Gibson bass amp?

[amptech]

It's interesting that searching for postings here on Gibson amps give me no results, does anyone here own or use a Gibson bass amp?
I understand they were not very common after Fender took off, and in Europe even the guitar amps are non existent.
I've read a couple of comments from the les paul amp for lo-z, but I'm talking about the regular bass amps.

The reason I'm asking, is because I'm about to build a clone of the GA-100 35W bass amp. I have quite a few oddball radio tubes in stock,
and not many restore radio's these days. They are removing the last few FM antennas over here in 2017.

I discovered, as i was reading tube datasheets the other night, that I had European equvivalents to the compressor (2x6FM8) and the drivers (2x6BD6) as well as a couple of boxes with 6EU7's. I also found a 40w hi-fi output transformer for 6L6GC's, so why not jump into
another amp project?

Anyone ever enjoyed a GA100 moment?

[rahock]

I've got a mid 60s Gibson Atlas, single 15" about 40watt amp that I brought back to life a few years ago. I think it's due for a cap job. I never use it but it's kinda cool to have around.
Rick

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I have an old Saturn 2x12 guitar combo that I acquired when I was doing repairs and two GB410 cabs from the Steve Rabe-Gibson era. One still even has its original faux-wicker grille.

[drbassman]

Back when I was 18 or so, I bought a Gibson amp.  I think it was an ESS-100 or some such thing.  It had two tall, slender speaker cabs with several 8 or 10" speakers in each.  The amp was a separate head.  I can't remember if it was all SS or not.  Anyway, it sounded good in the store and was weak on stage.  I took it back after one gig and traded it for an SVT with a 2x 15" cab.  Much better.

You have to give them credit, at least they tried to compete on the amp market, but they never really hit a home run. 

[amptech]

Anyway, it sounded good in the store and was weak on stage. 

I don´t expect the GA100 clone to move a lot of air either, but for a home recording/practice amp it might be fine.
I have a spare EVM15L and hopefully I´ll get yet another ´tone´one tap if I need.

I think many in Europe think that gibson just made some amps, and they didn´t compete with other brands, but I must say that their amp lab really explored a vast area of instrument amplifier designs, from the very beginning. And looking at the northern brands like Telrad (Norway) and Hagstrom (Sweden), their early 60´s amps are basically late 50´s gibson clones - at least if you judge by schematics, tubes, component layout and general awkwardness:-)

I see now that only a few hundred GA100´s were made, doubt I´ll ever find someone who have tried them out then.
I´m curious if the preamp section pairs well with the mudbucker! 

[drbassman]

You're sailing into uncharted seas!  Good luck.

[Highlander]

Do Lab Series count, not that I had one... just on the list circa the time I bought the RD...

[Rob]

It's interesting that searching for postings here on Gibson amps give me no results, does anyone here own or use a Gibson bass amp?
I understand they were not very common after Fender took off, and in Europe even the guitar amps are non existent.
I've read a couple of comments from the les paul amp for lo-z, but I'm talking about the regular bass amps.

The reason I'm asking, is because I'm about to build a clone of the GA-100 35W bass amp. I have quite a few oddball radio tubes in stock,
and not many restore radio's these days. They are removing the last few FM antennas over here in 2017.

I discovered, as i was reading tube datasheets the other night, that I had European equvivalents to the compressor (2x6FM8) and the drivers (2x6BD6) as well as a couple of boxes with 6EU7's. I also found a 40w hi-fi output transformer for 6L6GC's, so why not jump into
another amp project?

Anyone ever enjoyed a GA100 moment?

This is interesting!

http://bluebookofguitarvalues.com/Guitar_Amplifier_Values/Manufacturers/GIBSON/Categories/GIBSON_ELECTRIC_TUBE_AMPLIFIERS_GA_GA_80_GA_400_SERIES/Models/GIBSON_ELECTRIC_TUBE_AMPLIFIERS_GA_GA_80_GA_400_SERIES_GA_100_BASS_AMPLIFIER?id=GIBSON_ELECTRIC_TUBE_AMPLIFIERS_GA_GA_80_GA_400_SERIES_GA_100_BASS_AMPLIFIER

[the mojo hobo]

I have a Thor amplifier, but it hasn't been turned on for at least a year. I only used it as a practice amp, 50 watts it is. All tube, also 6EU7 I believe.



Image is from http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Thor.html

[Dave W]

There's a solid state Thor that's been for sale on CL near here for at least a month, no pics but "works fine, looks ok, probably from the 60's, $100 or trade." I recall these as being okay for their time.

[amptech]

You're sailing into uncharted seas!  Good luck.

Thanks, that seems to be pretty common for the average LBO'er, who knows what dark corners of myself I'll peep into to land this one

[drbassman]

Make sure you have your miner's light turned on when you dive in! 

[Grog]

Back when I was 18 or so, I bought a Gibson amp.  I think it was an ESS-100 or some such thing.  It had two tall, slender speaker cabs with several 8 or 10" speakers in each.  The amp was a separate head.  I can't remember if it was all SS or not.  Anyway, it sounded good in the store and was weak on stage.  I took it back after one gig and traded it for an SVT with a 2x 15" cab.  Much better.

You have to give them credit, at least they tried to compete on the amp market, but they never really hit a home run. 

It's a GSS-100.......... With Gibson's complex naming system...... GSS (Gibson Solid State) GA-15 (Gibson Amp) EB......?
I've collected a few Gibson amps from that era, I stopped after the GA-77RET due to size. The GSS-100 is the only one that would remotely handle bass, it does have a bass channel. The speaker cabinets rattle playing guitar through them, so I never tried an EB-2.


There was an option for two larger speakers, GSS-100HC? I came across one empty cabinet, never came across an entire amp. Gibson made some of the ballsiest basses on the market at the time & never really produced an amp that could handle the lows their guitars could put out.

I think all of the tube amps have a 6EU7 in them as a preamp tube, they are getting hard to come by............

[drbassman]

I have a Thor amplifier, but it hasn't been turned on for at least a year. I only used it as a practice amp, 50 watts it is. All tube, also 6EU7 I believe.



Image is from http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Thor.html

There's some kinda cool about the Thor amps.  I wouldn't mind having one.

[Hörnisse]

I had a G50B combo amp when I bought my G-3 back in '77.  It was not very powerful so I used an EH Mole to boost the sound a bit.