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Overall, it's a high-quality, versatile combo.

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There are probably almost as many jokes about Essex blondes as there are guitar amps, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before someone linked the two together - and who better than Essex-based Ashdown Amplification to do it.

The previous bass amp specialists have been steadily forging a reputation for guitar amps for a few years now, with some superb designs such as the Peacemaker heads and the high-powered Fallen Angel.

These are big amps for big occasions, but there are many times when something smaller is called for - hence the Essex Blonde.

It's a new addition to the hand-wired range and available with either a single-ended eight or dual 15-watt output stage. Ideal for practice, recording or small to medium club gigs, it features similar build quality to the hand-wired Peacemakers, but at a very good price.

Ashdown's amps are always well-made and the Essex Blonde is generally no exception, with cream vinyl covering a small but perfectly formed cabinet which features MDF sides - with a ply baffle for the rear-mounted Celestion G12H-30 loudspeaker.

The tough-looking chassis is non-magnetic stainless steel with welded corners and an integral rear grille that serves to protect and ventilate. The circuit is neatly laid out on three hybrid PCB/turret boards, with chassis-mounted controls and valve bases.

The component quality is exceptional for an amp of this price and the electrical build standard is first class, although some detailing on the cabinet isn't as good as it could be.

On the rear you'll find a small notch in the baffle for the loudspeaker lead which looks slightly shoddy - there's a small shelf in the Essex's stainless-steel rear baffle wide enough for a slot to take a speaker cable, and we think it would have looked better done that way.

The Essex Blonde is fairly easy to get to grips with: a three-band EQ is complemented by volume and reverb controls, while a knob called 'attack' varies the amp's overall tone and dynamic response.

There's a pair of send and return sockets on the front panel for the Essex's effects loop, and on the rear panel you'll find a pair of speaker outlets and a useful direct injection recording output that disconnects the amp's internal driver.

Reverb is handled by a small Belton tank that sits in the bottom of the cabinet, underneath the loudspeaker.

Sounds

Despite the relatively modest 8-watt output from its single 6V6 output valve, this is a surprisingly loud amp with a lot of clean headroom.

There's plenty of range on the tone controls to accommodate any guitar - Strats and Teles sound bright and spanky, while a humbucker-powered guitar (our benchmark PRS McCarty) sounded sweet and warm without too much mid-range to spoil things.