Possible new project Ga-15 RVT

ChasFred

ChasFred

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I have a Gibson GA-15 RVT that I really do not like the sound of. I have done the usual component stripping of tone circuit crap that Gibson used back in the day, and added a Weber Alnico speaker.
I just do not like how it sounds with ANY of my guitars.

Options:
1 SELL
2 Convert to Princeton Rev. Circuitry

Ideas and suggestions welcome.



GA-15 a.jpg

GA-15 b.jpg
 
My vote is for sell...Amos either sound good or they don't it seems.

What did we play that day that you liked so well???

JC-40 Roland????
 
It looks nice & clean.
My vote is get a Princeton Reverb first, then if it's not all you were hoping for you can flip it and haven't lost the cool old Gibbo amp in the process.
If the Princeton tickles yer innards, then sell the Gibbo.
Gahr may have some input, he seems to like the old Gibson amps.
 
ChasFred said:
I have a Gibson GA-15 RVT that I really do not like the sound of. I have done the usual component stripping of tone circuit crap that Gibson used back in the day, and added a Weber Alnico speaker.
I just do not like how it sounds with ANY of my guitars.

Options:
1 SELL
2 Convert to Princeton Rev. Circuitry

Ideas and suggestions welcome.



View attachment 28933

View attachment 28934
Click to expand...

There are old Gibson amps and then there are old Gibson amps. Up until the early/mid 1960s the Gibson amps were generally really good sounding. But after that different changes were made, and the general consensus is that they were rather shrill sounding.

I have a 1959 GA-20T Ranger which sounds absolutely great, and a 1965 GA-5 Skylark that also sounds fantastic, albeit after a few modifications. Some caps had to be changes for different values and a cap/resistor network (known as "the tone-sucking network" was taken out.

If you are willing to spent the cash, I would have an experienced tech look at it and maybe convert it. I'm pretty sure you can get it to sound great, but it would depend on what you would have to pay for it.
 
Gahr said:
There are old Gibson amps and then there are old Gibson amps. Up until the early/mid 1960s the Gibson amps were generally really good sounding. But after that different changes were made, and the general consensus is that they were rather shrill sounding.

I have a 1959 GA-20T Ranger which sounds absolutely great, and a 1965 GA-5 Skylark that also sounds fantastic, albeit after a few modifications. Some caps had to be changes for different values and a cap/resistor network (known as "the tone-sucking network" was taken out.

If you are willing to spent the cash, I would have an experienced tech look at it and maybe convert it. I'm pretty sure you can get it to sound great, but it would depend on what you would have to pay for it.
Click to expand...

I have already had the conversions done to this amp that remove the tone sucking networks, and the sound just is not there for me.
I really wanted it to be but it just was not meant to be.
 
ninjaking67 said:
Fred, I think that it has to go.
You did the mods and it still isn’t to your liking so cut your losses and get something you love.
Click to expand...

I like the case and the speaker, I can get a Princeton circuit kit for about $250 and replace what is on the chassis now. Kinda like a Fender in Gibson clothing.
Thanks for your input.

I'm thinking back to when I started playing, my best friend had a Princeton Reverb. We played the dog pooh out of that lil box. He still has it too.
I got to play through it while on my road trip.
 
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