Ampeg Super Stud

Don't know the exact year (sometime in the '70s), but an old friend gave it to me while cleaning out his basement. The guitar is mint and everything is original on it but I needed to replace the pick-ups' 3-way toggle switch and the head nut (I still have the original parts). It has a cherry red, SG style, carved plywood body with a bolt-on neck. It has a black pickguard and 21 frets on a rosewood fingerboard with Gibson-style, pearl inlays. The head has the 'AMPEG' and 'super stud' logos on the head in gold, and the truss-rod plate has "GE 500" printed on it. It has unusually-shaped Grover tuning keys (multi-layered look). All hardware is gold and it has two original humbuckers. It's got a Bigsby tremelo which hold tune very well. It's in the original hard-shell case (in remarkably good condition), and I believe I have the original strap.

It has 2 volume and two tone controls, and has great range, from a soft, bluesy sound using the neck pick-up, to a heavy, crunch sound using both pick-ups (I play it through a Valvestates VS120R and it really crunches). The bridge pick-up has a great trebly sound to it, similar to my '66 Strat.

The neck is a bit fat like an SG's, but the action is fine. I put D'Addario 10's on it and it rocks. The bridge is easy to adjust and everything is in good working order. The finish is beautiful, among the best I've seen.

I have just begun rehearsing with it, so I don't know how it will stand up when gigging, but I'm sure going to find out. Cranking it through the Marshall, it sounds as good as any Gibson I've played.

N/A - too old

I've been playing for 38 years. I own a mint '66 Sunburst Strat (original owner, with original receipt and case), a '69 Gibson Heritage flattop (beautifully aged sound). I have a '66 Ampeg Gemini I guitar amp that I use for recording in my studio (32-track), and a Marshall Valvestates VS120R Combo for gigging. I also play bass and own a Samick 5-string and a Grendel 5-string - beautiful guitar! I play out of a Peavy 115 Combo. I also have a hand-made Jose Morales nylon string that I bought in Malaga in 1973. The super stud is a great addition to my collection and I look forward to playing out with it.

The guitar is from sometime in the early seventies, couldn't tell you when exatcly, 22 frets with a carved multi-layered plywood body which resembles a larger thicker SG with overly pronounced carving. Altough most of these I've seen are cherry red, this one is blonde straight through, headstock, fretboard, neck and all. I have to admit the thing has a really funky look to it. it's a classic Les Paul wiring with the two hums, two volumes and two tones, and a three way selector. The pickups are made by some japanese company that used to suppy Ibanez when they were making copy style guitars. It's got a Bigsby vibrato unit wich sounds nice and holds the tuning well, with tuners by shaller that were quite obviously replacements. Neck is a very comfy mid range size with small Les Paul Custom type frets, and a low action, making it extremely easy to play. came with a fitted hardshell case, strap and some funky old "curly cords"

Surprisingly enough, this guitar has a lot of tones in it, and sustains almost indefinetly. The pickups are very warm sounding and I have to pull almost all the low frequencies back when I switch to it, but compressed a bit it has a fantastic lead sound for anything from rock to jazz to reggae, but it gets a bit muddy if your strumming full chords.

For what it is, and how little I paid for it, the guitar is put together very solidly, everything is well finished and fitted and it plays with next to no effort

stays in tune great, but as I mentioned, someone changed the tuners long before i got my hands on it, so it probably had tuning problems originally. The thing's in great shape for a nearly 30 year old guitar and seems to have a lot of durability, considering all the hardware short of the tuners is stock. I've used it without worry quite a bit as a main guitar for gigs since picking it up and it hasn't let me down yet.

I highly doubt it has a warranty of any type, and the original parts are probably way out of date. I'd have to find parts that fit and play doctor frankentien should anything screw up with it. But then, it's copied from a very popular design, so it wouldn't be hopeless.

For an old beater guitar that was cheap as cheap gets to buy, I'm quite happy with the quality of it and have started using it mostly as a main guitar over my Les Paul, Tele and Danelectro. And of course, it's pretty damn funny that's it's called "the super stud"

Ampeg Super Stud I think made around the year 1974. It has grover imperial tuners and pearlized pick guard. All Hard ware is gold in color and it has a Gibson "SG" Body ,(I think this guitar looks way better than any gibson made) During that year ampeg had 3 types: The "LITTLE STUD", the "STUD" AND the "SUPER STUD" unlike the little and the stud, the super stud had a termoil on it similar to that of the GRETSCH guitars, very big and nice looking term it makes the guitar look like no other,all the hardware is gold which makes it look soooo good.
The body is cherry stained with the most pretty look to it at any angle.A very deep red. One of the best finishes on a guitar ever. the fret board is a rosewood and goes just right. has gold humbucking pickups.One closest to the fretboard had to be replaced.this was done by the second owner because it had failed.No routerong was done and a high gain D'Addario black pick up.I have the original and am going to try to contact AMPEG and see if they can repair it. It looks to be in great shape.I dont think the kind it had can be obtained anymore .

This is the best sounding in the world....in the universe.

soooooo fast action finish is near mind=t. this guitar looks almost brand new. the owner before me had kept it in storage for 15 years and it looks as good as the day it was bought.
...One thing I noticed it a Dead Head emblem on the neck plate on the back of the guitar the emblem looks same finish as guitar and plate. I think it may be originaly from the factory......hmmm....

very nice..and durable. the guy I bought it from hear in California didnt know what he had. For the price I paid for it its almost like stealing it!!this thing belongs in a museum for guitars its so nice
I wheighs like 17 pounds and is rock solid..thats when they made the guitars good!!!

I dont think after that many years the warranty is any good. but I may contact them to get that pickup repaired.

BEEN playing 5 years. have 2 amps. -A FENDER STAGE LEADA AND -A REDMERE guitar amp.(very very big..6 feet by 6 feet. on casters)