
My sg gives me an ac/dc egde when i throttle the bass back.
My strat gives me as much blues as i want.

All in all this amp can near enough do anything you want. It may not be excatly what you hear from malmsteen, vai, wylde etc but it gets you close and gives you YOUR edge. I love this amp and although i would recommend it anyone who shares my style of guitar tones - i dont want to let anyone get close!

I am for once truly satisfied with my sound