The Asheville has been a staple of the Phaez lineup for well over a decade for good reason
The Asheville will CONTINUE to be hold a place in the Phaez lineup for the foreseeable future.
The DNA for the Asheville comes from the SLO100 but has been TWEAKED TWEAKED TWEAKED!
One issue I have with the Soldano circuit is the lack of control over the high end. There are 3 areas where the original SLO cuts the highs – the 470k grid stopper on the 2nd gain stage, the snubber across the stage 3 plate resistor, and the 220k grid stopper on stage 4. All three of those will always roll off the highs – but you don’t always want that! One of my main recipe changes is adding the bright control, and having the high end roll off only when the gain is turned up. If you want some mid or even clean-ish crunch, you will likely WANT more highs than the stock SLO circuit can provide. That is why I have the bright control and the 1.2.3 rotary switch. MUCH more flexible.
Another area of the SLO that I do not like is effects loop. MINE IS BETTER!
Your amp could be 2 x EL84 with fixed bias, power output about 18W, 3 x 12AX7 and 1 x 12AT7 for the phase inverter. If your only exposure to EL84 amps has been cathode bias (self bias) versions, fixed bias is a whole nuther ballgame. This is not your typical compressed Vox type sound! It has more thump than an AC30. I’m not kidding.
OR, at the other end, you could have a 100W 4XEL34 version, and would be FAR more versatile than a 100W Superlead.
1. Different output stage are available – 2x6L6, 2xEL34, 2xEL84, 2x6V6
2. There is a very useful bright control
3. Depth (aka Resonance) control added. Does to the low end what presence does to the high end. The level of global feedback has been tweaked by ear.
4. Speaker connections are typically 8 and 16 ohm.
5. Loop included, level is very pedal friendly, I have seen many amps that will overload common 9V pedals. Tonestack is post loop as per the original.
6. Second gain control is a 3 position rotary switch which allows for more versatility. Very crunchy sound in the 1 position.
7. There are separate bias pots so you can balance the DC in the output transformer. DC imbalance is bad IMO, a little AC imbalance – no problem!
Shipping a bit extra.
I will try and get a youtube clip done before too long.
I am open to the idea of a short video chat via FB Messenger – works very well and I can demonstrate the features.
Email me if you are interested, Randy phaezamp@gmail.com or hit “Contact” on this site.
Other options available too – different output tubes, different colours, custom name, etc.
Main signal is point-to-point and components are in the best possible position. I’ve been doing this a LONG time.
Even though I am based in Ontario, Canada I never had an issue shipping to the US.
If you want to put it on layaway for a couple months, US$200 will hold it.
From an Asheville 18 owner: “I just got done with an hour session with the Asheville (EL84). My lord, it is a FIREBREATHER! Extremely touch responsive- it can clean up with right hand technique. All controls are very useful”
Another buyer: Hi Randy,
I’ve had the Asheville for about two weeks now and have played more than a few hours on it already and I just wanted to let you know that this thing is incredible! All the modes on it are great, but ‘3’ is where I live on this one
