Cornford MK 50 H

Just upgrading my review above

Just upgrading this from my review below from a "5" to a "7"

I have finally made contact with Paul @ Cornford twice on 2 different issues and he's been more than helpful (and the second time he got back to me within 24 hours) and apparently has got their email issues handled. He even sent me a new metal cabinet logo as he couldn't get his paypal account working so he sent it for free. Still deducting 3 points due to the initial 2 month wait for a response as there is no guarantee that won't happen to someone else. Note: email paul@cornforamps.com directly for anything not info@cornfordamps.com as it will get buried. They are a small company and not very internet savvy (their site doesn't even have the new Mk50hII), one gets the felling they are used to doing business with a handshake.

Mine is roughly a 2007, it's got all the features I need though negative points for the single channel only as it's gain volume needs to be turned way down and one of the masters way up to set up for a "faux" clean channel. Your best bet is a volume control roll off for a clean sound (sounds great) as the straight clean is not a plus-point on this head. This is minor for me as I'm mostly recording these days but might be a problem for a gigging guitarist. Also, though mine was modified to have external bias points and the ability to switch EL34's and 6L6s, that's not standard though the new MK50hII does the tube swapping. Comes with effects loop.

I own Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, SG, PRS, Parker Fly and Super Strats. I have 4x12 cabs with Celestion Vintage 30's, English Celestion Greenback 25watters, and Celestion 75's among others. I play hard-rock to prog rock to fusion. Head suits my style perfectly, but I can see it also in other styles like, punk and pretty much any rock style save the most brutal scooped metal tones. This is a mid range amp. If scooped is you're bag, go elsewhere. Though I know hardcore metallers that like mids and not scooped so it could work for that too. The head is very quiet and it's tone is extremely organic. It's a vocal tone that really invites vibrato, it sings like a tenor. Like a killer Soldano crossed with a one-in-a-thousand hot Plexi. It can get plenty of distortion (more than my JCM800 easily) but I tend to run the gain at around 12-1 o'clock as above that is really just preamp tube gain. I run into a thd hotplate at around -8dbs and turn up to get the power tubes sweating a little bit. This head is LOUD. I will not subtract points for the mediocre clean sound as you shoul dknow what you're getting with this head. The rolled off volume control tone is awesome however and can give you a glassy clean with a tiny bit of dirt tone to bluesy goodness to scorching and everything in between with just the knob. The gain on this head is so pure and clear yet compliments the natural midrange growl beautifully. Note: I run EL34s in mine, haven't tried the 5881s.

Looks very solid. PTP components would be easy to repair.

Have to give a low score here. I've sent 3 emails to different addresses (including Pual's email) at cornford over 2 months inquiring after a part for my cab and have got no replys. A bud of mine who's Cornford was the first I tried told me Paul is a bit of a jerk, but of course that's his experience. I also ordered a t-shirt from the site 2 months ago and never got it. Good luck contacting anyone.

been playing for 30+ yrs, own several amps, would replace this one immediately if lost/stolen (though probably with a MK50hII so I could continue to switch out tubes). Been checking out a LOT of heads recently, could have bought anything I wanted, this thing is the best I've tried or heard. So many equipment reviews are people justifying their purchases because they are stuck with them, this I can say honestly isn't one of them.

Just a short update, my footswitch needs a fix!!! its wired in and with about 500 metres of cable needs winding tight to fit in the bag, herein lies the problem, if the switch or cable breaks the amp wont do anything but master 2 and overdrive! eeeeeek
Am sure a new fix will be in place soon as I am fitting a socket in the switch box and carrying 2 or 3 spare leads of varying lengths, not a hassle but a shame that when it went wrong I was stymied!!

This is basically a two channel amplifier with shared EQ which makes it more like a single channel amp with solo boost with the Master 2. The amplifier has Serial FX Loop and 1/4" Switch on back for foot switch functions. Comes with manufacture foot switch but unlike some reviews on this amp I had no issues whatsoever getting my Voodoo Lab GCX to perform the switching functions for me so I do not use the foot switch. You need a insert cable stereo into the switch on the amp, two monos into two GCX loops and your good to go. Not any features I wish it had, if I wanted a true 2 channel amplifier I would have purchased their two channel head. I use this amp for home recording, live playing. For 50 watts it packs a heavy hit. This amp is PTP no PCB boards anywhere, top quality!!!

The sound quality is incredible. The first amp that I love to play with just my guitar and cabinet. No overdrives are needed with this amp. It has great clarity, very articulate and good low end with no flub. I am using a Genz Benz 2X12 with the cabinet and the GT75 speakers sound good. I have heard the vintage 30's and Greenbacks sound best. Noise level is good for a high gain amp. You can dial in quite a few gain settings and the knobs for the EQ are very responsive. I was able to set the volume/overdrive on about 4-6 and roll back my volume on the guitar to get a raspy clean, bring it up for AC/DC type tones and the straight into most 80's rock/metal. This is leaving quite a bit of gain on tap for more over the top stuff. Roll things back and you can easily play other styles of music. The amplifier shows your playing character and does not hide your mistakes. It also shows your guitars personality and each guitar will sound different unlike some amps I have had.

Seems really well built. I have not had long enough to comment here however.

Never dealt with.

I have been playing since the early 80s and have had quite a few amplifiers. I am not going to mention other amp names as I do not want to praise one over the other. This is my favorite amp of all the ones I have had. I find this amp enjoyable to play as well as it brings out the character in my playing which I really like. If it was stolen I would hunt the taker down and beat them then buy another one.

Cornford MK50H, Great single channel amp with switchable master volume, Used Strictly for recording, amazing tone... Probably the best amp I own. (bogner Uberschall, Orange Rockerverb 100, Framus Dragon, Marshall JCM 800)

Hand made in england and it shows... beautiful craftsman ship....

Used PRS Custom 22, with Dragon 2 Pickups. Sound is just lovely!

Breaks up so beautiful, so much head room, from some really brutal gain to some simple nice cleans all with a turn on the old guitar volume!

No problems yet!

They where great emailed me back next day! Answered all my questions!

Simply a Beautiful amp!

This amp is the best amp hands down!!!!

its very versitile if you are an old school guitarist and dont rely on a 6 button amp footswitch to make the different sounds, if you can use your guitar controls then this amp will do anything you can think of. Basically find you ideal sound with volume and tone on the guitar maxed and once you achive this mess them around a little to get the hidden sound in between totally clean and super saturated leads.

Ive added a few little extras to my MK50 to make it mine, so now its acctully 11/10 but before the stock am is a 10 .
Ive added 4x 1958 long plate mullards ECC83s 2x RCA 6L6s and in the cornford speaker cab ive got 2x Celestion Alnico Golds.
This is the best sounding amp ever IMO, with my trusty PRS custom22 i can do any style of music with out touching the amp at all.
I use the THD 16ohm hotplate so that i get that creamy power amp saturation, so i run master 2 on full and master 1 at half for different textures.
The rythum sounds massivly organic and the leads sound like liquid, huge mid range without the bloatedness of other amps, chords sound complex and detailed.
This amp possesses that lovly clean touch sensitive distortion that not many can match.

No problems for the time ive had it

phoned them to ask a few questions once and they were fantastic i spoke to martin kidd the guy who co built this amp. MK=Martin Kidd

WOW!!!

Bought this baby yesterday, having run the 335 I bought from Andertons (thanks guys!) as a tester-How could you say no after hearing it!!-OK MAYBE it needs reverb, then you turn it up, through the 1x12 and think REVERB.....NAH!
I'm pretty sure its going to do everything my Marshall and Vox do but a lot longer!

Annoying the neighbours at home last night, its clean is clean enough for most but always warning you that a little more pick digging and its going to tip you over the edge! The gain is everything and more. I had Boogies, Fenders, Marshalls, Line 6, Vox HH Vamp and looked at Matchless drZ THD Soldano and will never need to shop again (I HOPE!!!)

No comments yet, mind reading other reviews maybe the vox for peace of mind til I get used to carrying 1 amp and 5 guitars!!!

Rang them a Month or 2 back when thinking about boutiqing it up, they were soooo cool and helpful. No reasons to doubt they will be now I'm in the family!

I rune a 335 re-issue, Les Paul Custom shop- heavily modified Strat and whatever else is in the cupboard I have forgotten about!

VoxAC30
Marshall 100DSL/4x12
A stomp tuner (who needs pedals????)
Quality leads

Will revisit if anything changes, but somehow I think not!

2004, Cornford MK 50, This amplifier is THE GREATEST AMPLIFIER EVER CONCIEVED! I play in the style of modern instrumental rock / metal joe satriani, john petrucci, steve vai, gary moore, mark knopfler, blue scareceno, richie kotzen, paul gilbert. It is a single channel amp but with two master volumes, two inputs and a switchable overdrive. so its more like a 3 channel amp but without all the bullshit of a boogie. You get an effects loop 4 12AX7WA preamp and 2 5881 power amp rated at 50 watts.

I use this with a PRS custom 24 and gibson sg and the tonality and musicallity of the amp is enough to make you melt. I played boogie amps for 5 years and thought they were amazing until they kept playing up technically. The reason i switched is because boogie give out the pretence that they are point to point wired when in actuallty they whole modern range is dependable on pcb boards, resistors and lots and lots of gimmikery. This amp takes away all the bullshit and lets you focus on playing the fucking guitar and lot flying a spaceship. 50 watt heads are much better of musicallity of overdrive sounds at blistering volumes. this thisn is only 4db less that a boogie and wattage is purley about headroom. I Live in UK and am selling my Dual rectifier triple channel to buy this amp (chrisglancy@hotmail.com) thats how much i love this thing.

BRICK SHITHOUSE, no switches, or pcb boards to worry about, any amp tech can service this. Its all hand wired and laboriousley constructed, unlike boogie which are i am afraid now mass produced just like marshall dsl etc. MADE IN BRITAIN -

This is the main reason i am changing from boogie to cornford, Boogie are like a big corporation now and they dont seem to help you if you are not living in the US. Paul cornford is based near london and i have spoken to him in person about the MK50 and hellcat, they are legendary for customer service. Its like becoming a member of a small number of people where you are well looked after. Thaks Paul Cornford for opening my eyes to the limitless tone and letting me focus on my playing and not all the bullshit usually found on amps.

I am going to play these amps on every recording i make forever, i hope that when or if i get anywhere in the music industry that there will be a long partnership with Cornford amps. I am getting the cornford MK50 and when i get some more cash the harlequin and oh fuck it gimme all their amps .....:-)

You all know the features by now. Suffice to say this will do anything you throw at it effortlessly and with real style. The best part is how responsive the amp is to your playing style, volume and tone controls (remember those) and different guitars. This makes it a far more useful amp than most of those multi channel switching jobbies. I only give it a 9 as there is no reverb. The amp sounds so good it doesnt really need one, but Ill give a 9 for the sake of a realistic review as some may miss a reverb.

Utterly breathtaking no matter what style you play. This is a real valve amp with monster tone. The way it picks up all your playing dynamics and nuances, even at EXTREME levels of distortion makes everything else sound like SH**E. I set it up for a crunchy sound on the volume setting. This gives a huge fat distortion sound with enormous variation to jangly and clean sounds and everything in between by using the guitars controls.Kicking in the overdrive throws you into rock nirvana with huge thick creamy distortion. As brutal as you want it if you wind back the mid control a touch.

Seems to have been meticulously made. Have only had it 5 months so cant really comment.

Bought this direct from the company complete with matching flight cases and 4 x 12 cab. Very helpful and friendly staff who kept me well up to date re the order.

Have owned loads of other amps over the years, including a Boogie Tremoverb, Boogie Mk 3 Various Marshall, Carlsbro and Line 6 stuff, oh and a George Dennis combo. Not a cheap amp, but you get what you pay for. You would pay a lot more for a Boogie in the UK and they arent in the same league as this baby. Im saving up now for the Cornford Hellcat combo for smaller gigs.

The amp was made in 9-2000. It is versatile enough for me to sell my Matchless,Bad cat Hot cat 30r and Bogner extacy 101b. It is a one channel amp that has boost,Master1,master 2 which is basically like having three channels. I use this amp for recording and Clubbing. It has 50 watts and plenty of power(2db quiter than a 100watter)which is what I like about it, It breaks up faster without killing your audience. It's all point to point which I really dig.

I use a Les paul Custom, G&L legacy with Fralin vintage hot pickups, Ibanez RT with dimarzio Breed pickups. Every guitar has it's own character unlike so many other amps I have had(name one and I bet I've owned it!)I play a Jazz,Blues,Funk,Classic rock and Prog. Rock and some nu-metal and it covers all these styles so well I sold three of my other amps I thought I would never part with. The main thing is to USE THE VOLUME knob. If you set the amp primarily for clean tones you should have no problem getting Excellent cleans at gigging volumes,and If you want to go from Clean to heavy Gain,Hit the master switch and roll of the volume just a bit. If that is to hard then you should ask yourself if you ever touch the volume or tone knobs during a song. The distortion blows away my VHT Pitbull ultra lead and Extacy. It is also a more musical Heavy gain.

I have been gigging with it for the last 3 years and have even had some numb nut drop it while "helping me load it" and no problems at all.

I have honestly never dealt with cornford and am not worried at all.

I've been playing seriously for the last 15 years and have been on the quest for tone for to long,went through the rack of doom years which sucked and have owned VHT,Bogner,matchless,Badcat,Carvin,Marshall and Mesa(yuck!) if it were stolen I would not hesitate to lay down another $2400 for it. I do not hate anything about this amp.I would like to say that in the future that people that do not own the amps they are reviewing should not post because it just hurts the reputation of the amp itself. Also when you se most everyone laying down 9's and 10's and then see a Dipshit lay down 1's and 3's ask your self is this the guy that owns a $2000 guitar and amp and can't play his way out of a wet paper sack(probably so!!)It will do anything from clean to mean. Check out Guthrie Govan and Tonequest for a ton of Cornford Mark clips and See him go from country to jazz, to funk, tuck andress to blues,classic rock and metal. And see how many times he rolls the volume and tone controls. For you cornford haters out there it's time to go back to your solidstate Randall warhead and Plexi glass BC rich guitar.