BTR#02 1963 Gibson GA-19-RVT Falcon Amp + 1954-1955 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top: Mike Bloomfield's Gear

We are lucky to explore an original vintage 1963 Gibson GA-19-RVT "Falcon" in mint conditions. This was exactly the same model of amplifier used by the great Mike Bloomfield in the groundbreaking album of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, "East-West" dated 1966. Bloomfield at the time played a 1954-1955 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top; we wanted to homage him.
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FAIR USE DISCLAIMER: This video may involve transformative use of short excerpts or samples of copirighted material, strictly and solely intended for research or informational, educational, commentary, and criticism purposes.

[@hermannmaier0]

I've got a 63. Has weber 12a125a. Had it for about 20 yrs. Love it. Great vid. Thanks.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for your kind words and tips Hermann! I played with the Falcon yesterday and I must say that the Jensen Alnico P12N sounds amazing too: balanced, warm but still with a generous amount of headroom and power. Please feel free to subscribe the channel to keep in touch!

[@AlexPriceMusician]

Great video Bob, and awesome playing. Do you have some samples of the amp played clean with no effect pedals? Would love to hear it.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for your kind words and feedback Alex! I don't have those samples at the moment, but I'm sure I will show again the great Falcon amp on my channel. Also more awesome vintage amplifiers are coming soon!

[@PeteyHop]

I have a 1963 Gibson Hawk, a 1963 Gibson Invader, and a 1963 Epiphone Zephyr. So what you're telling me is now I need a 1963 Gibson Falcon too. Got it!😂

[@BobsToneReview]

Ha! Ha! Congratulations on your great collection PeteyHop, I'm glad I contributed to your decision.

[@liviaontheroad]

damn, that' s a great combo! what an intense sound. Thanks Bob' s Tone Review, really great info...what' s next?

[@antoniogambacorta8217]

I really love It. Wonderful ❤️

[@adampapalios6326]

Fantastic licks! 🤘🤘🤘

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you Adam, you are very kind! Please feel free to browse among the other content of the channel and to subscribe to keep in touch!

[@scootergreen3]

Bob's Tone Review Hi, on my 1964 Gibson discoverer GA-8T amp and what looks like the footswitch cord for the tremolo has been cut off. Most of the cord is there, it comes out of the transformer. The cord has two wires. Are these connected to AC current? Is this dangerous, I don't want to turn amp on until I take it to music store to look at however seller told me he tried amp out before selling to me. He didn't disclose this to me about cut off wire.

[@BobsToneReview]

Hello Michael, best wishes on your "new" Gibson amp! The footswitch cord is definitely not connected to AC current.... but it should not come out of a transformer either. It seems a wise idea to let an expert technician figure out what's going on.

[@scootergreen3]

Thanks Bob, I looked again, I was mistaken, it's coming out of the back of metal amp case. Thanks. I subscribed.

[@BobsToneReview]

@@scootergreen3 great to have you on board! Please feel free to browse among the other content of the channel, new episode out in a couple of days!

[@scootergreen3]

@@BobsToneReview Oh great I will.

[@scootergreen3]

Bob's Tone Review, I can't afford a Falcon yet but I bought a Gibson GA-8T Discoverer, it has an Echo speaker jack and a Monitor jack, do you know what those are for?

[@therover4428]

...e complimenti anche per le mani... bel tocco!

[@BobsToneReview]

Grazie Rover! Spero che ti piacciano anche i prossimi episodi, resta sintonizzato : )

[@GIBKEL]

What speaker came with yours and did you keep it. I’m toying around with a maganavox P-232 . The ceramic it came with is so-so but the maganavox gives it a bit more headroom and lushness with verb and trem. Brilliant guitar and playing! Thinking of picking up a Scout from same era 63’-65’. Got my eye in one.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for the kind words Pre War! The original speaker is a Jensen C-12R dated 1962, ceramic magnet, very sweet sounding. I also put a Jensen P-12N reissue with Alnico magnet in it to gain more power, headroom and bass but of course I carefully stored the original. Please feel free to subscribe the channel to keep in touch!

[@GIBKEL]

@@BobsToneReview will do-love your content-right in my wheelhouse as they say. If you ever get curious, try one of those Magnavox P-232. A higher powered alnico speaker. There is a smaller ceramic version with the same code-that’s the only thing to watch out for. It’s a giant chunk of alnico with 1.5 or 1.75 voice coil.,..can’t remember but easily found. I think I’m going to try a 15” version some day. I think it’s what evolved into the the Jensen P12N. Same designer who went to work for Jensen in the 50’s. It pushes some air while retaining the character of the circuit. Stay well and safe. Just had a bad brush with the covid.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you so much for this precious information and advice@@GIBKEL, I'll grab one when I have the chance. Have a prompt and complete health recovery, be well!

[@hermannmaier0]

try a weber 12a125a. As weber site states, very reedy, wood tones. I have same amp with that speaker...both 20w and 30w sound good. 20w breaks up sooner, but has higher voice. I'm favoring 30w and use dirtier pickups if I desire.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for the tips@@hermannmaier0 , I played with it yesterday and I must say that the Jensen Alnico P12N sounds amazing too: balanced, warm but still with a generous amount of headroom and power. Please feel free to subscribe the channel to keep in touch!

[@scootergreen3]

How much does this weigh?

[@BobsToneReview]

I didn't measure the weight. With its original C12R Jensen Speaker and without the heavy step-down transformer for European Voltage, it's definitely lightweight and easily transportable.

[@scootergreen3]

@@BobsToneReview Thank you Bob.

[@BobsToneReview]

@@scootergreen3 You are welcome!

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍🇺🇸❤

[@agusg.t.8950]

Please, show us you ac30💪🏻

[@BobsToneReview]

ih! ih!... Will do! : )

[@BobsToneReview]

So I finally did Agus, check out the last video, just uploaded for you : )

[@erksin]

Just for your info, that amp is nowhere mint condition - as it's been re-covered in black covering, and not a covering that Gibson was using, ever. And, it's got the 1964 cabinet with the more recessed chassis mount. So, it's likely this was a '64 Falcon that's had quite a lot of work done to it. Great sound though!

[@BobsToneReview]

Hi Erksin, thank you for your interest and comment. If you just google "1963 Gibson Falcon Amplifier", you'll see similar amplifiers with exactly the same black tolex covering with that typical, distinctive texture: here's another very nice example: reverb.com/au/item/3141634-1963-gibson-ga-19rvt-falcon-restored-and-better-than-new#full Also I can definitely confirm that the amplifier is in dead mint conditions (as clearly shown in the video) as it belonged to a close friend of mine for MANY years. Older (or newer) Gibson amplifiers of course had different coverings.

[@erksin]

@@BobsToneReview nope - the only ones that came with black covering were the ones made in 1965. I have two 1963 Falcons myself - they have shallower chassis mounts, and are in the traditional brown covering used from 1963-1964. I've owned several Falcons, have friends with examples from every year these were made in the Crestline configuration and no 1963s exist with that covering or chassis depth.

[@erksin]

@@BobsToneReview clicked on your link - the Falcon in that ad is a '64 with the traditional Indian Brown covering. In the video at the end of the pictures list, you can see there are two black covered Falcons from 1965 with the light grille cloth. Your amp is a '64 and has been recovered.

[@erksin]

This is one of my two 1963 Falcons - note the depth at which the chassis sits in the top of the cabinet. It's shallower than your amp. This is indicative of the 1962-63 Falcon cabs. It's also covered in the correct covering: i.imgur.com/EuzKfVh.jpg

[@erksin]

And this was my early 1964 Falcon - you can see how much deeper set the chassis is into the top of the cabinet: i.imgur.com/NNwdpD4.jpg?1

[@markcooper9063]

I have a 60 and 62 falcon and it sounds great with any of my guitars and zero effects I don't get the applying shit bloomfield wouldn't have had .great guitar gray amp now let's put some shit in between not.

[@BobsToneReview]

That's a brilliant amplifier Mark. "Shit in between not"..., please help me to understand what you mean, I would be happy to give you an answer.

[@captainamerica9353]

Mark Cooper, you are a rude idiot. I seriously doubt you could do any better.

[@thejcquartet6943]

Take the effects off so we can hear the amp!

[@BobsToneReview]

I think it's a matter of different "schools of thought", so to say. Of course I much respect your point of view and I myself often use to record the sound of a guitar plugged straight into an amp. Nevertheless I'm used to test any piece of gear in a complete setup, with sounds that are more "ductle" and useable in a live gig or recording, provided of course that you are using transparent, light and non-invasive effects. In the video, the effects are not massive and are carefully used with different degrees of boost/overdrive/distortion, which should give an idea. If you feel like doing so, just check out the sound in the amp reviews I'm publishing in the next episodes; you'll notice how each behave with its own distinct "personality".

[@thejcquartet6943]

Bob's Tone Review O.K., but your 'complete set-up' is totally subjective, as is what is 'useable'. Anyone can buy a modern effect, but your amp is nice, and very rare, so demonstrate the amp on it's own. But if you intend to do this in the future then fine. Also, your effects may have been subtle, but who is to know that? Even if I was demonstrating a modern amp like my Cornell, I would never put effects in front. All the best.

[@Tonetwisters]

Sure would have liked to hear it without all that reverb.