Up for sale, a 1966 Kalamazoo Reverb 12 in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original branded slip cover, two-button footswitch, and original tube set. Manufactured by CMI (the parent company of Gibson from 1944-69), the Kalamazoo amps were designed as a quality tube amp on a budget to pair with Gibson's "student" guitars like the Melody Maker. The Reverb 12 was the top of the line model, featuring built-in footswitchable Reverb and Tremolo, loaded with the original CTS 10" ceramic magnet speaker. The tube complement includes the CMI-branded 6BQ5 (EL84) tube pair, and this amp offers quite a bit of clean headroom with a distinctive sizzle and grit at higher volumes. The effects on the Reverb 12 include a Reverb that has a certain trashy, splashy quality in addition to the bias-based tremolo circuit that has a throbbing pulse.
The circuit is extremely original, given a fresh checkup by our techs here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar to ensure optimal functionality and the lowest possible noise floor. The original capacitors and carbon comp resistors intact, with stock CTS pots that have visible date codes from the 25th week of '66. The original transformers are present with 1966 date codes, and the original two-prong power cable is still installed on the amp. The ceramic magnet 10" CTS speaker has its original cone with a date stamp on the magnet from the 27th week of '66. The entire original CMI-branded tube set is intact and still viable.
Cosmetically, this amp is stunningly clean. The faceplate has practically perfect graphics, and all of the original large barrel knobs are present. The black tolex and salt and pepper grillcloth is remarkably well-preserved, and the top corners are all sharp and not worn or blunted from use.
The original Kalamazoo-branded slip cover is equally as clean as the amp, and the two-button footswitch is included, hard-wired to the circuit.