Doug and Pat Show on The Gibson GA40 Les Paul amplifiers.

Doug and Pat take on the iconic Gibson amp from the 1950's, the GA40 Les Paul amplifier. Four versions from 1952 through 1961 get a workout with Oscar the '58 Goldtop and an Eric Johnson Strat. Lots of drama, information and even a little time travel. Does it get any better?

[@chrislestermusic]

I have a mid 50s second series GA40 and it is a sweet amp. I found it at our town recycling center. Quite a score.

[@cgavin1]

Doug and Pat are great. We all just get older but they stay the same.

[@budgetguitarist]

This video might be the best example of why I love KZbin.

[@josephmorris8620]

It's midnight in Missouri and I'm watching two hippies use sword canes to travel back in time to look at old amplifiers. These two gentlemen are the internet.

[@wardcheryldarcie]

Well I'm a few months short of 50 and i just discovered your channel. Love it!!!! will be watching all of them. Excellent work guys.

[@davidrussell8918]

All of them sound great, that 1958 one really sings.

[@thomassmith7608]

Thanks especially for this particular show, Doug and Pat. :) I've been wondering for years what model of Gibson amplifier my late-brother played in the late 1960s/early 1970s. I remember the amp's appearance because of its distinctive three-tone design, with slanted Gibson logo on the front...This video unveils the answer to my question: My brother played a Generation III GA-40, the one with the black cap over tweed and the ox-blood grille cloth. He also played a 1959 ES-175, single-humbucker...which is another story altogether. lol Thanks for the nifty info. ---Thomas

[@mattoo31287]

You asked who was watching that's under 30, i'm 29 and very much enjoy you guys show and all of the information. Keep it up!

[@unhingedsoulcollector8501]

Awsome demos!! Just scored a 54 GA-40 chassis. Cab is long gone. Original iron. My amp guy was ready to kill me a couple hours into working on it! Apparently not a lot of great schematics on this particular version of this amp not to mention almost 70 years worth of various people's hands in there doing work here and there made it a little more difficult to see what was right and what was wrong with it. It turned out phenomenal in the end and that mic channel absolutely kills. It has a three-way vibrato switch. All three settings are very unique much like the brown face Fender vibrato. Incredible sounding app that just completely captures that 50s rock and roll tone. I'm so addicted to playing through this thing. I made a cab out of pine and copied a ga77 cabinet size, installed a Jensen 1956 P-15Q smooth cone. 😁

[@GertjanRoossien]

I have wached this 4 the who knows third time maybe and I must say ......you are my guys and I love this kind of guitar talking go on and I enjoy you boys!!!! Yes about age???? I an 56!!!!! everyday guitar dude!!!!

[@ericjohnholland]

I'm 34 and love your show guys! I don't own a lot of vintage gear yet, but will some day. I have my mom's old all original Airline/Valco 62-9022A 5W amp (Champ clone) from the 60's and the electric that came with it. Not super valuable but fun to play.

[@macgrory]

Another great show guys. Those amps are fantastic! I live in Scotland, and I've never set eyes on a Gibson amp. I can't believe these amps are not in current production, they sound amazing. I'm not a big strat fan, but that Johnson sounded superb as well. Keep up the great work, one day your audience will be in the milions!

[@keiranbradley3222]

Hey Doug n Pat , Man that is one SWEET Goldie, has to be one of the best LP's I've ever heard, thanks, Peace.

[@bryanmannoia8410]

I just bought a 1962 Gibson ga20t thanks to this video. wow, is all I can say. tone monster. thanks guys.

[@chrislestermusic]

That 58 for me is the hands down winner. Man, great bite on that guitar.

[@Tonetwisters]

Dang. What a great sounding amp. It handles the bottom strings distortion without going down into the mud of the earth. GREAT trem! (That version before the tweed)

[@charleslambiase5670]

I am a bass playerand I mostly play Gibson basses a different incarnations and I use them as player instruments not just thumpersI use Fender amps I use vintage Marshall amps and I use special therefore fication systems to bring out the best that I piece together for these old Gibson basses you guys are ticket you guys are the ones that I love watching and hanging out with literally hanging out with you guys especially going back in time with that magic dust keep them coming ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@awwwyeaboyeeee]

Thanks for the video, guys! I just got a new amp that is modeled after a GA40/AC15 so it's great to hear how they compare.

[@FrankZappaFurter]

Hey guys! Killer video. I'm 44 and run a small studio in Atlanta, Ga so I collect amps that have something different and special to them and that 1st gen Ga-40 in the Mic input was truly special...especially with a little Pat Benetar bleeding through ;) The look on your face was priceless when you started playing through this input and made me had to have one! So thanks for making my wallet lighter =] Great job guys!

[@wardackerman]

There's also the GA-45T accordion amplifier which is actually just a GA40 with four 8 inch speakers instead of the one 12 inch, the tone split into bass and treble, and different values on the input resistors. Got one at an estate sale and modded it to the GA40 specs and its great!

[@dedstar123]

Hi Doug and Pat, It is pretty cool post. I like old amps. Great sound. I'm about your age. Thank you very much. Enjoyed it. Best regards from Moscow my friends, Dedstar

[@swrbassamp]

This was very nice, I only wish you'd try these amps with some hollow body guitars for a change, I'd really like hearing what would something like a Jimmy Reed Thin Twin Silvertone or a Gretsch Rally sound like on these amps...

[@abubakr6939]

swrbassamp or an es 335/345/355 heavily overdriven through it!

[@southerner66]

The big difference between the 2nd and 3rd versions in terms of apparent gain is the input resistor setup. On the 2nd version, the signal from the guitar is actually padded down a little before it gets to the 5879 tube, probably to keep you from being able to overdrive it since overdrive/distortion was "bad" in the 1950s. In the 3rd version, the guitar signal is fed pretty much straight into the 5879. So there isn't really more gain. It's just that you get a hotter guitar signal into the preamp in the 3rd version. AFAIK, the 3rd and 4th versions are electronically the same, just in different cabinets.

[@chadhudson2046]

I’m glad I’m not the only person who has a bunch of cables stored in a Halliburton suitcase.

[@SuperCarver2011]

I got that book. From what I remember the first series were assembled in Chicago. CMI was the parent owner of Gibson Kalamazoo. Gibson didn't start manufacturing amps in Kalamazoo until much later when Seth Lover and ( Walt Fuller) formed the electronic dept and manufacturing began. The Gibson amps were pretty good with their mellow tone but never competed successfully with Fender amps. So after a few years Gibson decided to discontinue their amp line. Good or bad decision..it's all part of history now. Go back in time..yes..I would like to do that too!

[@abeanx]

Wow them amps all sounded really great. Looking forward to the practice amp video you guys are making! Also I'm 25 and love everything u guys post. Really want one of these amps now lol

[@russianbot2397]

I have the last one. 1962 Les Paul Crestline. So obscure that im afraid to recap it and put in a three prong. How much could it be worth? It's minty. Still have the cover and the original Gibson tubes.

[@n2space4u]

Great channel! Thanks for sharing and entertaining us. Cheers from Bandon, Or

[@memygtar]

Any chance of doing some demos of other 50s/60s amps? Silver tone, valco, supro, Danelectro etc? See how they compare to the Gibsons?

[@tonebender69]

Loved it!!!! Being into vintage gear makes you kind of a tone guru! But I would have never heard of the GA-40 if it wasn't for your excellent demo! I guess Marshall, Fender, Vox get most of the attention. Thanks, and keep it coming!!!

[@toddhobbs2053]

Have you ever played through the GA-77? 15" speaker with 2x6L6 (or 5881) power tubes.

[@jerryyeaaah15]

Fender with gibson amp and Gibson with fender amps are crazy good pairs

[@stevesalisbury8206]

The amps sound great.

[@Backcountryhunter]

IDK but I think it’s clear w/ Pat and that dam suitcase of cords and the trouble it’s giving him that his brain is clearly fried ; my guess would be the “Brown Acid”he ate at Woodstock when he was a “Roadie” for Richie Havens. I think we all owe Pat a big hand for the way he treats this Rainman with so much love and affection. It’s now apparent why there is such a terribly long wait for us viewers between videos!!!! Keep up the good work Doug, the Lord looks favorably upon his brothers keeper

[@outerloop]

When you go back in time next, could you guys bring me back some of them there P.A.F PICKUPS? ;)

[@jadefire1985]

Awesome show as they all have been.why some other "guitar reviewers" t*** k*** comes to mind get tens of thousands of views you two should have millions but there's no justice.keep it up guys

[@crosstownbluesable]

Something sounds off in the Version 1 amp, it sounds a bit woofy. Perhaps it's the speaker. My '54 GA-40 sounds more like the Version 2 amp, though it's completely stock to the schematic. Great sounding amps!

[@nycLPplayer]

The tonez from that "Burst" pedal are insane....must be the "set cord" that does it

[@mintmint-lt3jr]

Thank you for this great review. What channel is the Stratocaster playing through? I doubt I'll be able find one of these used so I'll have to build one.

[@sangandongo]

Man, I have a '63 Crestline GA-40T. Same circuit plus trem.

[@oneida41859]

You guys rock ! Thanks , I learn a lot from watching.

[@josephfemoyer7218]

“Oscar” is certainly no Meyer

[@ebookpioneers]

I believe that 1961 model is actually called the GA-40T, no? The "T" is either for Tremolo or Tweed. I was never sure which. The GA-20T was equally great at about 15 watts.

[@DFraserHomes]

+Charles Seper This is correct. The T probably stands for tremolo since that's the difference between the GA20 and the GA20T, the GA20T model has the 5879 tube in the tremolo circuit as does the GA40 in both channels. Way cool amps and fun to play through especially in multiples. D&P

[@kjchicago1]

Very Interesting Gibson Amps-You can find these on Ebay(Buy them there, too)

[@bryanmannoia8410]

these amps sound great as well as loud. do they put out enough volume to use in a band/corner bar situation? thanks guys, great video.

[@ahiwalter9153]

idk if you’re still wondering but the answer is YES

[@daijones101]

I owned a version 3 which I wish I still had. I thought version one sounded best out of this lot

[@ZDALI14]

I own a Gibson scout which I payed 400$, can y'all tell me some more info on it. I believe they also call it GA 17 RVT

[@Tonetwisters]

I'm over 70, BTW, with 58 years of guitar playing in my sordid past ...

[@DFraserHomes]

Sounds great. Ever play in a funky bar somewhere in your past where it was so rough that how well you played your guitar had a direct bearing on your physical well being? We have. Love to hear from guys that have been playing awhile (and guys that haven't). D&P

[@darinstrauss]

Great vid. is there enough volume to have headroom when you play with a drummer? thanks!

[@DFraserHomes]

Well, that is always going to depend on the drummer and stage volume. The amplifiers are about the volume equivalent of the similar year tweed Fender Deluxe with 1x12 speaker. The later versions of the GA40, about 1957 and on were a bit louder maybe because of the change to small pre amp tubes like the 12AX7. Doug has used one of his GA40's on stage in different situations and for larger stages it needed to have a mic on it. These days you can hear bands playing in clubs at much lower levels and a GA40 would cut it. When in doubt bring two. D&P

[@darinstrauss]

@@DFraserHomes thanks guys. I just -- thanks to you and this video -- went out and bought a 1960 GA-45T, which essentially is a GA-40 with bass and treble tone controls and a different speaker configuration -- 4x8 speakers. Very excited for it. Thanks again

[@richiehall4207]

The early ones were point to point, and mid and later ones used an eyelet board inside.

[@SuperCarver2011]

I am waiting for the "pickup exchange thing" show.....tech specs guys please.

[@SuperCarver2011]

Classics! That GA40 does sound sweet..maybe the AlNiCo speaker magnet makes that difference over the harsher sound of the ceramic magnet speakers. Just like guitar pickups..ceramic sound is just that. I think Pat should put down that rats nest cord case and smoke his pipe instead. When I started working in a Toronto recording studio, the manager would have shot me for putting away Neuman mic cords that way.

[@gusdupree9076]

SuperCarver2011 when you are another man's slave expect to be treated like one

[@brandoncaporale1242]

I was just passed down one of these amps. Unsure if it is the second or third series because it is pretty beat up and the darker panel that says gibson on the front has come off. I would love to use it but it seems a bit "unsafe" as the power cord is showing wires and electrical taped and ungrounded. It also seems to cut in and out every once in a while a gets very hot. Anybody have any recommendations or how much it may cost me to have it fixed up?

[@DFraserHomes]

+Brandon Caporale This is going to depend on the tech working on it in your town and what else, if anything might be wrong with it. We don't mess around with potential high voltage amps having something wrong, we take them to our tech immediately. Our guy is Sour Sound in Portland who knows this stuff, uses only top quality components and doesn't try to make an old circuit better. The most we have paid for a good tuning up, replaced cords and caps if needed is about $250. Hope that helps. D & P

[@SuperCarver2011]

+Brandon Caporale ; Need to know what model it is. Most Gibson amps of that vintage are worth saving as they say "they aint making these anymore' I fixed up a Gibson amp (12 inch speaker) by replacing the solid state rectifier bridge and filter cap. Sounded as good after as the day it left the factory many years ago.

[@mattmiller5215]

My brother just found one in an attic the cab looks like an old custom rebuild but the electronics and footswitch is there tryin to figure what year it is....ant help out there?

[@DFraserHomes]

Send us a photo to our email of the control panel and serial number and we'll tell you what it is. D&P

[@loganhpatton]

What kind of clean headroom do these amps have?

[@huskvarsm]

lol lol lol great irwin allen "time tunnel" effects very cool its a shame you havent got the original chick that worked the computer i think she was catwoman too in the batman series anyhoo great fun guys.

[@mikejamieson6802]

How are the reissue hand wired ones? The GA40 rvt ... anyone?

[@Murry_in_Arizona]

what's with the first amp picking up radio?

[@holmes1978]

Please do the Fender Champ Tweed 1957 amp Please

[@davidfellows6250]

Im not a strat guy but that though the 58 is giving me a little wooddy

[@hennydoornekamp8875]

im just watching and thinking,.. Why the hell isnt this for sale in a shop near me..

[@rockanthems]

Strat sounds best with the last one 1961

[@keiranbradley3222]

I think an idea for a good show would be for you guys' to put Oscar & that 1960 standard thru an el'cheapo bog standard transistor amp to hear how those beauties' sound thru it !!, i'm sure you guys' know how subjective "tone" is so that would be an interesting show,,,,,,,,,if yous' ever get around to making any more shows that is ?, Thanks, Peace.

[@josephfemoyer7218]

Lol,lol,lol,lmao.best channel on KZbin!

[@earfors]

Great! #Aspen Pittman.

[@donrutter6765]

That first amp has a breakup, and not in a good way. Almost like a bad input signal, so maybe its a bad cap or bad preamp tube. I've had solid state amps that sounded more musical than that.

[@js312raf]

32 y.o. (35 now).

[@littlejon64]

Start posting more video I am not getting any younger

[@joeltunnah]

I have a '56 GA-6, which I completely rebuilt. Other than the solid wood cabinet, the construction quality is pretty cheapo. The factory wiring is embarrassingly bad, and the circuit has lots of things I would never do in a design.

[@dezionlion]

Gibson designed em bright so you had to use a Gibson