Gibson ATLAS!

[Jonesycat]

Hey y'all!
I was hoping one of my fellow brothers and sisters of the guitar might be able to help me out with some info on this really cool old amplifier, my Gibson Atlas. Man! How cool is this?!!!!! I got this thing back in bout 93 and it stayed in my closet for bout 10 yrs or so, didn't know if it even worked, it was given to me. I had gone over, tubes and caps ect. Said they couldn't find one of the preamp tubes. It's got two 6L6 output tubes and three preamp, two of which are 12AX7 and one I can't make out, it's just a little thinner in diameter and set between the two. Any ideas? I believe it to be 8ohms if I recall what the repair cat said. Somebody told me it was made in 1963 (like me!) Anyway 20 yrs later I'm getting around to using it for some acoustic and maybe some crunchy stuff. Can anybody tell me the ohm's, watts, the year make and maybe a good choice of speaker for my cab build. This old guitarist would appreciate any info on this so that I might rock with this beauty for another 50 years.
Thank you!
jonesycat

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

1963-1967 PowerPlus Atlas IV bass amplifier
Tubes: (2) 6EU7, (1) 6C4, (2) 6L6
50 watts
15" 16-ohm speaker

Instruction manual
http://www.0rigami.com/gg/atlas4_page1.pdf
http://www.0rigami.com/gg/atlas4_page2.pdf
http://www.0rigami.com/gg/atlas4_page3.pdf
http://www.0rigami.com/gg/atlas4_schematic.pdf

equivalent to Epiphone EA-71/72 Constellation

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I have owned several and still have a 64 Atlas and a Mercury. I really dig em, with a few tweaks. Upping the value of a couple caps can get the bottom and grind really working. They want to see 16 ohms, it can be tricky to find 6EU7s tubes, but worth it IMO. Some covert to 12AX7s, but mine sounds too good to even bother. They are a killer retro rock, texas blues machine. Look cool as hell esp if you have the trapezoid head with matching cab.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Hi Jonesycat! Welcome to the forum.

Beaubrummels and Kevlar are two of the most knowledgeable amp guys here. I'd take their word for it.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I'm just an old man that likes loud and ugly amps...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Tube Depot is a good source for odd tubes and parts.

https://tubedepot.com/products?utf8=✓&keywords=6EU7
https://tubedepot.com/products?utf8=✓&keywords=6c4

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I want to see it.

 

[Jonesycat]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Yeah! Trapezoid head! It is totally cool, I dig this stuff. I grew up playing tube driven amps, it's a living, breathing
thing. I'll get pictures up when I figure out this I Pad thing.
Thank you!

 

[Jonesycat]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I too claim old man who rocks with old amps!

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I too claim old man who rocks with old amps!

 

[Jonesycat]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

By the way, I want to thank all of you for the warm welcome and information I
Have received from all of y'all. I'll be building something up in a cab for her an
get pictures up when when I figure out this I Pad device.
Thank you!
Jonesycat

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Here is my Atlas and Mercury. Atlas is rusty as hell but likes it that way.

 

[Jonesycat]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Aaaaaaaa! There it is!! Up top on the right. Holy smokes, the same amount of surface rust to boot. THAT
my friend is a spittin immage of mine, wow. Hey by the way, I'm seriously in love with them ladies ya got
lined up, beautiful they are...you know what your doing. Yeah it's a mirror image of mine. Thought about re
doing the front in exact but thought na, it's earned it, I'm 50 an I'm scuffed up a bit too. These amps are in a
class of coolness very few tread!
That simply rocks.
Jonesycat

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

Yes, I too briefly pondered cleaning up the Atlas , but there are stories in every bit of scruff on that amp. Nothing polite about it, shiny or not.

 

[Jonesycat]

Re: Gibson ATLAS!

I got mine from this cat who did some gospel singing stuff, I dunno but I've done diirtied her up, some old obscure acoustic Zepp an she was good to it. I want to do her up like my 50 watt Marshall with a pre amp pot. Man sakes alive that thing could melt walls. We'd ( back in the 80's an 90's) my mates an I could cover all that Iron Maden and Priest, Thin Liz an such to a T with them Marshall's. Probably be killin a perfectly good amp but then again the tone, man.