Vintage Tube Amp

Up for sale, a 1970′s Elk Viking 100 vintage tube amp head in near mint condition and in perfect working order. Produced by Miyuki in Japan and freshly serviced by our techs here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, this stunningly clean all-tube head features a quad of matched EL34 power tubes. Offering a two-channel, four-input design with Reverb and Tremolo dedicated to the first channel, the Viking 100 largely mirrors the feature set of Fender’s Silverface era amplifiers, yet the sonic properties of the Viking 100 are distinct in every dimension. The Viking 100 is a remarkably hi-fi sounding amp, with a clarity and muscle more akin to Hiwatt. The onboard effects include a very splashy and deep Reverb, and the effect is so lush that it borders on self-oscillation, with literal waves of echo as the signal decays. While the Reverb is functional regardless of the footswitch (included), the Tremolo effect requires the footswitch be plugged-in to activate, just like a vintage Fender. The effect has a smooth pulse with just enough percussive chop to be present, offering a wide range of available speeds. The circuit retains the original transformers, with fresh signal and bypass caps as needed for optimal functionality. The back panel of the amp includes a 100/117V voltage switch, along with dual speaker outputs (the amp wants to see a 4ohm load). The tube complement includes a fresh, properly biased quad of Electro Harmonix EL34 power tubes, as well as all of the original valves in the preamp. Cosmetically, this Elk Viking 100 is stunningly clean, with near mint textured black tolex, clean hardware, a practically perfect machined aluminum faceplate, and all of the original skirted aluminum knobs. A modern Fender two-button footswitch is included.

Up for sale, a 1965 Rickenbacker B9A 1×12 tube amp in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with its original matched set of RCA tubes. A notably rare all-tube vintage Rickenbacker amp, the B9A features the same silver tolex as Rickenbacker’s hardshell cases of the era, freshly serviced and extremely original, loaded with the original Jensen C12Q speaker. While this circuit was also marketed by Rickenbacker with different cosmetics/branding as the Electro E12, the Rickenbacker iteration is notably rarer, falling somewhere sonically and feature-wise between a Tweed-era Fender Princeton and Vibrolux. The single ended Class A design pushes around 7 watts via a 6V6 power tube and 5Y3 rectifier, with a touch-sensitive overdriven bite and sweet saturation. The 12 speaker and larger cabinet offers significantly more low end and tonal breadth than most single ended amps of the era, and the bias-based tremolo circuit has a strong pulse and dimensional quality. The circuit retains the original transformer pair and the bent brass chassis has all of the original CTS pots, with visible date codes from the 17th week of’65. The circuit was recently serviced and all electrolytic caps are viable. The tube complement includes all of the original RCAs, with a 6V6 power tube, 5Y3 rectifier, and 7025s (12AX7) in the preamp. The original Jensen C12Q speaker is in great shape, and the date code on the edge of the frame is from the 22nd week of’65. The amp retains its original smooth silver tolex, stamped Rickenbacker badge, and luggage-style handle. The polished chrome faceplate exhibits minimal patina, retaining virtually all of the white silkscreen text and the original quartet of knobs.

Up for sale, a 1960s Meteor U-45B 1×12 combo amp in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a footswitch to engage the Tremolo. This rare Japanese-made amp was crafted by Univox in OEM capacity for their little-seen Meteor brand, identical to the Univox-branded combo of the same name. Sparingly little information is available as to the nature of the Meteor brand specifically, but it was likely used by Unichord/Univox for the Japanese domestic market. This combo features a single channel, three-input design (Guitar, Acc, Aux), delivering 10W of power with simple Volume, Tone, and Tremolo (speed) controls. Surprisingly full-sounding given its form factor, this U-45B offers muscular, expansive lows (enhanced by the relative depth of the cabinet) and punchy, crisp trebles that aren’t overly pointed or brittle. The circuit cascades into creamy, harmonic-rich overdrive around 6 on the dial, thickening up further when diming the amp out. The Tremolo has a strong pulse, only active with the footswitch plugged in, with the knob governing the speed of the effect. The circuit is very original and recapped as needed, retaining the stock transformers. A three-prong cable has also been installed. Tubes include a matched pair of Toshiba 6BM8s, a 12AX7 and a 6X4 (rectifier). This amp is loaded with a Weber Signature Series Sig12F 12 speaker, designed for early’50s Tweed-style tone that accentuates the amp’s overdrive capabilities. There are just a few small marks on the black tolex, the gray grillcloth is clean, and the Meteor badge is present. The silkscreened graphics on the control plate are pristine, and the original trio of reflector cap knobs is present. A modern footswitch is included.

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.

Very cool vintage amplifier. It’s very dusty and needs a good cleaning. There’s some crackling in the pots when you turn the dials but it’s not actually not that bad. Totally playable as it is. The video in the gallery is of my nephew playing it exactly as-is. Be ready to dust and clean this out I’m not doing anything to it because I don’t want to damage anything. The power wire is solid…. It doesn’t have any cracking in it. For restoration and needs cleaning. It will be extremely safely packed with ups. I don’t cut corners on packing. I pack a lot of vintage electronics and turntables so I understand they care that goes into this.

Good working condition – new jewel light bulb. Original printing gone, Fender speaker.

Vintage Danelectro DM25 Tube Guitar Amplifier Tremolo Reverb. This unit was serviced in October 2022, complete with a cap job and 3 prong added for safety. Trem sounds great, reverb works and sounds as good as any dano/silvertone reverb I’ve heard. 12 Jensen is OG and sounds amazing. I will pack well and insure for full amount.

Gibson GA-40 Les Paul Point-to-point Hand Wired Tube Guitar Amplifier 1954. Fully functional with all Original Parts included. Beautiful American made vintage amp from the Golden Age of manufacturing, Kalamazoo, Michigan. This combo amp is perfect for Rhythm and Lead Guitar… And it has Tremolo! Tube driven tremolo has found a cult following in today’s roots, country, and rock music. This would be a great amp for Neil Young, John Fogerty, Ry Cooder, Joey Landreth, or Buddy Miller if you’re reading this, Buddy give me a call. From Aspen Pittman’s “The Tube Amp Book”- My favorite is the GA-40- it sounds so sweet, and really looks great! ” This amp has a “signal oscillating tremolo driven by 1/2 of a 6SN7 tube and one extra 6V6 tube. A very nice swirling and pulsing tremolo (not choppy or staccato), and a completely silent switching function. This is an ingenious circuit from Gibson, and less problematic in practice than the bias-based tremolo or harmonic tremolo from Fender with 3 additional tubes! I sometimes leave the tremolo on for both rhythm and leads. In my opinion, this amp is easily the equal of the classic Fender Tweed Deluxe (I have owned several), plus it has that swampy Tremolo! The amp accepts Strats, Teles, and Gibson guitars equally well. I’m going to call it the characteristic “Gibson Sound”. This is the ultimate “Player’s Special”. Marc Meyer of Firebottle Toneworks went over every inch of this amp, replacing dried up wax and electrolytic capacitors and failed resistors. 3-prong power cable was installed, and he crafted a hand-made mahogany Tremolo footswitch. All the replaced original parts are included in a baggie for you, as well as the original instruction manual from 1954. The carry handle was gone, so I replaced it with a black leather luggage handle. The Amp has all the original transformers, chokes, and… That’s right, the original USA 1954 vacuum tubes tested good, and sound great. If you’re out playing, and the amp picks up some noise, or a tube fails… Simply power down and quickly replace all the tubes. No need to rebias- it’s all self-bias, i. One minute later, you’re back to live playing. Preamp tubes are 6SJ7- which give the amp’s tone a special character- more of a throaty growl than the smaller more trebley common 12AX7. The original set are metal jacketed RCA, and the second set are NOS glass bottle 60′s US made 6SJ7. The original power tubes are RCA 6V6, and the second included set are Reissue Russian Tung-Sol. One original and one NOS US 6SN7, one original and one NOS 5V4 rectifier tube round out the complement. The amp has the original 1954 12 Jensen P12Q Alnico concert series speaker with original dust bell, which has just been freshly reconed by THE expert- Ted Weber inc. This Gibson amp is ready to play, and now you can push it into overdrive and louder territories without fear of blowing the speaker! The recone may start to sound even better after a 2-3 week “breaking in” period. This amp accepts pedals very well, and has a bit of “clean head room”- a little louder than a Fender Tweed Deluxe before it breaks up. And “Edge of breakup” is where this amp lives. I often just roll down the guitar volume to 8 for a clean rhythm sound, and when the guitar’s on “10″ and the amp halfway up- strident chords, lead tone for days which will stand out in a band or recorded mix! I made a video to provide a clean sound demo for this amp… Even with my funky vintage Strat under fluorescent lights in the basement, you can tell this amp sounds great! Well, I’m a little bit rusty. Amp is a 1 x12 speaker combo, putting out about 20 Watts (seems louder than a Tweed Deluxe Fender) from the pair of cathode-biased 6V6 power tubes. Should be loud enough for most combo situations, including playing with a normal drummer (Blues, Rock, Roots, Jazz, Country). Only if the new drummer shows up with a Mohawk hairdo, double kick drums, and is a real rock pounder would this amp be NOT loud enough. In that situation, I can heartily recommend taming him with any 50 Watt Marshall aimed in his direction. Or better, keep your classic tone by miking the Gibson amp through the PA. In the home recording studio this Gibson amp really shines. When tracking guitar parts, you’re always looking for a special sound, something different to stand out in the mix. A rare Gibson amp like this can offer tones very different from Fender, Marshall, or Vox amps in the studio. The Octal-based 6SJ7 preamp tubes which run at fairy low voltages produce a unique sound- a throaty growl which would be hard for other amps to emulate. Plus tremolo- did I mention it has tremolo? Measures 23 x 17 x 8 inches and weighs 24 lbs. Easy on your back. Will include a like new blue road case. This amp is ready to play! I have 100% feedback for a reason. This amp comes from our smoke free, Covid free (so far) home. You can make me an offer, but this is a fair BIN price.. The item “Vintage Gibson GA-40 Les Paul Tube Guitar Amplifier 1954 All Original- Tremolo” is in sale since Tuesday, March 2, 2021. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Guitar Amplifiers”. The seller is “dekeknox” and is located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Brand: Gibson
• Amplifier Type: Combo
• Suitable For: Electric Guitar
• Amplifier Technology: Vacuum Tube