Ashdown OriginAL C115 Kickback Settings Resource
Dials, Suggestions, and Tone Tips
Note: These settings are approximate and subject to the rest of your gear, They're meant to be helpful, but not exclusive..
Amp Model: Ashdown OriginAL C115 Kickback
Amp Type: Kickback-style portable combo
Controls: Volume; Bass; Lo‑Mid; Mid; Hi‑Mid; Treble; Passive/Active switch; Shape switch; FX loop; Headphones; XLR DI
Ashdown OriginAL C115 Kickback Settings Suggestions
Classic Bluesy Clean
Warm, rounded tones with a touch of vintage character—perfect for fingerstyle blues or mellow soul lines. Clear but never brittle.
- Gain: 3
- Volume: 5
- Bass: 6
- Lo-Mid: 7
- Mid: 5
- Hi-Mid: 4
- Treble: 3
- Passive/Active Switch: Passive
- Shape Switch: Off
Modern Slap Funk
Snappy highs, scooped mids, and punchy low-end to bring out your popping and slapping attack with clarity and bounce.
- Gain: 4
- Volume: 6
- Bass: 7
- Lo-Mid: 3
- Mid: 2
- Hi-Mid: 6
- Treble: 8
- Passive/Active Switch: Active (if using an active bass)
- Shape Switch: On
Rock Grit
Punchy and aggressive with enough midrange presence to cut through guitars in a band mix—ideal for overdriven classic and modern rock tones.
- Gain: 6
- Volume: 7
- Bass: 6
- Lo-Mid: 5
- Mid: 6
- Hi-Mid: 6
- Treble: 5
- Passive/Active Switch: Passive
- Shape Switch: Off
Metal Growl
Aggressive, high-gain tone with a focus on low-end punch and tight mids—perfect for technical or brutal playing.
- Gain: 8
- Volume: 5
- Bass: 8
- Lo-Mid: 6
- Mid: 5
- Hi-Mid: 7
- Treble: 6
- Passive/Active Switch: Active (if using hot pickups or 5-string)
- Shape Switch: On
Dub/Sub Reggae
Deep, fat low-end with minimal highs and mids—locks down dub grooves and old-school reggae bass lines with clarity and thump.
- Gain: 4
- Volume: 6
- Bass: 9
- Lo-Mid: 7
- Mid: 3
- Hi-Mid: 2
- Treble: 1
- Passive/Active Switch: Passive
- Shape Switch: Off
Gear Suggestions for the Ashdown OriginAL C115 Kickback
- Fender Jazz Bass: Excellent articulation and clarity, pairs well with the OriginAL’s clean voicing and midrange punch.
- Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Pedal: Adds warm tube-like overdrive that complements the amp’s rich low end without overshadowing it.
- MXR M87 Bass Compressor: Ideal for dynamic control; tightens up slap technique and fingerstyle response when used with the Ashdown’s defined tone.
- Music Man StingRay 5: Wide EQ range and active electronics maximize tonal flexibility through the C115’s transparent preamp and hefty cab.
- Boss GEB-7 Bass Equalizer: Precision tone shaping that works especially well in taming room boominess or emphasizing growl without needing to touch the amp’s onboard EQ.
More Tone Tips and Best Practices
- Store in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight and humidity.
- Use a padded cover or case when transporting to prevent cosmetic and electronic damage.
- Set EQ flat (12 o’clock) as a starting point; adjust bass, middle, and treble for room acoustics.
- Utilize the shape button sparingly for quick tonal enhancement or scooped mids.
- Volume should stay below 75% to prevent speaker distortion and maintain headroom.
- Ideal for practice, rehearsals, and small to mid-sized live gigs due to onboard 300W output.
- Connect DI out to PA system for larger venues to ensure full frequency coverage.
- Kickback design enhances stage monitoring; angle cab back when positioned in front.
- Avoid extreme EQ settings to prevent noise floor increase or feedback in live environments.
- Power off and unplug when not in use to preserve amplifier lifespan and safety.
More Amp and Tone Settings Resources
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amp Settings
Written by Guitar Chalk on Song Settings
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