NAD: 1964 Thunder1-12

[GAD]

1964 Thunder1-12 I have not yet plugged it in. It's still got Guild tubes in it.

 

[JohnW63]

I figure the first thing a person should do, when buying an old amp is to listen for sizzling and niff for the smell of electronics cooking. If the fuse in the circuit breaker pops, that's not a good sign either.

 

[twocorgis]

1964 Thunder1-12 I have not yet plugged it in. It's still got Guild tubes in it.

Cool! Is this one that @Default doesn't have, perhaps?

 

[AcornHouse]

It has some nice cleans, but gets some REALLY nice overdrive when you crank it.

 

[GGJaguar]

Nice one with the fish scale grill, congrats! The trem is really nice on them. Is it a 1x12" or 1x10". They called it a T1-12 regardless of speaker size.

 

[GAD]

Nice one with the fish scale grill, congrats! The trem is really nice on them. Is it a 1x12" or 1x10". They called it a T1-12 regardless of speaker size.

Are there mislabeled ones out there? Here's the 1964 price list:



I don't have a T1-10 to compare, but looking at pics I think the -12 has a slightly larger cabinet than the -10 which would explain why there's a different cover for it in the price list.

Sigh. I'm gonna need a -10 aren't I...

 

[AcornHouse]

I believe the specs changed (at Guild?!? Inconceivable!)
My ‘66 T1-12 (as labeled) has a factory 10” speaker.

 

[Guildedagain]

Do they respond well to pedals?

I was thinking about figuring out what every single significant piece of gear - and my vehicles- cost new and adjusting that for inflation - what it actually cost someone to buy these things in today's money - it would be truly eyepopping.

Like for instance the T1RVT amp $215 in 1964 money = $1812 in 2121 money, you add a Polara $279.50 - Thx GAD - = $2324 + $1812 = $4136 = crazy money for a guitar and amp, I could never afford it.

Luckily, these are still seriously undervalued.

 

[GGJaguar]

Are there mislabeled ones out there?

Yes. Every one I've seen has a T1-12 label (or on the back panel) regardless of 1x10 or 1x12 configuration. Only the 2x10 version is consistently labeled T1-Twin on the label or amp.

 

[GAD]

Yes. Every one I've seen has a T1-12 label (or on the back panel) regardless of 1x10 or 1x12 configuration. Only the 2x10 version is consistently labeled T1-Twin on the label or amp.

That's a cool bit of Guild weirdness. Guildness, if you will.

 

[GAD]

If I've learned anything from @Default it's that you should never expect any kind of consistency when it comes to Guild amp models.

 

[zulu]

Maybe I should revisit my tube stash and see if I can spare some spares

 

[Default]

Mine are rarely that clean. I have one of those, a beige one, and a chassis. Same with the T1-rvts.

 

[matsickma]

If I recall correctly in the last iteration of the T1 in the late 60's with the return of the black tolex all of the T1's came with 1-10 and the cabinet was a little smaller than the early black T1. The last variant had the 2/5 grey + 3/5 white grill cloth.

The silver "fish scale" grill cloth was on the initial T1 model. Often the "fish scale" grill yellows but if you get a "closet kept" early T1 the grill cloth is really impressive to see as the "silver" really shines!

There are some of the early T1- RVT's that come with a 10" + 8" reverb speaker in lieu of the 12" + 8" reverb. Some where in my stash I have an adapter plate that Guild used to replace the 12 with a 10. It has a piece of wood removed from a corner so that it didn't interfere with the 8"reverb speaker.

I don't think Guild ever marketed or changed labeling on the early T1 to identify the change in the RVT model from a 12 to a 10.

In the few years before the last T1 with a single 10 they did release the T1 Twin which used the cabinet of a RVT but with a pair of 10's.

Also note that the origional T1 RVT was made of particle board but T1"s were made of pine. When the T1's transitioned to the beige tolex the T1 RVT cabinet also became a pine box.

 

[Nuuska]

In case you have not plugged it in yet - do you have a variac? Adjustable transformer to raise the voltage slowly when first time powering something up.

Sort of like volume control for AC-outlet.

 

[Default]

Looking at that amp again, the thing I just noticed was the upper corner on each side of the control panel. This indicates a very early T-1. The cabinet is particle board and the corners are very easily broken. They did away with those quickly, and went to the angled cabinet. Looking forward to the component manufacturing dates.
All in all, I'm jealous!

 

[GAD]

Yes I have a Variac.

The amp went right into storage, sadly.

 

[matsickma]

Good eye Default! I had assumed the initial T1's always came with a pine cabinet because I only saw them without the "ears" and only saw the early T1 RVT with the particle board ears.
BTW...the first amp I purchased was a used '65 T1RVT that I purchased in '67.
M

 

[Nuuska]

. . .

Sigh. I'm gonna need a -10 aren't I...

Yes you amn't

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm gonna need a -10 aren't I...

I can probably help you out when the time comes.