Gibson's Hidden Gem: The GA-15RVT Amplifier

[@TheToneLounge]

⚡ 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀: 🔴 VFP series: kzbin.info/aero/PLeAo3au6SN1kfdYcyp8bvHttqkPinQ2Wt 🔴 AC15 series: kzbin.info/aero/PLeAo3au6SN1mEE4I1YYC2GtP7Y9sZ4VKT

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

In regards to the circuit (except for the tremolo and reverb), the GA-15RVT is closer to a Fender Musicmaster Bass amp. Two gain stages preamp, transformer phase inverter, push-pull output. Also B is the Gibson, the tremolo gave it away.

[@buddhamus]

Great comparison. I enjoyed this video a lot. I suspected that "B" was the Gibson, but I had to listen to the Tremolo and Cranked portions of the video a couple of times to confirm. I kind of liked the sound and response of the Gibson over the Vox. I don't know anything about the Gibson GA-15RVT. Sadly, you seemed to indicate that the Gibson was not a very well-built amp, which is unfortunate. Is it still worth getting one (at the right price of course)?

[@TheToneLounge]

They are weird amps, but keep in mind that my amp has the original speaker and RCA tubes, so despite not being the most well thought out design, the are very reliable. So yeah, if you find one, get it!

[@anselmountain6884]

both have different circuits , what interesting about the GA-15RVT , the treble and bass pots stands on 2M value and the volume at 500K , the frequency on the tremolo stands on 1.5M , and also interstage transformer as phase inverter , the idea of having high value pots on the tone control with less at the volume , remind me the danelectro lipstick pickup guitar which has similarity , having a dual pot for volume and tone giving the tone 1M and the volume 250K , this combination give its own unique sound , as you mentioned that youll make more on this amp , can you play the danelectro guitar on it? i would like to see the results :)

[@TheToneLounge]

Thanks for all the details, I didn't know any of this. Very much appreciated. I would be interested in doing that video with the Danelectro but I don't own...yet. I'll see if I can find on used locally. Cheers

[@sniffrat3646]

Awwww mate that Junior is the BOMB! Plus coolest licks I've heard in ages!

[@TheToneLounge]

Thanks my friend! I love this guitar. Do you play a Junior?

[@sniffrat3646]

@@TheToneLounge Not yet ;) you've just convinced me though. Now where's that credit card?

[@TheToneLounge]

If you do get one, let me know!

[@oncameramastery]

Damn close sounds when the speaker is taken out of the equation! The difference is small enougth that the Gibson could easily pass for an ac15 imho!

[@TheToneLounge]

Exactly. I've had to double check myself before posting, to ensure I didn't make some major mistake. They are very close. Things get different when I use more extreme types of overdrives.

[@carlospenna]

very very interesting the sound proximity between the two amps, only when you used the fuzz was it possible to notice a sound difference.

[@TheToneLounge]

They are indeed very close. I have to admit, if I had to only chose one of them, I'm not sure I could do it.

[@kylestair4803]

Tremolo was the giveaway. The Gibson sounds cool though! There was a pretty apparent EQ shift, so I don't know that I would call it an AC15. Maybe just a beefier version of the Skylark?

[@TheToneLounge]

It's hard for me to tell, it does get close to the AC15 with clean tones, but the Gibson has so many unique things going on, it's kind of it's own amp.

[@stricknine8623]

It is inherently its own amp. Its no clone. It, however, may be "a take" on something and if it is, its the AC15. Its a great amp obviously.

[@TheToneLounge]

Oh for sure, it's the best $450 I've ever spent.

[@pastorkev777]

I was right all along of which amp was which, yet when the fuzz hit I heard that snarl that a Vox has right away. You either love it or hate it with a fuzz. It works great on somethings and other times it isn't what I want, thankfully we can get great amps for so cheap right now. Now if the Gibson was rehoused in a pine cab with a 12in speaker, I would go with Eminence JS-50 I think it would be a huge improvement in versatility, but it would still have its own sound.

[@TheToneLounge]

That Gibson is an amp that was given up on in the late 60's, it came across as a "dud". It's bad reputation has persisted, so they don't sell for much. Since they are handwired amps, they are highly modifiable. Rehousing is something I plan to do. I'm looking at Jensen for a probable speaker replacement.

[@pastorkev777]

@@TheToneLounge if you want to stay more vintage correct but improve the tone, WGS G10C/S is probably the best modern option. I have yet to try vintage Heppner or Magnavox 10in speakers but if the Heppner 10 is like the 12 it will work great. Some other options Eminence Lil Buddy, Cannabis Rex 10, Celestion VType Jr, or Jensen Mod10-70. Most speakers will be an improvement, but I am not a fan of modern vintage Jensen's.

[@jonschwieb323]

Hey I got it right! That Gibson is really close I thought, just not as much chime in some settings. The fuzz was a give away for some reason. I'm going to say it is their take on the AC15 just based on how close some of its tones were. But just a guess.

[@TheToneLounge]

The amp is old, so perhaps some of the components in their reacted differently to the fuzz. I'd love to compare it to a vintage AC15.

[@andrewsnee6452]

The bass and treble circuit in the top boost was copied from a late 50s Gibson GA-70.

[@TheToneLounge]

Wow, really? I did not know that. Thanks for the information!

[@pastorkev777]

Oh a second comment, I am actually curious of how the monoprice 15 watt combo compares to the Gibson. The amount of price is definitely going to be lower headroom, it would still be an interesting comparison.

[@TheToneLounge]

They are so fundamentality different that I can't compare.

[@pastorkev777]

@@TheToneLounge no worries.

[@scootergreen3]

I'm thinking about getting one, it sounds great to me but this guy says: I have a 1966 Gibson GA-15RVT on my bench now. I am a very experienced tube amp tech with over 45 years experience using and servicing vacuum tube amplifiers. Over the past forty years, I have serviced many many of the classic vintage amps built by Fender, Ampeg, Marshall, and others. To be direct and brief, the build quality, component layout, component quality and electronic execution of the Gibson GA-15RVT is in every way substandard when compared to its contemporary competitor brands. From the cheap undersized transformers to the riveted tube sockets, low grade capacitors, cheap b-stock potentiometers and leftover console radio loudspeaker, the amp build screams CHEAP! The rats-nest wiring is rife with egregious bad practices of design and execution, and the whole sorry mess is topped off by a nonsensical and inaccurate schematic provided by Gibson. Upon examination, it will be obvious to anyone with experience that this was a cheaply built chassis stuffed in a nice cabinet and pawned off on unsuspecting folk who had swallowed the "Gibson is best because it's a Gibson" branding strategy of the era. Compared to the Fender Princeton Reverb, Vox AC15 or Ampeg Reverberocket with which it was intended to compete, the Gibson GA-15RVT is a joke. Do you agree with him?

[@TheToneLounge]

Hi Michael, I heard the same stories, to varying degrees. I don't mess with the innards of the guitar amp as I don't have the skills to do so. I will give you my perspective on this and hopefully it can help you out: CONS - Not much bass response - It has one tube in there that is not common (6EU7), not impossible to find but just not available in all music stores - It has a 10 inch speaker made by CTS, not bad but not great - It's a very bright amp with single coils - The bass knob is more of a mid frequency sweep knob - It's not very loud and barely overdrives when cranked PROS - It has it's own sound, kind of a mix between an AC15 and a Princeton - It's a Vintage amp that can be had for less than a used Blues Jr - It's over 50 years old and mine still has the original RCA tubes - it's easy for a tech to mod or repair - It's a sound investment, considering how everything is going up in price - Sounds killer with humbuckers and single coils, although you will need to bring that treble knob down for single coils - The tremolo and reverb are crazy good and very different If you can have it at a good price, it's a great little amp. The observation that the parts are not as "quality" as the other brands, well mine still works great. I can't imagine that the electronics are any worse than the other brands if the amp is still in working order. Even if it is, you can bring it to a tech and get it fitted with whatever you want.

[@scootergreen3]

@@TheToneLounge Thanks Tone Lounge, that's a big help in making my decision.

[@michaelgiordano3757]

@@scootergreen3did you end up getting it?

[@kosmicwizard]

A is the Vox, oh I'm so nervous ... I hope I'm not wrong!

[@kosmicwizard]

The fact that I own an AC15C1X and I'm still nervous should demonstrate that they are close. That said, I think Gibson was doing its own thing. Cheers.

[@TheToneLounge]

The AC15 may have been the building blocks they used for this amp, who knows, but I agree that it definitely has it's own thing going.

[@kosmicwizard]

@@TheToneLounge yeah, it's also tough to determine if the modern AC15C1 sounds like a vintage 1960s AC15?

[@TheToneLounge]

I wish I knew that answer. 🤷‍♂️

[@kosmicwizard]

@@TheToneLounge me too, my friend

[@mouldeck]

A = voxAC15 I believe, because it's boomier and less bright

[@TheToneLounge]

Correct!

[@billregan1981]

Both sound good to me!

[@TheToneLounge]

Yeah, both excellent amps.

[@royalmarine1011]

Its A bloody mess=Gibson Choices in the past 2 decades..

[@TheToneLounge]

It's been a bloody mess long before that, this one is from 1965!

[@royalmarine1011]

@@TheToneLounge agreed