Historic
Parade - our back pages
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Historic
Parade - our back pages |
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What's in a name? Before Ashly started manufacturing audio products, it was a 60's era sound reinforcement company founded and run by five individuals. Contrary to many rumours and myths such as 'named after a pet dog', 'anagram of initials', or 'a girlfriend', the real origin comes from Larry Ashley, one of the founding five. Larry's last name was chosen for the alphabetical advantage when listed of course. To add some mystique to the name and to avoid conflict with another company, the 'e' was dropped. None of the original five pursued the thrill of manufacturing, but two people in the company, Bill Thompson and Dave Malloy thought it was worth the effort, adopted Ashly Audio for the name and started manufacturing pro audio gear. |
| We've raided the records, searched through
old boxes and drawers, and put together this historic parade for you.
We hope you enjoy it. Click on any image to get a larger picture. |
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Way
back in the 70's there wasn't much audio equipment
available to people who provided sound for touring bands,
local bands, recording studios and other audio related activities. As more and more people became involved with the promotion of bands, concerts and whatnot, the frustration level of getting affordable sound equipment to blast out the music also increased. To the left and below are some interesting photos of how it was done. |
 Bill @ FOH |
Check out the dinner! Some things never change. |
 closeup of 'the coffin' a pre Ashly board |
 before line arrays were popular |
 Dave checking out the stacks |
 New Paltz, NY - 1968 |
 Bill assembling a mixer |
One
particular individual, Bill Thompson was drawn back to audio from his lucrative
electronic engineering position at an avionics manufacturing company and
the history began. Not a newcomer to the audio world, Bill was involved
with a sound company called Brighton Sound. Many of his early designs were
used to make his life easier while doing sound. These included amplifiers, mixers and processing equipment. The "Loud Amp" as well as mixers became much sought after gear in the Western NY area. |
 entrance to Brighton Sound |
 the 'Loud Amp' |
 Dave assembling a mixer |
Bill hooked up with Dave Malloy
and other friends and continued to develop and build more gear and Ashly
Audio began as a manufacturer of professional audio gear. As time progressed,
elaborate custom consoles, complete with electronic crossovers, compressor/limiters,
and parametric equalizers were designed and built. As with most start-up companies, manufacturing was located in basements and garages. The first official manufacturing facility was located on Jay Street in Rochester, NY. |
 the 1st mixer not built in a 'bud' box |
 the test department |
 Ashly's first AES show |
 work begins at Fernwood Avenue |
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The original
hand painted on canvas trade show prop now hangs in the V.P. of Operations
office. |
 SC-66A  SC-50 |
In 1976, the first rack product, the SC-66 stereo parametric equalizer became an instant success spurring development that same year of the SC-50 compressor/ limiter. From that point on, Ashly’s primary focus was on building modular rack gear. |
 SC-66 ad |
 SC-50 Ad |
 Amp ad |
Ashly introduced the first commercial power amplifiers using power MOS- FET technology in 1982. Ashly amplifiers were among the very first to be approved by Lucasfilms for the popular THX™ movie theater sound systems |
| More early products from Ashly |
 the SC-6 parametric EQ |
 the SC-60 parametric EQ |
 the SE-8 eight channel mixer |
 the SM-5 disco mixer |
 SE 24 channel mixing console |
 spec sheet for the disco mixer |
 SE Series ad |
 SE-24 for Bubbling Brown Sugar |
 SG-33 noise gate |
 Fet-2000 |
 SE-24 for Silverfish Sound (one of many) |
 the last console made in 1980 used at an Ashly company picnic |
 it worked fine |
 really! |
 the tower of doom |
 the effects rack |
 Ashly's first color brochure click on the picture to see all the wonders inside |
Links to some
old product information CL-50 Compressor/Limiter CG-33/35 Noise Gates CG-85E Gated Compressor/Limiter Fet-1500 Amplifier FET-2000 Amplifier PQ-16/26 Parametric EQ's SC-33 Noise Gate SG-33E/35E Noise Gates XR-4000 Crossover XR-12 Crossover Remember when manuals were....well....? CL-100/50/50E Compressor Manual SC-Series Crossover Manual SC-44 Manual SC-68 Manual Link to 'the old ones' (products that is) |
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