The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bass Amps & Effects => Topic started by: amptech on September 30, 2014, 12:57:48 AM
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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?
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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
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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.
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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.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/AMPS/GibsonESS-100stack_sml_zpse965298c.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/AMPS/GibsonESS-100stack_sml_zpse965298c.jpg.html)
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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!
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You're sailing into uncharted seas! Good luck. :)
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Do Lab Series count, not that I had one... just on the list circa the time I bought the RD...
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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
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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.
(http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/THOR/ThorBass-1.jpg)
Image is from http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Thor.html
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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.
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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 :)
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Make sure you have your miner's light turned on when you dive in! 8)
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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.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/AMPS/GibsonESS-100stack_sml_zpse965298c.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/AMPS/GibsonESS-100stack_sml_zpse965298c.jpg.html)
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.
(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/Gibson60sAmps.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/Gibson60sAmps.jpg.html)
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............
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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.
(http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/THOR/ThorBass-1.jpg)
Image is from http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Thor.html
There's some kinda cool about the Thor amps. I wouldn't mind having one.
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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.
(http://i60.tinypic.com/2vlv4fr.jpg)
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I have a THOR also. Stock speakers sounded like a Fisher Price radio so I swapped them for some modern Eminence 10's. Not a big improvement, since it's such a small box and sealed. When I run the head into a ported 15" cab it really opens up- Very nice and clean.
(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj401/stiles72/thunderbird/800-tbirdIVTHORRR.jpg)
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I used to think these Thor's looked weird, but they are actually growing on me!