'60s Gibson Skylark | The Playing Test

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[@PsionicAudio]

Just spoke to the owner who watched the video. I’m taking the speaker to Halford tomorrow to find out if reconing is an option (not all speakers have the parts still available, but fingers crossed).

[@picksalot1]

Good decision by the owner to have the speaker examined. The possibility of significant damage to the Amp if the speaker were to suddenly die is compelling motivation.

[@lordgraga]

Curious: how could a re-cone fix it if the voice coil is the issue?

[@cedarbay3994]

Dude is acting like this Gibson is some kind of vintage holy grail. Just get a better speaker in there.

[@gamjammallota78]

If original parts are not available, just go with the proper size paper former {probably 3/4" ?} and same gauge/winds enameled wire. If that's a no-go, put a good speaker in and save the old one to be passed on in your will. Otherwise all the work so far could be for naught when/if it goes to short.

[@memphisscottrogers]

That amp IS the holy grail…for me. I’ve had just about one ☝️ f everything, and that’s the amp I love the most, especially since I do most of my playing at the house these days. I know Skylarks don’t look like much on paper, but THAT one (at least) has a magic!

[@75YBA]

The more I watch, the more I realize how much there is to know. Years ago, I almost took Egnater’s amp class North of Detroit. I may still try to get into a class if I can. I am definitely humbled by folks like you, Brad, Bruce, etc. All the best!

[@joachimdahl233]

i may too take a crash course in this

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I love your 335 combined with that amp. To my ears they sound great, very vintage in their tones.

[@garygratzer9670]

Wow what an improvement just that speaker made.

[@charlieoerter3213]

I have become obsessed with this channel, I especially appreciate the play lists so I can follow an amp from start to finish. Great job. Back in the late 60's I had a Univox U305R (18 watts, 15 inch speaker, reverb and tremolo). Considered finding one if possible and having it rebuilt for old times sake. But as the saying goes, just because it's old doesn't mean it's vintage.

[@jaysansing9244]

I love how these break up and the tremolo sounds fantastic. Would sound incredible with your proposed adjustments.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

Good point about the flatwounds.

[@richardlynch5632]

Liking that idea of Vox cut...👍 New soeaker/recone is a MUST...!!! Another cool experience in the vintage amp sounds/builds... Learn something new each video 😎👍😃❤🖖

[@derekclemons]

I absolutely love your hot rod approach to your craft. I’m not a purist in any form.

[@rob3568]

That little bit of Floyd with the fender sounded great

[@DavidMorley]

I love this era Gibson amp. The GA19 rvt falcon to be specific in my case.

[@mikecostello624]

I put a Jensen C10Q in mine after I did all the mods you did. Much better. Also use the tone control on the guitar to cut treble.

[@johnwilliamson467]

Wow since any one who has listen to a number of your video knows that's a bad speaker not the player . Would agree with a treble taper that sure is a lot more treble than I like . Much better with Lyle test cabinet still rather lacking in the mid bass rather thin glassy if you like . Enlightening video thanks Lyle. The history lesson about the strings give insightful understanding of the design in it time .

[@okayestguitar66]

I like the sound of the amp, even the trem circuit sounds great to me. The speaker, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. I hope it can get re-coned for the owner's sake, it would be nice to have it complete as shipped. That said, if I like an amp, regardless of age, improvement beats originality every day of the week. Great job, enjoyed the presentation.

[@yaanno]

Pretty sounding amp. I have a sweet spot for Gibsons :)

[@larrydering1598]

I had this amp in the 60s and later gave it to my dad. It stayed with him and after his passing it ended up with my brother, along with a Silvertone les paul copy of that era. It needs rebuild but he never will get it done

[@ramilrodriguez8340]

Hello. I’ve watch so many of your videos in a year that I feel I’ve gain years of experience without actually been working as an amp tech. I’ve learn a lot. Thank you. That said, I’ve been building tube amps for about four years. Seen this video and thinking about things I’ve seen and done I want to ask you something. What you think about that simple thing of putting a 47pf or 100pf from anode to cathode on power tube on a single ended amp or across the pi tube plates? It will take care of some of that very very top end frequencies on an amp like that,right? I know it has other purpose as well but what can you tell me about it? Thanks. Have a great one. Blessings.

[@deanboca12]

Prettiest 335 I have ever seen, Lyle!

[@trapperjohn8481]

I have 6 or 7 speakers from an old church organ from the mid to late 60s that look almost identical to those ones in the skylarks from that era. I had this same model Skylark and was able to compare them side by side. Almost perfect match minus the Gibson label.

[@me.roderick]

Subscribed. You deserve a fkn cape!

[@vadenk4433]

This era of skylarks sound great when healthy. The stock speakers are junk from my experience. But these have a great natural break up that is hard to beat for a practice or recording amp.

[@isacericsson7218]

Hey Lyle! What are your thoughts on the Peavey Delta blues with the 15" speaker? Im in the market for my first tube amp and ive only played on guitar-Sims in my 6 years of guitar (i know i know, i have sinned for way to long)

[@JamieStephens5309]

I have a '62 GA-5 and several other Gibson amps, the knobs look like this is a late '64 or '65. Great little amps.

[@PsionicAudio]

I didn’t find a date code anywhere. Might be on an inaccessible bit of the pots but I didn’t remove them.

[@BillySoundFarm]

What replacement speaker would you recommend for it? (I have the 10-in version)

[@drewsollars2239]

My 5 watt gibson has the original 8" Jensen, any thoughts on a jbl 208 as a replacement? It's a larger cab, looks like it would fit

[@TunaUnlimited]

Have the same amp - and always thought the high end was a bit harsh. Running it through a large cab 15" definitely tames it a bit. However - I swapped the speaker (temporarily) with a modern Jensen P10R and it had the same brightness issue. Call me crazy, but I think the cabinet has a lot to do with the sound - it's incredibly shallow!

[@tommyfoley]

I’ve resurrected two of these skylarks back from the dead. I put a bypass switch on the sprague tone network. It’s like a raw switch. The stock speaker suffers without the network. Some people like that sound though. Nevertheless, makes me think they put the network in to try and keep the stock speaker from farting out so bad.

[@pugforce8315]

Thinking of buying one of these instead of a new champ. Do you think buying a vintage one is worth the hassle?

[@jimmyjoefine]

Hey Lyle, I was wondering where do you get those cable glands? I would really prefer to use those instead of the old style Heyco strain reliefs.

[@PsionicAudio]

Merry early Christmas : www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/836-M3207

[@jimmyjoefine]

@@PsionicAudio Thanks!

[@gamjammallota78]

All respect for the owner's choice to stay original. Its original speaker did sound better when in the baffle but when those old paper formed VC's go, many times they go to dead short with smoke and flames sometimes included. My advice to the owner would be to replace the speaker, save the old one if he decides to sell it or he could even get the old one refurbished to original spec by a reputable speaker company/tech.

[@RS85851]

Just subbed. Any suggestions to find the schematic for this amp? Thanks

[@PsionicAudio]

I used Google. The trick with old Gibsons is to find the version that has the same tubes the one you have uses. Because they used the same model numbers for very different amps.

[@RS85851]

@@PsionicAudio Thank you

[@RS85851]

@@PsionicAudio I recently found an old pa amp from a bank teller window that had two amps circuits in one chassis. It has 2 6aq5, 2 12ax7, 6x4 rectifier. The PT should have plenty of power but I will need to purchase a new OT (may use hammond 125H). I want to build a GA-5t like this video. Any thoughts or suggestions? If I only use a single input would I need to lower the 100k ohm resistor to something closer to 50k? Thanks

[@martinreid1740]

That was a nice honest review and an excellent restoration, but that speaker is not really that good to my ears. Keep up the good work.

[@maxpeck4154]

Totally subjective of course, but I like a bright amp. Regardless of the tone complement you can always roll the tone down on the guitar and dial it out a bit. It's tough to dial IN high end with a dark amp, however. Give me a Tele through a Vox brilliant/top boost channel any day.

[@michaeldaffern7815]

Interesting. I can imagine the stock speaker recorded as an effect, guitar part. The strings comment holds so much weight.

[@jerryfraker377]

Are you in Michigan by any chance?

[@PsionicAudio]

Memphis

[@jerryfraker377]

@@PsionicAudio Memphis Michigan or Tennessee?

[@jerryfraker377]

I see were your at now sir. There is a Memphis Michigan about 20 some miles from me was hoping you were there. Looking forward to your videos and Sunday chats.

[@PsionicAudio]

The real Memphis. ;)

[@stevehead365]

@@PsionicAudio Egypt?

[@asambatyon]

I find funny that the skylark were consider basically garbage until Rhetll Shull made that video declaring his love for them. Their prices more than tripled in Reverb afterwards

[@memphisscottrogers]

I’ve had and loved this amp for nearly 20 years, and I don’t know who Rhett Shull is. I don’t know if that’s funny or not.

[@gringopig]

If the owner wants it like that then so be it but it sounds terrible with that speaker. Even a Katana would sound better.

[@stringlocker]

It seems like an actor watching a movie. Do you ever just enjoy the sound of the amp or are you mostly analyzing. Which I guess would be normal. That's a friendly question.

[@PsionicAudio]

When I’m done with an amp, yes. And sometimes I know that’s when I’m done - when I can just enjoy playing and not analyze the sound. But that is a big part of this job.

[@stringlocker]

Of course. I was just thinking it might be a distraction. I had a chance at being able to do what you do my dad was a TV repairman.He tried to teach me but I was kind of a knucklehead. You do a great job thanks.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

Oooof, bit of furr around those bass notes. Would be so good to change that speaker. *sigh, originality.