$299 Gibson tube amp - Made in USA!

[Deadduck]

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]

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]

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...

[Cassady]

How are you guys that installed Weber Blue Pups liking your speakers in this amp?

I ordered an alnico Blue Pup today and am looking forward to auditioning it in this great little amp.

Cassady

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by Cassady

How are you guys that installed Weber Blue Pups liking your speakers in this amp?

I ordered an alnico Blue Pup today and am looking forward to auditioning it in this great little amp.

Cassady

IMO, much much better than the stock Sig 8 - more presence and depth, richer low end, can really growl when pushed.

[Cassady]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

IMO, much much better than the stock Sig 8 - more presence and depth, richer low end, can really growl when pushed.

Thanks Rob, that's what I was hoping to hear.

Cassady

[Tonemaster]

Originally Posted by tombm3

Yes, these are 4 ohm speakers in these beauties.

Billy Gibbons even played one on ACL. Here is a link and video. Like Tim always says, just mic it up.

http://admin.online.pbs.org/klru/austin/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Item id=637

I watched that show, and BFG is plugged into a Crate. Sorry to bust yer bubble. You can even see the Crate in the vid you posted.

T.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

I watched that show, and BFG is plugged into a Crate. Sorry to bust yer bubble. You can even see the Crate in the vid you posted.

T.

I can see the Crate in the vid no problem. But it looks to me like Gibbons is plugged into the Gibson. I may be wrong, as I can't see it well.

[Gee]

If you look at the end of BG's solo it looks like his guitar lead goes back to the GA-5.

[WallyArms]

It is the singer plugged into the GA-5.

[Tonemaster]

Thankyou. As you should all know by now, BFG is an endorsee of Crate.

CT.

[endzone]

Originally Posted by Guitarslinger1

I can see the Crate in the vid no problem. But it looks to me like Gibbons is plugged into the Gibson. I may be wrong, as I can't see it well.

In the ACL link, it lists Roky Erickson's gear. Along with a picture of his guitar and the GA-5 there's a caption that reads: "For such a huge sound, Roky has a very simple set up. On this show Roky plays a beautiful silver finish Gibson ES 137 plugged into small Gibson combo amp." You just have to assume HE was playing thru it in the video rather than BFG. But I have no doubt that BFG would dig playin' thru this little beast.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

Thankyou. As you should all know by now, BFG is an endorsee of Crate.

CT.

Why should we all know that?

Should we also know what his favorite color is? Or if he prefers boxers or briefs? LOL

I read that page about Erickson's gear too. I still say it looks like Gibbons is plugged into the thing. But it's hard to tell.

Something to keep in mind. Just because Gibbons endorses Crate, and just because Erickson is owner of the GA5 and it is his gigging amp, that does not mean that Gibbons couldn't be playing through the GA5 in that video. Unlikely, but possible.

[Blues Hurler]

That BFG endorses Crate has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I know, I know it's just about the Benjamins, but everything I've read says he never plays them (he's a Marshall and tweed Fender guy), and when there's Crate on stage, they're just for show. Doesn't seem like a smart deal for Crate, since we all pretty much know that it's phony. Don't you actually have to use something anymore to endorse it? I mean, look at the Hair Club for Men guy! THAT'S an endorsee!

[androo]

Hey GA5 gang! I'm taking mine out on the town tonight, might use an ABY with my Blues Junior and see what kind of clean/distorted killer tones these two will bring!
droo

[Sevan Simonian]

WEBER CVA8 UPDATE
================

I've had a new Weber CVA8 in my stock GA5 for a few weeks now, but unfortunately have not logged as much playing time as I'd have liked. It's only just beginning to "break in" as I haven't taken the approach of doing some deliberate "crank the amp and flail away" sessions. I play a stock Gibson ES-135 (semi-hollow w/ PAFs) and a stock DeArmond Starfire (Korean ES-335 knockoff w/ DeArmond USA humbuckers). The Gibson has GHS Burnished Nickel strings. The DeArmond has D'Addario flatwound Chromes.

With respect to the stock Sig8 speaker, the CVA8 generates noticeably less "hiss" when you simply listen to the amp without playing (with or without a guitar plugged in). When played, the highs are far less piercing than the Sig8. I'd say the CVA8 is a little "darker" and "smoother" and a little more "even" sounding across the frequency spectrum than the Sig8. It breaks up more "sweetly" than the Sig8, which sounds more "ragged/raw/edgy" to me.

I've noticed that I have to be more careful with the Gibson when it comes to adjusting relative pickup volume & tone controls in order to avoid a muddy sound. The DeArmond, perhaps because it's pickups are brighter & "quacky-er", is more forgiving. Having said that, the strings on the Gibson are older & more worn than the DeArmond at the moment, which may also be a factor.

I have not noticed an appreciable loss in volume.

The CVA8 is on par with the Sig8 when it comes to amp volume knob settings and breakup.

[squeezebox]

Has anyone had trouble with replacement tubes for you GA-5 being too BIG to fit?

[Mr. Jinx]

Hey GA5 gang! I'm taking mine out on the town tonight, might use an ABY with my Blues Junior and see what kind of clean/distorted killer tones these two will bring!

How'd it go? I sold a Blues Jr. to get the GA-5 a few years ago.

[Tonemaster]

Originally Posted by Guitarslinger1

Why should we all know that?

Should we also know what his favorite color is? Or if he prefers boxers or briefs?

Well excuse TF me. I thought, since everyone here is so knowledgeable that it was common knowledge. Crate was also a major sponsor of the first Crossroads festival. BFG, like Bart here, prolly doesn't wear undies,,he's too cool.

CT.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

Well excuse TF me. I thought, since everyone here is so knowledgeable that it was common knowledge. Crate was also a major sponsor of the first Crossroads festival. BFG, like Bart here, prolly doesn't wear undies,,he's too cool.

CT.

It's all good...

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by squeezebox

Has anyone had trouble with replacement tubes for you GA-5 being too BIG to fit?

I've messed with several 12AX7s and 3 different EL84s, and have had no problems.

What tubes specifically have given you trouble?

[Cassady]

Originally Posted by squeezebox

Has anyone had trouble with replacement tubes for you GA-5 being too BIG to fit?

Yes, the TAD EL-84s that I tried are too large to fit. Fortunately, I've converted to NOS RCAs, of which I have a good supply. I really wanted to try the TAD tubes, though.

Cassady

[androo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jinx

How'd it go? I sold a Blues Jr. to get the GA-5 a few years ago.

Well, the GA5 stayed off to the side, I never did hook it up. I brought it as a backup. Too much going on at that gig. But more importantly....what I did decide was to get rid of the Blues Junior. I had that thing for about two weeks. After the GA5 came home, I got on a bit of a "small amp" thang...and I thought I'd try to replace my trusty Peavey Delta Blues 1X15 with a BJ. No way, no how. I'm so glad I didn't get rid of my DB....I just love that amp! The BJ is gone for good, and the DB is here to stay, I've had that thing for close to 10 years! What was I thinking?!

Anyway, hey...any ideas how I'd put the GA5 through the effects loop of the Peavey?? Would that work? What exactly would that do anyway? I heard someone earlier in this thread saying how he was gonna use his GA5 like a pedal. How would that work?

droo

[Mik]

I'll finally cough up a few words on the infamous GA5.

I ordered one one at $299 from MF just before close-out news hit the TDPRI.

I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't amazed.

The build quality was not at the level I expected for a very expensive $1000 little guitar amp. There was a residue of something like a dried solution (glue?) on the the tolex of the top of the amp cab, and two nail heads were protruding out of the cab under the vinyl covering. Very very minor imperfections but not acceptable for such an expensive amp.

I might have forgiven the cab flaws but:
The amp's sound and playing character weren't unique, while I liked the amp's tone I wasn't blown away by it.

In total: deal killers. So back to MF it went, and I don't miss it.

Mik