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Ampeg

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Ampeg is a true legend in the world of bass amps that continues to innovate and push boundaries today.

The Ampeg name is one that’s highly revered amongst bassists - from touring professionals to total beginners. The US-based company has been a leader in the development of bass amplifiers since the '40s. Their amps such as the Portaflex and SVT series have been used by a laundry list of legendary bass players and helped establish the standard for what a bass amp should look and sound like. Whilst they’re most well known for their classic amp designs, Ampeg also creates a huge range of fantastic bass-focused products, including analogue effects pedals and affordable combos.

With renowned artists such as Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Stanley Clarke (Chick Corea), Simon Rix (Kaiser Chiefs), Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta), Tim Commerford (Rage Against The Machine) and Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order) favouring Ampeg bass amps above all others, you couldn’t be in better company as an Ampeg user. Whether you need a compact combo, a stadium-ready full stack or a feature-packed DI solution for the studio, Ampeg is always a top choice.

What are the different Ampeg ranges?

Ampeg Heritage Series

The Heritage Series brings back iconic gear from Ampeg’s history and updates it for the modern bassist. All Heritage models boast exceptional build quality and are made with only the finest components, ensuring superb durability and tone.

Ampeg Portaflex Series

The Portaflex amp changed the game when it hit the scene and the series continues to be a top choice for bassists today. As well as their classic flip-top style, Portaflex amps are known for their portability, powerful tone and keen price point.

Ampeg Rocket Bass Series

The Rocket Bass series is a selection of affordable combos that range from a compact 30-watt practice amp to a stage-ready 500-watt beast. All Rocket Bass amps are lightweight with a punchy tone and an eye-catching '60s-style aesthetic.

Ampeg Classic Series

The Classic Series builds upon the legacy of the Ampeg SVT which began in the '60s. As well as all-valve heads and hefty cabinets, the Classic Series also includes micro versions of their SVT-CL and V-4B amps that are perfect for home practice.

Ampeg SVT Pro Series

SVT Pro Series’ rackmount-friendly bass heads have been a popular choice amongst pro-bassists for years. Their valve preamps deliver plenty of punch whilst the expanded EQ capability gives you complete control over your sound.

Ampeg Pro Neo Series

The Pro Neo Series offers bassists a powerful, portable and lightweight way to deliver massive low-end. These rugged neodymium-based enclosures are ready to hit the road and ensure your presence is always felt on stage.

Ampeg Pedal Series

These professional-level stompboxes give you the authentic Ampeg experience on your pedalboard. From rich analogue chorus to gnarly overdrive to studio-quality optical compression, there’s an Ampeg pedal that’s bound to elevate your tone.

A History of Ampeg:

Early Days

Like a lot of landmark music companies, Ampeg had humble beginnings. The company was established way back in 1946 by bassist and jazz guru Everett Hull and engineer Stanley Michael. Before the company became Ampeg, it was known by the more formal “Michael-Hull Electronic Labs”. The company was founded to produce a Hull-designed pickup that fitted onto the end of an upright bass. This invention became popular with bassists in the burgeoning New York jazz scene and was called the “Amplified Peg” or “Ampeg” for short. As well as the Ampeg pickup, they also sold the “Michael-Hull Bassamp”. This would gradually evolve to have more power, bigger speakers and deeper tonal control - a sign of things to come.

Getting Established

By 1949, the company had become the Ampeg Bassamp Company and moved to a small New York City midtown location. This new home brought them closer to venues and studios. Eventually, a greater number of up-and-coming players started taking notice of the company. When the early 1950s rolled around, the Ampeg name was popular amongst pro-bassists. It was around this time that the interest in the electric bass started to grow. Hull - a hardcore jazz purist - didn’t expect the electric bass to catch on and had no interest in the emerging rock genre.

The Portaflex

The first landmark Ampeg design came about in 1960 - the Portaflex. This amp was created by design engineer Jess Oliver, who joined Ampeg in 1956. Oliver was a local musician and electrician who impressed Hull by easily installing his newly-purchased amplified peg. The original Portaflex amp was the B-15 bass combo amp, which featured a unique flip-top design invented by Oliver. This handy design allowed you to invert and then safely tuck the head inside the cabinet, protecting the fragile valves from damage.

Session Legends

The B-15 would become to the go-to amp for legendary session bassists such as Chuck Rainey and James Jamerson. To this day, many bassists regard the B-15 as the gold standard when it comes to bass tone. The early 1960s also brought about another Ampeg innovation. The Reverberocket was the first guitar amp to feature a built-in reverb, beating the Fender Vibroverb by nearly two years.

The SVT

As rock started to take over the world, Hull remained steadfast in his distaste for the new form of popular music. Hull was quoted as saying “we will never make anything for rock ‘n’ roll”. However, as rock music’s popularity grew Ampeg needed to evolve with the times. Following Oliver and Hull’s departure, Ampeg’s new management changed the company logo and started to cater to the rock musician. This change would bring about arguably the most iconic bass amp ever made and a true classic - the Ampeg SVT.

Touring With The Stones

The Ampeg Super Vacuum Tube or SVT amp was created to be the “biggest, nastiest bass amplifier the world had ever seen". It was designed by chief engineers Bill Hughes and Roger Cox. The pair also received input from Dan Armstrong, who would go on to collaborate with Ampeg on the see-through Lucite guitar.

This behemoth delivered a mind-blowing 300 watts of pure valve tone, making it a sought-after stage amplifier. The SVT boasted 100 watts more power than its rival at the time. Five prototype SVT amps were used by the Rolling Stones for the entirety of their 1969 world tour. Keith Richards and Ronnie would go continue to use SVT heads and cabs until the ‘80s, making the SVT sound a part of the Stones’ illustrious history.

The Present Day

In 2018, Ampeg became a member of the Yamaha Guitar Group family after years of changing hands. The company continues to create highly regarded bass equipment to this day.