Guytron GT100-FV Head

Mine is an early 100 F/V I think it's a 2003 or 2004. It is extremely versatile. I play mostly blues, hard rock and a little country. It easily covers those styles. If you've read the other reviews you should know the features, 2 channel with a Class A Channel 1, and Class AB Power Amp. Effects Loop and Focus and Voicing switches. Check out the website for some interesting facts about the amp.

I've used this amp for gig's and recording, it sounds great.

Originaly I tried this amp at Maken' Music in Chicago, and wanted to buy it, but it was pretty expensive. I ended up buying a Bogner Shiva instead, but I always felt like the Shiva's lead channel was a little lacking and always had to boost it with a pedal. After a year of using the Shiva, I found a Guytron on ebay, made the purchase and never looked back. The Guytron's lead channel is Full, Smooth and dynamic. I don't need to use boost or distortion pedals with this amp. Also, no matter how I set it, it always delivers a usable tone, and you can dial it down to bedroom levels or crack it, it sounds good either way.

I did have a problem with this amp, and it's the main reason for my review. The filter capacitors dried out and needed to be replaced. They mount differently then the Caps in most amps, and my local shop couldn't find a supplier for them. This was right around the time that Graydon Stuckey (GDS Amplification) took over Guytron. Graydon was great. He replied to all my messages almost immediately and sent the new capacitors to my local shop. Hassle free, and a pleasure to deal with. Graydon came through for me, I feel confident that he will back these amps up 100%.

See above, very easy to deal with, the contact info is on their website.

I've been playing guitar a long time and have used lots of amps, Fender, Marshall, Soldano, Roccaforte, Bogner. The Guytron is my favorite. I think it's the best sounding amp I've owned.

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY LAST REVIEW...

Just received my FV back from Graydon at Guytron,and it sounds INCREDIBLE! The updates include installing heat-sinks under the two top-mounted resistors,and did a minor circuit mod to help lengthen the life-span of the EL84's.There isn't much more I can say that hasn't already been said.The GT100 FV is quite possibly the greatest sounding amplifier ever built! Now with the upgrades,it sounds even better. Graydon also sent me a free leather Guytron amp cover!

Built like a Tiger Tank!

Here is where "the rubber meets the road"...
Not only did Graydon make my GT100 FV updates a priority(which he didn't need to do),he personally called me at home to let me know the updates were completed,and that the GT100 FV was ready to ship.
Customer service(IMO)is as important as the quality of the amp itself.I'm rating Guytron's customer service a solid 10+! The amp arrived at my home in a Guytron shipping container,and in perfect condition.The charge for the updates was so ridiculously low-I'm not even going to bother listing it...

If you've been thinking about purchasing a GT100 FV,just do it! I've been using a 2008 Bogner "Shiva" while my GT100 FV was getting its updates.I don't foresee the "Shiva" ever getting much playtime...I'll keep it as a back-up amp.
I think my "Shiva" is a little upset about being only the 2nd best sounding amp ever made?

All features are the same as the GT100,except that the "high/low" dual effects loop is combined into a single loop.

I have the GT100 also,which sounds fantastic...possibly my favorite amp yet.The GT100 FV has a problem with distortion bleed-over into the preamp output level control.I sent it to Graydon Stuckey at Guytron for repairs.

Again,mine is at Guytron for repairs.I will submit a review after I've had a chance to gig with it.

No opinion yet...
This is my first experience with Guytron customer support/service.I shipped my GT100 FV into Guytron about 3 weeks ago for repairs.Per an email I received from Guy Hedrick,Guy was going to go through the amp with Graydon Stuckey in an attempt to isolate the problem? I received an email from Guy Hedrick stating that he wasn't able to get to the amp,and would try to address the problem at his next visit to the Guytron shop.Guytron is under new management,with Graydon Stuckey(of GDS Amplification)as the new owner.I will submit customer service review as soon as the repair in completed.
I'm a frequent purchaser/seller on ebay,and have 100% positive satisfaction rating from every buyer.My user name is: "jcoopercam"

Holy S**T is the best way to start this review. I have owned a lot of amps and have NEVER been blown away like I have with this amp....

1-its a TONE MACHINE like I have never seen - 3 stage amp; Channel A is Class A w/ 2 EL 84s. Channel B is Class A/B with 4 EL 34's - channels alone offer near infinite tones

2-Settings have huge range. and they are VERY usable and easy. Channel A is glassy clean to ultra warm vintage EL84 overdrive - and even then it can be classic warm to potent crunch - and settings in the middle on Channel A provde tones sounding of best 50's & 60's amps - Bassman, etc

Settings for channel B are, IMHO, not as dynamic but still have major vareity - channel B is primed for classic EL 34 overdriven tones. But yes - they can be vintage, to classic, to ultra metal / modern in intensity....

3- Focus and Voicing. 2 switches on the back of the amp really mess with the character -- in a GOOD way. I could go on forever - but just imagine flicking a switch to make your 100 Watt EL34 amp sound like classic british -- then dial in a Classic American Distortion with fat bottom and clear highs by flicking a knob.

Another knob - will change the character (of channel A in particular) from Glassy 6l6 style cleans to slightly muddy and ultra warm Vox style / mid to late 60's cleans.

..for features - there is no amp like it. Throw away various stomp boxes, overdrives and even compressors.... this thing does it all.

LITERALLY its like 10 of the best vintage amps in one. You will never buy another amp because you dont need to -- all the tones are there.

no reverb included -- but then again this is a pro amp - use a rack

I really covered it on the features section -- the sound is just humblingly good.

Channel A is Class A 3- dimensional tone and feel -- settings that yield glassy clean to warm to bluesy breakup to el84 fuzz/crunch...

Channel B is Class A/B el84 - just about every classic Marshall tone to Soldano mod style to Mettallica Inspired over the top (with gain settings)...

My amp is brand new so I can only speculate based on the build - but I will say:

This is the largest, heaviest, sturdiest head I have ever seen. The manufacturer states its over-spec'ed wherever possible. Its about 6o pounds to prove it -- a total truck.

As with all tube amps - be prepared for wear and eventual breakdown -- the manufacturer recommends a phillps and spare tubes follow you to every gig. smart.

no need to call

IF you are looking for GREAT tone - clean and a vareity of distortion tones

if you want vareity in tones from your amps great cleans to great distortion

If you are a distortion junkie and differentiatie tones and crunches - from 60's stones, 70s kiss, to 80s van halen to 90's metallica

if you want HIGH QUALITY tone - to dial in to some of the best, most unique, authentic or vintage style tones --

If you want it all in one heavy and and serious amp - this is for you.

See other reviewers for details.

This is without a doubt the best amp I have yet to own. I have owned the following amps; 1966 Fender blackface twin reverb, 1965 Fender deluxe, 1974 Vibrolux and Super reverb, Tone King Continental and Comet, Victoria tweed deluxe and Bassman, Mesa Boogie Mark III simu class and Blue Angel, Budda Twin master, Dr.Z Route 66, Studio Deluxe and Carmen Ghia, Gibson Falcon?, and have played many, many more. This amp easily sounds better then all of them and many of the amps listed above are only good for one specific tone, the Guytron has multiple excellent tones not just one.

I was playing along with the Allman Brothers Fillmore album and wanted Duane's Marhall tone, so I set the focus and voicing knobs and then set the gain on the B channel to about 10 o'clock and there it was. After that, I turned on some Govt. Mule again turned the gain up a bit added some midrange and presence and bam Soldano tone. I have never had an amp that sounds so good at volumes so low. I was playing at the same level as my computer monitors that's how low the volume was set. There's a little hiss on the B channel at higher settings but not much and although you can get a little buzzy preamp distortion with certain settings it's easy to dial out. I do one of two things to elinminate the preamp buzz, either roll down the tone control on the lead pickup or reduce the volume on the level control and run the master volume higher. I found by running the master up there is less el84 input and the amp stays clearer with less fizz, the distortion is still ther but no more fizz. I think part of the fizz is due to the Vintage 30. I bought the matching 2x12" closed back cabinet with the amp.

I do not know about this but it seems built very, very well.

Wrote Guy twice and he emailed back the same day so I would say it will be good.

I have been playing for a long time and have basically given up on amps thinking there wasn't an amp out there that could do more then one thing well. This amp dismisses that notion and I have since sold one of my amps and all my distortion pedals. Funny thing is a guy told me it all starts with the guitar and amp and how he was amazed at how many people will spend $200 time and time again for overdrives and distortion boxes looking for their tone (I was one of them, but have since seen the light) but freak out when an amp costs a bit of money. I think he was right on because with this amp I am able to duplicate certain tones if I wish rather than a half backed approximation of that tone. The only thing I have found is I now need to have a pen and paper handy so when I cop some new cool tone I wont forget how I set it later. For all the time (hundreds of hours auditioning pedals)and money I have lost buying and selling amps and pedals I could have probably bought three of these. I really believe the other amplifiers I owned were holding my playing back because it was forcing me to play differently then I would naturally would have wanted to.

2004 model. Two channel amp with a number of tonal possibilities.

I use a vintage double-cut mcnaught with this rig and the tones are (to my ear), totally amazing. I have finally ended my search for the perfect amp......and believe me, I have had them all. Fender, Boogie, Roccaforte, Bogner, and the list goes on.
They are all wonderful amps in their own way, but in my opinion this one surpasses them all!
Very quiet amp with the ability to play at very low volumes and still retain the tone that you would only get from much higher volumes.
My style is a mixture of blue's, rock, and santana style music and this amp takes care of all my needs!

As the saying goes...."This thing is built like a tank." Get on the websight and you'll understand.
One might say that these amps are not cheap....initially perhaps, but once you realize that with this kind of quality you also get top-shelf reliability.......you'll soon realize that its a bargain.

Since Guytron is local for me I stopped in one day to ask some questions. Guy and Kraig both dropped what they were doing and gave me an education that was greatly appreciated....as well as a personal demonstration by Guy, who by the way....is an awesome guitar player.

Top- notch staff at Guytron and they are proud of what they build.

I have been playing for just about 40 years now and as I mentioned earlier, I have had many fine amps but this is the one...The Chairman of The Board!
If it were lost or stolen.....I would have no choice, I could not play thru any other amp and be satisfied. Oh yes, I would have to replace it.

2 channel all tube 100 watt head. See website for the details...www.guytron.com

I haven't come across a sound I can't find between the GT-100 FV & the GT-212. The 16 diffent focus & voice combinations really cover the gamut.

No issues. This thing is built like a tank.

Guy is always willing to answer questions via the phone of email.

If you want an amp that will make you smile each time you sit down & plug in....this one will do it. At last I have ended my search for the ultimate tone at any volume level.

Plenty of tonal shaping options ? set your basic gain level, tone, and volume with the individual channel controls, and use the master eq and master volume to voice the entire amp. Add 16 available combinations with the 2 four position focus and voicing controls and you have an amp with an incredible array of tones. The only thing that would be better would be individual master eq sections and individual focus and voicing knobs for each channel since my ideal clean and dirty tones require different settings for the focus and voicing knobs. Note the FV version does not have the dual effects loops that the old guytron non-fv had, I have used the FV loop with success using stompbox delays etc., but have not tried any rack effects.

Using strats for clean and slightly overdriven sounds and LP's for lead and other overdriven tones. Very quiet amp. The clean channel is very very good, especially if you like big bottom and chimey top end. Note I didn?t say the clean channel is very good *for a channel switching amp* and that is because there are no tonal compromises on this clean channel ? it is as good as Bruno, Two-Rock, Tone King and Carr. Just a great clean channel that mixes some of the best attributes of blackface fender and vox ac-30. The lead channel can be dialed in for dumble like tones, modded marshall tones ala bogner (yes even the lauded XTC blue channel) and soldano, or thick over compressed tones with endless sustain. When the lead channel is set up in the ?stock? mode, there is some mushiness in the lead when the gain is dimed, but I prefer the British and American focus/voicing settings which suffer none of that. There is some compromise when switching channels unless you happen to find your ideal clean and ideal lead tones with the same fv positions and the same master eq positions, but even these ?compromised? settings sound good. Regarding the master EQ section, it is more subtle that what many may be used to but it is effective nonetheless, you just have to be willing to use settings that may be appear more radical than on other amps, i.e. having the bass all the way on and the treble all the way off. The FV section has a setting which is more American sounding but I found myself preferring the stock settings for my ideal clean tones (with the treble at noon, midrange off, and bass full on). Try the full American setting with mids and bass up and treble low for your dumble tones. I'm using celestion classic lead 80's in an open back cab and these speakers work very well with the guytron. Vintage 30's sounded brighter and more aggressive but not as full.

Overall I?m very happy with the amp ? I?ve found only a few amps that do great cleans and great leads (two-rocks come to mind) and this amp not only does a great clean tone, but does multiple great lead tones from the dumble and marshall vein. This amp is not going to make someone sell their reverb equipped Bruno or Two-Rock (though it might make a guy sell his XTC), if you must have the best clean tones or the best dumble style amp you should buy one of those ? but what it will do is 95% of those tones and it will do them in one box and will footswitch between them with much less compromise than on a two-rock due to the each channels individual tone controls. I would highly recommend giving Stu at fatsoundguitars.com a call and check one of these amps out.

This is the GT-100-FV. I originally owned a GT-100 bought back around 2000-2001. The original features have been noted in previous reviews. In fact I first became interested in the amp because of the buzz on the internet and the Guytron website. I have had the GT-100-FV since March 2004. The FV is fundamentally the same amp. I do not have the original anymore.

So what is new on the GT-100-FV? The two main documented features are the "Focus" control and the "Voice" control on the back panel of the chassis. Each control is a four position rotary selector and the functions are explained well on an attached file located on the Guytron website. Look in the folder describing the history the X-Mod.

As I mentioned I have own both an original GT-100 and now the GT-100-FV. I like both but I would rather have the FV. This is much more versatile amp in my humble opinion. One thing I noticed about the FV was that it had more headroom and a tighter bottom end than the original. I checked with Guy Hedrick and he confirmed my observation. This makes the amp a little louder which may be of some benefit to players playing big rooms but I like the effect it has on the clean tone I am trying to get from the amp.

I play a variety of guitars through it. Each guitar and pick-up configuration has an identity with the GT-100-FV. I believe the improved headroom lets me hear the difference between my instruments. Though I haven?t run this opinion by Guy yet, this amp is fun. I can set the amp up and use it at my home studio (garage), at church or any place I can carry it and have power to run it. Play the GT-100-FV in about any room you need, studio or stage. This is a characteristic it shares with the older brother.

The sound is rich and lush. As I mention before the guitars I play through the amp have an identity. The master tone controls are sensitive through the full range of operation. I am able to dime the bass control and the bottom stays intact and musical. Sit at the amp play the master tone controls you will be amazed at the subtle colors you find in this amp. The variety of sounds are to numerous to discuss hear in this forum. There are some sound clips on the Guytron web site but remember the possibilities have been increased with the "Focus" and "Voice" controls.

I do use pedals with this amp but they are not necessary. I use them to shade, or boost the tone not to get the sound of that pedal. I use a Keeley compressor, a Time Machine Boost, a Fat Boost, a couple of chorus pedals and Line 6 delay. Channel switching remains very quite. The added head room has made the amp louder but you still set up in a small room for practice.

I have no issues with the amp. The design is very well thought out and clean. Guy Hedrick built something based on his many years of being an amp tech. The only thing an owner will have to do is replace tubes. The weakest link this amp will be the tubes. Use the website's suggestions for tubes and bias settings. I have done it before and it is doing able but please is careful. The voltages are high so doing not be foolish as you probe the amp. The only two things I can complain about is the weight of the amp but the versatility of having a 4 EL34 tube that sounds as good in a garage as it does in a theater is worth it. The other is a place to contact point for voltmeter probes during the bias operation but there are alternatives for this. I got a bias rig from amp builder in Kentucky by the name of David Allen, though I don't believe he markets them.

I most admit that I consider Guy Hedrick the owner and president a friend. The relationship started as working relationship between amp builder and new owner my original GT-100. Guy took valuable time to answer questions listen to my comments. My comments often were complaints because the expectations I had of the amp. He wanted me to be satisfied with the amp. I had a chance to meet with him, a couple of guitars, and my amp down in my home state. Guy had also brought a few resistors and capacitors. Guy had listened to my comments and had decided to tailor the amp to what I thought I wanted. I spent an afternoon listening to Guy play my guitars and the Guytron amp. I saw the amp being played the way the amp was designed. Guy would start at one point with a tone that was very familiar twist some knobs and make a transition to a different tone always remaining musical. Guy is a fine player with a good understanding of what good tone sounds like.

I guess a period of 4 months had passed between my receipt of my first Guytron and when I sat down with Guy. I must admit the amp was a little disappointing at first but I really was learning how to use it. I have heard an amp described as a musical instrument. As a guitar player I want to plug in and here the sounds that made me want to play guitar. It wasn't until I met with Guy that I knew how to properly work the Guytron.

I have had a lot of gear over the years. I could have been a poster child for GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). There are a lot of good amps out there but they are a rehash of something born out of the 50's and 60's. The Guytron is very unique patented amp that is built to last and will provide years of great tone and with this latest update, more colors have been added to the tonal rainbow. I don't know if other owners of Guytron GT-100's have the same dedication to satisfaction demonstrated by Guy Hedrick as I have but if you are spending ?boutique? money there is no one better than Guy. I have dropped the names of Robert Keeley and David Allen. Along with Guy they exemplify what commitment to the customer is all about. Look for innovation not the status quo. That is what you get with a Guytron. Given the kind of money you can spend on a high end amp make sure you deal with a company that works at customer satisfaction. The GT-100-FV is the amp that bridges the tube technology of the past with the electronic packaging of today designed to be truly musical. This innovation will sing. This amp will help you express yourself and enjoy practicing.