HawkeyeKane
1944 posts
Aug 16, 2013
11:22 AM
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I see these pop up on the bay from time to time and get to wondering about them. Obviously there are differences, but I wonder how one would stand up to a Bassman for harp tone. I like the fact that they have trem and verb included. Anybody ever tried one?
Vintage Gibson Medalist 4x10 Electric Guitar Amp Recently Serviced HUGE SOUND!
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
2229 posts
Aug 16, 2013
11:48 AM
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Only $499. Why don't you buy it?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HawkeyeKane
1945 posts
Aug 16, 2013
12:37 PM
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Got other priorities right now. Besides....local pickup only. Not really craving a drive clear to Cali right now.
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Hawkeye Kane
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toddg
113 posts
Aug 16, 2013
12:55 PM
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That's one ugly amp LOL
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Rick Davis
2230 posts
Aug 16, 2013
3:10 PM
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Hey, the drive back would be right through Denver. You could bring that ugly amp to the jam at Ziggies...
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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chromaticblues
1440 posts
Aug 17, 2013
4:56 AM
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I don't know the history of Gibson, but something happened in the early to mid 60's and they tried to modernize to compete with Fender.
Well there amplifiers chanded for the worse!
There is a cut off point (around 62' to 64') that is best to just stay away from! Most everything from that point on is VERY different!
I would say those amps are the play it before you buy it type.
Think about it how many times have you heard anyone rave about Gibson amps made in the 60's?
It's always early 60's and earlier!
HEED my warning!! LOL
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rbeetsme
1334 posts
Aug 17, 2013
5:15 AM
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Good call Kevin. Gibson amps are confusing. Even the 50's amps changed from year to year in the same model. They made 3 different styles GA-20 amps, different tube layout, different sound.
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Greg Heumann
2324 posts
Aug 17, 2013
7:40 AM
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That thing looks totally bitchin'!! I bet it woujld make a very good harp amp.
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BlowsMeAway Productions
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HawkeyeKane
1946 posts
Aug 17, 2013
8:55 AM
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"Think about it how many times have you heard anyone rave about Gibson amps made in the 60's?"
Ummm....well...do Kalamazoos count? Because I've not only heard harp players rave about them, but I've also heard guitar players rave about the bigger Zoo's like the R12, Bass 30, and Bass 50. I know the Medalist era didn't come close to touching Fender's blackface amps. But I still have to wonder if...
"That thing looks totally bitchin'!! I bet it would make a very good harp amp."
....well, yeah, there's that too. I think I'm with Greg. I really wanna track one down and see what I can coax out of it.
Here's a couple of YouTube reviews of Medalists (guitar only).
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
2237 posts
Aug 17, 2013
10:21 AM
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I suspect it would take a lot of work to turn it into a good harp amp. It does have some charm for being funky (weird looks, separate preamp and amp). In your post you wondered how it would compare to a Bassman. In the guitar videos you posted it sounds kind of thin compared to guitar played through a Bassman. I've played in bands that include guitarists on Bassman amps and I am familiar with the sound.
There was a email in Harp-L recently about an event at a club; a big amp blow-out with 18 different harp amps. The author of the email said what they learned from the blow-out was that nothing sounds better for the money than a lightly modified Bassman RI.
I know there is a desire among blues harp players to find an odd diamond in the rough: A little-known amp that will sound killer with blues harp. I've certainly been there, having owned or tried dozens of amps. People have dragged all sorts of amps into my Jam at Ziggies. What I've found is that the conventional wisdom is actually wise. The amps that are good for blues harp are pretty well known among the harp community.
BUT.... tinkering with amps is a lot of fun and you will learn a LOT about what makes an amp good for harp. But you gotta be prepared to give up on a project when you recognize its limits.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
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