Ampeg V 50H

It's a mid-late 70's magnavox V4 guitar amp - basically the same as the V4b but without the ultra low switch and with a reverb tank.

Four 7027 tubes/valves producing somewhere in the region of 100w, the original stock magnavox tubes have been replaced with a matched quartet of Groove Tubes (again 7027s).

The preamp has two channels/inputs and I get the impression that they use different preamp tubes as it sounds slightly different. Channel A has a distortion control in addition to volume - EQ is linked to both. EQ consists of a bass control, mid control (selectable frequencies of 300hz, 1kz & something higher that I wouldn't dream of using ), high and then an 'ultra bright' switch.

2,4,8 ohm selector switch, two speaker outs (one extension only), power amp in and preamp out. No line out or balanced output but I can only hope that no sound engineer ever dares to use a DI in the presence of this baby.

The most unforgettable feature must be the weight - got to be about 80lbs/ 36kg

Using this amp for BASS!

Ignore the slight buzz in the background when you switch it on - it's not a hi-fi
All I can say is WOW!
This amp sounds like you imagine an SVT, has all the tubey character in spades. However one of the things that really surprised me is how amazingly versatile this amp is - the EQ works phenomenally to coax a massive range of sounds out, I don't understand the labelling of these as a 'one trick pony' by some. It does maintain a standard 'it's valve and ain't going to sound too clean' aura about it though.

The second surprise was the distortion control - I'd read a few places that channel one on a V4 was just worthless and not worth bothering with (although this may have been in relation to guitar use, not bass!). Now to my ears it's superb - at 12-3 o'clock it adds a lovely fizz that's subtle and warm to an already superb bass sound. Awesome.

Oh and just to clarify - the typical mid-scoop metal/hardcore sound can be had with ease, similarly with the mid heavy rock tones that cut through nicely and the tight, bright funk sounds. All achieved with the EQ and some tasty additions to add in with that distortion control.
I'm using it with a Trace Elliot 1x15 + 1x10 (EV speakers), and to be honest the cab struggles. Volume from this amp is unreal, as is the level of bass and this 80's ported cab simply starts to fart out at the high volume - it needs an 8x10 which just tosses away that low end energy rather than bothering trying to reproduce it!

Well, I bought it 'spares or repairs' and it had been laying about in a guitar shop here in the UK for over 10 years as the shop could never get the part in (or didn't want to risk spending on it!). Now it had no output transformer, but I took the risk.

My tech replaced (or rather installed) the O/T and then gave me a ring - basically it all worked fine! He went and replaced all the caps and some burnt out resistors before trying it mind. Anyway it was treated to new valves and is now fine.

Forgot to mention that the amp came in three parts (it wasn't even fully assembled) - the case, the amp shell and the reverb tank. All banging around for years without much protection, so to have a fully working amp, reverb included, after that is testament to the quality of this amp. I expect it to out last me.

N/A but the guy at Fliptops.net is pretty sound

I've been playing for about 10 years, I have a complex pedalboard set-up played through a Mackie SRM450 as my main rig but have owned all sorts in the past: Peavey T-Max, Trace Elliot SM7 combo, Sansamp/Yamaha preamp rack setup into an ACME low BII then Glockenklang quattro, SWR cabs and the current Trace that this is being put through. Bit of a gear whore really.

I'd definitely try to replace this if at all possible, but they're not very common on this side of the pond.

I love the 'mini SVT' aspect, only you can feasibly get power tube saturation due to fewer bottles.

Basically it kicks arse. I want an older V4b just for comparison but that's about all I can say, it kicks arse ;-)

I am not sure as to the year this V50H Ampeg 50 watt head was made. I do know it was betweem 89 and 93....Or so I am told. I think it was one of the first ones made. Only because of myself comparing it to a few others and their tones. Straight ahead single channel amp. Setup similiar to the Marshall Plexi. I am not saying it sounds like one. I am saying it's knobs and the single channel and tubes setup...are similiar to the Marshall Plexis. There is no effects loop. Never liked those effects loops. They ruin a amps tone. (though there are exceptions.) It does come with reverb. Again I hate that! It doesn't sound to bad. But I disconnected it. That warmed the amp up right there. This isn't me ripping on this amp. The good parts are coming up. Power on this amp is 50 Watts....Very loud. As I said...similiar to a Marshall Plexi. There are two inputs. One is like a low input and the other a boost or high input. A foot switch was used to switch between a boost or not. Makes no sense. I have no switch though so I run through either one. Depends on what I am in the mood for playing. If you are playing one specific kind of music. This amp will get it. But if you play in a coverband doing a variety of stuff from ZZTOP to SlipKnot...Then to reggie, and to ska etc....Forget it. Though this amp will do all those sounds. You would have to stop and take the time to reset and adjust the amps settings for each different song. If you are looking for your own sound...Then this amp is perfect. "The price is too...." It is all tubes. Two EL34's. I forget the preamp tubes...There are two of these. They are basically 12AX7's. In any event these tubes are original. The amp is in mint condition...I bought it awhile ago and only paid $200 for it. That is a great value....Especially if you read on!

I play two Les Pauls. One is a LesPaul Classics with the 500T bridge and 490 neck pickups. This is a bone stock Les Paul. It is a killer. I also play a 1970 Les Paul Custom. It is all original and has the original T-top pickups in the bridge and neck. I am not sure about their rating on these. But they sound incredible. And I play a PRS GoldTop Custom. The dragon pickup in the neck is original. But the bridge is a JB Custom. Great sounding guitar. The Ampeg V50H I use on my bands original material. Because we have a certain style that this amp fills well. When I play out on weekends as a coverband...I use a tube amp as well. But it has three channels so I have a versitile option. As for it being noisy...? No not at all. especially since I disconnected the reverb. But it really wasn't noisy then either. But it does get loud. I suggest a THD HotPlate or a Marshall PowerBrake for the volume control. Ok here is the good stuff. At low levels the clean channel sounds awesome. Very warm and glassy. When you turn the volume up louder the clean starts to break up nice. Again I compare this to the Marshall Plexi. I run a overdrive with this amp. I am the only guitarist in my band so I have no need for a lead channel. I use my volume knob. This amp is all classic tube tone. Tones are very similiar to Jimmy Page and AC/DC tone. Or THIN LIZZY and Gary Moore. I like a hotter gain so I use the overdrive pedal to give me that extra gain. The tone is awesome. I have alot of killer amps. But I keep coming back to this one amp. I play Rock. My bands originals are straight rock and hardrock. It does blues when setup for it. But when I want to wail on our original stuff...This amp does it. I am a Marshall man and Boogie man all the way. These amps I have as well. But this Ampeg is no slouch. I AB Y'd the Ampeg with all me amps...The tones I get are just as good in the same areas as the other amps I own. There is no fancy buttons. This is not digital or solidstate. This is real tube amp tone. This amp I will recommend to anyone who is looking to play Classic rock and 80's big hair shred rock and blues, jazz etc. If you do not want to spend a boat load on a Marshall or Boogie...Find one of these amps and try it. You won't be disappointed...The word I would use is inspired. For Metal fans...If you buy the right Metal distortion pedal....This amp will do it as well. I only suggest that when buying this head. You run it with the THD HOTPLATE and make sure you run a decent speaker cabinet with it. I run either my Boogie 1x12 Thiele cabinets loaded with EVs. They are consistant in sound and have great tight low end. Good Chug. But I prefer my Marshall 4x12 with 25watt Celestions. This gives it a rounder sound...and still maintains good low end. Also has a nicer break up in the speakers.

I take care of all my gear. This amp is no different. If you want it to last...TAKE CARE OF IT!!!!!!!! I have had no problems so far...I would gig without a backup. This amp is road worthy. And looks sharp too!

I have not had to deal with Ampeg at all. Though I would like to get a schematics print out of this amp from them. I wish they had more information on this amp on there website. Just a manual doesn't do it for me.

I have been playing roughly 12 years now. I own Boogie mark IV's, a Marshall Plexi with matching 4x12. I have a Peavey VTM-120 with matching 4x12, Peavey 5150 combo, And a Peavey 50/50 classic original. If this amp was lost or stolen. I would search for another. I still am looking. These amps for the price are just simpley killer amps. Single channel with 50watts of tube power. That is how they all should be. AWESOME KILLER SOUNDING AMP! I love everything about this amp. I have only one negative issue. This amp has no standby switch. Off and on...that is it. But it has not yet caused any problems. I doubt that it will. It rocks. Try a Ampeg V50H....You won't regret it! I wish I had alot of other kinds of amps...several come to mind. But I wish I had three more of these V50H heads....Their a tone of their own. Since my purchase I have recorded this amp playing Hendrix, ZZTOP, TED NUGENT, PAGE, GARY MOORE, THIN LIZZY...ETC...I nailed them all. Very close to getting the old VanHalen sound. But I have my own tone...and that is what sounds best with this amp! As for the Ampeg website. GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND POST MORE INFO ON THIS AMP...AND SOUND CLIPS. SCHEMATICS ARE A MUST........LOL! Take care and give this amp a try!

Not much features, but love it just the same. I think it has 2 EL-34 tubes. They look nice & sturdy. Got it used. Was just looking for a cheap tube head, and I found this jem. I just love how simple it is, and how powerful the sound is compared to my Marshall solid state 100w head. Needless to say that will now be my backup. Reverb is not really noticeable till about 1 oclock. REALLY wish it had a post gain volume for low volume playing.

I wouldn't say it has the same kind of saturation as a Fender Twin or Deluxe. Just have to crank it with at least a heavy 412 cab. Maybe even two. I run a Boss Blues Driver and it's pretty creamy. I'm using an Epiphone SG, chorus, delay, tremolo, wah, distortion pedal and a Randall 412 cab...play in a grungy, dark, psychedelic rock band. It's perfect.

It seems to be in good condition still after a year. Tubes look sturdy and light up so I guess they're still fine. It looks so simple, I think even if it did get troublesome- it would be a cakewalk to fix.

Never dealt with Ampeg-dont know.

Been playing for 18 years. Owned both a Fender Twin and Deluxe Reverb, sold them both...cause I got sick of blues. Got more into solid state amps for awhile. Now I'm back to tubes...Gotta love it. If it was lost- don't know if I could even find another one of these. For the price- it's awesome amp- but still not a Marshall JCM800... but pretty close.

Bare Bones kick ass tone. ONE CHANNEL like every Guitar Amp should be. If you turn it up past 5 it starts to break up like a Marshall. I also run a DOD 250 pedal in front to get a little more gain. I really can't believe what nice, true tube tone it has. My Amp Tech told me these Amps were killer & now I know why. I bought this for a back up to my Bluesbreaker & to take out on Tour to save my Bluesbreaker from anymore road torture.

I have a Tele Deluxe & Custom Strat both with Humbuckers. Straight ahead Guitar Rock. If you want multi-channel nutt show look somewhere else. This thing sounds like Marshall Plexi & Fender Bassman in one. I'm not kidding. If anyone gives a bad rating to this Amp, remember they probably like the sound of a Line 6 or some other modeling amp. Let's see where all that crap is in 20 years.

I've heard great things about all of Ampeg's guitar Amps. When I hear Amp techs raving about how well built the electronics are in an Ampeg, I won't question it.

Don't Know!

I've been playing 27 years & have owned Hiwatt, Mesa, Fender, Peavey, Sovtek, Marshall & others. I would replace this Amp in a second, if I could ever find one again. If you find one of these & you like TRUE Vintage guitar tone like, Angus Young, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page or Johnny Ramone, do yourself a favor & buy it.

This is basically the head model of the popular Superjet combo... I found this out directly from Ampeg when I called to get information on biasing it. It is a straight forward single channel amp with a footswitchable reverb and 15db boost. It's 50 watts powered by two EL-34 power tubes and driven by two 12ax7 preamp tubes. Very simple and loud... the clean is great and works well with a variety of effects pedals. I give it a 4 because it is such a simple amp, not because it's bad.

With the boost disengaged, this amp has a spectacular clean sound, warm and rich with an nice round top end. The reverb is also very effective. I use this amp for I gues what you'd call an alternative rock band and it works out really well. I usually use a Gibson Les Paul with stock humbuckers, but have played a strat through it with some really nice results with the neck pickup. The clean does break up nicely if you turn the gain way up, and you get some sweet EL-34 power tube saturation. To get a distorted sound I usually use a Tube Screamer or Blues driver and can get some really nice lead tones... I also use a Boss DS-1 to get some distortion for my rhythms.

I use it regularly, and have had to retube it once... I got it used, so that may be why... otherwise, no real problems...

Called Ampeg to find out where the bias trim pot was on the board, and after a bit of a wait (only one tech support guy) tthey were very helpfull... I was glad to find out that this head had the same guts as the SuperJet Combo because I had heard a lot of good things about them.

I've been playing for about 14 years, and also have a Marshall JCM halfstack and a VHT 50-12 combo... I bought this amp for the price, and I must say I really enjoy the clean tones better than the Marshall or VHT. It has proven itself to be a great value!

pretty simple amp, i dig it for what i paid, clean sound is good an breaks up nicely at louder vol's, bought it used along with the 4x12 cab at guitar center , arlington texas, 8 an 16 ohm switch on back, gets loud enough for a decent outside gig, came with groove tubes.
got the 4x12 cab for 200.00 out the door so 260.00 for it all in pretty damn good shape i cant complain at ALL!

sounds good with a single coil guitar, not noisy at all,verry wet reverb wich is cool,you will have to have some pedals for tweeking your sound but i like pedals anyway all my fulltones will get used for this one.

we'll see

dont know yet but i will be checking as it didn't come with the foot switching pedal but i did buy it used at a very good price(i have some good connect's at g.c.) anyone got one they wanna sell?

been playing 25 yrs, have 5 other amps fender, peavey ect..i like the fact there's not too many "flavor" knobs,i choose it because i've never tried an ampeg and the price for sure.

one channel no master volume... reverb, bass, mid, treb, gain... normal and padded inputs... no standby switch... 2 12ax7's and 2 el-34's... very simple. is in the boos mode when turned on and needs the footswitch to turn it off (i just use a a shorted 1/4 inch plug stuck it the jack)

has a nice warm clean... i use it instead of my dual recto... breaks up nicely when it warms up... for distortion i push it with a mxr distortion plus... works for me.

i put new tesla el-34's in and had it rebiased (or so the guy told me he did)... a tube shorted out and i had to pu the originals back in... didn't rebias it back, but it seems to be working fine... which leads me to believe... but otherwise solid.

whatever makes you happy... no names no loyalty... just play what sounds good to you... ok ok... i've got a boogie and a vht... but still, i like the sound of all my amps.

This appears to be a special product made for the Guitar Center chain, along with the Ampeg 4x12 guitar cabinets. Nice looking 50W oversize tube head in classic "British-stack" configuration. Cabinetry workmanship utterly horrible: Front screwed on loose and crooked, corner caps cockeyed, insane staple work shows on the inside where the upholstery is attached, skinned-up scarring inside from tool acidents, etc., etc. Lots of American light-industrial output is the product of subsidized prison-labor and mentally-disabled programs, and this really looks like an example, whether it is or not. Electrically, it's undistinguished, with Russian (EL34) and Chinese (12AX7A) tubes. Fairly hummy & noisy, overdrive and reverb effects are controlled by a dual footswitch. Hi, Mid & Lo tone controls, no master volume.

List price seems to be whatever fantasy Guitar Center concocts. The sale listed MSRP as $599.99 and the internal GC barcode tag shows a list of $799.99, but I bought mine new at Seattle's Guitar Center for $199.99 on 3/26/01, a price that seems to me to be more in accord with the amp's real worth.

This is a 1998 ampeg V 50H 50watt tube amp head. I don't really know much about it other than that. It has 3 band eq with reverb, dual input jacks, footswitch for boost/reverb, and that is pretty much all. This is what I call a "pedalhead" because any tweaking you want to do with the sound must be done via your own effects.

I play a sort of jangly alterna-pop with a dirty distorion (using boss overdrive and sometimes with a phaser) and it sounds great,,,not a metal amp,,,I have recorded with it and I love it.

I havent had it for very long...

Haven't gotten a response from St. Louis Music......