Scored a GA5T Skylark

Kojack · May 3rd, 2004, 02:53 PM

Purchased a GA5T Skylark on eBay recently. It arrived last Friday, and I've had the weekend to play with it. Wow, what a cool little amp!

insert mental image of Kojack doing his Happy Dance here

Bought it from a boutique amp maker in New Hampshire who re-capped and re-tolexed it and also replaced a torn speaker. This amp is too much fun. Great tone and at this volume, I don't have to worry about getting evicted. I'm sure I'll have questions for you all in the days ahead, but right now, I'm just enjoying the heck out of this little thing.

Watch out. I'm groovin' now.

Kojack

nasonm · May 4th, 2004, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kojack

Bought it from a boutique amp maker in New Hampshire

I have your amp's bigger brother, the GA8T Discoverer. I love mine too!

BTW, by any chance did you buy it from the guy in Troy, NH that makes Juke Amps? (best dang amps I have ever and will ever hear in my life!)

telel6s · May 6th, 2004, 12:54 PM

What year/style is your GA5T? Last month I bought the Epiphone EA-50T that is the same amp except for the label.

Mine is a '65 with white-face control panel; Loudness, Bass, Treble, Intesity & Frequency controls; and runs 2 6BQ5s, a 6C4 and a 6EU7 tubes. It's almost mint except from a little dust, dirt and fading. Looks like it could have spent the last 40 years sitting on a shelf in somebody's family room. The insides look brand new except for a tiny bit of dust.

I switched out the CTS alnico speaker for a Fender (rola) ceramic I had around. Definite increase in volume although I might try some other speakers to see what works best.

All in all a great living room amp.

Kojack · May 6th, 2004, 10:30 PM

It's a mid 60s unit with two 6EU7s, two 6AQ5As and a 6X4. Controls are dead simple. On/Off, Frequency (for the tremolo) and Volume. This isn't the older Skylark that's sonically similar to the Fender Champ, but it breaks up nicely about 7 or 8 and gets plenty loud.

I purchased it from Dan at Lustone Amps in Rochester, NH. I haven't sampled any of Dan's custom made amps, but if his work on this Skylark is an example of his meticulous efforts, attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction, then they must be great amplifiers. He did a nice job with this little gem.

The tremolo is certainly very subtle. There's no reverb and and not a lot of tonal versatility. But it's got a nice little vibe to it.

insert mental image of Kojack's neighbors getting tired of the Skylark & Kojack's Happy Dance

Kojack

Wally · May 7th, 2004, 01:45 PM

Kojak, I have a '65 EA50T also. You might want to have the tremolo circuit checked on your amp. The tremolo should be a good strong pulsing effect....nothing subtle about it....on mine at least. Gibson/Epi tremolos are wonderful. Everyone that hears any of my Gibson/Epi amps remarks on the tremolo sounds. Someone may have lessened the pulse by modding the circuit, or there may be a component out of spec on yours that is weakening the effect.
An Eminence Alnico would be an inexpensive speaker alternative, although mine doesn't sound that bad to my ears with the original CTS Alnico, which is a speaker that I like in Super Reverbs, too. I also have the big bro to that amp...Epi Pathfinder. The stock 12" CTS ceramic in that was terrible...flat, no detail, no lows, no highs. I put in a vintage Celestion Silver Bulldog, and it came alive!
I love my Gibson and Epiphone amps.

Kojack · May 7th, 2004, 02:05 PM

I appreciate the tremolo advice, Wally. I haven't found an Amp Doctor here in Kentucky, but when I do, I'll check on the Wobble Knob.

It really surprises me that with tube amp prices running wild, these Gibson Amps aren't commanding big dollars. It's a great sounding amp.

Kojack

Wally · May 7th, 2004, 02:32 PM

Shh, don't spoil the gathering of the bargains1 :)
I almost never sell a Gibson/Epi amp unless I have two of them. One exception was a Gibson Falcon from the early '60's. Texas fiddler extraordinary talked me out of a mint example, and then I sold a raggedy-looking brother to it and am left without an example of that amp. :( Those amps were 2X6V6, 1X10" tweed beauties with reverb and tremolo.

May 3rd, 2004, 02:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kojack Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 49 Posts: 110	Scored a GA5T Skylark Purchased a GA5T Skylark on eBay recently. It arrived last Friday, and I've had the weekend to play with it. Wow, what a cool little amp! insert mental image of Kojack doing his Happy Dance here Bought it from a boutique amp maker in New Hampshire who re-capped and re-tolexed it and also replaced a torn speaker. This amp is too much fun. Great tone and at this volume, I don't have to worry about getting evicted. I'm sure I'll have questions for you all in the days ahead, but right now, I'm just enjoying the heck out of this little thing. Watch out. I'm groovin' now. Kojack

May 6th, 2004, 12:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,180 80 Photos	What year/style GA5T? What year/style is your GA5T? Last month I bought the Epiphone EA-50T that is the same amp except for the label. Mine is a '65 with white-face control panel; Loudness, Bass, Treble, Intesity & Frequency controls; and runs 2 6BQ5s, a 6C4 and a 6EU7 tubes. It's almost mint except from a little dust, dirt and fading. Looks like it could have spent the last 40 years sitting on a shelf in somebody's family room. The insides look brand new except for a tiny bit of dust. I switched out the CTS alnico speaker for a Fender (rola) ceramic I had around. Definite increase in volume although I might try some other speakers to see what works best. All in all a great living room amp. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

May 7th, 2004, 02:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kojack Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 49 Posts: 110	Thanks for the tip I appreciate the tremolo advice, Wally. I haven't found an Amp Doctor here in Kentucky, but when I do, I'll check on the Wobble Knob. It really surprises me that with tube amp prices running wild, these Gibson Amps aren't commanding big dollars. It's a great sounding amp. Kojack

May 6th, 2004, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kojack Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 49 Posts: 110	It's a mid 60s unit with two 6EU7s, two 6AQ5As and a 6X4. Controls are dead simple. On/Off, Frequency (for the tremolo) and Volume. This isn't the older Skylark that's sonically similar to the Fender Champ, but it breaks up nicely about 7 or 8 and gets plenty loud. I purchased it from Dan at Lustone Amps in Rochester, NH. I haven't sampled any of Dan's custom made amps, but if his work on this Skylark is an example of his meticulous efforts, attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction, then they must be great amplifiers. He did a nice job with this little gem. The tremolo is certainly very subtle. There's no reverb and and not a lot of tonal versatility. But it's got a nice little vibe to it. insert mental image of Kojack's neighbors getting tired of the Skylark & Kojack's Happy Dance Kojack

May 7th, 2004, 01:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Kojak, I have a '65 EA50T also. You might want to have the tremolo circuit checked on your amp. The tremolo should be a good strong pulsing effect....nothing subtle about it....on mine at least. Gibson/Epi tremolos are wonderful. Everyone that hears any of my Gibson/Epi amps remarks on the tremolo sounds. Someone may have lessened the pulse by modding the circuit, or there may be a component out of spec on yours that is weakening the effect. An Eminence Alnico would be an inexpensive speaker alternative, although mine doesn't sound that bad to my ears with the original CTS Alnico, which is a speaker that I like in Super Reverbs, too. I also have the big bro to that amp...Epi Pathfinder. The stock 12" CTS ceramic in that was terrible...flat, no detail, no lows, no highs. I put in a vintage Celestion Silver Bulldog, and it came alive! I love my Gibson and Epiphone amps.

May 7th, 2004, 02:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Shh, don't spoil the gathering of the bargains1 :) I almost never sell a Gibson/Epi amp unless I have two of them. One exception was a Gibson Falcon from the early '60's. Texas fiddler extraordinary talked me out of a mint example, and then I sold a raggedy-looking brother to it and am left without an example of that amp. :( Those amps were 2X6V6, 1X10" tweed beauties with reverb and tremolo.