Custom Audio Electronics OD-50

2004 Model, bought as demo, refurbished by John Suhr
This is a two channel amp with a channel switching button and channel 2 boost button on the footswitch. The channels have bright buttons, boost buttons on the face plate, and bass mid and treble tone. The gain channel also has a presence control. There is also a presence and depth control on the back of the amp. There is an effects loop too.
I will use some pedals in front of it live, but only for special effects. There is nothing I need from this amp other than more skill from me. I cannot imagine wanting more than it delivers; I can only hope that I can get my playing up to the level it can deliver.
It is now updated to being the standard model of the two tube 50W version of the more common (haha) OD-100. The amp has 6 preamp tubes for tone only (no reverb), and the power tubes are 5881's. Quite frankly, the 50W output is plenty. My other amp is a Budda SD-80 with 4 6L6's, and the OD-50 is comparable in power.

For me it is virtually perfect amp. The tone is in another world from anything else. I sold two Bogners to get it, and don't regret that at all, so that should give you an idea.
The clean channel brings tears to your eyes, it is so beautiful sounding, and it can go from shimmering clean to gorgeous sustaining clean blues with the gain knob. You could play for years on this channel alone and write songs in a huge range of styles. My clean amp is a '65 Pro Reverb that has had some mods and has been borrowed from me by a nationally famous guitarist for his recordings. Compared to the OD-50, it sounds like a freakin' transistor amp now! But that's just the first channel! Now comes the second (gain) channel, and a boost for it. From an incredible crunch sound, like a Marshall but with 5881 overtones, to an SLO-100 singing sustain. Supernatural? No pedal needed, and you don't have to dime the amp to get it either. Oh man, I gotta stop typing and go back to playing! But I owe John Suhr this review, for reasons you'll read in the support section.

This amp is new to me, so I'll wait to enter the information at a later date. However, it is built like a tank (weighs like one, too), and looks like it will hold up. Classic Fender-like panel design, heavy tolex, and tough tight weave cloth; no bulky paste on labels, piping or woven reeds for this guy!

This is where John Suhr earned himself a customer for life. No, I m not raving about the amp sound here, which is real for the reasons above, but I am going to order a guitar from him now, which will be the most expensive I have ever purchased, just because of his customer support.
Here's the deal: I live where there is no dealer, but I heard a guy playing an OD-100 and thought it sounded fantastic. So, while traveling, I stopped at a dealer and played an OD-50. Although playing in a store limits you, the sounds I heard were shockingly good, so I decided to get one.
I went back home and sold my Bogners. As I was going through with these sales, I was thinking "Am I crazy? What am I doing?" This was echoed by my bandmates! Then I ordered the OD-50 long distance. When the box came in from the dealer, I found the effects loop sockets were broken out, and there was no damage to the box nor broken socket parts in the box.
I was not going to turn it on, not knowing the damage, so I took pictures, and sent them in an e-mail to the dealer, and a copy to Suhr. The dealer responded to send it back to look at, although he was sure it "must have happened in shipping". Suhr sent a message to both me and the dealer saying he was shipping out a new effects board complete to the dealer so there would be no risk or delay. I was impressed by this.
Now comes the great part. When I got the amp back from the dealer, I plugged it in, and it sounded really weak, scratchy and trebly. Looking in the back, I could see that only one power tube was lit. I started playing with the knobs, and was getting some slight electrical shocks through the guitar. In looking at the serial number, I also saw that it was a 2004 model. I sent an e-mail off immediately, all the while thinking "Why did I do this? My Bogners were good. I am an idiot."
The next morning, my cell phone rings, and it is John Suhr himself on the phone. John says, "This is not right, your amp sounds like it is messed up. Also, I checked the S/N on your amp and see it is a special one that was built to custom specs back in '04, and I think it is an odd combination. The standard ones are better" I thanked him for calling, and asked if I should send it back to the dealer again, thinking to myself I should have been more careful in buying long distance. John said "Oh no, send it to me, and I can also do the update." I asked him what the update would cost and he said "Cost? Are you kidding; I'm just going to make it right for you for free." So, one week later, I get the amp back and it sounds like described in the "Sounds" section. Fabulous tone. All shipping, handling and repairs covered under warranty on a three year old amp. Yeah, it came from a dealer, but with the effects board broken, etc. it had to have been demoed a LOT! Two things I know now: 1) John Suhr is as good as they come in caring about customers., 2) He's been in business quite a while, and succesfully, so he must not be doing much warranty work, since this cost him!! So, now I am putting my best guitars on the market, and I will be ordering a new Suhr standard. I know I will be delighted with it. This category should go to 11!

I played years ago, then started again about seven years ago. Now I am intensely into it, playing live and recording. My other amps are the Budda, the Pro Reverb and a Dr. Z Maz 18, but I have owned Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Soldano, Bogner, Ampeg, Acoustic (THAT dates me!). My guitars are two Stratocasters with Bardens, a Les Paul, a Rickenbacker and a Gretsch.
I just love this amp. I have only had it right for a few weeks, but I know what I want and this absolutely delivers it.