jp
Senior Member
Lordy lordy! The power of media, eh? Kinda makes me wonder whether this trend still would have occurred, if the current amp gurus hadn't extolled the virtues of the GA-40. :?
Tonequest article
- Thread starter jp
- Start date
As you probably know, these are the King of Harp-Player Hill and this one in rare condition. On the Hoffman Amps BB; 1/2 of the new scratch-built rigs are using EL86 and 6SJ7 pentodes in the preamps and this amp and the GA40 are rare examples of vintage, non-Vox amps with pentodes in the preamp. No; Tonequest and Victoria didn't hurt. Also, it's been a long time since anything this clean in the way of a big-ticket Gibson has sold in an eBay at-risk auction ... most of them being offered at those screw-ball BINs.
Tweed Gibson GA40LP ... Auction Link No Reserve basis; $1,575 as of this post. Last version of the model +/- '60-'62. Seller says pots date to 1960. Original Jensen P12R (some boogers) although some of these are believed to have been sold w/ 15" speakers. 5879s in each channel preamp, 6SQ7 trem oscillator, and 7025/12AX7 PI; twin 6V6s, 5Y3 rectifier, 15 watts nominal. Cabinet is in average condition but the control panel chrome in VG condition.
Seller says: "Channel two is a bit thinner sounding (less bass but still nice)". It isn't just a bit thinner, it's a lot thinner. Channel 2 has a Resistor/Capacitor filter in it (channel 1 does not). People who know about these things say the R/C filter was intended to clean up low frequency oscillation from the trem function. My GA20Ts have the same electronics in channel 2; I've bypassed the R/C filter and it really makes that channel shine; nothing like it anywhere.
Seller says: "Channel two is a bit thinner sounding (less bass but still nice)". It isn't just a bit thinner, it's a lot thinner. Channel 2 has a Resistor/Capacitor filter in it (channel 1 does not). People who know about these things say the R/C filter was intended to clean up low frequency oscillation from the trem function. My GA20Ts have the same electronics in channel 2; I've bypassed the R/C filter and it really makes that channel shine; nothing like it anywhere.
Yikes! into the low end of the tweed Deluxe price range and over last year's $1,600-$1,800 for the original brown over tan models. Agree; P12R likely original. W. Marx' book - though shaky in spots - dates this to 1960; he says the later '60-'62 models, which look the same, had 7591s / 5AR4.valcotone said:
jp
Senior Member
Nuts! This is vintage blackface price range. It also has the little badge at the bottom which always seems to be missing.
Same complement on the Crestline series.capnjuan said:
A couple of Gibson sellers hoping their stuff can ride the coattails of the big boyz ....
Gibson GA19 RVT but with odd-looking tolex color ... as if it's been lacquered ... very original electronics but you can see the contrast between where the backpanel sits and the surrounding tolex ... original material but the tolex not covered gets lighter ... not darker ... ??? Must be an offering from Old Zeke ... $900 MIN.
and ....
(probably a) Gibson GA20T in a home-brew cabinet. Model not identified in auction text but that's okay, not reason not to ask $499 MIN.
Four-tube preamp, coupling and trem caps under the board, octal 6SQ7 3rd tube from the right, and matches super-clean GA20T below .... spells GA20T ... also with very original electronics.
(Spearmint GA20T didn't sell with $850 MIN)
But ... not every project goes as planned ...
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Gibson GA19 RVT but with odd-looking tolex color ... as if it's been lacquered ... very original electronics but you can see the contrast between where the backpanel sits and the surrounding tolex ... original material but the tolex not covered gets lighter ... not darker ... ??? Must be an offering from Old Zeke ... $900 MIN.
and ....
(probably a) Gibson GA20T in a home-brew cabinet. Model not identified in auction text but that's okay, not reason not to ask $499 MIN.
Four-tube preamp, coupling and trem caps under the board, octal 6SQ7 3rd tube from the right, and matches super-clean GA20T below .... spells GA20T ... also with very original electronics.
(Spearmint GA20T didn't sell with $850 MIN)
But ... not every project goes as planned ...
capnjuan said:
It's surprising isn't it! Prices certainly fluctuate... a Supro Thunderbolt sold a month ago for $2000 but the last 2 that sold were around $700-800 and they looked similar. Depends on the contents and style of the auction listing, timing, concurrent auctions, and who's buying at the moment.
jp
Senior Member
Agree 100%. It can take just a couple of tenacious bidders to blow the curve sometimes. The style of the ad can definitely help. Right after I sold my '64 Blonde CE-100 for $750 (with repair to a partial headstock crack) at a guitar show, a seller heaped on the cream and butter in an eBay ad, complete with references to Pat Methany (who I don't think ever played Guild), close up detail shots of a dedicated polishing job, and sound samples. It sold for $1450 plus. It stung a bit, then I bought my gorgeous '68 and forgot all about it.valcotone said:
Looks like someone was a little heavy handed with the Zinsser.capnjuan said:
S'what it looks like ok; would come off with $2 worth of denatured alcohol and some rags. Even if it had some the typical orange/brown mold stains, if intact and if he posted the MIN at $600, he'd probably get the $800-$900 he's looking for.jp said:Looks like someone was a little heavy handed with the Zinsser.
Hi Sean; you're right ... it takes two to tango (tangle?) on eBay. Can't get to the sky-high prices without at least two people showing strong interest at the same time. I saw those other Supros too ... no explanation for it.valcotone said:
Another very fine GA40LP Auction link. Two-tone .... a 'tweener? Between the earlier maroon over light gray and Michael's black over tweed? This should do as well / better than the $2,200 for the tweed version?
... yes, doesn't match the others from the period ... The back/top corner joints are already starting to open ... early Rob / Buffalo Amps job? The tweed model above had a P12R ... this one a black-frame P12Q. It is very pretty!valcotone said: