AVT50H Review

The AVT50H is the head version of the AVT50 combo and is armed with the exact same features.

Features:	8.7
Sound:	9.7
Reliability:	9.8
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9.4
Users rating:	7.5
Comments:	22

Featured review by: unregistered, on november 30, 2004

Price paid: $ 510.57

Purchased from: Sound Control

Features: From what I'm aware the amp was made over the last year or two so probaly no older than 2002. I'm using the amp for grunge/metal/funk/rock. Features wise, two channles that are swicthable, an effects loop on the back, I don't use effects so thats never gona get used, and also a CD input and headphone out, I'm not sure why they botherd to put this on the amp but it dosent do any harm. I just whish they had hidden them round the back rather than celabrating them and putting them on the front. I use the amp in the rehersal room, at gigs and in the studio. For a 50W head, this thing really dose kick it out. As far as I am aware this amp is half valve and half solid state. A valve pre-amp and a solid state main amp. // 8

Sound: I'm using this amp with a number of guitars, my main guitar and the guitar that sounds the best through the amp is my Eppiphone Les Paul fitted with Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a bog standerd Epiphone in the neck, also it's tuned to drop-C, I have never heard so much crunch. I also play a Ibanez RG, a Ibanez RG (7-string) and a humbucker loaded Strat. They all sound great through this amp. I read in a review before getting the amp that you can get pretty much any Marshall tone out of this amp, after using 900 hi-gain's and TSL's (not mine saddly). I'd agree and I preffer this considerbly cheeper amp to both. The distortion is f--king great. As for the Clean, who cares? I kid, the clean, its no Fender lets be fair but it dose the job. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Well I have had it for a while, I've never had a problem. I only brought this cause my last amp (real old h+h 100w head) blew up, but that was from the 70's so meh. I would never consider taking a spare amp to a gig when I have this bad boy. // 10

Impression: Everything from above that I have said. Also, it's great. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on december 11, 2003

Price paid: $ 502.74

Purchased from: Feedback Rotterdam (NL)

Features: This amp is made in 2000, i bought it just a month ago. I use it with an Marshall MG412A cab. The amp is cool for a lot of styles. I play most the style of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Reggae, ska, metal and funk are also my style. It has two channels, footswitchable. It has an effect loop, an headphone jack and emulated DI-out. I'd wish it had two OD channels instead of one, so I could switch between clean, overdrive and fat distortion. Now I have to use an extra effect for overdrive on the clean channel. I use this amp at home and at gigs, for both it's enough. On gigs I use the DI out, it works! // 8

Sound: I use an PRS Santana SE I, with two humbuckers, and an cheap Strat-copy. It feels like the thing is made for my style, the funky things between the rock and metal riffs. It is a little noisy in distortion, but that's ok. The amp can make a lot of different sounds, it's just turning the knobs heah :) The clean channel can be distorted if you turn the gain on. The distortion is not made for dark black heavy nu-metal, but heah, that's not my style :) // 10

Reliability & Durability: I think I can depend on it, I would use it without a backup. The amp has never broken down, but heah: only a month heah! // 10

Impression: I play for three years now, and I use it with a PRS Santana SE I and a Korg AX100G. (for the little things like flanger). I love the warm sound of clean, that's can be turned to funky clean. I hate it that I can't switch between two overdrive channels. I compared it two a Marshall MG100HDFX and a Hughes And Kettner Vortex stack, both new, but this beast what definitely the best choice for the price! // 8

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: broken circle, on november 29, 2005

Price paid: $ 287.31

Purchased from: GAK.co.uk

Features: The amp was made in the last 2 years or so, from what I can gather. That aside, I'm using the amp for metal/post-hardcore styles of music. Features wise, it has two channels (clean & dirty) that can be switched between, a CD input, headphones out. On the back panel is has an effects loop and an emulated DI out. The amp is half valve, half solid state (valve pre-amp, solid state amp). I use this amp for everything, and I have it running though an Ashdown Fallen Angel 4x2 slanted cab. I use it for bedroom practice, band practice, gigging and recording, and it suits all these conditions well. The tone is tight at low volumes, and as your start to crank the volume, the tone only gets tighter. It's very loud. Sounds louder than your average 50W head. // 8

Sound: I mainly use this amp with one guitar, an Epiphone Les Paul Studio with stock pickups, though I do sometimes use an American made Fender Strat through it too. The amp's dirty tone is very good. It has lots of low end and high end. The actual gain is pretty tight as earlier mentioned and there's certainly enough for me, though if you were playing really hardcore music or something, it wouldn't be that great. Go with a Peavey 5150 or something. For the price of this amp though, it's more than worth it. The clean is nothing wonderful, but is still pretty good and it suits me. Furthermore, the clean channel has its on individual gain control, meaning you can get a bluesy tone from the clean channel. However, the amp pretty much suits me overall. Very good. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I've had the amp for a few months now and have gigged with it three times and it's fine, run perfectly. I even dropped it the moment it got delivered to my house. I could gig with this without a backup and as things go, I'm having to as I'm too poor to afford another amp. My other amp is only a Marshall MG30DFX, which isn't big enough to gig with and is completely unreliable, which MG's are famed for anyway. // 10

Impression: I'm really impressed with this head. I've waited a while before I actually did a review just so I can get a feel of the amp and I have to say it was definetly worth the money. For my style of music it's pretty good, to be honest, it's no Dual Rectifier, but it's certainly a good head. If it were lost or stolen I would love to get another one seeing as it's cheap, though I'd love to have enough to get a Mesa or a higher end Marshall head. The onle thing I wish it did have though is a boost for the distorted channel. The amp is amazing overall. // 10

overall: 9.8

Reviewed by: hurleydude77, on october 29, 2007

Price paid: $ 310

Purchased from: ebay

Features: The model I have is the valvestate 2000 series, so not the new AVT50X, but as far as I know they're pretty much the same thing aside from visual differences. I'm pretty sure this model of amp was made in 2002. As far as versatility goes, there aren't too many sounds that you can pull out of this thing, but if you're looking for a powerful, crisp modern rock distortion that sounds like what the professionals use in renowned studios, this is definitely the amp for you. I play pop-punk/alternative rock music, along the lines of bands like Brand New and the Early November and the sound is absolutely perfect, not even a hair off of what I was aiming for when I bought it. As a matter of fact I listed those two bands because I'm almost positive this is the model of amp they used to record the rhythm guitar for most of their music. It's only got two channels but between the comprehensive gain control and the deeply effective EQ that's about all you need unless you're looking to experiment. It also has a reverb knob where you can control the depth of the reverb, which is pretty sweet. I used to use one of Marshall's solid state MG amplifiers, and I kind of miss the delay effect that my MG30DFX had on it, but the sound of the AVT makes the MG sound like nails on a chalkboard so it doesn't even matter. Paired with the AVT412A cabinet, it's very loud, absolutely enough volume for mid-sized venues. The one preamp tube in this amp makes a much bigger difference in the sound than you would think, and the transistor output does a very good job of modeling that of an all tube amp in this case. // 9

Sound: I'm playing through this amp with an Epiphone Les Paul Standard guitar, equipped with the alnico classic humbuckers it comes with, and I think it's safe to say this is one of the best rhythm guitar setups you can get, even for professional bands. The fact you can get this duo for under 1500 dollars new makes it even better. As far as EQ goes, it's the opposite of my old MG combo, I used to scoop the mids out to get the best tone, but the AVT actually sounds best when you turn the mid all the way up. That middle EQ really gives it a bite and a sharpness, and with the gain just under halfway, I mean there's no other way to describe the rhythm guitar sound besides perfect. With these settings I got it to have some real Drive behind it. When you strum a chord, first you hear a really defined, crisp impact, followed by a really jagged resonance, and it just really cuts through the air like you would hear on a professional band's album. Listen to the rhythm guitar on "shower scene" by Brand New and you'll know exactly what I mean. As far as the clean sound, you can get some of the nicest tone for open chords and other non-power chords with the gain turned up, just a tad bit of that sharp bite but not so much that the several notes squish together. The added gain on clean can also provide for a nice thin lead sound that's suitable for some songs, it's almost like a low-gain overdrive. You have more gain with this amp than you would ever need, even if you play metal. I'd rate the sound a 15 out of 10 if I could. When you have an amp that sounds this good for such a great price you have no reason at all to get an all tube amp. The AVT series is so good at emulating the all tube sound that it's lower price makes it the better option. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I bought it used and the tube still plays like new, no problems whatsoever. The seller didn't report any problems either. I'd feel safe taking it on tour clumped with loads of other gear on a shifty trailer. The transistor output makes it more reliable than all tube amps. // 10

Impression: Again, there are very few better amps for modern music, especially pop-punk/alternative rock. I've been playing and recording guitar for about 4 years, and I did a lot of shopping and research, and wasn't disappointed in the least with this amp's sound. I'd buy this amp again and again if it kept getting stolen, and I don't ever see needing an upgrade. Incredible amp. // 10

overall: 9

Reviewed by: DiveInMe, on july 31, 2006

Price paid: $ 608

Purchased from: Private

Features: This amp is around 3 years old making it about a 2003 build. It is perfect for the style of music I play. A mix of punk, rock, alt, and heavy tones are easy to pull out of the two channel head with reverb. It runs a 12AX7 valve driven pre-amp followed by a solid state power stage. It has clean and overdrive switchable by an optional footswitch. It also has a CD input, headphone output, FX loop, emulated DI out and two loudspeaker outputs (I run one MG412A slant quad). It is a big step up from my previous amp so its features are quite enough for me. This is my "home" amp. I like to shake walls. // 9

Sound: I use a Strat (S/S/S) and a Tele (S/S) but I have access to a range of guitars which all sound different through this amp. My Strat is the mainstay for playing rock and it sounds great through the AVT. It is acceptably quiet set to Clean, but can hum a little. On Overdrive there is a noticable "buzz", but that reflects my settings. High gain, driven hard. It is versatile across both channels. The clean can be broken up at higher volumes which can be good and bad. The Overdrive rips at any volume, but is best cranked up a few notches. I can tweak the OD endlessly for a variety of tones. // 9

Reliability & Durability: As the second owner, I didn't have much info on its history. About 3 months after I bought it, the volume dropped to nothing and the buzz was deafening. After dropping in a new Electro-Harmonix 12AX7, replacing the original Marshall valve, it really ramped it up. Since then, nothing but smooth sailing. // 9

Impression: This amp is versatile enough for me. I had a 35watt Fender as my first "home" amp for the last 15 years. This is much more fun to plug into. I still use them both though. I would probably update to a all valve amp if this was lost/stolen. Probably a Hiwatt or similar. I do love this amp. It's loud, stong and can be driven hard (I have a several OD and distortion pedals.) My Big-Muff sounds particularly good through the AVT. I tried many amps over the years, but this was a great deal for a powerful amp. So I couldn't pass up the chance to own a half-stack. Would you? // 9

overall: 10

Reviewed by: bubba_blink, on august 05, 2004

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: I think this is a f--ing killer monster amp! I actually have the combo, but this is a bas ass amp! I have no idea when this was made, I think in 2000-2001, but I dont know. I play like heavy s--t. Like ane where from Iron Madden to Rammstein, and this amp can do it all. Full out dirty and clean. This monster has 2 channels, clean and dirty. Is comes w/ a footswitch. It has a CD jack so you can plug in you CD player, and it has a head phone jack. The back has other stuf but I havent played with the back yet. The only thing I wish this had is a 15" not a 12". And that it would have more channels. But my opinion doesn't count much, does it? I mostely use this in my house. But when me and my friens jam I use it. And this has enough power for what you need, just get it (but if your like me, it could always need more power.) // 10

Sound: I am useing a Schetcer Dimond Series Black Hawk. I'm putting in EMG 10 and 14. My music style is like I said heavy stuff. And it suites it perfect. I mostley use it in my room. It is good sounding but I jus moved into an apartment and I use head phones now. But it's not that noisy. This amp can make any sound you throw at it. The clean is good at high and low volume. Not really distorted unless its gain is on all the way. I play with the clean settings. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I can fully depend on it, the only back up would be another, it is by far the most relyable that I have used. the only thing that broke, is that I blew out a 12" speaker. I don't know about tubes, but I put in a jensens 60's gold speaker. // 10

Impression: I play mostley metal stuff and this and that go hand n' hand. I have been playing around 2-3 years, but still as good as many. I also have a Ibz 10 amp that I use to travel with, I have a Boss Dis Pedal, Danelectro Talk pedal, Morely & Crybaby wah's, my guitr that I mentioned, and a GR3 Ibanez. I'm getting a tuner rack and a hush board along with a effects board. If it were stolen I would buy another. Probably the stack though. I love every thing about it. I hate the feed back so get a hush pedal! I like the reverb on it. I compared it to Crate, other Marshalls, Fender, Roland, and many others. But I like it the way it is. // 10

Comments

[pjrocks54]

I just bought an AVT50H and am very satisfied.The clean channel is very nice and the OD channel really rocks. A lot of people say that it sometimes doesn't really suit certain styles of rock. I've been playing for 40 years and in the 70's had a Marshall MKII 50 watt head. It was awesome and developed("My Sound) with this amp. I can duplicate (My Sound) quite well with the AVT50. I am very satisfied with the sound and price of the AVT50H. Those that say you can't get a good sound with the AVT 50 must be usinf a cheap guitar with crappy pickups.Iused to have an MG100HDFX (A real POS) but I was able to some killer toneout of it tobad it kept cutting out at practice and at gigs.

[gjmmh123]

would this be loud enough to gig?

[pjrocks54]

To gjmmh123. You bet this amp in loud enough to gig with. I played a street dance on 7/29/06 and my sound tech asked me to turn down and I was only on 3 on the volume knob. I had it miced through the PA and it was redlining on the board.

[syafiq_roslan]

Question,im still in the planning stage of course,but Im saving up my money for a pro level rig,haha,there's still a long way to go of course,but i just need to check,which is better of the two,should i get a Hughes and Kettner Trilogy + Marshall 1960A 4X12 setup or the Marshall AVT50H Stack set up? Obivously the latter is more affordable,but between the two,is the sound quality as good as the other or am I better off saving a little more for the hughes and kettner setup? Some one please help! Thanx =)

[syafiq_roslan]

owh wait,nvm,you know what,scratch everything i said up there,already went to test them for myself

[pjrocks54]

To syafig, what did you decide on. I've been playing guitar for 40 years and due to the shortage of cash I went with the AVT50H with an Marshall MG412A cab. For what I spent I'm very satisfied. This rig ROCKS!!!! I have a vintage Gibson 335S Custom Firebrand guitar.

[thunderinblack]

when it comes to vale amps marshall are awesome i getting one and i cant wait

[syafiq_roslan]

thanx pjrocks,yeah i'm going for the avt

[pjrocks54]

So syafig, how's that avt50 workin' for ya?

[Sirwinston89]

does anybody know what the difference between this ad the marshall avt150 is?

[Sirwinston89]

and*

[pjrocks54]

To sirwinston89, the difference between the Avt50 and the AVT150 as far as I can see is three times the watts and more control knobs.

[Demonikk]

pjrocks54 wrote:

To sirwinston89, the difference between the Avt50 and the AVT150 as far as I can see is three times the watts and more control knobs.

And price of course ^_^

[theboman]

I have this head runnig through a Marshall 1960A and 1960B cab, and the sound is emense!!!! its such a cool head, the cleans reel good. really loud as well, i can get it louder then my mates JCM 2000.

[wesman69]

this amp is pretty good, and its at an awesome price

[mikeymoped]

hey im happy with this amp but im selling it for a crate to get a diffrent tone for my style of music. anyone who is intrested can find my add on ebay. its a great amp and you wont have to spend any where near 500 $ like most of the owners on this review have.
thanks everyone. if you have a question feel free to email me.

[diggeejr]

is this amp loud enough for gigs without it being miced and for practices and stuff??

[rob ryan]

diggeejr wrote:

is this amp loud enough for gigs without it being miced and for practices and stuff??

I personally don't think that it is. I've gigged with it in a few pub and you have to have it on about 9 or 10. Bearing in mind these were small venues that didn't have a big crowd. If you wanted to play bigger places then you'd definitely havemic it up.

I just bought an avt150h because i'v found that this amp isn't as loud as I'd like it to be

However, if you're in a 3 piece and you're the only guitarist then yeah I guess it should be loud enough. But if your competeing with another guitarist and if your a lead guitarist like myself you want to be heard and you don;t want to have a horrible muddy sound. Therefore I wouldn't recommend it if you were serious about gigging.
For practices its fine though

[Dysern]

actually i have used the avt50h for a couple of years now playing my epi les paul classic. in that time i was the only guitarist in a three piece.we now have two guitarist's ( the other has a hughes & kettner) and i still stand out quite well as the lead. and this is in drop - c tuning!

[WantsLesPaul]

I could get one for 265€+foot pedal, Is it a good deal?
Is this amp good for punk, rock or metal?

[Dagibson15]

I recently found this amp for 200 dollars at a guitarcenter. It is in great condition! I could not pass that deal and had to buy it. Last night it has arrived to my home and i get to play it today. I have a 2005 Gibson LesPaul studio fitted with a Super distortion in the bridge. I also have a Bc rich nt series wave with a tone zone in the neck and super 2 in the bridge. I can't wait to try these out with this amp! I just have one question. Would the avt50h be considered a Hybrid amp?

[Dagibson15]

This amplifier is great! When cranked up to about 5. The gain and tone just pour out like a true marshall should. With the right pups and the right guitar, you may get the sound you've been looking for. Not a waste of money. I upgraded from a mg series stereo 100 watt combo. And this head just blew it away.