TopHat Emplexador E-50

The amp was made in 2000, It's a newer model. I play blues, mostly british, and classic rock. It is a two voicings vintage and modern. The modern voicing really nails the Marshall Plexi tones and the vintage sounds like the old Marshall JCM45 amps. I simply back off my volume on my American Standard Strat to clean up the sound so not having footswitch control is not a problem to switch between the voicings is not a problem. I mostly use the vintage voicing with the boost on and the fat switch on. I've used this amp in large venues here in Las Vegas, indoor and outdoor, and never had a problem with volume or otherwise.

I use an American Standard Strat, a 59 reissue Gibson Les Paul. The amp tones are unbelievable. If you love Marshall tone as much as I do, then this amp is definately for you. It cleans up nice at about 7 on my strat and when turned up it really roars! The sensativity to pick attack is also remarkable. When you give'er the business, she really screams. The amp gets great distortion but maintains great clarity for chords. This amp is all about the tone.

I have used this amp at many indoor and outdoor gigs without a backup. I give it an A+ for dependability.

when I first recieved the amp it had a faluty #2 tube. I called Brian, explained what was wrong and he next day aired me a brand new tube at no cost. As a matter of fact he even sent me a spare just for my inconvienence. I purchased my amp through Sam Ash before they had one here in Vegas, I had it mail-ordered. I was nervous about buying something without hearing it first, but I definately made the right choice.

Ive been playing for about 6 years but Iv'e owned alot of gear. Buying this amp has tought me one thing; don't cheap out. Spend the money and get something you are going to enjoy. If this amp got stolen I ould buy it again without even looking at anything else. That may seem close minded, but if youv'e ever heard one, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

This amp was made in very late 2000, and has all current features including "boost" and "fat" switches on front. Rear panel includes variable impedence selector and optional effects loop.

Controls are as follows: Vintage/Modern voicing; Master Vol.; Gain; Treble; Mid; Bass; Presence. Also has two small toggles for "Boost" and "Fat" modes on front panel. On/Off and Standby switches on front panel as well with cool green pilot light.

No reverb, and no capability to switch between the Vintage and Modern (high gain) voicings. Although I do not care about reverb, as this can be taken care of easily with an outboard unit or through the mixing board, a great added feature would be the ability to switch between the two voicings.

I also have the matching Top Hat 2x12 closed back cabinet loaded with Celestion Vintage 30's. Speakers are set up on the diagonal, as opposed to the typical side-by-side configuration. Bottom weighs a ton, is built rock-solid, and is one of the absolute best sounding cabinets I have ever heard.

Head and cabinet are finished in black tolex. Head has gold piping and gold Top Hat logo. Bottom has gold/black weave grill cloth, which looks great. Gold logo on cabinet as well.

I take off a couple points for two reasons only: features are pretty basic (as with all Top Hat gear), and the amp lacks the ability to switch between voicings. Neither of these issues is a slam against tone or anything else about the amp. This is the way Brian builds his amps, and you know that going in.

I use a Tom Anderson Hollow-T Classic and a Warmoth custom-built Telecaster with this amp. Play blues and blues/rock in a band.

I use only the Vintage voicing side of this amp, with the Boost off and Fat switch on. Typically set all tone controls at 12 o'clock. I have owned two other Top Hat amps, and can say without question that the tone controls on these amps are very active.

Normally, I play through a Fulltone Fulldrive II to add a bit of overdrive for leads. Sometimes, I play straight through the amp and use the volume knob on my guitar to control both the tone and amount of overdrive I use. I am not a heavy effects guy, so I rely on the amp to do the trick for me.

The Anderson sounds tremendously "throaty" through this rig. Great tone. The Warmoth is loaded with two Fender Texas Special Strat pickups and a Duncan humbucker in the bridge. This guitar sounds extremely chimey on the single coils, and flat-out rocks on the humbucker.

I have previously owned two Top Hat combos - a King Royale and 2x12 Club Royale II. Both were EL84 tone monsters. The Emplexador has EL34's and has a much bigger sound - first off, it is much more powerful than either combo. Second, running through the 2x12 closed back cabinet, the amp sounds huge.

The Emplexador is a bit noisier than either combo, but once I crank it up with the band, the slight hum/noise is irrelevant. Other than that, it is a very, very articulate and smooth sounding amp.

This amp sounds very much like a vintage Marshall on the "Vintage" voicing. But BEWARE - this thing has an incredible modern gain side as well. Does it swing with Mesa? Not quite; but, if you use the Modern voicing, you get screaming gain with the ability to actually hear each note you are playing.....as opposed to whatever it is that comes out of a Mesa.

I took it into a local Mesa/Marshall/Fender dealer, as they had never heard a Top Hat in action. Ran it through a Marshall 4x12 bottom. The guys in the store were floored by the Emplexador's: 1) vintage tone, 2) high gain tone, and 3) cool look and vibe.

I have owned the amp a couple months. Play it weekly in practice. Play it daily at home. Will gig with it for the first time this weekend.

Based on my previously owned Top Hat amps, I expect no problems from this one and expect it to perform well. Top Hat's customer service is great, so I know if anything goes wrong, it will be attended to immediately by Brian himself.

Since I have only owned it for a couple months, however, I will reserve my opinion about reliability until a later date.

I have dealt with Top Hat before. Brian Gerhard is a gentleman, and has always been helpful with me. He has spent a considerable amount of time with me discussing tone, Top Hat amps, and other issues related to my amp needs.

I have discussed the possibility of having him make me an Emplexador 2x12 open back combo. I would A/B that with the current head/bottom. He is completely receptive to doing that amp if I choose to have it made.

First; I have been playing 25+ years, which is a scary thought. The Emplexador is the only amp I currently own, as I sold my other two Top Hat combos to the other guitar player in our band. We are now totally Top Hart driven, which gives us incredible tone. As mentioned above, I am strongly thinking about a 2x12 Emplexador combo. I would use that for Vintage tone (ala a vintage Marshall Bluesbreaker), and use the head/bottom for the Modern voicing. If I A/B'd the two amps, it would completely do away with any need for effects.

If it were lost or stolen, I would definitely buy another Emplexador. I love the Vintage voicing of this amp - suits my playing perfectly. In reality, there is nothing I hate about the amp.

This review asks if ther reviewer has compared the amp to other products. As stated above, I have been playing for 25+ years. Since I live close to a large city, I have been able to play through and/or demo some great amps. Over time, I have played through amps by the following manufacturers (the individual products would be far too numerous to mention): Marshall, Mesa, Fender, VHT, Guytron, Vox, Blues Land, Victoria, Bogner, Matchless, Holland, Music Man, Johnson, Line 6, Groove Tubes, Top Hat, Budda and Two Rock. I am certain I have missed some, but at my age, the mind starts to go.

I have played through both vintage and current models of many brands. I am not one to lean toward vintage versus new. I am more concerned about tone - not when the amp was manufactured. Let's be serious, not every 40 year old amp or guitar sounded great. Thus, it's not the age that matters, but the sound and vibe produced by the amp.

For some reason, the very first time I ever heard an Emplexador about 2 years ago, there was something about that amp that just "did it" for me. I loved the tone from the first time I heard it. It may not be for everyone, but for the type of music I play, I really dig this amp.

Amongst the many amps I have played through and listened to over the years, this is one of my 2 - 3 favorite rigs of all time. The Emplexador and matching bottom are pricey - if you can even find a head/bottom available - but this amp does what I want and need....as does the King Royale and 2x12 Club Royale.

From my experience with Top Hat gear, each of the Top Hat amps I have owned has delivered great tone. And they sound much better broken in than they do sitting in the store.

My overall rating barely falls short of a perfect 10 due simply to the "features" issue listed above. If this amp allowed you to switch voicings, it would be even better than it is already. However, when it comes to tone and vibe, the 50w Emplexador delivers.