My new FAVORITE sleeper amp for METAL!
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2023
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Hopefully this means we one video closer to the vh140c lmao
I own 2 VL-502's. One of them I bought in 1994 and still have the original cabinet with Celestion V-30's. Got the 2nd one 2 yrs ago.
Man this sounds insane, this could go straight on an album! Especially when you tuned to drop d.... DAMN. I love the airyness, openess, it has loads of balls, and somehow tight enough
I've had the Ampeg VL 502 for 4 or 5 years no and I haven't had any problems with it. I'm running it through a Genz-benz g-flex 212 loaded with an eminence private jack and wizard. I typically pair it with an SD-1. Its such a fun amp. Definitely a purchase I'm glad I made. Great demo as always. Awesome playing.
Where can we hear clips of your amp/cab uploaded?
You know what man, I’ve seen people bitching about you playing the “ol reliable” riffs, but frankly I FUCKING LOVE HEARING THEM. That amp sounds awesome!
Awesome video and a killer amp! Great detail in your tone-shapping. I may need to pick one of these up off Reverb. Thanks, Kyle!
Why this channel has still only 26.7k subscribers. I have watched guitar amps channels for 13 years. Since Ola Englund start doing this. Kyle Bull is one of the best and maybe THE best channel to me. I tought his channel would grow up faster.
GEAAD DAYUM! Love that tone on that head! Thanks for sharing man!
You could shorten 'cost-cutting circumstances' to 'corporate circumcisions'.
Apart from heater wiring, it's good to improve grounding of power tubes. Also, sometimes impedance switch is failing on those.
Very interesting Amp. The mid control really made a difference in beefing up the tone.
I've been waiting for this one forever
Great Vidio. Ther's no diode clipping in it. It's 800 with additional gain stage in front of it like boost. VL series are my favourite. I own both single channel and two channel. Finally got my hands on XLS, it's extension of VL's. Pretty much another version of two channel VL. Awesome amps. Single channel VL it's similar to Laney GH. Few mod's and it's bulletproof monster
That amp sounds sick AF. I'm a huge fan of Ampeg, Lee Jackson stuff. Killer demo as usual.
Always fancied trying one of the Lee Jackson Ampegs. Sounds great in this vid, sounds more ‘refined’ than some modded Marshall deals. A bit smoother up top, less harsh sizzle but still has that bite. Really nice video man!
So much gain on tap. I own a VL502.
I have the Vl- 501 with original GE 6550's which are the most aggressive 6550 and long lasting. I inquired to Lee Jackson about the Vl line and he told me that it was a modded Super Lead circuit meaning the transformers and power section were speced to the old Marshalls he was modding. The preamp he said is all tube and is again modded Marshall Super Lead.
Lee said the only thing that he would suggest modding on the 501 is molex connector removed and wired direct and replace the ohm selector switch as those often fail. He also said the effects loop is a hybrid of tube and solid state and he could mod that to all tube loop.
Other info he offered was that those issues were because SLM wanted to make it cheaper to manufacture, he also said he fought them on making the originals channel switchers and also no reverb as he wanted to maintain as pure a tone as possible.
Great amps once you fix molex connector issue. This was my first “good” amp. I bought the vl1002 half stack around 2003 in a pawn shop for $400. The only reason these were on my radar back then was the guitar player from Hey Mercedes was playing one. Great job Kyle!
No way! That's still a holy grail guitar tone for me. Seen them a dozen times and only remember the Nanna marshall...
@@joefordish it was in Columbus, Ohio around 2001-2002. I think they opened for the get up kids. My band at the time opened for Brand New at a comic shop. We dipped out so we could see Hey Mercedes. It wasn’t Nanna running the amp it was the other guitar player I forget his name.
Massive tones !
One of these popped up at my local store a couple weeks ago and I had to put it on layaway... you are right, very little in the way of videos
Ampeg always gets a good rep for their bass amps but their guitar heads rule. The VL502 sounds amazing too. It was used in the early days of Hot Water Music by both Chuck and Chris. They're hardcore/punk but have a very metal tone, especially 'Fuel' and 'Forever.'
Always wondered what the amps were on those records! Makes sense, they had so much more gain on the early records before switching to what I presume were 2203s and Chuck's Hiwatt for later stuff. One of my all time favourite bands.
@@JinxRemoving good looking out! Right? The early splits, singles, and Forever/Fuel have such thick spikey guitar tone. I love it! I know Chuck switched to using Mesas around No Division through Caution but Wollard switched to 2203 during that time. I think since they reunited its all Orange stuff tho
Had one since 2014 it’s great. it’s one I’ll never get rid of though I mainly use it as my back up now
Sounds killer!!
Keeping those Biohazard hardcore chords alive and Loving it,!!!
You should really keep a lookout for the "Crate Stealth" Series amps !! Especially the GT-200 amps. They were designed by Lee Jackson as well and are a Tube/Mosfet hybrid amp !! They were considered the "JCM 800 killer/Crate G130c destroyer" since you could switch from tube to solid state. They also have the dsp version with delays, chorus, and reverb that actually have a real pedal circuit inside. They are monsters and packs 100 watts of ultimate power !!
I own the Stealth . It is a great sounding amp . My favorite.
@@lormpino1 I recently got the stealth 50 watt head a week ago and honestly it’s so close to being my favorite but the GT-200DSP just has a certain sound that makes it my favorite. The stealth is absolutely a jcm800 killer and is a brutal amp !!
I've never heard of this amp. Definitely digging it in the intro clip.
These amps are finally getting their recognition. They are legendary.
sounds great
my friend had one of these back in 1996 and it WAS awesome. really easy pinch harmonics, chuggy bass. really underrated but now very hard to find.
I had that exact head for a long time. Played with bands in many club settings with it. If you really want to see it shine, run a BBE Sonic Maximizer through the effects loop.
That bbe pedal through any fx loop makes your amp a thousand times better. More definition, more crunch. It’s like taking a blanket off your cabinet. I’m glad to see i wasn’t the only one who did that. I ran mine through a JCM2000 (dsl). What a difference. Have a great day!!
@@meatforyourmom Agreed. I turned many friends onto the BBE. Everyone still uses it to this day, yet on UA-cam it gets a bad rap. I really don't understand why.
It rocked shocked n awed me 🤘
Oh yes ,Very interested in these.
No diode clipping. It’s basically the same preamp as the gain channel on the vl1002 with the frequency set to position 2. The attenuator is a post phase inverter master volume.
Sounds fucking awesome. I love throaty middy amps
Solid review, Kyle. Lee Jackson is the fucking tits! It’s about time he gets some credit. The fact that he was able to cram so much awesome tone into an amp he had to cut corners on is amazing. A few simple modifications and these things are
extremely reliable.
I have a Lee Jackson XLS-1000 from which I have heard is what Lee wanted to the VL series to be but Ampeg wouldn’t allow it. You should find you a XLS-1000 to demo. It’s the VL series plus More if there could be more lol. I love mine. It hangs well with my EVH Stealth 100s gain wise.
I wish Ampeg would reissue some of the classic amps from the 80's and 90's. Sounds Brutal! 💀. Oh still waiting to see ya demo the Marshall Valvestate 8100...that would be killer!
For real... they could make a killing on the VH140C circuit. Especially with modern solid state (class D) amps costing basically pennies.
I think the preamp knob is the stock “800 type” gain…..& the gain knob is the added preamp tube gain. I don’t think he used diodes in these amps…..sounds killer to me. 🤘🏼
So its basically like a jcm 800 with one of those legendary tones things in it then im guessing
Seeing these pop up locally now and then.
i like that one
I miss my VL-501, sold it when I went through financial woes back in 2013.
Once again the SD1 proves itself the best hard rock/metal OD for the money.
the plumes had entered the chat
@@bobotg you can get two SD1s for the price of a Plumes but I think it’s a great OD for the money, nothing beats the SD1 for metal under or. Around fifty doll hairs .
The guys from Estuary Of Calamity now just Estuary have used this same head since the early 90's ( and FaithXtractor, don't know if I have spelled the name correctly, and Shed The Skin, well one member in Shed the Skin that's in all 3 bands)...
Sounds good to me man
Hot Water Music used Ampeg guitar amps early on but I'm not sure which one
Was there any difference between these and Metaltronix in the circuit aside from components?
I’ve had my VL-1002 since ‘95. I’ve had all the “production” issues fixed. It is a fantastic sounding amp. I prefer 6Ca7 tubes in the power section. Running it through a Mesa Recto 4x12(280w) at full roar is effing amazing.
How much did it cost to repair? Im having issues with one of mine.
@@MrLA75 a friend of mine watched the Lee Jackson video on how to fix the “production issues”. I think I spent $40-50 on caps, and ~$120 on a set of EH 6Ca7 tubes. Any good tech would be able to do the Lee Jackson fixes, but I couldn’t tell ya for certain what the cost might’ve.
@@hollywoodjakespeed8354 Cool. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Dude PLEEEEAASE do a capture of this not enough people make good captures of amps like this
It's no wonder that this is one of Erik Rutan's secret weapons! I'm willing to bet that the power attenuator is meant to dial down the overall output so you can crank the master, that way you get the poweramp saturation without the ear bleeding.
I miss my 1002. I do have a metaltronix now, but I miss the Ampeg quite a bit
Crate stealth next please pretty please
I found a VL 100 not too long ago I think it sold fast. If I ever have the cash I’m getting it.
I used to own one. Awesome amplifier.
Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot has used his solid state Ampeg since day 1
And the online price just tripled. Nice work Kyle.. Lol
🤣 i thought the same thing. Thats what happened after I got my VH140C for cheap. A buncha people did videos on them and now they're $2000+. And they haven't evenbeen recapped or had the shitty fx loop jacks changed, which WILL cause problems like volume drop.
@@normanvename4404 All of them I have seen have been in rough shape. Great amps but they aren't worth 2k if they haven't been serviced so they function properly..lol
Throw a chorus on it and a bit of slap-back and I'm in heaven.
Quick peek at a schematic shows no clipping diodes
Ampegs are great amps and their bass amps are even better imo
Well i guess theres a reason why they only make bass gear still these days but ampeg has def made some guitar amps that can compete with any of the rest imo
Ampeg made the most late 80s/early 90s looking amps EVER.
Fireball 25 🔥
Intentional or happy accident, the opening clip seemed to be camera room audio. Whatever.. sounded cool. Would be a good blend tone.
Hey Kyle did you sell / flip this yet?
"and catch fire... but otherwise...." lol
yo, that fuckin rips!
The VL503 is even better. Built in attenuator, selectable mid frequency Q, prescence and power amp slope control.
Mine has 6550 tubes in it and breathes fire.
I have a 502 and I will be buried with that amp, even if it has been a borderline fire hazard. Nothing can replace the sound of the VL for me, yeah it's not perfect but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Sounds good from my house.
I feel like this amp has a bit of a dark tone. I love that!
*EDIT*
By the way this amp actually sounds a lot like my Crate Stealth 50 Combo when I run it into a cab. If I use the speaker loaded in it then it gets a little flubby.
Pretty sure the Crate Stealth shared a common circuit with certain Ampeg high gain amps of that era.
@tbirdpunk Yeah probably. Lee Jackson has a signature type of tonality in his builds
that thing is nasty, in the good way
CARVIN V 3 head pluhhhhhease
I like the Lee Jackson VL 1000 better.
Blend this with a Marshall and see what happens
That’s actually a good idea
Can we stop pretending Kyle isn't a Kyle and get this man a Monster Energy Sponsorship stat! Thanks for the Reviews!
Man that amp sounds bigger than your legs. and those are huge :D
Dude, I need this box! How many watts is it? Does it have a sweet spot? Is it transgender friendly? Covid compatible? Can it get Eddy's "Smells like teen spirit" tone? Asking for a friend
It does a mean Taylor Swift tone and stays crunchy in milk . 😅
OK. I think I might have an idea why people might have hated these. It was the 90's, scoop the mids. This sounds like crap, amp must be crap.
Super Honky, that's kinda racist 😲😲😲
This is Lee's answers to most any question about the VL amps from his own page.
These are the most useful and relevant. Enjoy
The Differences between the XLS and the VL Series Amps:
The XLS and the VL’s are a lot the same, I designed the VL’s first, so the XLS’s are an extension of the VL’s. I changed stuff I didn’t like about the VL’s, like the effects loop which I see is one of your questions. It is a hybrid of tube and solidstate, whereas the XLS is all tube with individual trim controls.Don’t get me wrong, I love the VL’s, ampeg made me put the effects loop in to save money, other than the loop the amp rocks.
VL-Series Light Bulbs:
The bulb is a Incandescent Lamp #47
Chicago Miniature Incandescent Base Bayonet T-3 1/4 6.3V .15A
You can find them at www.mouser.com.
Information on the Ampeg VL-501.
Could you tell me the tube layout of the preamp,and which position is the cathode follower.Do the 501 and 1001 have the same issues as the 502 and 1002,such as the molex connectors?And finally I have found the schematic for the preamp of the 501,but nothing for the power section or power supply board.
On the VL’s the tubes start from the far right looking from the back, start with V1, V2, V3 etc.. moving to the left. You can look at your schematic and see what tube does what function.
Yes that the VL-1001 will have the same Molex issues as the VL-1002.
On both the 501 and 502, it is not as critical because there are less tubes drawing current on the connectors. You can use the VL-1002 service dvd to do the molex repair and updates, on the VL-501 and 1001. (This has to done by a amp tech, it isn’t a simple job). I included a schematic of the 1002 output section, it is the same as the 1001 and 501, on the 501 we just removed the outside two output tubes. Everything else is the same.
VL-Series Front Panel Key Types:
There were two different key switches through the VL production. the only way to tell the difference is to think of the front of the switch like a clock face, On one of the switches, the the key goes from 12 to 2, and the other Switch it goes from 12 to 3. Both Switches use a different key. You can get the keys at the Ampeg service center, call 1-800-727-4512
I own a VL 502 and would like to know how to adjust the hum balance?
Make sure you are in a quiet room,
Also make sure a cabinet is plugged in, Do Not plug in a cable or instrument. Adjust the Hum Balance for the quietest position.
VL-Series Cabinets:
I did design the ampeg cabs, there were two models.
One model came with Celestion Vintage 30’s and the other cabinet was made with cheaper wood and Eminence speakers. It is easy to tell, the cabs with the vintage 30’s has a little plate in the front of the cab that says vintage 30’s. Also the Cabs with the Cheaper speakers to not have the Mono Stereo plate on the back.
No output sound on a VL amplifier:
HI I recently emailed you about a volume issue with my vl 501 after about 5 minutes of play the volume would just drop way down and go up and down randomly. You recommended changing out the molex connectors with 18 gauge wires which I did and it didn’t fix the problem and now the volume doesn’t fluctuate it’s just very low all the time now just curious if you could please give me any more suggestions on what to do because I’m at a loss with it.
Assuming the molex repair was done without a problem, like a wire in the wrong position. When the molex connector are taken out there will be one wire in the bundle not used at all it was used as a spacer, so if you didn’t allow for that then the wire positions could be wrong.
Next the original problem could have been either a output transformer failing or a bad impedance selector on the back of the amp. If you have access to an ohm meter, if you set it to the lowest resistance setting and check the switch to make sure it is making a connection from the center pin to the outside pins on the impedance select, If the impedance selector is good then it is a good chance the output transformer is bad.
Output transformers of the VL’s don’t general die, you have to play the amp loud without a speaker plugged in or if an impedance selector fails while your playing loud, that can cause an out transformer to fail. If the transformer failed, mercury magnets are making great replacement transformers for the VL’s.
Make sure before you do anything the amp is unplugged and off for a while, so there is no power in the power supply capacitors.
Will KT88’s operate in a VL amplifier:
The problem is not with the KT88’s operating, the problem is with the output tube socket spacing.
The sockets on the VL’s are too close to get the large bulb KT88’s to fit.
If they fit they work just fine in the VL’s
If you really wanted to hear the KT88 sound in your amp, You could use just two of them, and use the two outer sockets.
Impedance Selector for VL-1002, 502, VL-1001, 501:
On all these amps, we used the same Impedance selector, it is made by Schurter Part # 0033.4032 . You can purchase it at mouser.com
Can the “key” be disabled on the Ampeg VL1002?
Yes it can, it is wired in line with the main power switch,
And can be bypassed. Take it to your local amp repair shop,
And they will be able to do this for you.
This also can be done on all the VL-Series with the key lock.
Question about power tubes for my amp:
What kind of power tubes can be used?
6L6, EL34, 6CA7? KT77?, KT88? All?
I currently have a quad of Tesla E34Ls in it.
Does the amp need to be biased each time the tubes are changed or is it self-biasing?
Should I buy a matched quad?
What tubes do you recommend for early Van Halen 1 sound? Best Tube Brand?
They will all work except the KT88’s, the tube is to big to fit in the sockets.
In most cases you will not need to have the amp biased as long as you have the bias selector set to the correct tube.
Set amp bias selector for EL34 for EL34/6CA7/KT77.
Set amp bias selector for 6550 for 6550/6L6/KT88
Ampeg VL Amplifiers
Replacing Control Pots
The original controls are not made anymore,
The good news is the CTS pots are repairable.
They dis assemble and you can change out the elements.So go here and get the values you need.
www.tubesandmore.com/products/potentiometer-cts-audio-solid-shaft Dis assemble them.
You will need to cut the circular part of the lead legs off, Be sure to keep as much as possible.
Volume - Pre amp - More are 1 meg
Master - Treble and Bass (Channel 1) are 250k
Mid (Channel 1) is 10k
And Mid (Channel 2) - presence is 25k
www.tubesandmore.com/products/potentiometer-cts-linear-solid-shaft