The Vintage 1961 Gibson Skylark G5 Tube Amplifier is a sought-after piece of audio equipment that carries the iconic brand name of Gibson Skylark. Made in the United States, this GA-5 model features a classic tube amplifier design that provides warm and dynamic sound quality. With its vintage appeal and durable construction, this amplifier is a valuable addition to any musician’s gear collection, offering a rich and authentic sonic experience for those who appreciate the timeless sound of vintage amplifiers.
Up for sale, a 1957 Gibson GA-20 in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Featuring original two-tone cosmetics, a positively gleaming chrome faceplate, a Jensen P12R speaker, and a very original and professionally serviced circuit, this GA-20 is the perfect mid-size combo from the golden age of tube amplification. In many ways analogous to Fender’s narrow panel tweed amps of the same era, the GA-20 features a four input design with a 6V6 power tube pair, 5Y3 rectifier, and dual triode (12AX7, etc) tubes in the preamp. Offering distinctly different voicings between the single Microphone input and the three Instrument inputs, the GA-20 is at its most aggressive via the Mic channel. While this input does offer a modicum of clean headroom, it quickly overdrives with a sizzling, chewy sound that’s extremely smooth. The Tone control has an absolutely massive sweep, actually adding a bit more gain when turned up. Maxing out both Volume and Tone knobs yields a ripping, cutting sound that interacts equally well with single coils and humbuckers. The Instrument inputs have more range in the clean signal, with a full-bodied and sweet sound that works well with a host of effects pedals. Turning down the Tone knob on this channel and pushing the Volume can achieve a very nice bark and a spitty quality almost akin to certain fuzz boxes, depending on the guitar being used, and once again diming everything out delivers plenty of richness and roar. The point-to-point circuit has been professionally serviced, and the preamp retains a trio of original yellow Astrons, the same capacitors used in Fender’s narrow panel tweed circuits, and a key component in the musical nature of those preamps. There are a few modern Jupiter tubular caps in the preamp (which faithfully replicate the design and tonal properties of an Astron), and the power supply has been recapped with high quality F&Ts. The original output transformer is intact, and while it would have originally been mounted to the speaker frame, the transformer has been relocated to the chassis. The source-date code on the output transformer dates to the 14th week of 1957. The power transformer is a modern premium replacement courtesy of Mercury Magnetics, fitted with the original “GA-20″-embossed bell cover. The speaker is the original Jensen P12R alnico magnet driver which has a dark blue/green frame. The speaker has been recently professionally reconed, and the date code on the edge of the frame is from the 22nd week of’57. The original two-tone brown and fawn covering is remarkably clean, especially considering the fragility of this material compared to a conventional tolex or even tweed. The chrome plating on the faceplate is extremely nice, and the amp retains all of its original black silkscreen graphics. The gold Gibson badge is no longer present on the amp’s face, and the luggage-style handle is present.
Up for sale, a 1962 Gibson GA-79RV in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original footswitch. A true stereo affair, the GA-79RV features a V front cabinet with two 20 watt channels pushing individual 10 Jensen ceramic magnet speakers. The quad of 6BQ5 (EL84) power tubes deliver a healthy 40 watts of all tube power when run in mono, and these tubes have a crystalline top end and heavenly overdrive, delivering a distinctly Vox-esque sizzle and roar when diming out the circuit. The cleans are snappy and clear too, with appropriate headroom before the circuit cascades into touch-sensitive bite and crunch. Exclusive to Channel 1, the tube-driven Reverb is lush and splashy, and given the stereo operation, the GA-79RV also offers the unique opportunity to mix the effected signal of Channel 1 with the dry signal of Channel 2, with a distinctive cabinet design that fills a room with dimensional tube tone. The circuit has been freshly and professionally serviced, with original transformers and a recap of the power supply with F&T capacitors. The tidy tag board circuit features a bevy of original carbon comp resistors and molded signal caps, and the CentraLab pots have visible date codes from the 38th week of’61. The vertically mounted reverb tank has a date stamp from the 2nd week of’62. The tube complement includes a modern quartet of Sovtek EL84 power tubes, with all vintage valves from the likes of RCA and GE in the preamp. The chrome-plated faceplate has plenty of shine, with all of the original black silkscreened text intact as well as all of the knobs. The speakers have been replaced with a modern pair of Jensen C10Q ceramic magnet 10 drivers. The original footswitch is included too and hard-wired, allowing easy activation of the Reverb, and fitting in its original metal bracket for transport central to the lower back panel. The original textured dark gray tolex and wheat grillcloth are extremely clean, and particularly notable, the entire original plastic Gibson badge is intact central to the face of the amp (a true rarity).
1950′ vintage gibson Ga-20 tube guitar amplifier just recapped sounds amazing reissue speaker. The original speaker was rotted and had tears ready to go no issues.
Vintage Gibson GA-6 Amp with Fender Speaker. Work Done on Amp by Metz Modifications in Minnesota. To the best of my knowledge, everything works as it should. Very Open to Offers!! Please contact with questions.
Vintage 1951 Gibson BR-9Tube Amplifier == VG 7/10 or better condition, relatively light exterior wear (leatherette is light/flimsy and often has much more wear), intact original handle, knob is not original, very nice appearance == Replaced filter caps == A bit more hi-fi (to my ears) than a Champ == Cool little amp ==. Please take a minute and read our feedback!! We strive to achieve 5 star service!! If you are not certain, ask questions!!! We describe as accurately as possible and research well but we’re NOT an experts nor a techs. We’re easy to contact!! We will leave feedback as soon as we receive yours. Also check our other listings for more neat Vintage/used Instruments & Amps, Vintage & Antique Art, Books, Jewelry, Collectibles, Electronics and Eclectica. We will not alter values or list as gift. AK& HI may be a bit more, too = check with us!! We pack very well, but on rare occasions damage may occur – that’s why we insure!! Also, I recommend having guitars set up professionally to your liking, our tastes may vary!! Blue Book condition grades: Mint 98%, EXC+ 95%, EXC 90%, VG+ 80%, VG 70%, Good 60%, Fair 40%.
Up for sale, a circa 1948 Gibson BR-6 vintage tube amp in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Recently serviced, this BR-6 is the two-input version available from 1946-48, pushing 10 watts via a pair of vintage RCA 6V6 power tubes through a Jensen P10S speaker. The tone is warm and fairly dark in its voicing from 1-5 on the single Volume dial, gaining grit and overdriven roar pushing towards 10. The amp really shines when dimed out with the midrange character unique to octal preamp amps and a real gutsy, punchy sound that’s thick and saturated. The point-to-point circuit has been fully rebuilt with a pair of vintage Hammond transformers, new electrolytic caps and signal caps from the likes of Sprague and Mallory. The speaker is a vintage Jensen P10S alnico magnet driver (replacing the original field coil) with a clean Jensen foil label on the magnet and date stamp on the edge of the dark green frame from 1953. The amp retains its original smooth brown covering, made from the same material used on early’50s Gibson guitar cases. The enclosure is extremely clean, with very minor edge wear, and the textured gold grillcloth is equally as well-kept. The large “G” gold badge is intact central to the grill, and the faceplate has clean silkscreen graphics. Even the original leather handle is present and still viable.
Here is my beloved Kalamazoo Model Two amplifier, # 3. These were made between 1965 and 1967 – ace years of tube tone. Gibson only made a few thousand of these. These Model 2 Black Panel amps are special. I first heard one courtesy of my guitar tech, Edtronics in Evansville, Wisconsin (he also did the upgrades on this amp and is really good at these mods). He had a black face Kalamazoo Model 2 on his bench and he’d turn it all the way up, and it sounded so good–yet it wasn’t too loud. The tube breakup was the most buttery and brown thing I’d heard; smitten, I decided to jump into getting a couple of these. Their 5-10 watt circuit is akin to the tweed Fender Champs but with a sweeter tone perfectly suited for harps, electric violin and (all) guitars. I’m keeping #2, but #1 and #3 are on offer (here and elsewhere). I ran two of them together as a little valve stereo rig at one point. Going another way now so – this amp is offered here for your consideration. It has the safety modifications: death cap removed, grounded professionally, modern 3-wire power cord, big filter caps upgraded. The original power on/off switch on the Tone knob works fine. Recently sprayed the pots & inputs with Cramolin-D5. It is ready to rock. The four mystery holes on the back panel: it came to me this way. Maybe someone had a direct out / extension speaker thing going on? 60 years old, it’s showing some scars. #3′s tube set features a Mesa 7025 STR preamp (7025 are the heavy duty, lower noise versions of the 12AX7/ECC83, from a Boogie amp I think) and the original American RCA 6X4. It has a newer Russian 6BQ5 “mil spec” power tube which compares to our Joint Army Navy tubes–over engineered, louder and fatter. An old RCA 12AX7 is the Tremolo tube and it could be original; the tremolo sound on these amps is so nice. It absolutely sounds great – the breakup you want, the musical tremolo you deserve. I’ve recorded some killer tracks with these amps, they loves pedals. I will remove the tubes for transport. I will pack it as I’d like to receive it, which is super safely and double boxed. The speaker is a’64 Gibson branded CTS from another amp I own (a Skylark), as I ran this amp with a modern speaker (Emminence) that I liked better. This’original’ vintage speaker is a re-cone done by Edtronics, and it sounds magical for harp & guitar. With its mods & fat tube set this amp is definitely louder than it was stock — and juicier. Check the video out for a harp guy taking it through its paces. He does a couple videos demonstrating the Model 2′s. The black Tolex covering on several corners shows the wear of years and a light repair, check the pictures for the patina carefully! This amp is for a player, not a collector’s case. It has all 4 original rubber feet. In excellent working condition, this vintage Kalamazoo tone machine is a thing of rock and blues beauty. Pound for pound, the tube tone value is incredible here. Crank up my other amps. Stock specs on the amp from the web. Tremolo Frequency (with on/off switch). Tone (with power on/off switch). Two inputs, one channel. One CTS Chicago Telephone Supply Co. 12AX7A/ECC83/7025 (dual triode) preamp. 6X4 full wave rectifier. 6BQ5/EL84 output tube. 12AX7/ECC83/7025 (dual triode) tremolo oscillator. Woodward-Schumacher TF500-0-606-528, 4K input, 8 ohm output. Height: 15 1/2 in. Schematic and tube layout chart pasted inside amp. According to Gibson history buff Bjorn Anger. There are no records of Kalamazoo amps after 1967. Records from 1970 showing a combined total of 139 units of Kalamazoo instruments and amps? In 1969, CMI (Chicago Musical Instrument, the legal parent of Gibson) was bought by ECL. In 1971 the company was renamed Norlin. Some (or perhaps all) Canadian Kalamazoos were labeled “Turner Musical Instruments” which was a wholly owned subsidiary of CMI. Kalamazoo, MI, was the location of Gibson’s manufacturing operations from Gibson’s inception in the 1880s until the early 1970s; hence the Kalamazoo name. In their heyday (the mid-1960s), Kalamazoos were some of the best, small, tube amps around. They were never anywhere near as popular as Fenders, but were a great little amp for the price, and seem to have been of more consistent quality than many of the Gibson brand amps! The Kalamazoo Models One and Two were extremely similar to the tweed Fender Champ 5F1.
This Listing is for a Gibson Skylark GA-5 Amp Guitar Tube Amplifier. Overall in good condition. Knobs do not appear original. Powers on and sounds great. Please inspect photos fully for best representation of item condition. Gibson Skylark GA-5 Amp Guitar Tube Amplifier Working Vintage Original Speaker. Check out our entire store for more great products and deals! We do however make every possible attempt to accurately describe the inventory we sell and stand behind it. Since 2016, 8TEN Industries has been a leading asset recovery provider supporting national retailers, brands, and manufacturers. Our 60,000 square foot processing and distribution facility located in Cass City, Michigan has allowed us to become industry leader in turning difficult problems for manufacturers into great deals for our customers.
