Ashdown Engineering

Head Of Doom - Geezer Butler

Ā£1,349.00
Elevate your bass game with the Ashdown 'Head of Doom' Geezer Butler Signature Bass Amp Head. This exceptional creation was meticulously crafted in the UK Custom Shop to meet the exacting standards of Geezer Butler, the iconic bassist of Black Sabbath. The story of Ashdown and Geezer Butler's collaboration began three years ago, culminating in the creation of the Head of Doom.
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This amp head is a tour de force for bass players seeking classic, driven bass tones with immense power. Built on Ashdown's flagship ABM range, it offers rock-solid reliability and tried-and-tested tone. What sets the Head of Doom apart is its sophisticated 9-band EQ, featuring Bass, Middle, and Treble controls, along with six sliders for precise cut and boost in tonal regions beyond the standard controls.
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One standout feature is the Sub-Harmonic generator, adding an octave below your played notes, creating unparalleled fullness in your bass sound. The Sub level is adjustable, giving you complete control over your tone. With the Head of Doom, you can seamlessly switch between your flat fretless sound and your favorite EQ setting via footswitch.
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This amp head boasts a potent power section rated at 600 Watts RMS, ensuring that your bass cuts through any mix. It comes with two Neutrik speakon outputs and a minimum load of 4 ohms. The Head of Doom is equipped with a dual instrument input, catering to both passive and active basses.
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The Head of Doom's striking feature is its twin set of VU meters, a first for Ashdown amplifier heads. Not only do these meters add a striking visual element to your stage setup, but they also provide output level visual monitoring. This allows bass players to find their instrument's sweet spot easily, adjust their tone via the 9-band EQ, and sculpt their sound further with the shape control, all while monitoring the output level via the second VU meter.
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The Head of Doom is loaded with connectivity options, including a tuner output, line out, transparent FX loop, and a line input for external samplers or sound sources. Output muting lets you tune in silence. With a pair of Neutrik Jack/Speakon sockets, you have flexible partnering options for your cabinets.
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The 'Doom' control takes your tone to new heights by increasing the current to the amp's 12AX7 pre-amp valve stage, delivering rich harmonic distortion tailored specifically for bass guitar. You can pre-set the Doom level and engage it via footswitch.
Please Note:
Direct purchasesĀ NOTĀ available inĀ the United States
Find your local dealerĀ HERE


Geezer Butler Interview
We were invited down by Geezer Butler to the O2 for the last London date of 'The End' tour, here's the interview with Geezer.

In Action

Geezer Butler and Head of Doom with new band Deadland Ritual

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Power Output - 600 Watts
  • Power Requirement - 115-230 Volts
  • Speaker Outputs - 2 x Jack/Speakon outputs
  • Frequency Response - -3dB @ 17Hz und 30KHz
  • High Instrument Input - Impedance 3.9m Ohms, input range 150mV
  • Low Instrument Input - Impedance 10k Ohms, input range 300mV - 40V p-p
  • Line Input - Impedance 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal
  • DI Output - 600 Ohm balanced, Level 0dBu nominal

  • Tuner Output - Impedance 22k Ohms, Level 0dBu nominal
  • Impedance - Minimum 4 Ohms
  • Effects Send - Impedance 22k Ohm, Level 0dBu nominal
  • Effects Return - Impedance 22k Ohms, Input Level 0dBu Nominal
  • Output Tubes - 1 x 12AX7
  • H x W x D (mm) - 434 x 280 x 140
  • Weight (kg) - 10.5

Ashdown Geezer Butler Head of Doom Close up. VU Meter and EQ controls
The Number of the Beast
The Head of Doom has a deadly power section rated at 600 Watts RMS with two Neutrik speakon outputs. The power section has a minimum load of 4 ohms. The slave input on the rear is designed to be fed by the transformer-isolated outputs if running multiple heads from one input source. More heads - more doom!

From the top, the Head of Doom features a single instrument input linked to a passive/active selector switch. The passive input option (switch out) is high sensitivity and high impedance to suit the output from passive basses.
Ashdown Geezer Butler Head of Doom Close up. VU Meter and EQ controls
Dual VU Visual Monitoring
Perhaps the most obvious feature on the Head of Doom is its twin set of VU meters - the first Ashdown amplifier head of its kind. Not only does the head look like a daemon on stage, the second VU meter allows for output level visual monitoring. Now bass players can find the sweet spot for their instrument via the familiar input level VU. From there the player can tweak their tone via an experienced 9-band EQ and use the shape control to further sculpt their tone, all the while monitoring the output level at the same time via the second VU.
Ashdown Geezer Butler Head of Doom rear connections. Neutrik Jack and Speakon sockets
Professional Connections
The Head of Doom is loaded with connectivity. A tuner output, line out, transparent FX loop and a line input for the connection of an external sampler or sound source. Output muting cuts the signal from the DI output but leaves the tuner output 'live', allowing the player to tune up in silence.

A pair of Neutrik Jack/Speakon sockets with a minimum 4 ohm load provide flexible partnering options so that the Head Of Doom can be used to power a single 8 ohm cabinet, a pair of 8 ohm cabinets or a single 4 ohm cabinet.

The Head of Doom's ins and outs continue even further, as mentioned earlier with three dedicated transformer isolated outputs with the option to slave from the dedicated slave input.
Ashdown Geezer Butler Head of Doom Rear inputs and power controls
Added Doom
The ā€˜Doomā€™ control increases the current to the ampā€™s 12AX7 pre-amp valve stage, like voltage through an electric chair, resulting in the richest harmonic distortion designed specifically for bass guitar. Used in conjunction with the amps impressive EQ section, there isnā€™t much this amp canā€™t deliver.

The Doom level control can be pre-set and kicked in and out via footswitch.

Resources

H.O.D User Manual
Download

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