$299 Gibson tube amp - Made in USA! - Page 28

Deadduck · May 2nd, 2008, 11:57 PM

Hey all,

I got in on the $299 GA-5 deal and have been using this little gem with my Casino. That's a match made in heaven. Anyway, I like the amp stock, but with the p-90s, there is very little clean headroom, and anything over halfway of the dial is just ratty distorted sounding.

So, just for kicks, I popped in a NOS Jan-Phillips 5751 in place of the 12AX7. Wow, I really like this sound. More clean headroom, and very smooth Marshally type overdrive. Even dimed it isn't too over the top distortion. The grainy preamp tube sound is gone and replaced with a very nice EL-84 poweramp saturation.

It isn't quite as open and "in your face" as it was, maybe a little more compressed, but still quite nice. But the improvement in overdrive tone is well worth it.

Next, I want to rig up a 1/4 8 ohm output, and put in the carling standby switch.

Blues Hurler · May 3rd, 2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

It takes a special 1/4" Switchcraft jack ... 1/4" mono switching, normally closed, non-shorting contacts, Switchcraft 13E. When the external jack isn't used, the internal jack switch is closed to allow the 4 ohm load to the internal RCA jack. When ya plug in the 1/4" jack to turn on an external speaker cab, the jack's switch is opened and automatically disconnects the internal speaker ....

Not easy to find the 13E, but Allied Electronics carries it for $7.36 ...

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/Pro... FCD80977E17F

Thanks Rob!

gibsonjunkie · May 4th, 2008, 08:28 PM

Now that I've had some time to play with this thing I'm really liking it. I'm impressed with the sound I'm getting and compared to the Marshall Valvestate I've been using - everything sounds a lot better. That is also helping me play better - because I'm hearing more of my playing...

May 2nd, 2008, 11:57 PM	#1081 (permalink)
Deadduck TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisiana Age: 36 Posts: 14	Tried a NOS 5751 preamp tube. WOW! Hey all, I got in on the $299 GA-5 deal and have been using this little gem with my Casino. That's a match made in heaven. Anyway, I like the amp stock, but with the p-90s, there is very little clean headroom, and anything over halfway of the dial is just ratty distorted sounding. So, just for kicks, I popped in a NOS Jan-Phillips 5751 in place of the 12AX7. Wow, I really like this sound. More clean headroom, and very smooth Marshally type overdrive. Even dimed it isn't too over the top distortion. The grainy preamp tube sound is gone and replaced with a very nice EL-84 poweramp saturation. It isn't quite as open and "in your face" as it was, maybe a little more compressed, but still quite nice. But the improvement in overdrive tone is well worth it. Next, I want to rig up a 1/4 8 ohm output, and put in the carling standby switch. __________________ Keith

May 4th, 2008, 08:28 PM	#1083 (permalink)
gibsonjunkie Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bloomfield, Connecticut Age: 54 Posts: 396	Now that I've had some time to play with this thing I'm really liking it. I'm impressed with the sound I'm getting and compared to the Marshall Valvestate I've been using - everything sounds a lot better. That is also helping me play better - because I'm hearing more of my playing... __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...