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imsilly · November 6th, 2009, 02:23 PM

I have been looking for a small blues amp for a while now and I keep being drawn back to late 50s Gibson amps. The model I was looking at purchasing is a two tone GA-20T, but I may need to purchase one without having to play it myself because the surply here in the UK is zero to none. Anyone with any experience with these amps?

I think they are 'Purdy' if nothing else.

Wally · November 6th, 2009, 03:51 PM

I have never met a Gibson amp fromthe mid-50's through ''60 that I did not find appealing to me in some way. That is a good looking one in the pic, for sure. I haven't played a GA-20T from that period, but I would expect very smooth distortion and rich cleans from the two-tone amp like the pic. The later tweed amps seem to go a bit to the 'ripping' side of things in distortion and are a bit brighter generally speaking than the two-tone amps, ime. It has been a while since I had a '60 or '61 GA-20T. The GA-20T like that in the pic was produced starting in 1956, and they were built through 1961. The latter ones probably had a tweed covering...just a guess based on experience.

toadman · November 6th, 2009, 04:02 PM

do it, man! ask questions later! i've played through a later one from the 60's sounded just fine to me!

Geoff738 · November 6th, 2009, 04:07 PM

They're great amps - just ask Ry Cooder.

Not sure if I've played one of the two tone ones though.

The ones I've played had a raw, raunchy thing going on when cranked that I loooove. I actually prefer it to a Tweed Deluxe, say.

I've been looking for one for about 20 years - but I've never run across one that didn't need some work - usually a torn speaker. If you can find one with the original speaker intact - get it.

They used to go for @ $400 Canadian back when I was actively looking. Dunno what they might fetch now. Shoulda bought one and looked for a replacement speaker or got the speaker reconed. What can I say? I'm a dumba$$.

Cheers,
Geoff

Octave Doctor · November 7th, 2009, 12:34 AM

I had one of the two tone amps for about a year--it sounded pretty good with a Strat or Tele, just about the right volume for a small club. Later on, I traded it for a Magnatone, about the same size, but with more treble and a nicer tremolo.

Unfortunately, the Maggy got burned up in a fire.

Groovey Records · November 7th, 2009, 12:54 AM

Beautiful amps

If you can swing it don't hesitate

tele-vangelist · November 7th, 2009, 02:14 PM

I have a Gibson GA18-T from 1959 or 1960. I love it and play it every day. 75% of the time with my tele, but also with a number of vintage Harmony, Silvertone and Kay guitars, most having fat DeArmond pickups. Follow your instincts. It's great for blues and roots music

TNO · November 7th, 2009, 05:36 PM

IMO the GA-20, GA-6 and GA-18T are the ones to look for.

Mike Eskimo · November 7th, 2009, 07:34 PM

I think the two-tone ones w/ trem are my favorite.

Buy it - don't hesitate.

Don't expect a Fender but do expect righteous break-up.

November 6th, 2009, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
imsilly Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Age: 29 Posts: 636	Thoughts on Gibson GA-20T Amps? I have been looking for a small blues amp for a while now and I keep being drawn back to late 50s Gibson amps. The model I was looking at purchasing is a two tone GA-20T, but I may need to purchase one without having to play it myself because the surply here in the UK is zero to none. Anyone with any experience with these amps? I think they are 'Purdy' if nothing else.

November 6th, 2009, 04:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
toadman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: andoverandoverandover,ct Age: 46 Posts: 1,528	do it, man! ask questions later! i've played through a later one from the 60's sounded just fine to me! __________________ toadman the plank spanker www.slugnickel.com www.zydecohogs.com "The ultimate result of protecting man from folly is to fill the world with fools" Herbert Spencer

November 6th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geoff738 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 45 Posts: 1,137	They're great amps - just ask Ry Cooder. Not sure if I've played one of the two tone ones though. The ones I've played had a raw, raunchy thing going on when cranked that I loooove. I actually prefer it to a Tweed Deluxe, say. I've been looking for one for about 20 years - but I've never run across one that didn't need some work - usually a torn speaker. If you can find one with the original speaker intact - get it. They used to go for @ $400 Canadian back when I was actively looking. Dunno what they might fetch now. Shoulda bought one and looked for a replacement speaker or got the speaker reconed. What can I say? I'm a dumba$$. Cheers, Geoff __________________ A city built on rock 'n' roll would not be structurally sound.

November 7th, 2009, 12:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Groovey Records Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Desolation Row Posts: 1,441	Beautiful amps If you can swing it don't hesitate __________________ Yeah but you should of heard what I was trying to play-Thelonius Monk EnJoY ThE MuSiC GrooVey RecOrds

November 7th, 2009, 02:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
tele-vangelist TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Detroit-ish Posts: 12	I have a Gibson GA18-T from 1959 or 1960. I love it and play it every day. 75% of the time with my tele, but also with a number of vintage Harmony, Silvertone and Kay guitars, most having fat DeArmond pickups. Follow your instincts. It's great for blues and roots music Last edited by tele-vangelist; November 7th, 2009 at 02:17 PM. Reason: Typing on iPhone.

November 6th, 2009, 03:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 6,010	I have never met a Gibson amp fromthe mid-50's through ''60 that I did not find appealing to me in some way. That is a good looking one in the pic, for sure. I haven't played a GA-20T from that period, but I would expect very smooth distortion and rich cleans from the two-tone amp like the pic. The later tweed amps seem to go a bit to the 'ripping' side of things in distortion and are a bit brighter generally speaking than the two-tone amps, ime. It has been a while since I had a '60 or '61 GA-20T. The GA-20T like that in the pic was produced starting in 1956, and they were built through 1961. The latter ones probably had a tweed covering...just a guess based on experience.

November 7th, 2009, 12:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Octave Doctor Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Morgantown, WV. Posts: 282	I had one of the two tone amps for about a year--it sounded pretty good with a Strat or Tele, just about the right volume for a small club. Later on, I traded it for a Magnatone, about the same size, but with more treble and a nicer tremolo. Unfortunately, the Maggy got burned up in a fire.

November 7th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
TNO Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 484	IMO the GA-20, GA-6 and GA-18T are the ones to look for.

November 7th, 2009, 07:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mike Eskimo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Detroit Age: 45 Posts: 1,468	I think the two-tone ones w/ trem are my favorite. Buy it - don't hesitate. Don't expect a Fender but do expect righteous break-up. __________________ Geeshie Wiley is my co-pilot

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