2-channel combo amp: H or Custom 50?

BlueSky

BlueSky

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Jan 19, 2014
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What are the major differences between the two versions?
I'm looking for a combo amp with a mid-pronounced tone and Marshall-like crunch. Reading various reviews I get the impression that the Custom 50 is more modern, more mid-scooped with less sag. Should I go for the older "H" amp?
 
I'm not a technical amp guy. That said, I do have both, and if I had to choose, I'd buy the Custom 50. It's more versatile, and it has more "balls" than the H IMO.
 
I wish I could -- I can hardly afford one, so it's important to make the right choice. I wish I could A/B them myself but that's not possible where I live. So I have to rely on reports by people who played them.
Are there any clips directly comparing the two?
 
From what I understand, the Custom 50 is the spiritual successor to the "H" and "C" amps. All the good from both and then some.

I have an "H" head and I love it, but I honestly think you would be happier and have a better amplifier in the long run with the Custom 50.

Granted you could probably find a used "H" at a considerable difference in price...

Also, if you get the Custom 50 and find yourself still wanting for an "H", you would probably have little trouble finding a trade deal somewhere. :tongue:
 
I've just come across this thread http://www.vintagerocker.com/forum/archive/index.html/t-19666.html
There seems to be quite a difference between the two models. Based on the description I tend to prefer the H.
Less gain and compression in the newer Custom version? Hmm, not too keen on that. I don't do any drop tuning Metal stuff. I'm more the classic Rock type. Is the H really more suitable? Does the Send/Return level on the loop also work as some kind of attenuator with the H model?

Perhaps the difference lies in the speaker? What speaker comes in the H combo?

One more thing: I read somewhere these amps have fans to cool them and they can be a bit noisy. Is that true?
 
Last edited:
BlueSky said:
Classic Rock. Anything but mid-scooped Metal. Just like the tone here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPNkhO3WB7o
Rich mid-heavy overtones like Bonamassa's Jubilee tone. Can I dial in that tone with the Custom or should I go for the "H"? Price-wise there's hardly any difference between the two (where I live), so the deciding factor is really tone only.
Click to expand...

Me, too. As I mentioned above, I'm not a techical amp guy, so I can only tell you what my ears hear. On the "presence" control knob it reads "pull for depth." Activating the depth really seems to bring my Custom to life. It seems to have more balls than my H. Also, I certainly don't hear a reduction in gain or compression compared to my H, as someone apparently said on VR. Both the Custom and the H seem to have plenty of gain and compression for me. As a side note, I used to have a C, and it did NOT have enough gain for my taste. Also, both my Custom and H are heads, and I used both with my Boogie 2x12 vertical cab loaded with V30s.
 
Thanks for your comments, 11top. Much appreciated. I wish there'd be a dealer near me who stocks these amps.
 
I eventually got the "H" combo. I'm still breaking in the speaker (is it a V30?) but a great amp.
 
Yeah, I'm already getting great tones, even though it's not fully broken in yet. What is the recommended bias value in mA?
 
The tubes measure 27 mA and 28 mA respectively. Too cold or just right?
 
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