<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-021192
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040416
<FILING-DATE>20040419
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MCKIBBEN CRAIG L
<CIK>0000942871
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20292
<FILM-NUMBER>04740170
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>65 EAST 55TH STREET
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>401 BROADWAY M S 3-36
<CITY>REDWOOD CITY
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94063-3199
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000887433
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3663
<IRS-NUMBER>133667696
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<STREET2>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<CITY>REDWOOD CITY
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94063-3117
<PHONE>650-367-2011
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<STREET2>1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
<CITY>REDWOOD CITY
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94063-3117
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX INC /DE/
<DATE-CHANGED>19940505
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AMPEX INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19930328
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd39637.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887433</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMPEX CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEXCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942871</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKIBBEN CRAIG L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>135 EAST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Pres., Treasurer &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-04-16</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3142</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In addition to the 3,142 shares reported above as directly owned, Mr. McKibben may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 58,599 shares subject to employee stock options granted under the Ampex Corporation Stock Incentive Plan; and 7,500 shares subject to outstanding options granted by Sherborne Holdings Incorporated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Craig L. McKibben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
