TopHat Emplexador 50 Watt Head

You know the features from the other reviews im just here to give some input.

The tones on this amp are very good. I bought this to replace my Silver Jubilee 100watt head which is an excellent amp. However i ended up sellin the emplexador for a couple of reasons. i like the channel sqitching on the jubilee but would have gon without if the tone had of been better on the tophat. The Vintage moode does a decent plexi sound through my 1960ax with 2 v30s and 2 greenbacks. The modern mod actually sounded better to me. The vintage plexi sound this amp got still wasent better than the one my Marshall SLPx modded by don butler had. Suprisingly this amp could sound almost exactly like my jubilee on the modern mode. A nice saturated gain. My REAL problem with the amp was the effects loop. The loop was VERY dark. This was not because of the pedals i was running either because the loop would darken the amp even with just a patch cord running between the send/return. So in the end i sold the amp. I am in the market for a bogner shiva or xtc right now though. The jubilee stil does not do it for me lead tone wise.

I opened up the amp to take a loook. i wish i could have posted a pic. its different than other amps because there wasent really a "board". More like tracks running parallel. with the caps hooked to each. Very clean work on the inside and seemed well built even though i only had it for a week.,

Very simple setup. 2 voicings..Vintage for you plexi guys, and modern for those modded Marshall tones. This is a master volume amp without channel switching. Also has voicing switches, one for boost/normal, another for fat/treble. Also has a good effects loop.

The tone to me is amazing. My last head was a Mesa Solo 50 Head, and while it had a ton of gain, and sounded good, this head blows it out of the water IMHO. By simply rolling back my volume knob in the modern mode, my head cleans up nice. The touch dynamics are incredible. Pick lightly and it cleans up. Dig in, and it gets dirtier. Not a grinding type gain, more organic. I play mostly modern rock and some metal. At first I thought it wouldn't have enough gain, but it's so full and articulate, I don't miss the Mesa's gain. The tone is very full and in your face. I won't review the Vintage mode, as I never use it. If I was looking for plexi tones, they're in there. I waited quite a while to do this review, and must say, it is my best gear purchase to date.

I had an issue with some feedback that I traced to a power tube. I would gig without a backup, but with extra tubes. PTP wiring. Should last a lifetime.

I was able to call Tophat and speak to the owner(Brian) directly. Try that with Marshall.

I have been playing 18 years, and have owned a ton of stuff. If it was stolen, I would replace it in a heartbeat. Channel swithing would be nice, but would suck some tone IMO. I have no problem using my volume knob on my axe.