Introduction and binding repair

[mbeeks]

I made a dating error, My GA 20 is apparently 1950-1953

 

[capnjuan]

Hi mbeeks and welcome to LTG; thanks for your interest in restoration. Does your GA20 look this One? Best; CJ

 

[mbeeks]

yes it does, but not quite as clean

 

[mbeeks]

Pots make a little noise, nothing that I can't clean up and I suspect I need to replace 6sj7s, The exterior and Grill cloth were pretty beat when I got it and someone had tried to do a mod to make it more powerful but had really screwed it up. I paid a guy that liked to work on old amps to put it back the way it was supposed to be, that was probably 10-12 years ago.

 

[mbeeks]

I have a 1962 Fender Pro (Brown Tolex) that I probably use more but I like the GA 20

 

[capnjuan]

Hi mbeeks; thanks for the reply. I like Gibson amps but have been messing with '59-'62 tweed era models. I think the next one though is going to be a mid-'50s ... maybe a GA20 ... some with 6__7 octal base tubes in the preamp. If you think about it, post a pic including a shot of the chassis. CJ

 

[mbeeks]

I have just started putting my instruments on facebook, there is a link earlier in this thread, I will put the amps in there too when I get a chance.
The sound of GA 20 I can only describe as very 50's where as the Pro is totally different. When I first found the GA 20 in an attic, I was told it wasn't worth repairing. I am glad I didn't accept that.

 

[capnjuan]

The sound of GA 20 .. very 50's where as the Pro is totally different ... I was told it wasn't worth repairing. I am glad I didn't accept that.

Hi Mike; did good. Gibsons are necessarily the most versatile amps but that 50s sound, I think that's their signature tone. Best. CJ

 

[mbeeks]

OK I put pictures (not very good ones) of the GA 20 on the Facebook album. See the link from earlier.
It is pretty rough but I think it is all original.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Mike; not too bad - I'd think about average condition. Is that leather or vinyl? Ever try any warm soap and water in a damp cloth on it? If leather you could put shoe polish on it or, if vinyl, maybe a coat of ArmorAll? Pretty neat! CJ

Edit: link to a very clean GA20 on eBay Here. The hole in the chassis is from the bolt holding the original cigar filter caps in place, not from 'star grounding'.

 

[mbeeks]

wow, that one really is nice. As I said, I found mine in an attic along with the Kay Bass in the pictures and a couple of steel guitars. All the items belonged to one of the Teves brothers from the Kauai Surfriders. I worked with them off & on from 1976 until they died. I was very close to them and bought Everything the steel player's widow wanted to sell. I think she through in the GA 20 for nothing

 

[capnjuan]

wow, that one really is nice.

Hi Mike; that eBay model has been on and off auction for the last 6 months. The seller is determined to get $1,500 for it; hasn't budged at all off his price. At least in the Kingdom of eBay, rare to see those GA20s go for more than $1,000 ... maybe the seller thinks the high-grade photos warrant the high-grade price. Maybe someone will buy it but it's way over market. I hope yours sounds as good as his looks :wink: . CJ

 

[mbeeks]

that would be threw in.

 

[mbeeks]

Mine will sound good when I finish getting it clean up. I haven't been using it much the last year as I haven't been playing much even at home, I mean to change that.
$1500 is a lot stiff. I didn't even realize that $1000 was possible for a good GA 20. I knew my Fender Pro was desirable.
I don't necessarily buy because of value at auction. I didn't realize how rare my X-110 was until a couple people have said so.
I think it is all original, as I contemplate the binding repair, I was planning on replacing with modern plastic binding but am wondering if that the right way to go to preserve the value.
Honestly I am more interested in playability but looking to the future when say my kids want to sell my things or maybe I am just being too picky.

 

[capnjuan]

I didn't realize how rare my X-110 was until a couple people have said so. I think it is all original, as I contemplate the binding repair, I was planning on replacing with modern plastic binding but am wondering if that the right way to go to preserve the value.

I face a similar concern; but it's more about resale and not so much posterity. You are free to ignore this but I think the line between mess with it / don't mess with it is set by the overall condition / collectibility. If something is mint or near it, then the owner is sort of stuck maintaining the museumness of it. If it's a player, then I think worrying about damaging vintage binding or dings or scratches or preservation in general might diminish the pleasure of playing it on a regular basis. My .02 anyway ... but I think this is more of an essay test than true or false test ... I'm not sure there's a right or wrong answer. J

 

[mbeeks]

On mine the binding on top is essentially intact but on the back there are voids from shrinkage, I don't know how you could fix that without replacing so if you are replacing, do you try to find a source of new/old celluloid or go for the plastic :?: What are the options if you take it to a pro? I don't know the answer to these questions. :?

 

[capnjuan]

Dunno but the big expense would be the time/labor for the removal and prep ... not sure whether what gets put on makes much difference in the cost of putting it on. Here's the plastic at Stew-Mac, don't know where else to find older-style stuff.

http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cg ... EC=binding

If nobody is going to play this regularly then maybe the old stuff ... if it's going to used alot ... You might think about PM'ing Donnie/Dklsplace or Hans; these folks would know. Good luck with your choices. CJ

 

[mbeeks]

Yeah I know about stewmac plastic, I also found celluloid just not sure it makes much difference. cost of the binding is nothing, It is all in the work.