TopHat Ambassador TH-A50

THis is a single channel amo with hi and low inputs based on a basic fender circuit with the old Fender reverb (with mix and dwell knobs) included. 50 watts with 2 6l6 tubes. It's all point-to-point hand wired, made like a tank as are all TopHat amps. This amp will live longer than you will, that's a fact. You can get an effects loop as an option but mine does not have one. Basic controls are standard per TopHat, which you can explore in detail on the TopHat site:
http://www.tophatamps.com/ambassador.htm
The head has very nice construction, handle is thick and comfortable, carries well. This is a straight forward simple amp so for being versatile, compared to channel switching amps it's not but you know what you're getting here and it delivers well in the features it has. I'm not sure how to rate this.....it's not SUPPOSED to have a lot of features, that in it's self is a feature of this amp that many players appreciate. I'll give it an 8 just to pick a number. The build quality alone is a top-notch feature really....

Very big full notes, you can set it to stay clean or to allow a bit of grind to come in at around 11 O' clock on the volume (Where I have it set for band practice with a drummer)
The chords sound like you just hit a piano chord, very full and even response. Having an amp like this means that different tubes will make a large difference in tone. I am using the short bottle TAD 6l6 tubes it shipped with and TungSol preamp tubes (12AX7)
While others may want to introduce some grind I love to keep this amp clean and use pedals to effect the base sound. There is not a single pedal this amp has not liked! The mid knob on TopHat amps is set a bit different being unaffected by the treble or bass part of the EQ- this means that you can get a lot of different sounds from adjusting the mid level alone. I can get early black-face to silver-face Fender sounds or make it chime like a vox. The master volume on TopHat amps is known for being really good but I would say that it is the least usable on this amp compared to other TopHat amps (I've owned several). You really want to run it at 75% or above, I think this difference is due to the Fender type design of this amp (The only TopHat that goes in the Fender Way as far as I know.
All in all I find this amp to be more versatile than the TopHat club deluxe (not enough head room for me) or the King Royal (Great Vox sound but FOR ME the clean on the Ambassador 50 kills it). There is also an Ambassador 35, totally different beast at least in my approach of using it. The 35 gets you tube gain way to early for me, using 6V6 tube I think. The 50 offers a different tone with the 6L6 tube and enough headroom for me to use this as a clean base-sound to which I add fuzz and such as needed. The bit of grind you can add depends on tubes and speakers but it sounds very organic and still supplies excellent note definition, if that's what you're after.
I think this is the most versatile TopHat, way overlooked as people tend to go towards the other models more. TopHat over-all is a very over-looked company. The ones that own them know how fantastic they are but I think it's still a secret to the masses. Anyway, compared to a Fender, it has more bloom on the notes, fuller/thicker notes, tighter bottom, more even response (as I have it dialed in). It kills my Twin Reverb on tone and the difference in the reverb sounds are not even close. TopHat reverb is as good as it gets for spring reverbs.

Hand-made, only the best components used. Point-to-point wiring etc...The amp will outlive several generations of your family easily.

Brian at TopHat LOVES to talk tone. He will give you information on anything regarding amps and tone. He has spent large amounts of time talking to me about my amps, speaker suggestions, tubes etc.... I usually have to get off the phone before he's anywhere near being finished with departing me with his knowledge....He knows his stuff, backs up everything and to call a company and talk to the guy that designs/builds the amps is a treat.

I've been playing 20 years. I've gone through too many amps to list, from my first little crate to huge rack systems and everything in between. What amp I prefer depends on the sound I need, which can vary depending on band. But for my particular favorite tone and feel the TopHat gets the nod. Luckily the current band I am in is perfect for this type of tune doing original rock with influences from Pink Floyd to Zep/Stones etc...If I need huge high gain etc, I'll pull out a CAE OD-100 or something of that sort, but if you know what you're after and this is the tone area, then there is none better than the TopHat Ambassador 50 in my opinion.