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1954 Gibson GA-20 1x12 Vintage Tube Amp w/ Jensen P12R, Serviced

$2,399.99

+ shipping

Up for sale, a 1954 Gibson GA-20 in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Featuring original two-tone cosmetics, a Jensen P12R speaker, and a 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, 5Y3GT 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 thoroughly recapped with premium tubular signal caps in the preamp and F&T power supply caps. The output transformer has been replaced with a vintage-accurate Mercury Magnetics ToneClone GA20-O, mounted to the speaker frame, while the original power transformer is intact, mounted to the back of the chassis. 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 9th week of '54.

The original two-tone covering exhibits limited wear (particularly when considering the fragility of this material compared to a conventional tolex or tweed), primarily concentrated around the edges, and half of the gold Gibson badge is still intact on the amp’s face. The graphics on the brown faceplate are clean, the brown chickenhead knobs are present, and the leather handle has been replaced.