gibson vintage amp help

[grssr]

looking at buying a vintage gibson amp, after reading this forum.
what amp breaks up early, which i want. i play at home only, and what type of dollar amount would one cost. many rave about the g20 would this give me as i described. [early breakup]. really not concerned about the condition so take that in consideration about the cost...... also what may other gibson alternatives fit as mentioned....

 

[bigjimsguitars]

I would go with a 1956 to 1960 Gibson GA-6 as they tend to break-up early and tend to be very front-ended on the volume pot, i.e., gets friggin loud at 2 or 3!!!

They also seem to go for under $500.00 all day long on Ebay.

They are one of my favorite amps out there as they are more aggressive than Fender Tweeds and don't get as mushy when pushed. However, the only drawback is that they don't have the sweetness of a Fender Tweed at low volumes.

 

[grssr]

bigjim, thanks for the feedback, but first how do i verify the year, and also what is the difference with the g20, g30,g40 compared to the g6.
thanks for the help!

 

[FiveG]

I found this page a while ago -- don't know how accurate it is, but it seems to have a lot of info.

http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/~dace/gg/

 

[RAB]

Yes...big fan of the late tweed GA-6 Lancers, however, I haven't recently seen one for the "about" $500 price-range mentioned...still, much easier on the ole wallet than a comparable narrow-panel tweed Fender Deluxe!!

 

[blewsbreaker]

The GA-20T from 57'-61 is also a SMOKIN' amp. I think it's a little more versatile than the GA-6 because you get 2 separate channels that you can cross-channel. The channels have different pre-amp tubes and sounds....PLUS a bitchen tremolo....:dude:

 

[bigjimsguitars]

The GA-20T from 57'-61 is also a SMOKIN' amp. I think it's a little more versatile than the GA-6 because you get 2 separate channels that you can cross-channel. The channels have different pre-amp tubes and sounds....PLUS a bitchen tremolo....:dude:

That is true about the GA-20 and I do cross-channel on mine and it sounds great....

 

[bigjimsguitars]

Yes...big fan of the late tweed GA-6 Lancers, however, I haven't recently seen one for the "about" $500 price-range mentioned...still, much easier on the ole wallet than a comparable narrow-panel tweed Fender Deluxe!!

Here's one that closed on ebay for $510.00....

http://cgi.ebay.com/1950s-Gibson-GA...QQihZ005QQcategoryZ121161QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


They pop up every now and then and typcially sell for about what the above on did.

Note: The New Vintage Guitar Magazine has an article about Gibson Amps, so the word is getting out about them.....get them soon as the price is bound to go up, and up....

 

[tusong200]

Late 50's GA-8's are still available in the $400 range. Gibsonette's will have 10" Jensen alnico speakers, Discoverers (1960??) will have 12". 8 watts of rockin' tone. If you're just playing at home you shouldn't need any more power than that.

 

[RAB]

Thanks Big Jim...yes, the mid-50'S GA-6s seem to go for less than a clean 1959-60 Tweed GA-6...they's all good however!

 

[RAB]

Thanks Big Jim...yes, the mid-50'S GA-6s seem to go for less than a clean 1959-60 Tweed GA-6...they's all good however! Right about the VG article...say goodbye to lower prices on the old Gibbies especially those featured in the article...I had a tweed '62 GA-17RVT (or was it a GA-19RVT?) Falcon that sounded fabulous...(sorry for the weird doublepost!)

 

[FiveG]

dumb question, but . . . Sound-wise, what's the difference between a GA-6 and a GA-5?

 

[bigjimsguitars]

dumb question, but . . . Sound-wise, what's the difference between a GA-6 and a GA-5?

The GA-5 is Gibson's Version of the Fender Champ and are in themselves, great amps....the GA-6 is more in the range of a Tweed Deluxe....

 

[grssr]

bigjim what difference between the ga20 with all leather face with the leather across the front compared to the tweed face? also what's your look on the ga30, what should i pay for ga20 in rough cosmetic shape [leather face].. soory for all the questions have no knowledge on these amps!!!

 

[blewsbreaker]

The GA-5 is Gibson's Version of the Fender Champ and are in themselves, great amps....the GA-6 is more in the range of a Tweed Deluxe....

True about the GA-5, but the Ga-6 is missing the pre-amp gain stage that the Tweed Deluxe has. The GA-20T has the same gain stage on EACH CHANNEL as the tweed Deluxe PLUS a Tremolo. The GA-20T has easily TWICE the gain of the GA-6... Four pre-amp tubes for the GA-20T vs. Two for the GA-6....

Both amps are in the same price range.
:hmm

 

[grssr]

guy's thanks for all the info, BUT is the ga20 from 1950 thru 1953, the same amp as the new design that changed in 1954? whats different about the two? i'm looking at a earlier model, will this have more headroom?

 

[roadrunner]

guy's thanks for all the info, BUT is the ga20 from 1950 thru 1953, the same amp as the new design that changed in 1954? whats different about the two? i'm looking at a earlier model, will this have more headroom?

Look for some GA-20 schematics and layouts for the different amps and that'll help you check out design changes. Go to a show, or find a dealer with a lot of vintage amps and check 'em out.

'50's 1x12" Gibson amps don't do headroom too much. Most of 'em get a nice, brown, fat tone with Gibson guitars; bordering on mushy with hardly any headroom. Your best chance for some headroom from these amps is to use a Fender guitar with them.

 

[akstrat61]

True about the GA-5, but the Ga-6 is missing the pre-amp gain stage that the Tweed Deluxe has. The GA-20T has the same gain stage on EACH CHANNEL as the tweed Deluxe PLUS a Tremolo. The GA-20T has easily TWICE the gain of the GA-6... Four pre-amp tubes for the GA-20T vs. Two for the GA-6....

Both amps are in the same price range.
:hmm

Well said! IMHO both of these amps are great values under a grand if in original shape. A lot of those $500 amps, have replaced speakers, transformers, and most of the board replaced. What really are you buying at that point? Speaker selection is huge in these amps. Be sure to get the correct speaker and some good NOS preamp tubes!

Some eye candy anyone? A few from my stash.:2zone Sorry guys, I love these Gibby amps and can't help myself. My wife thinks I have a compulsive disorder, think?:hmm
A '59 GA-20T

A '58 GA-20T, I traded this amp for a brown Princeton about a month ago to a good friend! I miss it already. He has a great collection and has wanted it for a few years. Oh well.

A '56 GA-20T, check that square plastic tag logo!!!! Original!

A '60 GA-6

A '55 GA-6

 

[grssr]

roadrunner,, actually i don't want much headroom.... so even on the early ga20, leather with the medallion in the center, has the sound that you described? i hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bigjimsguitars]

True about the GA-5, but the Ga-6 is missing the pre-amp gain stage that the Tweed Deluxe has. The GA-20T has the same gain stage on EACH CHANNEL as the tweed Deluxe PLUS a Tremolo. The GA-20T has easily TWICE the gain of the GA-6... Four pre-amp tubes for the GA-20T vs. Two for the GA-6....

Both amps are in the same price range.
:hmm

I have both, a ga-6 and a ga-20 and my ga-6 has as much balls as my ga-20! If fact, I run a 12ay7 in my ga-6 because it has too much gain with a 12ax7!!!

Call the GA-6 a high power champ or Princeton if you prefer as they are around 12 to 14 watts of pure class A fun!!! The GA-20 is around 14 to 16 watts, also class A. The GA-20 tends to be a bit brighter and to get the best tone out of her, you need to jump both channels as channel 2 is darker and it will give you some nice complexities as the controls then are interactive.

Someone asked about the GA-30, which I also have one of (a 1948), and they are less gain, but still are great sounding amps, because they use octal preamp tubes, tend to be a bit warmer, which I like for the blues on a stratocaster or tele...doesn't sound bad with my 54 gt either!

Remember with Gibson amps, they used octal preamp tubes up to around late 1955 early 1956 and they will sound a bit warmer, but still have nice gain characteristics.

Around 1962 Gibson started to go backwards as far as amp design is concerned as they started using different output tubes that are not as desirable in the tone department.

1956 to 1961 were the golden years for Gibson Tube Amps in my opinion and some of the earlier ones are very nice as well, but must be taken on an amp by amp basis....one of the best amps I ever had was a 1936 EH-150...that sucker through the Mic Channel was a screamer....Joe Perry uses them to record with....

I used to have a room full of Tweed Fenders, but only have 2 right now, a December 58 Tweed Bassman that is all original and a 1962 Tweed Champ that is also bone stock and it is a freak of nature!!!

Then I have 5 Gibsons, a 1948 GA-30, 1956 GA-6, 1957 GA-20, 1961 GA-19T, and just got a 1962 GA-8T that needs to be serviced. They are all great sounding amps and I got everyone of them for less than $500.00!!!