1959 Gibson GA-20T Vintage Tube Guitar Amp 1x12, Collector-Grade w/ Tremolo, Vintage Tube Set, Jensen P12R

Up for sale, a 1959 Gibson GA-20T in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original footswitch and a full complement of vintage tubes. Featuring original two-tone cosmetics, a positively gleaming chrome faceplate, original Jensen P12R speaker, and a very original and professionally serviced circuit, this GA-20T 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-20T features a two-channel, four input design with an RCA 6V6 power tube pair, original Gibson-branded 5Y3 rectifier, and dual triode (12AX7, etc) tubes in the preamp as well as an RCA-branded octal 6SG7.Offering distinctly different voicings between the pair of Microphone and Instrument inputs for each channel, the GA-20T is at its most aggressive via the Mic channel. While these inputs do offer a modicum of clean headroom, it quickly overdrives with a sizzling, chewy sound that's extremely smooth. The Tone control has a wide 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 onboard tremolo positioned the GA-20T as the competition for Fender's Tweed-era Tremolox in its day, and the tremolo doesn't disappoint, with a smooth, present pulse.The circuit has been professionally serviced, and the preamp retains a combination of yellow Astrons and red "dynamite" signal caps, the same capacitors used in Fender's narrow panel tweed circuits, and a key component in the musical nature of those preamps. The original CentraLab pots have visible date codes from the 44th week of '58. The power supply has been recapped, and the amp is still fitted with a two-prong power cable (a three-prong can be installed at the next buyer's discretion). Both original transformers are intact, with the output transformer mounted to the speaker frame. The speaker is the original Jensen P12R which has an extremely clean dark blue/green frame, blue foil label on the magnet bell, and the original smooth cone.The original two-tone dark brown and tweed covering is remarkably clean, especially considering the fragility of this material compared to a conventional tolex. 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 fully intact on the amp's face, and the luggage-style handle is also present.The original wedge "doorstop" footswitch for engaging the tremolo is included.