Ashton VP-100H Head

Ok, I've been spotting this amp out for a while now as a viable replacement for my Mesa Boogie 92 dual rec. The reason that is is because im a student in a regularly gigging band adn cant afforda replacement if the mesa goes bad. So I lumped with this because of the following reasons:

It is by far the meanest looking amp in its price range.
It has the sturdiness and weight to like to be chucked about and not get messed up (i look after my gear, but it is very well made and has a good quality solid feel, nearly as heavy as my mesa head and it has no metal diamond plate or anything! - but it is a good 1/3 deeper than any head ive come across)
It has a ruthlessly simple layout, which ive been after for so damn long.
I dont like marshall purely because EVERYONE has a marshall and i want to sound different, rather than replicate my favourite artists.
It has a fair few features those below have overlooked.
Its getting slated for being rubbish for the money but as below - you need to take time on this amp and get it into the swing of things and get used to it to get the best. Its not a marshall. it wont work with your original EQ settings. Work with it and it will work for you.

Ok. The first thing is this amp is very clean looking. Its very simple. Bass, Mid, Treb for the Clean channel, with a Level pot also and a crunch button. Then the mean channel is the same, but obviously has a Gain pot also. The filth channel is just a simple gain pot working on the Mean channels EQ. Easy. Then theres the master volume and the master reverb.

I have found that you do need to have this amp properly warmed upfor a good 15 minutes+ before a) you'll get a good response at any level b) youll get its characteristic tube tone and c) be playing above 1/3 on master volume. It does fall down SLIGHTLY in this respect (unlike most other amps) because it takes a little longer to be able to use nicely, and alot longer to dial in tone. Also, you have to just find the brink of breakup on the clean channel for the tubes to work your EQ how you want (my clean channel level is at 2 o clock, sometimes just backed off a tad) with the mast up past 9 o clock. Yes this means it doesnt have QUITE the same range as most other amps, but then its a different amp. Also, you just bought 100w of head. Why not use it? I do, regularly and its great.

Onto the back. One thing i do like on this amp, it has your standard effects loop with selected on/off switch, your 2 footswich controls (for the channel select, crunch, mean\filth and the reverb) but it also has (like my mesa) a dedicated 16ohm output (just one) but a pair of outputs that can be switched between either 4 or 8ohms. VERY handy. This helps me greatly when I can't cart around my cabs and i need to have a cab at the gig already - no probs matching to one.

The pre-amp stage has 3 12AX7's and a 12AT7 in mine. I reckon that might be because the first time i tested this head in the shop i blew a tube. It was MY FAULT, i paid for it, then promptly 6 months later (roughly 2 months ago now) i bought the amp anyway. But it doesnt make much of a difference. Except perhaps my mids are a tiny bit more punchy. but for my music this is perfect.

Power tubes are a quad of EL34's which run lush. I shouldnt be running my amp currently because it hasnt been rebiased after the 12AT7 got replaced, and the left hand inner EL34 runs a little hot. BUT there is no loss of performance (as yet). And when i cranked this in the shop before blowing the tube, all were present and correct and had been biased not more than a week before hand when it was received into the shop for sale. And it sounded exactly the same then.

The spring reverb is not quite so hot. But then it isnt as big a unit as the marshalls or mesa's. The spring isnt quite as taught for more response. But it works none the less and works well, even if its not quite as powerful and therefore as responsive. But you need to have heard an amp alongside to hear.

I am currently endorsed so Im playing with the same guitar setup every night, which stands as an Adam Black Orion (try one they are amazing) fitted wi/ Entwistle Dark Star pickups. They are bassically the same high output Dimarzios or SD's u can get, They have the classic "smiley face" tuned EQ pickup (like Dim Evo's) Very nice. I play with 2mm Big Stubby's and finger pick and use standard and drop D/C#\C tunings and this amp is big through each. The mean and filth channels are a tad noisy, even with my noise reducer, but this is the reverb unit being at the end of the amplifier chain, AND the fact i use 2 digital delays a la satch as well as other pedals. Clean its not quite so bad, but certainly there.

Live use and recording our album, it was perfect. Its incredibly powerful for such a simple unit. It doesnt have the direct out im used to on my mesa but for the 260 i paid for it, so what? I have played them at larger gigs side by side and I can say that the ashton level pegs the mesa. And im seriosuly not kidding. I wouldnt kid that kind of thing. BUt then I have spent the time finding the right sound for me on both amps and despite the slight variations, they are still 100w head amps into 4x12 cabs with the same speakers with the same gear set that way everynight behind me. But i can tell you, id rather go for the Ashton purely because if im getting the same awesome sound with a BETTER bass response, at the cost of a tiny fraction of top end (lack of another quad of tubes) Id go the ashton anytime. Also beacause i could have 4 full stacks in place for big stadium type gigs instead of one lowly mesa!

The distortion is tight although not as gainy as the mesas. Having said that it doesnt flatter your playing, so you do have to work and play well for it to sound good. A fair trade. Id rather have this than getting lax because my amp does some of the job for me just because peoples ears get so buttery on hearing the mesa.

Anything between simple bedroom playing on cleans and tight fuzzy distorion metal to all out alternative rock, jazz, blues. you name it this amp will do it, but you still need the time spent on it to get the sound you want.

The clean will overdrive nicely, and quite early too, but again not as gainy as the mesa. Dont care. The mesa may flatter your playing but it adds top end everytime. i dont want that there. this stays level. its a very natural and neutral amp.

It is probably the most simple tube amp i have come across. Ever. Ive owned many MANY amps in the few years I have been playing, but Ive heard and experienced alot of music in that time and alot of gear and such and I have a damn well trained ear from playing constantly every day for hours and hours on end for 365 days a year. even if i am a student. I would want another one to back it up because this thing sounds so damn good. But at the same time i dont want a backup because i know i wont need one because it is going to be so reliable. It is so simple what could possibly go wrong. Through the grill you can see the 2 transformers, the hot plate and tubes and the two high and low input leads that pulg into the EQ board. And how complex is that anyway? several pots that have a few capacitors in the loop to modulate acertain frequency. to the tube hot plate. then the outputs? Its so simple it really is. The only thing i can see going wrong is a tube from overuse. This thing is built like my mesa without the diamond plate. Its chunky and solid feel give it a certain quality and the parts are top notch too. I have no qualms about not needing a back up. I take my mesa to shows JUST IN CASE the worst of the worst does happen middle show, but i use this thing everyday and night practicing and gigging. You cant go wrong with it. If its gonna go wrong, itll be my own damn fault i reckon!

I have been in contact with the UK office and the AUS office because I am chasing an endorsement with these guys. Thats how much I believe in them. And their UK office is just down the road from my parents. But they are seriously laid back and friendly guys, they know their stuff and are quite content with this amp. It is their mainstay and they are quite chuffed to have this underground type following to it than the big "its a marshall" "its a diezel" "its a mesa" stuff. So hats off to them.

They can be seen as a bit stern perhaps, but thats because they like getting straight to the point. In a way this comes across a little brash but if you have a problem you want it sorted asap, right? well thats why the go through it quickly and matter of factly - it solves your problem asap. I loved the techs at their offices who were very helpful and i got some good material from them.

I have been playing for nearly a decade. I own a few custom guitars a couple of guitars off ebay tht cost sod all, copies and my endorsement guitars which i use all the time now (the others are for show or fun at home alone). I use behringer pedals with exception to my mark tremonti wah and digitech whammy, as well as a napalm snowball feedback looper. I use entwistle pups.

all of my gear and just a dry guitar or my electro acoustics sound fabulous through this amp. Once you find YOUR sound, and YOUR eq after some time at a decent channel level and master volume, you will love this amp. Ive never been quite happy with my mesa because its so expensive ive been over it like a baby - i dont want to be like that anymore because it encroaches on your sound - constantly adjusting every song. it gets messy everytime until you go back to the start. THIS beast, however is MUCH better in that respect because you find your tone and it STAYs there. It doesnt flatter your sound, you have to work for it, but more of YOU comes out in doing so. It is a much more natural sounding amp. Sure it isnt as fancy and is more time consuming dialling in your sound, but its a heck of a lot more original, meaner looking, better sounding (IMHO) has a sturdy quality, is simpler, going to be more reliable because its simpler and its so much cheaper, your better off getting one of these babies. all my musician friends have mixed views, but roughly 4/5ths of them agree this is on par if not better than my mesa. those who dont agree are "marshall all the way no questions asked..." blah heard it before. but then they wanna sound like nearly every other guitarist on the planet, so nuts to them.

I love this thing. simple to the point. and i get to work for my tone and my playing to my advantage instead of relaxing and letting the mesa do it for me. i love tht. it feelslike me playing. its me in sound. more feeling. you cant ask for more. except maybe a slightly more responsive reverb unit. OR a footswitch as standard. but every amp should have one standard when bought new rather than being extra...

I dont use much in the way of "usual tried and tested" stuff. I have owned marshall, fender, gibson, ibanez, jackson, kramer, yamaha, mesa, diezel, Hughes n kettner, a caparison, boss and much more gear. ive heard a helluva lot. I repair and customised/modify guitars and basses fora living on the side. i can honestly say that this amp is different, has its own character and certainly should be up there with the rest. its sturdy, awesome on all levels (if you get your eq in there properly) reliable, looks the part and incredible value for money.

get one whilst you still can. itll cover ANY sound you want it to. LITERALLY.

purchased 6 months ago from the local pawn shop. check other reviews for features. it rocks and it rocks well !

forget the clean channal, the two drive channals are the 'dogs bollix'! i wish the new marshalls sounded like this, its a very old school sound. but sometimes it reminds me of an early soldano-tone, very 80's early j.m.p marshall. it awsome for simple rock'n blues or hard rock, if you can't get a tone out of this amp, you sould be play'n a line six ! .

replaced the two outer el-34s with j.j's way good ! i dont care if it blows up, it cost so little. but so far its great.

never dealt with them.

what a bloody great amp. i own lots of amps that have cost me a lot of money. but at the end of the day this is all you need, ive been playing 20yrs plus, i use this amp with a vintage soundcity quad (greenback loaded) and gibson and hamer guitars (u.s.a) all good.

I purchased the Ashton Viper VPS 100 Stack late 2006. It is an all tube, High Voltage Amplifier. The Pre-amp Valves are 12AX7's and the Power-amp Valves are EL34's.(These are the same valves used in most well know Marshall amplifiers). The amp has (2) Channels, clean/crunch, and a mean/filth channels with a (3) Band EQ (Bass, Middle, Treble) on each channel. The clean, crunch, mean and filth channels can be foot switch selected, therefore providing (4)levels of selectable gain. The filth channel, has an independent gain pot, which can be used as a lead channel. The amp also has Hi & Low Input Jacks and a Spring Reverb.

This amp has a nice early Marshall type of sound, which is not surprising due to the use of 12AX7's in the Pre-amp stage and EL34's in the Power-amp stage. I don't understand why other reviewer's claimed that they could not get a nice overdrive sound out of this amp. Technically speaking, there is not much difference in design of this amp and a vintage Marshall, other than this amp is more versatile, due to the four levels of foot switchable selectable gain. It is interesting to note that Marshall have now taken this road, with their latest flagship (4) channel amplifier. The reviewer's that could not get a nice overdrive sound out of this amp, probably had the output set to a bedroom practise level, or their technique was very lacking. I think raw beginners fail to realise that 80% of the tone, is produced by the way the artist interacts with the instrument. His understanding of how to correctly set up the amp, to gain the desired tone, is also important. I use a Gibson SG Standard and can emulate most hard rock tones including the thick creamy bass heavy lead tone heard on Slash???s Sweet Child O??? Mine, through to solid A/C D/C style rhythm section.

I have had this amp for (12) months and never had a problem to date. The amp cabinet is made from MDF, and not good quality ply, however unless you are in the habit of throwing this amp down the stairs, I don't think this will be an issue. Considering that most amps cost three times the price, I guess cost savings had to be made when manufacturing this amp. As for the internal components and construction all appears to be first class.

I emailed Ashton and requested a shematic diagram, so that I could repair or modify the amp if need be. The responce was falt out "no"! I don't understand this attitude as most well know amplifier schmatics are available. I have since traced out the amp and drawn the diagram. I am thinking of sending them a copy !

I have been playing for over twenty years. Yes a Marshall is very cool and generally sounds great, but why fork out $3000 dollars AUD, when you can get the same sound form an Ashton Amp and Cab for under $1000. If you want a great retro looking amp, that sounds like a top of the line vintage Marshall, get the Ashton Viper 100 and pull of the cheesy Ashton Logo from the front of the unit.

The Features at first semm excellent. But then comes the realisation that the equalizer provides very minimal control over the sound. The reverb is very poor, not sounding anything like a marshall spring reverb.

The clean channel is terrible. It tries to capture the crunchy sounds reminiscent of Marshall but it just sounds terrible. The clean channel with a single coil pickup sounds ok. Distortion does not cut through when used with drums and bass. Its all muddy and has no definition.

Very reliable. The onlt problem ive has was when i purchased it the power valves were recked because of the fact that it was in the store for so long(no one wanted to buy it!! dont blame them)

Valves were replaced fairly quickly

It really is not worth buying this amp. I used the settings on the amp 4 about a month then couldnt stand them n e more so i switched to an effects pedal. Much better off to buy a better quality solid state 4 around the same price.

i used fender custom shop showmaster and a gibson les paul and this amp sound shit (different??) i just can't get a nice warm tube amp tone out of it . the marshall MG series is better (for me) , at least it has dynamic . the clean channel for this amp is shit , it tries to copy the marshall amp sound, but it fails . the clean channel is not warm at all , even a solid state is warmer than this . the distortion channel is OK . however, it is lack of definition . i just want to say this amp doesn't have the quality of a good tube amp . i perfer a solid state amp over this amp .

try it at a music store. for me it is shit , but what u can hear is different from what i can hear . just like someone like a stratocaster instead of a les paul .

instead of saying this amp is shit , i think i am going to say it is different or unique . maybe the next generation guitarist will like it .

if u are looking for a vintage marshall sound, then don't buy this amp .

and i sold it after a month . cos i can't stand it

yeah ...i am sure it is really really reliable .

at first it seams that this product is full of great features but in reality the features are little more than gimmicks. The reverb sounds like the amp is in a tiled bathroom. I borrowed this from a friend for a month while my amp was get fixed and was horribly dissapointed. The eq control and gain control are features that would assumedly be an asset to this product but in reality do little to fix the greatest short coming of this product: the sound quality

I use a gibson les paul deluxe, a fender stratocastor 70s reissue (USA), A paul reed smith Ce-22 and a white falcon gretsch. All of these are great guitars but none of them could get a good sound from this piece of junk. I fiddled with the settings for hours and while the overdrive sound was quite fat it was so gainy and and lacked definition. The clean sound? don't get me started. I have heard people's farts sound nicer. . The only people this head is good for is metal heads that want hit stuff hard and play really loud and distorted. This is an amature amp and my rating is quite generous.

meh. I guess its reliable. I didn't take it out of my studio. I was supposed to use it for a gig but had to hire a vox ac 30 instead when i realised how bad it sounded.

NA

stay away!!!! For the price range there are much better amps. Don't be sucked in to thinking this is any good. compared to whats out there this is junk. good for the recycling bin and thats it.

2005 model, 2 channel 100w all valve head with independent eq controls. The 2nd channel has a switchable gain control so it acts like a 3 channel amp. It's got reverb as well.

Coming off a Marshall JCM900 100w, this amp has many, many more features in comparison. The effects loop actually works will in the Ashton. I play rock ballads, soft rock and hard rock. This amp covers it all. The amp is used at rehearsals and at gigs. I take it everywhere with me. This amp can get freakin' loud. It drowns out my hard hitting drummer on 4 and as you turn the volume knob, the volume keeps increasing all the way till you hit 12. He he, bit of a gimmick. Most amps go to 10, Spinal Taps go to 11 and the Ashton goes to 12.

Valves are 4xEL34's in the power stage. 3x12AX7 & 1x12AT7 in the preamp stage. Stock, the amp is loaded with Electro Harmonix valves. Top shelf stuff. The transformers aren't branded but they look very robust.

I run this amp with guitars loaded with high output humbuckers (DiMarzio), low output humbuckers (burstbuckers), regular single coils (CS 1969 strat), Fender Hot Noiseless pickups and P90's.

This amp is a beast. It's got so much gain that you don't need hot pickups to drive it. Actually, it sounds best with low output pickups and with P90's, slam a major chord and it rips your head off. It is such cutting sound. Fender single coils through the clean channel are so beautiful and rich. Not as clean as a Fender amp but just enough bite to take the sterility out.

The clean channel does break up relatively early but before it breaks up, it is very loud. Winding back the master volume back a little does gets things dirty at non ear damaging volumes but I like the master best turned up all the way.

The distorting on the mean channel is savage. It reminds me of a cross between an ENGL powerball and a MESA dual rectifier. It's noteworthy that the mean channel can be made clean with the channel master volume cranked up. It's not as clean as the clean channel but it is a very usable clean sound. Turn the master down and turn the mean gain up and things get serious. Switching to the filth setting is like switching channels. The tone controls are common but it has an independent gain control. The filth channel provides even more gain than the mean channel. It is more distortion than anyone should be using and should come with a warning label. Mind you, the filth channel is the gain is turned up too high can lead to feedback. Not a desirable feedback but the type you get when you use too much distortion. Not cool at all. Of course this is if you are standing too close, move around behind the speakers and it's fine. The sound from the filth is so close to a MESA dual rectifier that in a blind test, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I swear on this amp. It is exceptionally well built but it is damn heavy. Weighs in at 20.5kg or 45lbs. That's more than a Marshall or even a 5150. Physically, it's the same width and height but it's alot deeper than most heads. I use a Marshall 1960a cabinet with it and the width of the amp is the same as the width on the top if the cabinet. It actually looks good sitting on the 1960a.

I have 100% confidence in this amp so much so that I wouldn't even consider a back up. The component used in it's manufacture are top quality and the electrics are put together extremely well. If this amp failed for whatever reason, I would be totally speechless. I've been playing for 25 years and this amp is every but as good as any amp that I have owned in that time.

Haven't found it necessary.

This is the best amp that I have owned soundwise. The tones I get from it are sensational. The range in the tone knobs is excellent and it is very easy to get a good sound happening very quickly. Like all valve amps, the Ashton performs best at higher volumes though, you could turn the amp down and be able to get a decent sound happening at 2.00am bedroom practice sessions. It is truely and incredible amp. I just love it.

The only thing I hated about it is the f*ucking Ashton logo on the front grill. It's a horrid looking thing and it has no class to it at all. You can't even remove it without causing damage because it is hot glued to the grill. What I did was to go down to Super Cheap Auto, bought a sheet of black automotive grill for $20, cut it out and replaced the stock grill. It now looks like a boutique metal head.

I know, I know but it's a shame that Ashtons' reputation has nothing to do with the quality of it's products. As a fellow reviewer rightly pointed out, Ashton probably haven't spent a dollar on advertising and as all their product range is Made in China, the word of mouth that get's out isn't that flattering. However, with all that aside, the VOX AC30 is now being built in China and in the same factory as I believe the Ashton is and they are retailing for about $3500.

I got mine for $550 which is a steal. It was a shop demo model and once I wiped the fingerprints off it, it was as good as new. Still came in a box along with a 12 month warranty. I couldn't be more happier with it.

2 channels with 2 seperate modes, all valve 100 watt head. 4 footswitchable channels, footswitchable reverb etc. A blue light (the best)

Anything from a warm clean to vintage rock or put on the filth channel for massive distortion. this thing sounds very great and for the price it is unbeatable. I've owned a peavys, fender super twin, sovtek, marshall and current own a boogie. It doesn't go past the boogie but honestly i would rather it over all the rest, has alot better distortion then a JCM 2000!!
I play a PRS ce22 and have played ibanez and gibson thru it as well, EMG's the works.
Sounds great.
Is currently running into a 2x12 kelly cab loaded with vintage 30's.
Awesome tone, very versitile

It seems pretty reliable, friend has owned it for awhile now, done alot of gigs, never failed.

never delt with them

Played currently in a working covers band with a tonne of gigs, has never failed. Has a great tone i couldn't belive, really wish these amps were around when i was begining. Sounds great with the vintage 30's. A similar sound to my mesa, not as loud and not as fat but for the price, damn!

If i had of known about these amps before i purchased my mesa i seriously might have a different rig, its not so hard to find a good sound (for people that know how to get a good tone).

Can't recommend these heads enough, just get yourself a good speaker cab to go with!

100 watt valve head, two channels with independent sets of tone controls, 1st channel is labelled "clean" (with crunch switch), 2nd channel labelled "mean" with switchable "filth" for over the top distortion. Very similar channel layout to new Fender valve amps..i.e. Hot Rod Deville etc (clean, drive & more drive). Effects loop, 16 ohm, 2 x 8 ohm or 2 x 4 ohm speaker impedances, high and low inputs. Master Reverb. This review was written after 4 months of home practice, band rehearsal and gigged with 11 times. This amp isn't lacking in features or indeed power. It is as loud as any 100 watt valve head out on the market.

The only cheesy aspect of this amp is that level indicators for the controls go 0, 6 and 12 with no labelled graduations inbetween hence I will be refering to to settings as clock positions for now on. I don't what's wrong with 1,2,3,4...10. As the amp was designed in Australia, all it says to me is that Ashton are great amp designers and lousy marketers.

In short, the Ashton VP100H is full featured, versatile in tonality and an overall terrific sounding amp.

The Australian guitar amplifier market is more brand driven than most categories of snackfoods and chocolate bars. The Australian guitar amplifier market perceives price as a reliable indicator of quality. The Ashton Viper 100H does not fit this mould in that is both a little understood (also misunderstood) brand and price competatively, visiting quite a few guitar muso forums you will quickly find out that Ashton (a brand of musical products distributor Australis) has a solidly established reputation for 'poor quality musical equipment even for beginners'. It does not take much to realise that the people making these comments have neither experienced Ashton gear or if they did, they walked into a music shop predisposed to a poor trial experience. THESE PEOPLE ARE FOOLS and you will be well advised not to listen to them as their brand loyalty to the mainstream amplifier brands is so one-eyed that any new brands must be crap and/or, they can't rationalise that it is possible to concurrently achieve value and quality in valve guitar amplification. You know, the more you pay, the better the sound. What a load of baloney.

If Ashton eventually fail they have no one else to blame but themselves. It is evident that in marketing their brand, they have misread the Australian market and the more that they discount their products, the worse the negative perception becomes. Now, back onto the my review.

I run this amp through a Marshall 1960A quad and is hands down, the best value valve guitar head on the planet. It is extremely LOUD and has more than enough power to drown out a hard hitting drummer if required. The sounds are very good and my band comment that my 'new' amp sounds way better than my previous Marshall 100 watt head. It is adequately constructed, peek inside and stock the amp comes equipped with 4 x EL34 power amp valves and in the preamp, 3 x 12AX7's with 1 x 12AT7 which I think is the phase inverter valve but don't quote me on that. The kicker here is that the valves are Electro Harmonix and are some of the best valves you can get. This fact is indisputable.

The sounds available from this amp and more than satisfactory. The range in each of the bass, treble and middle controls is broad and it is very easy to get an acceptable sound happening very quickly. The clean channel has a very nice clean sound given that it's an EL34 powered amp and starts to break up early at around 10 o'clock. When the clean channel begins to break up, there is no mistaking that this is a tube amp. The break up is rich, pleasant and full of harmonics. It is neither nasally or tinny. I suspect that the clean channel operates on 3 preamp valves and engaging the 'crunch' switch brings a 4th valve in. The name of the 'crunch' mode is appropriate and is characteristic of a British high gain amp.

The 'mean' channel is interesting. It can go from completely clean (almost identical to the clean channel) through to a rectified high gain distortion when 'filth' is engaged. The distortion that this amp provides is smooth and refined. The overall voicing of the amp is warm and I couldn't describe any of the sounds that this amp produces as harsh.

This amp produces many sounds from crystal clear (at lower volume settings i.e. 9 o'clock) throught to out and out high gain distortion and anywhere in between. This amp would equally be at home and usable from a jazz gig through to a metal gig however, it seems it's most at home have pub rock played through it.

The only issue I have with it is not enough clean headroom. Googled a solution and found out the EH preamp valves are a strong option but the amp has these factory stock.

The reverb isn't a spring reverb type and not as nice as an Accutronics reverb. It's perfectly acceptable even though I use outboard reverb units so it doesn't bother me at all.

The amp is constructed in 15mm board stock however unlike the 16mm plyboard that Marshall use, the Ashton appears to be made from chipboard or MDF judging by the surface texture of the painted board inside the amp. I could be wrong but I doubt it given the light weight of the amp. Also, where most amp head manufacturers tend to use a double board on the face of the amp (to make it look stonger and chunkier presumably) the Ashton use a single layer which gives it a less robust appearance.

The Viper amp uses metal corners however it is a thinner gauger of metal and appears stong enough. The chasis uses ceramic valve sockets that look top notch quality and the inside is finsihed very neatly. The pots aren't branded and operated smoothly with a good linear feel to them. The grill mesh is black plastic coated aluminium and the Ashton logo is glued onto the grill so removing the logo is not a simple matter of removing 2 screws. Believe me, I tried. The knobs are soft feeling chickenheads that are a little on the small side.

Most big name tube amps have accessible high voltage capacitors whereas the Ashton's HV caps are inside the chasis which means that a cap replacement which incurr higher labour costs but in most amps this is something that is required once in every 10 or 15 years. Judging by the quality of the internal components, there is no reason to suspect that the Ashton would require major servicing any earlier.

The tolex covering doesn't look as robust and the 'elephant skin' texture is not as deep however it is evenly and well applied. The handle is secure and has more play in it that I am used to however it is secure and being 8.5kgs lighter in total weight than a Marshall, there is no reason to be concerned that the handle would fail.

Given these difference, the amps weighs in at a little over 20kgs for which my back is grateful for. It is also deeper than a Marshall and sits ontop of Marshall;s own angled front cabinet better than a regular Marshall valve amp.

In summary, the Ashton is not as ruggedly constructed as say a big name amp however unless you drop the amp down a flight of stairs, I doubt that this is an issue. If I were a touring musician and other people were handling my amp, the Ashton would not be my amplifier of choice. As I am careful with all my gear, the Ashton is perfectly fine.

12 months manufacturers warranty. I think you will find this the same for Fender and Marshall amps. Even though I have not used Ashton customer support, I spoke to both the sales and technical departments before the making my buying decision. The salesman I spoke to was a complete moron. Obviously too busy to speak to a nobody however, I spoke to a guy named Damian in the technical department and he knew his stuff. From other reports I've read, Ashton stand by their warranty and are located in Sydney. If you live outside of Sydney, it is necessary to get the amp there to them and they will get it back to you. I haven't had a need to use them however, I still have another 8 months of warranty left.

I'll rate Ashton customer support a 5, an average from the 10 I give for technical support and a fat 0 to the moron in sales.

Been playing for 20 years and currently play Ibanez RG's, Stratocasters and other customs I've built. For effects, I run a Behringer Vamp Pro in line. I play most 70's and 80's rock and while I don't necessarily try to copy the original guitar tones, the Ashton does a great job at providing a modern interpretation of the original tones. I really like that.

What I dig about the Viper 100H is it's light weight, range of different sounds, great tone and value for money.

Made in 2005. Very affordable all tube head has 2 channels clean and mean. Clean Channel has a crunch option which dirties up the sound a bit and the mean channel has a "filth" option also has Master reverb, effects loop and optional footswitch to allow you to change channels and reverb. Nothing fancy but feature wise ok. Bought second hand along with the Ashton Quad box which has 4x12 Celestions. Paid $800 AUS for Head AND speakers.

Using an EPI LP with seymour duncans. I play blues/rock/hard rock and a bit of metal. This amp sounds great for blues/rock and hard rock. The clean channel is very nice sound breaks up a bit a high levels (which is nice) think a marshall jcm900 type of sound. The high gain channel takes A LOT of tweaking to get a sound I like. Haven't really been able to get a nu metal sound out of it. The distortion sounds a bit restricted to me almost solid state sounding. The filth setting pretty much the same story. Best metal sound I could get is maybe in between a Kill em All and Master of Puppets type of sound. In short great for rock/hard rock not quite there for metal although with a pedal should sound good. Reverb is good without being great but gets the job down.

Only had a week can't say however the build quality seems really good.

Never used but I have heard good things about it

All in all a GREAT AMP FOR THE PRICE. It ain't no MesaBoogie but at this price it is a great amp. For $1200 AUS you can pick one up and have an all tube quad box with some pretty good sounds. Wish I had one when I was young instead of messing around with some horrible solid state amps. I'm giving it an 8 overall because it is a very good product comparable with some much more expensive amps made by Marshell/Laney etc and well worth the money.