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GIbson GA 50 Jim Hall/Johnny Smith amp ANY CLONES?
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Charlie X
Aug 20, 2010, 1:06:17 PM8/20/10
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Hi..i just had the great pleasure to play a near mint Gibson GA 50
that was not for sale. THe tone was to die for, however, it did not
have the headroom needed for todays gigging situations.
that was not for sale. THe tone was to die for, however, it did not
have the headroom needed for todays gigging situations.
Does anyone out there know someone who is cloning these amps? Thanks
in advance!
george4908
Aug 20, 2010, 1:55:44 PM8/20/10
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Some info here:
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/classic-amps-806/
Victoria Amps are mentioned at the end as having an amp similar to the
GA-40.
Tim McNamara
Aug 20, 2010, 3:22:25 PM8/20/10
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In article
<07400bf1-6110-4ca6...@j18g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>,
george4908 <georg...@aol.com> wrote:
<07400bf1-6110-4ca6...@j18g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>,
george4908 <georg...@aol.com> wrote:
> Some info here:
>
> http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/classic-amps-806/
Great link, thanks for that.
> Victoria Amps are mentioned at the end as having an amp similar to the
> GA-40.
The GA-50 schematic is available and one could clone the circuit from
that, more or less.
--
That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, Bingo.
ghoe...@gmail.com
Apr 17, 2014, 4:18:58 PM4/17/14
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I have the real macoy for sale, and a ES 175 1957 GIBSON
Regards
Charles
Joe Montgomery
Apr 17, 2014, 7:01:41 PM4/17/14
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http://stores.soundislandmusic.com/sequel-tribute/
Michael is wonderful to deal with...the Sequel gets used by some of the best jazz guitarists that ever play the Seattle Area...
Good Luck,
jm
thomas
Apr 17, 2014, 10:00:39 PM4/17/14
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Tim McNamara
Apr 18, 2014, 12:27:34 AM4/18/14
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> That's crazy money for an amp.
Agreed. Jim Hall's GA-50 went up for auction on eBay a few years back
and you could have damn near bought that one for that much (not really,
ISTR it went for a fairly wild amount of money).
There are a lot of modern versions of Fender tweed amps that will get
very similar tone for a lot less money, even kits one can build. I
built a tweed Deluxe kit by Mission Amps and if I can do that, so can
most people. It's very possible to get something like this for under a
grand and some sweat equity. Bruce's 5E3 kit is top notch stuff.
The schematics for the GA-50 are available on the internets, including
Gibson's site, so one could readily have an amp guy build one. Lord
Valve could probably whip one up for you...
van
Apr 18, 2014, 3:30:48 PM4/18/14
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KCR played an old record he made where for some reason, the treble was turned up. He sounded horrible.
Tim McNamara
Apr 19, 2014, 1:39:47 PM4/19/14
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On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:30:48 -0700 (PDT), van <sg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I saw JH live when he still used that amp. It was a magic type of
> bassy, yet crisp attack type of sound. KCR played an old record he
> made where for some reason, the treble was turned up. He sounded
> horrible.
One can get pretty close to that tone with a tweed Deluxe.
>
> I saw JH live when he still used that amp. It was a magic type of
> bassy, yet crisp attack type of sound. KCR played an old record he
> made where for some reason, the treble was turned up. He sounded
> horrible.
Lord Valve
Apr 19, 2014, 10:06:24 PM4/19/14
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My current top model is $2650; 15" spkr, 36 watts with a
switch to go to 12 watts, reverb. (No trem - I hate it. ;-)
Kicks more ass than Jackie Chan - worth every nickel.
Check it out -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8mQB3-tmMk
Mitch has it set really dark, the way he likes it; it'll
do Nashville twang, too. At $2650, I get paid
about $20/hr to build one. I ain't gettin' rich, but
I really enjoy building them.
Lord Valve
Amp Craftsman
Lord Valve
Apr 19, 2014, 10:13:16 PM4/19/14
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Right now, I'm doing three JTM-45s in various configurations -
a 212 ("Bluesbreaker"), a 112 (not sure if Marshall ever made
that one...) and a head. They're simple - kind of fun, since they
don't have that fancy 10-gauge ground buss and all those
isolated connectors my own line has. Not a jazz amp, though.
Lord Valve
Amp Dood
thomas
Apr 20, 2014, 10:04:48 AM4/20/14
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On Saturday, April 19, 2014 10:06:24 PM UTC-4, Lord Valve wrote:
>
> ...but you wouldn't bat an eye at $5K+ for a guitar, right?
My favorite electrics are a couple of 1990s Peaveys I got on Ebay for around $200 each.
>
> ...but you wouldn't bat an eye at $5K+ for a guitar, right?
> At $2650, I get paid about $20/hr to build one.
Boethius
May 9, 2014, 12:54:19 AM5/9/14
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On Saturday, April 19, 2014 10:39:47 AM UTC-7, Tim McNamara wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:30:48 -0700 (PDT), van <sg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> One can get pretty close to that tone with a tweed Deluxe.
I dunno, the old Gibson amps from that era typically used a 6SJ7 pentode as the first tube and they have a sound of their own IMHO. I currently have three of them..a real BR-6F and clones of a GA-9 and a GA-20...FWIW I built the GA-20 from an old PA from the early '50's and am thinking about reworking it as a GA-50 as it originally had a very similar tube lineup.
> On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:30:48 -0700 (PDT), van <sg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> One can get pretty close to that tone with a tweed Deluxe.
smm...@yahoo.com
Jan 9, 2015, 9:01:54 PM1/9/15
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The Sequel produces absolutely beautiful sound.
Tim McNamara
Jan 11, 2015, 1:16:25 AM1/11/15
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On Fri, 9 Jan 2015 18:01:51 -0800 (PST), smm...@yahoo.com
<smm...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The Sequel produces absolutely beautiful sound.
Beautiful looking amps, jeez. But I've paid less for cars than that.
<smm...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The Sequel produces absolutely beautiful sound.
Yikes! However, if they'd make me sound like Jim Hall in the 50s the
price would be cheap!
dunlop212
Jan 27, 2015, 1:23:39 PM1/27/15
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http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xfender+excelsior&_nkw=fender+excelsior&_sacat=0
thomas
Jan 27, 2015, 4:49:13 PM1/27/15
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On Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 1:23:39 PM UTC-5, dunlop212 wrote:
>
> I have never played one, but the Fender Excelsior is supposed to be not very fender sounding. Definitely has the look (especially the brown ones), and the headroom, I think (15 inch speaker). Has a tone switch, rather than a control, which would be easy to modify if you did not like it. No reverb>.
Here's the schematic:
>
> I have never played one, but the Fender Excelsior is supposed to be not very fender sounding. Definitely has the look (especially the brown ones), and the headroom, I think (15 inch speaker). Has a tone switch, rather than a control, which would be easy to modify if you did not like it. No reverb>.
http://ampgarage.com/forum/files/pawnshop_excelsior_schematic_149.pdf
Just from a quick peek, I would guess it leans more Fenderish than old Gibsonish.
dunlop212
Jan 28, 2015, 11:07:27 AM1/28/15
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> Here's the schematic:
> http://ampgarage.com/forum/files/pawnshop_excelsior_schematic_149.pdf
> Just from a quick peek, I would guess it leans more Fenderish than old Gibsonish.
Lots of information on excelsiors here (the design seems to draw hotrodders):
http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=1203
Unfortunately, the one in the cool color has the less desirable speaker.
There is one other intersting site to look at:
http://www.vintage47amps.com/
"period correct Valco style amplifier replication ... Dedicated to the preservation of the Valco circa 1947 octal tube tone amplifier designs"
Pricing looks better than many booteeks, but four figures for sure to get any headroom.
Once again, not precisely a GA-50, although an octal tube circuit gets you close, I think.
rpjazzguitar
Jan 28, 2015, 4:02:50 PM1/28/15
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I found a working GA50 on ebay for $700. A "dead" one for $500. The dead one had a corroded power cord so it couldn't be turned on. I'd shy away from that one. Corrosion might imply water damage.
The old Fenders sell at a premium, but other hand wired amps from that era, by other companies, sell for way less than the modern recreations.
Mostly, they aren't hard to fix, except maybe if you need a transformer, that could be a little pricy.
The main problem with an old one is that they may start getting unreliable as parts, especially, caps age, as everything loosens up a little bit and as badly done repairs mount up over time. No matter who does the work, the chances are excellent that the next tech will tell you he did a poor job.
The old Fenders sell at a premium, but other hand wired amps from that era, by other companies, sell for way less than the modern recreations.
Mostly, they aren't hard to fix, except maybe if you need a transformer, that could be a little pricy.
The main problem with an old one is that they may start getting unreliable as parts, especially, caps age, as everything loosens up a little bit and as badly done repairs mount up over time. No matter who does the work, the chances are excellent that the next tech will tell you he did a poor job.
David J. Littleboy
Jan 28, 2015, 7:41:52 PM1/28/15
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"rpjazzguitar" wrote:
>The main problem with an old one is that they may start getting unreliable
>as parts, especially, caps age, as everything loosens up a little bit and
>as badly done repairs mount up over time. No matter who does the work, the
>chances are excellent that the next tech will tell you he did a poor job.
I am soooooooooooooooo glad I don't have GAS for tube amps.
>The main problem with an old one is that they may start getting unreliable
>as parts, especially, caps age, as everything loosens up a little bit and
>as badly done repairs mount up over time. No matter who does the work, the
>chances are excellent that the next tech will tell you he did a poor job.
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
rpjazzguitar
Jan 28, 2015, 10:25:32 PM1/28/15
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On the positive side, my first amp, which I bought new in 1964 is currently working, most of the time, and sounds like a chorus of angels.
The problem is that there's still some intermittent problem that surfaces now and then in the reverb circuit. I can't track it down because it only happens infrequently. But, I can't rely on it. It's the amp I use for rehearsals where there's a spare nearby.
It's a 64 Ampeg Reverberocket. This thing was built like a tank. But caps age, and the mechanical strength of the repairs isn't like the original assembly, and the pots may have gotten dirty etc etc. I do assume that every time I get something fixed, the tech may break something else.
The problem is that there's still some intermittent problem that surfaces now and then in the reverb circuit. I can't track it down because it only happens infrequently. But, I can't rely on it. It's the amp I use for rehearsals where there's a spare nearby.
It's a 64 Ampeg Reverberocket. This thing was built like a tank. But caps age, and the mechanical strength of the repairs isn't like the original assembly, and the pots may have gotten dirty etc etc. I do assume that every time I get something fixed, the tech may break something else.
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