PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production Vintage Amps

To reiterate what both Herb and MarioD said re: evaluation of the amp - plug direct into amp and work each control end-to-end, I would add with THE guitar(s) you plan to use.

As an aside: sort of off topic but sort of related:

My first amp was a Gibson GA-5 Skylark (white'ish tolex) mid-late 50's as shown in 3rd picture down in 1st link. My model Skylark was older than the one shown in the "eval" the one shown is an early to mid 60's "Crestline" version. The INITIAL and even older model than my model was the GA-5 Skylark Les Paul Junior.

http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/skylark_ga_5.html

Even THEN, (50's, 60's) the GA-5's were considered either starter amps or, in my case, what we could afford. Wish I had still had it for two reasons

1). nostalgia (re-live my "yut"), and
2). the moronic prices I see on eBay for these beat up amps: no tolex left, rusted control plates, frayed wiring, probably a torn non-original speaker, etc. for an amp that will need completely re-tubed, re-capped, re-worked (for safety). Given the prices asked (and PAID) for some of these POS's I see sale on eBay, it would be like GOLD bars in the bank to have one that actually looked nice and was "re-worked" (new tubes, re-caps, etc.) and worked.

My first non-rental guitar was an Gibson ES-125 (no cut away archtop with OK, but plastic covered, PUP) - these now also go for absurd prices. It was (50's/60's) considered a beginner/student guitar, frankly it is/was not a $1500-$2000 good - current eBay prices. A mint one might be worth $400-500 to me in NOW dollars!

Heck, the neck was only GLUED at the heel to the body and the neck tended to pull away (separate) from body at neck heel, mine did and needed repaired to correct (then I fell on it a few months latter and BROKE the neck so on to a better guitar - a KENT from England - LOL).

Gibson Amp Models and production info : http://www.superiormusic.com/page199.htm

========== (total rambling now)=====

A few years ago I bought a sort-of-inexpensive (paid $180; list $199) current production Fender Champ "600"

- put in a new 6" speaker (MOD Jensen)

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/P-A-MOD6-15

- removed the THICK velvet cloth speaker cover that was choking the sound/life right out of it and replaced with standard speaker grill "cloth" (cream colored)

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/S-G455

Those TWO MODS alone made it a nice open sounding amp. Since I am an ex-tech I did most, not all, of the mods that are listed in link below

IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING STAY OUT! Get a qualified tech do to any of the mods INCLUDING taking it apart to change speaker and grill cloth. Also don’t ask your drunken, out of work brother, or worse your girlfriend's/wife's drunken brother - to do it.

The mods really do make the amp sonically "tighter, clear, and warm/nice. It’s now a killer little 5 watt'er. Admittedly, with 6" speaker not as much as bottom end as an 8" 5 watt'er, but not really all that noticeably different - it depends.

http://www.300guitars.com/articles/hot-rodding-the-new-fender-champion-600/

Larry