Gibson G40 Solid State Guitar Amplifier Is it Worth Fixing?

[@MichaelSmith-rn1qw]

I'm glad you have decided to repair it, and look forward to a future video as the work progresses.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Michael, thank you. It's worth repairing and should make a nice amp. The parts are on order and i am trying to find a speaker for it. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@williamstamper2158]

I own a Epiphone EA 600 RVT "Maxima" amp and it has alot of issues and being a self taught electronics repair enthusiast I look to KZbin videos on troubleshooting, so this video is extremely helpful. I barely found few videos on solid state guitar amp repair, especially Epiphone EA Amplifiers repair videos. Maybe 3 videos exist on the subject and no video about ea 600 RVT Maxima Repair.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello William. Just had to look that one up. Looks a nice old amp. There is a Facebook group for solid state guitar amps: facebook.com/groups/334476878526856 Sadly, this G40 is to far gone. Who ever was messing around with it has changed so many components. And as there is no schematic for it, it will take too much time up to fix. It's down for a tube amp conversion in a few weeks. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@roncarter2188]

A friend gave me one of these amps years ago. It just had the speaker in it, no amplifier. I fit an Ampeg Rocket chassis in it from the early 1960’s and it fit wonderfully into it and the amp sounded really nice. Good job

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hell Ron, thank you. That was lucky. It's not often you get a good fit like that. It's a good feeling when a plan comes together. Thanks for watching and take care Ron.

[@roncarter2188]

@@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher Thanks for the great content my friend, greetings from Tennessee.

[@pda49184]

Previous owners of the amp seemed to have had it maintained and serviced (be it that some of the servicing is a Bodgit & Scarper job). Thinking laterally, that would suggest that those previous owners liked the sound of it, so your decision to repair it I feel is the right one. I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised by solid state amps and how really very good they perform. The year this amp is from is the HH era and I rated those amps very highly, so you never know. Very interesting video Martyn and looking forward to hearing you play through it.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Pete, thank you. Yes, I think it will make a nice amp. It shouldn't be to big of a job either. Take care Pete.

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

Not sure if this is true, but I had read that gibson commissioned some of the guys who used to run Randall to design and build some of these amps, like the g40, and L series. They certainly look similar to some of the randalls. The RG-80 is one of the best solid state amps I've ever played, so I bet this one sounds pretty good.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello. That's interesting. I will have a look online and see if there is any info on that. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@goodun2974]

Well, it has "drip-edge" aluminum trim around the grille cloth, therefore an espresso machine conversion seems appropriate! 😂

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Let us hope when it's finished it sounds good and I don't regret not turning it in to an Espresso machine

[@goodun2974]

Now that so many of the younger generations are used to seeing devices made with switching power supplies that can run on 120 or 240 without requiring a different transformer, or internal rewiring, we'll probably see more instances of damage to older devices designed for 120VAC being plugged into 240 VAC with use of an adapter or after a simple plug change...... 💥 🔥 😖

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Yes, I wasn't sure which this was at the start. But it is 240v judging by the voltages on the schematic.

[@zbaby82]

I think it's worth repairing. It may sound cool.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Zack, yes it is. The parts are on order so shouldn't be to long before it's sorted. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@robnic52]

Good evaluation and decision, hope it sounds good when it's done. Shame about the ant farm but all is not lost, replace the back panel with two sheets of clear poly carbonate. Leave about 7mm gap between, seal the edges, fill it with earth and ants. Could put tiny contacts in the polycarb so if ants run across them, random notes are generated in a small synth module... Or, better just fix it up and sell it on? 😏👍

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Rob. Well if the repair doesn't work out at least I have plenty of options lol. Take care

[@jamesrobinsonjr.9384]

Gut it and put a proper tube circuit in it

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Solid state doesn’t = bad.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello James. A good idea but I think I am going to get this one running. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Jonathon. Yes I think this amp will sound oaky when it's completed. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@JDStone20]

wow that thing is a absolute mess inside!

[@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher]

Hello Jason. It sure is. I think we can sort it though. Thanks for watching and take care.

[@JDStone20]

@@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher Awesome, I think it would be a decent amp if working. Solid-state amps have a bad rep that isn't fully deserved