Discover the Ashdown/Hayden Classic Lead 80

A Legacy of Craftsmanship

Dave Green’s influence is deeply embedded in the Classic Lead 80. With a rich history at Matamp, Green brought a wealth of experience to Hayden. He ensured that this amp wasn’t just another addition to the market but a statement of quality and intent. Handwired on turret boards, the Classic Lead 80 eschews unnecessary frills. It focuses instead on delivering unadulterated, classic British rock tones.

Design and Build Quality

The build quality of the Classic Lead 80 is exceptional. Each component is carefully chosen, ensuring durability and performance. This attention to detail makes a significant difference in sound quality. The amp's dual-channel design also offers versatility. Players can seamlessly transition from crisp cleans to rich, saturated overdrives.

Tonal Excellence

At the heart of the Classic Lead 80 lies its ability to produce tones reminiscent of '70s British rock. This progresses to more aggressive modern sounds. The clean channel provides warmth and clarity. It's an excellent platform for pedals or standalone purity. Engaging the overdrive channel unveils a harmonically rich distortion. This quality is perfect for genres spanning blues to hard rock.

Dynamic Responsiveness

Moreover, the amp's dynamic responsiveness ensures that every nuance of your playing is captured and amplified. Whether you are strumming softly or hitting the strings hard, the Classic Lead 80 reacts beautifully. Players appreciate how it enhances their performance and brings their unique sound to life.

Endorsements by Esteemed Artists

The Classic Lead 80 has gained favour among notable musicians. Stevie Salas, renowned for his work with artists like Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart, has praised Hayden amps. He appreciates their robust build and tonal versatility. Additionally, members of Biffy Clyro, the Scottish rock band known for their dynamic soundscapes, have utilized Hayden amplifiers. This further testifies to the brand’s quality and reliability in the market.

A Rare Find in Rehearsal Spaces

You don’t usually find gear like the Ashdown/Hayden Classic Lead 80 in your average rehearsal space. However, we’ve never aimed to be average. At Mushrooms Studios, we’re building the kind of rooms we’d want to rehearse in ourselves. These are properly thought-out spaces, kitted out with serious gear.

Elevating Your Rehearsal Experience

The new Pro Room at Fenton Barns is all about raising the bar. The Classic Lead 80 is a big part of that vision. Whether you’re chasing your tone or just want to plug in and be inspired, this amp brings something extra to the session. It fosters creativity and allows musicians to explore their sound in-depth.

If you’re interested in experiencing the Classic Lead 80 first-hand, or if you wish to learn more about its features, feel free to reach out. You can also book a session in our Pro Room.

Experience the magic of the Classic Lead 80 and transform your sound today!

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A Brief, Slightly Biased History of Rehearsal Spaces

From back rooms to Pro Rooms: How musicians carved out space to make noise.

Before there were studios, there were back rooms. Garages. Church halls. Anywhere you could be loud without someone shouting at you. That was the original rehearsal room - a space that wasn’t perfect, but was yours.

So where did rehearsal studios come from? And why do they still matter, even now? Here's a look at how it all evolved.

1. The Back Room Era

Usually your mate’s house. One amp, two cables, no space to move. Drum kit wedged in beside an ironing board. Someone’s mum walks in with biscuits mid-verse. But, this is where it starts.

What it gave us:

• Confidence

• Calluses

• A healthy disrespect for volume limits

2. The Garage Years

A cold, echoey garage becomes home base. The birth of countless punk bands and suspicious electrical setups. No soundproofing. A bit draughty. There's a real kit. You blasted through borrowed amps while your neighbour's dog barked through every take. Extension cords everywhere. It was grimy, sweaty and 100% DIY - but honestly, kind of perfect.

Also gave us:

• Riffs that never left that garage

• Broken pedals

• A place to hide from life

Look Familiar?

3. Scout Halls & Church Rooms

An upgrade. Now you’re gigging. You need space. You find a scout hall. You pay £10 an hour. You've got folding chairs, fluorescent lighting and a stage left over from a pantomime. It smells like cleaning fluid. There’s a weird echo, but at least you can hear each other. You argue over setlists. Someone always forgets the power strip. There's maybe even a kitchen for mid-rehearsal cuppas.

Learned here:

• The politics of band dynamics

• That one mic stand always wobbles

• How to pack down in under 5 minutes

4. Real Studios

Still raw. Still about the music. But soundproofed. Treated. Quality gear that actually works. Decent chairs (hopefully), and owners who really give a damn about the music you make. You step into a studio and think: this is what it’s supposed to feel like. You can hear everything. You get more done in two hours than you used to in two weeks. A place that music is expected, not tolerated.

Why this matters:

Because space shapes sound. You can write a riff anywhere - but you test it in a room. You push it. Break it. Build it back louder.

Because music doesn’t happen on a laptop alone. It happens in rooms. Real, loud, sweaty rooms. Every band you've ever loved started in one.

Wherever you are in your rehearsal journey - ironing board phase or Pro Room veteran - remember: it’s not about how polished the space is.

It’s about what you do inside it.

Garages are cool, but if you want to book a 'real' studio, you can book one here...

The Beast Has Landed: Ampeg SVT Classic in the Pro Room

There are bass amps - and then there’s the Ampeg SVT Classic. An all-tube, all-muscle, no-nonsense beast of an amp that has been defining bass tone since 1969. If you know, you know. If you don’t? Now’s your chance. This absolute unit has just taken up residence in the Pro Room at Mushrooms Studios.

Fresh. Fierce. Fully ready to shake the walls.

Heavy in Every Sense

The SVT Classic doesn’t just sound huge - it is huge. Weighing nearly 36 kg, this tube-driven authority is built like a tank and proud of it.

It’s not an amp you casually move. It’s a commitment. Honestly, just lifting it onto the cab is a warm-up. You should have seen us trying to get it up the stairs! But once you plug it in and hit a note, you’ll understand why bassists drag these things around the world. You don’t just hear it - you feel it.

The Sound That Sticks to Your Ribs

This amp offers pure low-end theatre. It delivers:

• Thick, warm lows that glue the track together

• Grindy mids that give your lines bite without harshness

• Smooth top-end that fades gracefully into the mix

• That signature Ampeg growl that sits beautifully in any audio landscape

  
  

Whether you’re chasing buttery clean tones, gritty overdrive, or an edge-of-breakup pocket, the SVT Classic has you covered. No tricks, no patches - just real-deal tone straight from the valves.

Embrace the Raw Power

The raw power of the SVT Classic holds a captivating charm. It transforms simple bass lines into thunderous waves. Each note resonates, making every practice and session feel monumental. The emotional connection you develop with this amp is profound.

Built for the Pro Room

This beast has found its home in the Pro Room for a reason. The space was designed for serious sessions - high-end monitoring, tight acoustics, and ample room to let proper gear breathe.

The SVT Classic pairs perfectly with this setup, delivering studio-quality bass tones that eliminate the need for fixes in post-production. You can mic it, DI it, or blend it - every option sounds enormous. In this environment, the amp does what it does best: it captivates with its underwater currents of sound and energy.

Maximum Flexibility

One of the noteworthy features of the SVT Classic is its flexibility. It fits into various musical contexts, from jazz to rock to metal, with ease. The bassists' favourite tool can navigate genres effortlessly, making it an essential part of any serious musician's arsenal.

An Amp That Doesn’t Care About Trends

This amp is not just trying to be retro. It’s not attempting to chase modernity. It simply is what it is: the gold standard for bassists who seek weight, warmth, and presence.

The SVT Classic is the amp behind countless records, spanning genres from classic soul to doom metal. It remains the go-to when you want your tone to punch you in the chest (in the best way possible).

Now Roaring in the Pro Room at Mushrooms Studios

The Ampeg SVT Classic is set up and ready in the Pro Room at Mushrooms Studios, East Lothian. Whether you’re tracking, rehearsing, or just want to feel your trousers flap when you hit an open E - it’s here.

Want to try it out? You can discover the endless possibilities this amp offers. Book the Pro Room and immerse yourself in its powerful sound.

...You'd best book the Pro Room then