Possibly N(old)AD.

[Gahr]

So, I've made a deal with a guy to buy his 1962-1964 Gibson Skylark GA-5, 5 watt tube amp.

A very cool looking, and as far as I can tell sweet sounding, little amp. It sports a 10" speaker and is pretty much in mint condition.

He has to ship the amp to me in a few days (he's currently doing a gig on a boat somewhere outside Bergen), but I'm confident the deal will go through without any hiccups. I can hardly wait!

Does anyone here know this amp? Any comments?

This is the actual amp I'm buying (seller's pic):

 

[Bocc69]

Sorry to say I've never heard of it, Gahr. But man, that thing looks cool. It's got the loudness knob....what else do ya need?!

Good luck with the transaction. I await the review.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Cool old amp Gahr

 

[gball]

I've run across a few of them. They are Champ killers - very, very nice amp and that one looks to be in great condition.

 

[guitarweasel]

What you have is an early mid 60's Skylark, going price in good shape is around $400.00 When they first came out in the 50's it was the matching amp to the Gibson Skylark Lap Steel Guitar. Here's some spec's;

5W 1x10" Guitar Combo
Speakers: 1x10"
Inputs: 2
Channels: 1
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls on Each Channel: No
Tremolo: No
Reverb: No
Tubes: 5 (1x6EU7 (pre amp), 1x6C4 (phase inverter), 2x6AQ5s (in a push pull power amp design), 1x6X4 (rectifier) (correspond to Epiphone EA-50 Pacemaker))


Good find!

 

[ivan H]

Very cool. Hope the deal goes through for you. Cheers

 

[eSGEe]

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT........did I mention DOOOOIT!

 

[smitty_p]

These are one of those once in a lifetime things. If it is in good shape, it's a no-brainer.

 

[eSGEe]

see, DO IT

 

[Gahr]

see, DO IT

Oh, I'm doing it, no doubt. But the guy lives a few hours away, so he needs to send it to me. And he's not at home right now. I really want it, but I'm not celebrating until it's in my living room.

 

[syscokid]

I really want it, but I'm not celebrating until it's in my living room.

Don't count your eggs till the chickens have been hacked... wait a minute... that's not right...

 

[Tony M.]

The first amplifier I ever had was a Gibson Skylark!
They also made it with a tremolo. (Mine had tremolo)
The tremolo speed control was marked frequency.
I was young and dopey so I gave it away
when I got my first Twin Reverb.

Gratz on scoring a "Champ Killer".

 

[Gahr]

The first amplifier I ever had was a Gibson Skylark!
They also made it with a tremolo. (Mine had tremolo)
The tremolo speed control was marked frequency.
I was young and dopey so I gave it away
when I got my first Twin Reverb.

Gratz on scoring a "Champ Killer".

Cool! I've looked around on the net a bit, and the "Champ Killer" expression pops up quite often. Really looking forward to getting it.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Never heard of it, but it looks great. Hope you get it without any problems.

 

[jtcnj]

Hope it turns out right.
I have heard good things about those as well

 

[Gahr]

It is on the way. Got the tracking number today. The amp might be here tomorrow if I'm lucky.

 

[smitty_p]

Here's hoping it gets there safe and sound.

You'll have a real treat. Even if it isn't your main amp, it will be a great piece of functional history.

 

[Gahr]

And it's here! Looks every bit as good as promised. In really good condition. It's an American edition, but came with a 230V/110V converter, so it works like a charm.

I have only played it for a few minutes and only with my Derek Trucks SG, but the first thing you notice when playing it is that it gives you more power when playing through the mic input instead of the instrument input. Breaks up nicely when turned up, it's not loud, and it cleans up immediately when you back off on the pickup volume. And it is bright. It has a good bass, not boxy, but very bright. Funnily eough, thebrightness is not as pirrcing when the guitar volume is on full, but you need to turn down the tone controls on the guitar (there is noneon the amp) to around 4-6.

I took a quick look inside it, and it has the square capacitor(?) connected ti the volume pot. In several vids I've seen on YouTube this is called "the tone sucking circuit" and is removed to give the amp a less piercing hig and more bass. I'll take a look at these vids again and see what can be done. I'm not touching anything imside the amp myself.

But still, I dig it. It is oozing mojo, and while it is somewhat of a one trick pony, it is a very sweet looking pony and a great bluesy trick. It's a keeper!

 

[smitty_p]

Wow. That does look nice!

Congratulations!

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Really Nice