Ampeg GTV amps

**krueger** · 10-19-2013, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Hey Krueger, I'm really struck dumb by the lack of customer service from such a massive importer and distributor.

I was reading your reverb issue and man that was just downright bad repair work right there!
My GVT15 reverb tank wasn't tightly fixed so I removed those screws and rejigged them to tighten that SOB reverb tank down.

I trust you are enjoying the amp proper, it's surprisingly quiet with humbuckers BTW.

I must say though the reverb is really plush and I find myself wallowing in it!

The Amp itself has a really great tone stack and I find Treble @ 12 o'clock, Mids @ 9 o'clock and Bass @ 3 o'clock just about perfect for my Telecaster, with the guitar tone control to cut or boost the string tone.

Talking Tele, how's yours? The 5 way switch mod I did is brilliant, so many core tones to choose from and with the GVT tone stack there's always fun to be had.

And if you want a simple Tele upgrade try these intonateable saddles..

Attachment 8954

I'm going to jazz it up further with flats and an appropriate saddle change.
When it's all done I'll post up the work and pictures.

Jazzbow,

I'm really happy with the amp now. I just have to play it more, it has been on the road most of the time since I got it.

I'm also completely satisfied with the Classic Vibe. I've settled on roundwound 10's on it for now, apart from that it is completely stock. I want this to be an all round guitar really. It is also perfect in the evenings when I feel that my hollow body and semi-hollow will be to loud even with headphone practice.

Here's a shot of my "corner" in the living room with the amp, guitars and digital piano within easy reach...

Ampeg GTV amps-corner-jpg

**krueger** · 10-31-2013, 10:19 AM

Fair is fair. Thomann are redeeming themselves a bit. They found the missing original packaging, manuals etc. and are sending it back to me now. I also got a free shipping code to use next time. Maybe they've checked my order history and don't want to lose an addicted user

**jazzbow** · 10-31-2013, 08:45 PM

Any where near a review yet?

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-10-2013, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Am I correct that this amp is just over 40 lbs? (It's hard to tell from the specs on the Ampeg site if that's the weight of the amp or the amp plus shipping materials).

It it is (GVT15-122) but with its dimensions it's fairly easy to carry. It just a tad lighter than my HRDX but the HRDX Dimensions make it cumbersome and luggish.

I am am extremely impressed with this amp. To me this amp's wonderful tone and overall sound feedback in a loop that then makes me want to play more. I think we all what I mean. That guitar, that amp, that sound that just makes you want to sit there all day? To me this amp gives me that.

oh, I should mention MusiciansFriend has them on sale for $299 with free shipping! At least right now, early November.

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-10-2013, 10:27 AM

Here are sound samples of me nodding a few tunes at half power. The whirring sound is my pellet stove in the background. Its getting chilly here.

https://soundcloud.com/bossguitar/blue-skies-9-11-13

**jazzbow** · 11-10-2013, 04:00 PM

Just a quick note.

There is a guy hot rodding the GVT 5 watter in the UK for anyone who's interested.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT

**es34569** · 11-10-2013, 06:03 PM

TheGrandWazoo,
Thanks for submitting the sound samples, I really liked them. I am presently in the market for a smaller amp, and didn't consider the Ampeg line - until now. I like the clarity of your sound, along with the playing. I will definitely give that amp a try. Are the eq's overly sensitive, or are they relatively easy to dial in?
Chuck

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-11-2013, 07:50 AM

Chuck,
thanks. Of note, any distortion your hear in the samples is simply me still learning how yo use my friends recording device, I think the levels were too high, thus the compression that I'm hearing in playback.

The Eqs are a baxandall circuit. I'm still learning them but I really like them. They are sensitive in that they are actually db boosts, so you can get a fairly wide variety of sounds from them. When you bring down the treble and bass, you are actually boosting the mids. I don't know how that works, I have yet to find an explanation on the net that doesn't confuse me in its explanation (ie, I didn't go to math school).

I can't put into words how awesome this amp sounds. My main axe is a Gretsch 6120-1955 with Dearmonds and this amp actually makes the Gretsch sound more gretchy if you know what I mean. Might not be for everyone but for me it's the cats meow. Purr......

Christopher

**jazzbow** · 11-11-2013, 06:37 PM

Basically the EQ boost and cuts frequencies.

The chain goes like this....

Guitar>12AX7(1/2)>Gain>Middle>12AX7 (1/2)>Treble>Bass>Volume>Effects loop>Reverb>12AX7x2(both 1/2)>6V6x2

The middle is a boost dialing from left to right, boosting gain & middle gets you preamp distortion.
Both bass and treble are flat at 12 o'clock with cut to the left of centre and boost to the right of centre.

Clean sound for flatwounds and neck single coil are...

Gain 12 o'clock, Middle 9 o'clock, Treble 12 o'clock, Bass 3 o'clock. Volume Reverb and wattage to taste.

Overdrive sound for roundwounds and bridge humbucker are.....

Gain & Middle 5 o'clock, Treble 2 o'clock, Bass 5 o'clock. Any boost pedal through the Effect channel and Volume Reverb and wattage to taste.

I found the tone stack easy to use, especially with decent pickups. It's a super clean amp which can do overdrive ok but benefits from a boost or O/D pedal for wicked fun. I guess a speaker swap for more fun but the amp can handle all sorts of cabinet configurations. The valves are fine from the get go so save that coin.

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-11-2013, 08:11 PM

Thanks. The gain/mid control dynamic is fun to play with. I can leave the gain alone and get a nice breakup by increasing the mid alone or just push the gain. It's an interesting option to have and I look forward to more experimenting in a live situation.

**Chazmo** · 11-12-2013, 01:50 PM

FYI, Musician's Friend in the U.S. is blowing the Ampegs out right now. The GVT15-112 is $299. Is it a good deal?

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-12-2013, 02:31 PM

Yes. This amp is worth a lot more the $300. Keep in mind that includes free shipping. This amp sounds great for jazz.

**jazzbow** · 11-12-2013, 05:24 PM

It's a great platform for pedals, especially O/D and fuzz in the loop.

At that price it's great value for a Korean made amp.

**TheGrandWazoo** · 11-14-2013, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Basically the EQ boost and cuts frequencies.
Clean sound for flatwounds and neck single coil are...

Gain 12 o'clock, Middle 9 o'clock, Treble 12 o'clock, Bass 3 o'clock. Volume Reverb and wattage to taste.

This setting makes my Gretsch with Dynas sound like a strat. I love this EQ. Provides a lot of different sounds from my one guitar. Its like having two or three different amps.

**newsense** · 11-16-2013, 04:21 PM

The die is cast.......

I've been vacillating in recent weeks about replacing my Bugera V22 with something simpler: one channel, mainly clean and 6V6 powered. A Princeton, even secondhand, is too expensive in the UK. I already have a digital amp (Yamaha THR10C - great for practice on the move and some recording), so want something purely analogue as my main amp for practice and home studio work. The VHT 12/20 I ordered from Thomann was excessively noisy, although they claimed it was OK on return, and my flirtation with the idea of a Superchamp X2 has lot its initial passion.

The recent posts here, including Wazoo's clips, have convinced me to buy a GVT15 before they are no longer available. All the signs seem to be that they are being discontinued; i.e. silly prices on both sides of the Atlantic and Thomann saying that the combo is absolutely no longer available. So, I have just pressed the button on the Head version, and as Thomann haven't any Ampeg 112s in stock, I added a Palmer 112 cab with a Cannabis Rex speaker (same price as the Ampeg, albeit particle board construction rather than plywood). A number of posts on other fora had suggested that the Celestion V30 in the ampeg combo and cab was a little bright for the GVT, so I'm hoping that the enthusiasm I have detected on this forum for the Cannabis Rex is a good signpost to tonal nirvana.

Having had a recent disappointment with Thomann-supplied goods (the VHT), I'm hoping my GVT15H arrives without the problems that Krueger/Fredrik experienced, - but there are no other suppliers in the UK, so I'm stuck with them.

GAS - it is a painful condition at times and quite often not cured by the acquisition for which the desire is so strong ! I'll keep my fingers crossed !

**jazzbow** · 11-16-2013, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

The die is cast.......
I have just pressed the button on the Head version, and as Thomann haven't any Ampeg 112s in stock, I added a Palmer 112 cab with a Cannabis Rex speaker!

I think you have the better deal there. I bought the combo for convenience and I'm really happy with it but it does exhibit some weird overtones on certain notes. Low C# had a metallic resonance which eventually shifted to D and low E makes the speaker flap, but....that's the beauty of small single channel valve amps.
I have used one of the many outputs with an appropriate cabinet and it doesn't fart or flap, real nice.

I had a mid 80's ES335 through it recently and they worked really well together, in fact, the overdrive sound was really..... (jazzbow clicks fingers) spot on, y'know.

Did you follow my previous link to ratamps GVT 5 mods?

**newsense** · 11-17-2013, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Did you follow my previous link to ratamps GVT 5 mods?

Hi jb - having looked at he RAT mods, I think I will probably be looking at applying most of these mods but through external means, e.g. a Weber MicroMass for power scaling, a boost pedal for the, er, boost and eventually a re-valve (I would probably prefer Tung Sol 12AX7s, but agree with the JJ choice for 6V6). It seems to me the Mr RAT was struggling to find much that he could mod significantly, i.e. the GVT series are pretty well designed in the first place 1

**jazzbow** · 11-17-2013, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by newsense

Hi jb - It seems to me the Mr RAT was struggling to find much that he could mod significantly, i.e. the GVT series are pretty well designed in the first place 1

Yup, but if you delve further he mods Bugera V5's aswell.

**newsense** · 11-21-2013, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

Having had a recent disappointment with Thomann-supplied goods (the VHT), I'm hoping my GVT15H arrives without the problems that Krueger/Fredrik experienced, - but there are no other suppliers in the UK, so I'm stuck with them.

Well, unfortunately Thomann lived up to expectations. The GVT 15H arrived today, but it seems they forgot to despatch the cab that I ordered. Although the website tells me my order is complete, there is no record of them having shipped the speaker, just the head. Still waiting for a response to my e-mail informing them of their mistake.

**edh** · 11-22-2013, 01:50 AM

I hate companies with poor customer service. They irrate the H##l out of me.

**newsense** · 11-22-2013, 09:23 AM

Embarrassingly, I will have to eat my words. Even though there is no record of the cabinet being dispatched, it did arrive today. So, I libeled Thomann unnecessarily, for which I apologize. Unfortunately I won't be able to test the amp and cab until Monday.

**guitarman3001** · 11-23-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by krueger

Here's where the horror started!

I sent the amp back from Sweden to Thomann in Germany since they want to do their own service repairs (normally Ampeg has another company doing service repairs for their amps in Germany). I made very sure to provide all the emails between me and Ampegs tech support which clearly stated that the fx loop hum is fixable under their warranty and what the problem is. After a week or so the amp is on the way back. In the receipt they state that this is normal noise and didn't fix it. When the amp arrived I immediately noticed that they did not use the original packaging when sending it back. Manual and warranty card was gone also. Sloppy packaging in general, the prong of the power cable was eating its way out of the box! Anyway I fired the amp up and bingo the reverb is busted! Became angry, mailed them but agreed on sending the amp back for yet another service repair. They explained that they somehow didn't manage to relay the info to their service people that the fx loop hum should be fixed. Anyone opening the box would have seen my return forms and all the info there, but no. I now overstate several times in my communication with them that the amp now has two problems: Fx loop and reverb. I also write this very clearly on the return form and send the amp back. More waiting... Got the amp back today, great I would have hoped but no. They've only managed to fix the fx loop. The reverb is still broken.

Should I agree on a third attempt at fixing this or fight for a full refund and send it back and go looking for some other amp?

Sad thing is that the amp sounds pretty good...

Hi, my first post here. Found this forum and thread doing a google search for GVT15 hum. I have the exact same problem you had with the FX loop. It hums whenever anything is plugged into it. I have contacted Ampeg support here in the US and they are completely clueless and are claiming that they have never heard of such a problem.

They told me to take it in to a somewhat local warranty/repair facility but that particular place is only open like 4 hours a day and they never answer their phone, not to mention it's a two-hour drive for me so I'm very hesitant to take it to a place like that.

Do you know what they did to fix yours? I'm thinking I may take it to a reliable tech I know and have him fix it. If I knew what the fix was I'm sure it would help him so he wouldn't have to troubleshoot it from scratch. Thanks!

BTW, can you also tell me who you spoke to at Ampeg who seemed to be familiar with the issue? It would help me if I had someone specific I could talk to there who has heard of the problem. So far they've told me there is no such known issue, which I find hard to believe because so far I've heard from 4 or 5 people who recently bought this amp and they have all found this problem.

**newsense** · 11-23-2013, 08:59 AM

I am feeling nervous that when I finally get to connect up my new head on Monday, I will find the same problem.

From Krueger's earlier post:

Originally Posted by krueger

There is a hum in the fx loop that I don't like. According to Ampeg tech support it is a "15V power supply rail problem" which can be fixed under warranty.

Does that help ? If you have something plugged in the loop, but use the footswitch to bypass the loop, does it still hum ? I have looked on line for a schematic, but without luck.

**guitarman3001** · 11-23-2013, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by newsense

I am feeling nervous that when I finally get to connect up my new head on Monday, I will find the same problem.

From Krueger's earlier post:

Does that help ? If you have something plugged in the loop, but use the footswitch to bypass the loop, does it still hum ? I have looked on line for a schematic, but without luck.

If I use a footswitch to turn the loop off, it doesn't hum. It's only when the loop is active and something is plugged into the FX return jack. And I know it's not caused by a pedal because I've tried using a short patch cable going straight from the FX send to the FX return and it still hums.

My biggest concern is that Ampeg will keep trying to tell me that they've never heard of this problem and it's normal. I already knew that it wasn't normal but the fact that Kreuger was able to get it fixed on his amp confirms it.

I just wish Ampeg would get a clue. It's very frustrating to be told that they've never heard of such a problem when I find that impossible to believe considering every person I've spoken to who has the same amp has confirmed the issue on theirs. Which is why it would be very helpful knowing who he talked to at Ampeg so I could try to get in contact with the same person.

What's worse is that I have two gigs this weekend and would like to use the amp but I'm afraid that the hum is going to be pretty loud through the PA. Although it's not as bad when the amp is set to half power mode. I guess I can use it that way for now.

**Quabrumbel** · 11-23-2013, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by guitarman3001

Hi, my first post here. Found this forum and thread doing a google search for GVT15 hum. I have the exact same problem you had with the FX loop. It hums whenever anything is plugged into it. I have contacted Ampeg support here in the US and they are completely clueless and are claiming that they have never heard of such a problem.

They told me to take it in to a somewhat local warranty/repair facility but that particular place is only open like 4 hours a day and they never answer their phone, not to mention it's a two-hour drive for me so I'm very hesitant to take it to a place like that.

Do you know what they did to fix yours? I'm thinking I may take it to a reliable tech I know and have him fix it. If I knew what the fix was I'm sure it would help him so he wouldn't have to troubleshoot it from scratch. Thanks!

BTW, can you also tell me who you spoke to at Ampeg who seemed to be familiar with the issue? It would help me if I had someone specific I could talk to there who has heard of the problem. So far they've told me there is no such known issue, which I find hard to believe because so far I've heard from 4 or 5 people who recently bought this amp and they have all found this problem.

GVT15 Combo here. I plugged my guitar directly into the effects loop return: it was LOUD!!! That seems to be the reason for the hum. The effects send is very, very weak and the effects return compensates for that by amplifying the signal... That, of course, maks even the best effects pedal hum. My GVT is, by the way, made in China. And the reverb has a too looooong decay. Maybe not so wise to switch production from Korea over to China. Clean sound still lovely.