Suffering Heath
10 posts
Mar 18, 2014
8:44 AM
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I'm very happy with my 65 Kalamazoo's tone, but because I am a human American male I am simply unwilling to be satisfied.
Does anyone have any info on the 1965 Gibson GA-45 RVT?
Can it be modded with lower gain tubes to be a superior harp amp?
Thanks, all!
Heath
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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Slimharp
248 posts
Mar 18, 2014
9:02 AM
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Dont know about the mods but there is a site that has loads of information on Gibson amps. Google Gibson Garage.
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rbeetsme
1510 posts
Mar 19, 2014
7:41 AM
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The early GA-45 was a 4X8 amp, excellent for harp. This later version appears to be a 2X10 with reverb and Trem added. Probably work well with lower gain pre-amp tube, but no experience with the later ones.
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Suffering Heath
11 posts
Mar 19, 2014
7:49 AM
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This is the Craigslist Posting:
http://reading.craigslist.org/msg/4372121021.html
I'm intrigued by the WATTS, but wondering whether this model has any history of being succefully used as a harp amp...
Thank you!
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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rbeetsme
1511 posts
Mar 20, 2014
4:30 AM
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My vintage guitar bluebook values this amp at 500.00 - 600.00.
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jimr
63 posts
Mar 20, 2014
4:40 AM
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I like the 50's Gibsons (Lancer, Les Paul, Maestro), but the 1960's amps I have tried are very different. I owned a big brown Tolex 2x6l6 2x12 speaker with separate head, and have played a Ranger 2x6l6 4x10 speaker and some other 2x6v6 1x12 speaker Gibson. They were all thin and bright sounding, and feedback prone. One of my band mates said of my brown Gibson "Wow, Gibson managed to make a tube amp that sounds like a bad solid state amp". I think these amps would need substantial circuit mods to be good for harmonica. But... I have not played the amp you are interested in.
Jim
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Slimharp
252 posts
Mar 20, 2014
7:07 AM
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Health, I agree with what jimr said, the later models are not the same deal as the earlier ones. Different circuits and parts. Make sure you play through it. I see a lot of the later 60's models for sale so that makes me wonder. I had a 1958 GA-45 T Maestro and it was good but couldnt touch my 1953 GA - 30 for tone. Play through it. Before I would go into a lot of mods ( and that may not change things drastically ) I would check out an earlier model.
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Suffering Heath
14 posts
Mar 20, 2014
7:43 AM
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Thanks, Gentlemen. I had heard rumors of something like that, but wanted to check with y'all.
Much obliged.
Any known info on a 1962 Airline tube amp?
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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5F6H
1757 posts
Mar 20, 2014
9:19 AM
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@SufferingHeath - "I'm intrigued by the WATTS", just so that there is no misunderstanding, the numbers in Gibson amp model designations do not typically refer to the amp's wattage. A GA-45 amp wont be anything like 45Watts.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
http://www.facebook.com/markburness
Last Edited by 5F6H on Mar 20, 2014 11:33 AM
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HawkeyeKane
2399 posts
Mar 20, 2014
9:44 AM
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"Any known info on a 1962 Airline tube amp?"
Depends....what model?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Suffering Heath
15 posts
Mar 20, 2014
10:44 AM
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model 62gvc
http://pennstate.craigslist.org/msg/4312880069.html
Thoughts?
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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HawkeyeKane
2400 posts
Mar 20, 2014
11:06 AM
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Hmmm....looks like it has potential. Kinda hard to tell if its a Valco or a Dano build. They both made amps for Ward's in 1962. I'm having trouble finding that model anywhere on Schematic Heaven. The ones there labeled GVC all look like Valco schematics to me though.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Suffering Heath
16 posts
Mar 20, 2014
12:43 PM
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What's the difference between a Danelectro and a Valco, and which one would I want?
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www.reverbnation.com/thebluesprofessors
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HawkeyeKane
2402 posts
Mar 20, 2014
1:18 PM
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Just different off-brand manufacturers from the era. They both had their strengths and weaknesses, but both of them put out a number of great amps for harp.
They both manufactured instruments and amps for retailers and guitar companies. Sears' line was Silvertone. Their amps were first made by Valco, then by Danelectro starting in the 50's and on through the 60's, and then by Teisco for a short time. Montgomery Ward's line was Airline. Most of their lines were made by Valco, but a few Dano amps were also built for Airline, most notably the Commando.
I'm really on the fence with what that 62 is. The reverb tank in it is wood, which I've never seen before, but the shape of it looks a lot like a Danelectro reverb tank. Those were finicky to say the least. Not the most reliable of reverbs. But as it's made of wood, it could either be a replacement, or maybe a Valco build I've never seen before.
Mark? Rick? Jim? Barley? Any thoughts?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Mar 20, 2014 1:24 PM
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rbeetsme
1513 posts
Mar 20, 2014
7:01 PM
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I have an early 60's twin 8 Airline, absolutely made by Dano. In fact, my early 50's Silvertone 2X12 looks identical in build to the 2X8 Airline. (On a smaller scale) Both are tone monsters. I've never met a Valco that didn't sound good with harp. Most 50's era and early 60's era Dano work well too. I currently own 5 vintage Dano made amps, sold/traded 2 Valcos last year. I was over to Mr. Valcos house this week. (www.Valco.com) He showed me a lot of Valco products, Airlines, Nationals, Gretsches and Supros. Some were Dano built, some Valco built.
Last Edited by rbeetsme on Mar 20, 2014 7:03 PM
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HawkeyeKane
2407 posts
Mar 21, 2014
8:37 AM
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Point of reference...the web address should be www.valcoamp.com
valco.com redirects to an electronic component company's website.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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