bigshoulders Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 After playing acoustic for a few years, I've just purchased my first guitar (Gibson SG) and want to pair it with a suitable amp that I'm not going to outgrow or wish I hadn't bought in a month. After much reading and perusing not only this area of VC but various other sites on the internet, I've come to drool (just a touch) over this little guy: Gibson GA-5. Anyhow, my needs are fairly simple. I'm not gigging, and not in need of a 100w half-stack. I simply want to learn the nuances of my guitar w/o all that other stuff that accompanies modeling amps and the like. I can appreciate the simplicity of a single knob. Also, I'd like to hang on to what hearing I still have-- though I've heard that these 5 Watt amps are plenty loud. Does anyone on here have one of these amps?Any advice or experience with them would be greatly appreciated. Cheers,Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigWheeledWagon Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 If you're looking for a small, simple tube amp, I'd recommend the Fender Champ (as most regulars around SST know) -- also 5 watts and around $200. I've got one that I use for recording, and I have been surprised at how great it sounds. It breaks up well when cranked and generally has a great tube tone. It also only has one knob. I don't know much about that specific Gibson amp, but Gibson is not really known as a great manufacturer of amps like Fender (though there's a movement afoot of people who really appreciate some older model Gibson amps for their "unique" tones). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimmyjimmy Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Not a fan.Played the old (50s-60s) versions (Les Paul Junior) and a modern one.I really wanted to like it BTW.... but it just left me cold. I think this will actually have you looking for a replacement pretty quickly.I dig small amps a lot....this one didn't move me at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I have no experience with that Gibson amp, but the Epiphone Valve Junior is a good 5 watt tube amp for under $150. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigWheeledWagon Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 A few more thoughts: No advice anyone here gives you can beat testing out amps for yourself. Just head on down to your local music store with your SG, plug her in, and see what sounds good to you. Also, 5 watts is, as you noted, "plenty loud" . . . depending on what you need. It's loud enough for recording, and it's great for practice. It's not loud enough to play gigs (unless maybe you miked it into a PA), and it's not even really loud enough to practice with a band (at least not with a drummer involved). My champ at full volume doesn't really bother my wife watching tv a few hundred feet away if the door to the studio is closed (which is one of the reasons I got it). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 A few more thoughts: No advice anyone here gives you can beat testing out amps for yourself. Just head on down to your local music store with your SG, plug her in, and see what sounds good to you. Also, 5 watts is, as you noted, "plenty loud" . . . depending on what you need. It's loud enough for recording, and it's great for practice. It's not loud enough to play gigs (unless maybe you miked it into a PA), and it's not even really loud enough to practice with a band (at least not with a drummer involved). My champ at full volume doesn't really bother my wife watching tv a few hundred feet away if the door to the studio is closed (which is one of the reasons I got it).Thanks for the practical advice. At this juncture, my needs are very simple, and I do only need it for practice. The article I plugged in the initial post was geared towards recording with a small amp, but that's not me at this point. I will give the Champ a fightin' chance. It's not sacrilegious to plug a Gibson into a Fender is it? Just kiddin'. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 The Plexi model is to die for.................and the price isin't. Damn near a grand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 The Plexi model is to die for.................and the price isin't. Damn near a grand.Ouch. I have to wonder though, the plexi housing has to yield a different tone, compared to wood. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 It's not sacrilegious to plug a Gibson into a Fender is it? Just kiddin'. Absolutely not sacrilegious. It's been the standard for many guitarists to play vintage Gibson and plug them in to vintage Fender. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Ouch. I have to wonder though, the plexi housing has to yield a different tone, compared to wood. KevinWay different tone. Forget about it unless you really have a grand to through around. My practice amp is a late 70's Fender Vibro Champ and I love it. These little champs are really going up in value now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Some interesting and tasty features...but i suspect you wont get much milage out of this one...for one, with a solid state rectifier, it isnt really a class A all tube amp...speaker is small and with limited eq and no reverb, youll narrow that number of tones youll be able to utilize...a loud 5 watts, probably not, the el84 is there to break up early, not project...practice amp, yes, recording amp, maybe...gigging amp, no....surprises the shit out of me that Les Paul would allow his name on something like this... Im a SG into fender guy for the most part...if i were you id try it out against a Fender Champ, Pro Jr, or even better a Blues Jr...have fun j Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimmyjimmy Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Here's an interesting concept for those looking into low wattage Amps on the cheap.Build your own cool vintage amp. Damn thing sounds pretty amazing in the second youtube clip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 Thought I'd check back in with y'all and let you know how things turned out. After some real hands-on time at the local music store playing the various models, I came home with a Fender Blues Jr. NOS in tweed. I did in fact play the 5w Fender Champion 600, but it just didn't seem to have enough oomph (for lack of a suitable word) and after trying the Blues Jr. I couldn't turn back. Thanks for all your suggestions! Boy, I'm glad I didn't end up going with the GA-5. I think it would have been a bad purchase Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmacomber68w Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Thought I'd check back in with y'all and let you know how things turned out. After some real hands-on time at the local music store playing the various models, I came home with a Fender Blues Jr. NOS in tweed. I did in fact play the 5w Fender Champion 600, but it just didn't seem to have enough oomph (for lack of a suitable word) and after trying the Blues Jr. I couldn't turn back. Thanks for all your suggestions! Boy, I'm glad I didn't end up going with the GA-5. I think it would have been a bad purchase Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Check out what BillM can do to that machine. Affordable mods that make that thing scream. The Deluxe mod is a must have! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 Check out what BillM can do to that machine. Affordable mods that make that thing scream. The Deluxe mod is a must have!O-man, could you elaborate as to what a BillM is? I confess, I'm brand-new to the world of "demon electricity" as they say at Asylum St. Spankers shows. I'm very happy with the stock sound coming out of this baby, but wouldn't be averse to modding it at some point in the future. Cheers,Kevin Edit: a quick-ass Google search yielded this treasure trove Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Thought I'd check back in with y'all and let you know how things turned out. After some real hands-on time at the local music store playing the various models, I came home with a Fender Blues Jr. NOS in tweed. I did in fact play the 5w Fender Champion 600, but it just didn't seem to have enough oomph (for lack of a suitable word) and after trying the Blues Jr. I couldn't turn back. Thanks for all your suggestions! Boy, I'm glad I didn't end up going with the GA-5. I think it would have been a bad purchase Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 They are really nice for the price. lol. But if you got the cash and you want small but mighty amp you really should just get a Swart Space Tone, one of my favorite amps of all time. Tweedy and Dean Wareham use them as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigWheeledWagon Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Thought I'd check back in with y'all and let you know how things turned out. After some real hands-on time at the local music store playing the various models, I came home with a Fender Blues Jr. NOS in tweed. I did in fact play the 5w Fender Champion 600, but it just didn't seem to have enough oomph (for lack of a suitable word) and after trying the Blues Jr. I couldn't turn back. Thanks for all your suggestions! Boy, I'm glad I didn't end up going with the GA-5. I think it would have been a bad purchase— I got so much more bang for the buck with this little beauty: Congrats -- that's a great amp. I had a feeling 5 watts wasn't going to be enough -- it really is only good for recording and quiet practice time. When you want "oomph," you have to call in the big boys -- I plug in my Fender Bassman 10 in those situations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 Thought I'd pipe up back in this thread and divulge a critical piece of information that a salesman at Sweetwater told me yesterday: Gibson has no plans continue manufacturing the GA-5. I think he said they were producing enough amps to fill out all the backorders, but were not going to continue manufacturing the amp. Good thing I went with a Fender after all. Let there be rock,Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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