Ampeg have just released a new range of guitar amps the GVT range which has 8 models ranging from a 5watt head to a 50watt 2×12 combo. Specifically the range consists of:
Product Price
· A 5 Watt head the GVT5H $350
· A 5 Watt combo the GCT5-110 $400
· A 15 Watt head the GVT15H $500
· A 15 Watt combo the GVT15-112 $600
· A 50 Watt combo with 1 x 12in speaker GCT52-112 $750
· A 50 Watt combo with 1X 12in speakers GVT52-212 $900
· A 1×12 cabinet GVT112E $250
· A 1×12 cabinet GVT112EW with double baffles $300
The amp range is all tube, with 12Ax7 tube pre-amps and 6V6 tube power amps in the 5watt and 15watt versions and 12Ax7 tube pre-amp and 6L6 tube power amp in the 50watt combos. These combined with Ampeg’s Baxandall EQ circuitry produce “straight up American tone”
The 15watt and 50 watt models also include springreverb and in addition, the 50watt combos feature two foot-switchable channels:
· Channel 1 low to moderate gain
· Channel 2 moderate to high gain.
With sound delivered by Celestion original (in the combos) and vintage speakers (in the cabs) a vintage look and a rugged, road-worthy build quality, these guitar amps represent a good option to those looking for the classic Americas tone.
Ampeg’s reputation has been built around supplying high end amplifiers for bass guitars. In fact one of the cofounders, Everett Hull’s original goal was to produce a guitar amp that would not distort easily. This might seem like a radical outlook in the general guitar community, but consider this was 1946 and Hull was a bass player in a jazz band and clean guitar amps were the order of the day.
However, despite being associated with the bass guitar niche, Ampeg have been responsible for significant innovations in guitar amplification, most notably reverb. Ampeg introduced the Rocketreverb in the 1960s almost 2 years before Fender introduced the Vibroverb.
Another of Ampeg’s innovations was the Super Vacuum Tube (SVT), developed in 1969 for the Ampeg SVT range of guitar amps. This guitar amp provided 300watts of power, bigger than anything else available at the time, its output stomped the deafening 200-watt Marshall Major by 100 watts and was ideal for the larger venues. Such was the power of these amps that the Ampeg engineers felt oblidged to issue a warning, which stated:
“THIS AMP IS CAPABLE OF DELIVERING SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS
THAT MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE.”
They say timing is everything and certainly the development of the SVT guitar amp range came at an opportune moment for Ampeg. The Rolling Stones were embarking on their “Satanic Majesty’s Shakedown Cruise” but having shipped their Fender Amps to America, the not insignificant issue of operating voltage differences between Britain and America was overlooked, the result was that Stones manager, Ian Stewart approached Rich Mandella of Ampeg looking for guitar amps to use on their tour, which was only weeks away. Mandella only had proto-type amps ready, production models were still a long way off, but not wanting to miss a golden opportunity, he took all the available proto-types and 4×12 cabs and went to Warner Bros studios where the Stones were rehearsing. Rich Mandella watched as Keith, Bill and Mick Taylor put the SVT amps through their paces, continually cranking up the volume until they were literally smoking. When you consider that these amps were designed primarily as bass amps capable of producing a clean sound a high volume, it’s not surprising that the amps were getting close to meltdown under Keith’s “relentless bashing”. Mandela had 3 heads per person so when one of the guitar amps was showing signs of distress he replaced it with another proto-type.
“Everything he was doing in rehearsal just kept getting louder and bigger and crazier, with two or three heads per person. I’d watch the amps, and when I could see one was about to explode, I’d just switch heads.”
Since these proto-types were the only SVT heads in existence, Ampeg decided that Mandela should accompany the Stones on tour as guitar amps technician. The rest is history as they say.
The new range of GVT guitar amps from Ampeg certainly looks the part and will have to compete in a very full market, ultimately the selling point of any amp is. can it deliver the desired tone? The best way to determine this is to play and listen, or at least listen. Here is the full range being put through their paces.
Buy Ampeg GVT Guitar Amps at Discount Prices
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