Three-band
Baxandall EQ
Spring reverb
AMPEG
GVT15H
BY JORDAN WAGNER
Ampeg Amplification’s guitar amplifiers of the ’70s were designed to stay clean
at high volumes—a notion that set them
apart in an era when it seemed everyone
was trying to get overdriven tones at lower
volumes. Despite Ampeg’s efforts, players
quickly realized that pushing those clean
Ampegs into overdriven territory yielded
some very unique tones, and their sound
quickly became a mainstay in the rock and
pop music of that decade.
Fast-forward a few decades later, Ampeg
has introduced the new GVT series a range
of amps including the GVT15H reviewed
here. It’s designed with a slightly different mindset than its ancestors—so while
it’s capable of the characteristic cleans and
light overdrive that made its predecessors
famous, it’s also able to achieve high gain at
less-than-ear-splitting volumes.
Honey, I Shrunk the V4
The GVT15H is a clear nod to Ampeg’s second golden age, even if it isn’t based on any
specific model from the late ’60s or ’70s. Still,
the tiny, 12 lb head looks like a shrunken V4
model with a similar control layout to match.
The amp’s all-tube circuit is driven with
the help of a pair of 6V6 power tubes and a
pair of 12AX7s in the preamp. There’s only
one channel in the GVT15H, and simplicity
and straight-forward tone is clearly the aim
here. But there’s still a lot of tone-shaping
potential, starting with controls for Gain,
Treble, Midrange and Bass. Output is controlled by a simple master volume control
and options for 15 watt or 7. 5 watt output,
which you can select with the standby switch.
Interestingly—and this is a high point if
you’re a fan of vintage Ampeg amps—the
three-band EQ section utilizes a Baxandall
EQ configuration. If you’re like most players,
you’ve probably rarely heard of this type of
EQ, but when well executed the type is typically much more interactive than more common multi-band stack. Dropping the highs
and lows can actually boost the midrange in
a Baxandall EQ, and while it can take some
getting used to, when used properly it makes
the amp sound much more distinct. It was
a hallmark in old Ampeg amp designs, and
a big reason why so many players gravitate
toward those classic pieces of gear.
Ampeg also managed to cram a small
spring reverb tank into the chassis, along
with a series effects loop. Both can be
switched in and out (hard bypass) of the
circuit via an optional two-button footswitch that can be ordered from Ampeg.
Blast from the Past
The GVT15H is a great-sounding amp
that can cover a lot of musical ground, but
it really excels at ’70s hard rock tone and
’60s clean jangle with a hint of edge and
grittiness. It’s not capable of fire-breathing
molten metal, but if your tastes gravitate
towards muscular rhythm work and detailed
cleans, it’s a powerful little amp.
