I've had this amp for a little over a week now. I've always had a sound in my head that I couldn't get with my Marshall's, and boy does this amp nail it! I dig it so much that I purchased a GVT5H + GVT112 today. The 5 watt model doesn't have a MV, but that's not an issue. I'm assuming the GVT5H is a single-end Class A amp, as it has only one 6V6 power tube. These amps use a Baxandall tone-stack, which is different from anything I've ever played. I love the way it dials-in the gain according to how much midrange and treble I use. I don't know if all Ampeg amps react the same way, but I'm sort of pissed at myself for never giving these amps a shot when they first came out. It excels at clean, low, and mid gain tones. I'm a 60s/70s rock player, so high-gain isn't something I need in an amplifier.
Also... I don't like the sound of my KLON in front of the Ampeg. Why this is, I do not know? The KLON sounds great in front of my '87 Marshall Silver Jubilee. I tried both my KLON and Ibanez TS808 and TS9 pedals into the GVT15. Both Ibanez pedals (easily) won out over the KLON. The Ampeg effects loop is excellent as well. There is a slight low-level hum when I activate the effects loop, but it doesn't increase when I turn the amp up. Possible DC leakage, maybe? Mine is a Korea made model. I've heard the later China made GVT amplifiers weren't built as well, but I haven't heard of any functional issues with those amplifiers. The 5 watt model that I purchased is Korean made as well. The GVT112 cabinet is barely larger than the speaker itself, which is exactly the way I like them. I'm very pleased with this amp! I was running a Rockman Stereo Echo in the loop for some slap-back. I decided to try my TTE tape echo in front, and the Rockman Echo came out, of course.
If anyone has additional information about these amplifiers, please feel free to post your thoughts.
Here is a YT clip of a GVT15. The tones I'm getting are ever better, especially when I hit it with a Tube Screamer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=valzOivu2MI
Also... I don't like the sound of my KLON in front of the Ampeg. Why this is, I do not know? The KLON sounds great in front of my '87 Marshall Silver Jubilee. I tried both my KLON and Ibanez TS808 and TS9 pedals into the GVT15. Both Ibanez pedals (easily) won out over the KLON. The Ampeg effects loop is excellent as well. There is a slight low-level hum when I activate the effects loop, but it doesn't increase when I turn the amp up. Possible DC leakage, maybe? Mine is a Korea made model. I've heard the later China made GVT amplifiers weren't built as well, but I haven't heard of any functional issues with those amplifiers. The 5 watt model that I purchased is Korean made as well. The GVT112 cabinet is barely larger than the speaker itself, which is exactly the way I like them. I'm very pleased with this amp! I was running a Rockman Stereo Echo in the loop for some slap-back. I decided to try my TTE tape echo in front, and the Rockman Echo came out, of course.
If anyone has additional information about these amplifiers, please feel free to post your thoughts.
Here is a YT clip of a GVT15. The tones I'm getting are ever better, especially when I hit it with a Tube Screamer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=valzOivu2MI
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