Ampeg Guitaramp Model Small Combo Tube Amplifier, c. 1950, made in New York City, brown leatherette finish.
The story of Ampeg begins with Charles Everitt Hull, a Chicago jazz bassist and friend of Les Paul. One night at a gig Hull used coat hanger wire to mount a microphone inside his bass as he was fed up with constantly bumping the mic stand with his bow. Realizing he'd stumbled onto something, Hull continued to refine his invention and began making specialty bass pickups for other bassists he knew. It was Hull's wife Gertrude named the invention "Amp-Peg" as the microphone sat atop the peg support inside the bass. Hull filed a patent for his invention in 1946, and met the electrical engineer Stanley Michael after moving to Newark at the end of the war. The pair went into business in 1946, selling Hull's bass pickups and a bass amplifier designed by Michael, the Model 770. The business partnership proved acrimonious, and Michael left to design for the Sano company in 1948.
Despite this, the Michael-Hull Electronic Labs continued under Hull alone and in the early 1950s produced a number of bass amps based on Michael's designs, as well making experimental forays into other products including guitar amplifiers. In these earliest years Ampeg operated as essentially a one-room custom shop on 42nd Street in Manhattan, with amps and pickups made to order. Dating to 1950, we believe the amp presented here is either a prototype or the second known surviving production example of Ampeg's first-ever amp designed for electric guitars, the Model 500 guitar amp. In remarkable working condition, this is a unique artefact from the company's earliest beginnings.
It is a remarkable little amp in some ways, beautifully designed and made. The small cabinet covered in brown coated fabric features a unique brass latch-and-screw back cover that can be removed or hinged outwards to vary the sound. The recessed brass control panel features two inputs, a pilot light, switch and chicken head bass, treble and volume knobs which are connected to the pots on the amp chassis all the way at the bottom of the cabinet with speedometer cables, a unique feature shared only with other early Michael-Hull designs. This is a very well-made unit with a warm, slightly wooly sound the ramps up nicely if pushed, a real piece of Ampeg and NYC area guitar history.
Height is 13 in. (33 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this very rare amp is in truly remarkable condition. The unique brass latch-and-screw cabinet is remarkably clean and almost entirely unmarred save for some minor scuffing at the bottom edges. The handle is original and in fantastic condition, the speaker cover is clean and taught with no fraying or tearing. The brass control panel has a lovely natural patina and features the original chicken head knobs which are connected to the pots on the amp chassis with speedometer cables, a unique feature shared only with the other early Michael-Hull designs.
Electrically, the amp has been carefully and respectfully restored to working condition by our in-house team of professionals. Wax paper and electrolytic capacitors have been replaced, the original pots carefully disassembled and cleaned, and a 3-prong conversion added for safety. The alnico speaker is original as are all the transformers.
This beautiful, seldom-seen small amp is a unique piece of musical history in near-flawless condition, it would make a remarkable addition to any serious collection. Overall Excellent Condition.
