Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Mkf411

Mkf411

New member
My Goldtone is sounding a bit less lively so I'm thinking of putting in new tubes. The manual says to use a matching pair of EL84's and two 12AX7's. The manual doesn't say anything about setting bias. I'm guessing that because it's class A, it dosn't need to be biased. Am I wrong? Anyone know for sure?

Also anyone have any tube recommendations. I want it to breakup as early as possible. Thanks
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

They're surprisingly loud amps. I have the 30RVS, and it's as loud as a halfstack. Great tone though. I like JJ EL-84's for tone, but they don't break up very early. Sovteks might do that better, but I don't have firsthand experience with Sovtek EL-84's. I like high gain pre tubes for amps like this though....something like Shuguang 9th Generation 12AX7's. Search for those on Ebay in unlabeled boxes. And no, there's no bias pot, and it doesn't need any adjustment. Just pop'em in.

I tend to use OD's like the Klon and Fulldrive II with mine, just to get earlier breakup and more gain. Without an OD, it's pretty loud and clean. It's probably one of the best amps I've heard for bridging the gap between Vox and Marshall....mostly due to the Vin 30.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Thanks Gearjoneser. The Goldtone 30RVS is one sweet amp. It has the extra gain stage when you pull out the volume knob. I would have gone for that one if it wasn't so freakin' loud.

In the manual Gibson recommends the Sovteks. They probably shipped new ones with Sovteks. I remember playing new ones at GC, when they came out and they did deliver sweet breakup (think Joe Perry) at about half volume with the extra gain stage engaged and humbuckers.

I'll be trying those Shuguang 9th Generation 12AX7's and some new JJEL-84's. My amp currently has JJEL-84 and JJ12AX7's. At some point I'll try Sovteks, too.

With the GA15R I can play at about half volume on the half power setting. I wish the GA15R had the extra gain stage, too. I use either an AC Booster or Demeter Fat Drive, mostly, for drive.

I remember the the Goldtone heads were pretty sweet, too. I see a Goldtone halfstack in my future and probably a 30RVS, too. Of course I have to keeps my GA15R, too. I can't resist the Goldtones.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Slightly OT :


. . . i've heard sooo amny good things about those old GIBSON amps (especially the 15watters), i would just like to know what they go for these days, and how often you see them on eBay ?


Thanx
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

I actually think the Goldtones were the best amps Gibson ever made....even better than the old ones.

I definitely like the extra gain stage on the 30W. It also has a bright switch, and footswitch.

One thing I found interesting is the stickers on the output transformers say Wound by Demeter, and my Goldtone is the 101st one made......tan/brown cloth. I think the reason they're so loud is because of those good Trannies.
For some reason, I think they're Mercury magnetics, but wonder why they say Demeter on them? Does your amp have that sticker on the transformer?
I'm trying to figure out if all of them did, or just mine.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

I don't see anything on the tranny that says Demeter on mine. Just a white sticker that has a model # and probably a serial #. And what looks like a logo with a backward letter R and U. Don't know what that stands for.

If you have the British one and that early of a model, it likely has a different transformer. I seem to remember that Gibson changed transformers when they moved productions to the US.

Pretty sure the 30RVS has two transformers, which is really cool. Isn't it two 15 watt amps running stereo or something?

Probably someone at Trace Elliot or Demeter or even British Audio would know the story on your trany. British Audio, as you probably know, is the authorized service center for the Goldtones. They sell quite a few Goldtones on ebay and I've heard they're good.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

SirJackdeFuzz said:
Slightly OT :


. . . i've heard sooo amny good things about those old GIBSON amps (especially the 15watters), i would just like to know what they go for these days, and how often you see them on eBay ?


Thanx
Click to expand...

Yeah, the old Gibsons are cool. If I see one I wouldn't hesitate to plug into it.

The one I have is a newer model that came out a few years back, but then got discontinued. They're sweet amps but didn't really catch on. If you follow this link, there's a picture of mine and a bit of info. If you like classic rock, or blues or even jazz, they're pretty cool amps.
http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/gibson_ga_15.html
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Is it just me or did these things suck when they were called Trace-elliot? amazing how a Gibson makeover suddenly made tonal mojo out them...
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Aceman said:
Is it just me or did these things suck when they were called Trace-elliot? amazing how a Gibson makeover suddenly made tonal mojo out them...
Click to expand...

The only known issue with them when they were Trace-Elliot branded was that there was a run with bad transformers. Trace, to their credit, went the extra mile to replace them when one was brought to their attention and Gibson has also done well by them and continued the replacement policy totally gratis.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

I'm assuming Gibson discontinued them because they were too much amp for the price point, and costly to manufacture. I predict that they'll be huge collectibles, because they were only made for a few years, and turned out to be great amps. I love the fact that they have reverb. The 30W is 2 15W stereo amps in one combo, with a connection to the reverb that they call 'pseudo stereo.'

I have JJ EL-84's and NOS Telefunken ECC83's in mine, and even though I love strats through it, it really is an amazing amp for Gibson guitars. Gibson made a huge mistake by discontinuing them. I've come close to buying a 15RV, just so I'd have both. Joe Perry has a hundred amps, and still loves the Goldtone, so that speaks volumes about it.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

all things Gibson & rare fetch big bank. still, I don't remember any Trace elliot hoopla....

I have heard good things about the Gibsons and played a cool one one time. I'm stickin with my Pro Jr.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Aceman said:
I have heard good things about the Gibsons and played a cool one one time. I'm stickin with my Pro Jr.
Click to expand...

If you want to hear something killer, use a stereo rig of Blues Jr. and Goldtone 15RV, so you'll have American and British in a stereo combo rig! :fingersx:
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Mkf411 said:
Yeah, the old Gibsons are cool. If I see one I wouldn't hesitate to plug into it.

The one I have is a newer model that came out a few years back, but then got discontinued. They're sweet amps but didn't really catch on. If you follow this link, there's a picture of mine and a bit of info. If you like classic rock, or blues or even jazz, they're pretty cool amps.
http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/gibson_ga_15.html
Click to expand...


Thanx a lot for that site - killer infom !!!
(helps if you are a Gibbo fan like me :smokin: )

Oh, and by the way, i am a HUGE fan of Classic Rock/the new wave of Retro Rock/Blues Rock/Electric Blues/60's Garage Rock/Psycho & Rockabilly !!!

If my GAS cont. i'll have way more amps than guitars very soon - oh well, like my Motorbike Club motto says' "Too Much Is Never Enough".


I'll keep my eye out on eBay !
What is a 'reasonable/good' price used ???

Again, thanx so much
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

Gearjoneser said:
I'm assuming Gibson discontinued them because they were too much amp for the price point, and costly to manufacture. I predict that they'll be huge collectibles, because they were only made for a few years, and turned out to be great amps. I love the fact that they have reverb. The 30W is 2 15W stereo amps in one combo, with a connection to the reverb that they call 'pseudo stereo.'
Click to expand...

I have a funny feeling that somehow Trace was the only company that could make that amp for that price and be able to turn a decent enough profit. The only other thing I could think of would be that they were losing money on them and since they didn't really take off they didn't get the oppurtunity to jack the price up on them.

The issue also is that for every Goldtone or Velocette with reverb there's a dozen non-reverb models floating around. As much as I liked my first one the reason it got unloaded was because I wanted one with reverb and didn't want to deal with another pedal in the mix.

Personally, I think whether they increase in value or not is going to depend solely on whether someone high profile starts playing them exclusively. Joe Perry may dig his, but he's not someone that the gear-heads have a shot at keeping up with. Additionally on the road he has been pretty secretive about what the amps are. Pictures I've seen just show the chassis out in the open. With this scenario the person prone to buying a Goldtone because Perry is using one is likely to believe that they're out like that because for maintenance and repair reasons. It's not a good endorsement that way.

I have JJ EL-84's and NOS Telefunken ECC83's in mine, and even though I love strats through it, it really is an amazing amp for Gibson guitars. Gibson made a huge mistake by discontinuing them. I've come close to buying a 15RV, just so I'd have both. Joe Perry has a hundred amps, and still loves the Goldtone, so that speaks volumes about it.
Click to expand...

I need to buck up and get some nice tubes into mine. I agree, it's okay with Strats. My Tele with the Little 59' just sings with it and the humbuckers guitars it just shines with. I was really prone to goosing it with the Spina-modded SD-1 (808) but recently decided to stick my Spina-modded TS9DX in front of it with my 73' Deluxe. With that pedal cranked up pretty hot I was amazed at the tones I was able to get out of it. I just about got a dead-on Stone Temple Pilots sound, something I wouldn't of ever thought I could get with the mini-humbuckers.

It's funny though....it's the one amp I'm reluctant to ever let go of because I know what a PITA it's going to be to replace it. When i got my first one on a fluke I played it very little due to the lack of reverb, but I knew something was there tonally. I must of spent two years scouring eBay and other sources looking for a reverb model for a good price.

But if I ever come across a non-reverb model again for stupid money I'll likely snap it up to have it to take to open mics and run it in stereo with the other one for larger gigs.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

It's hard to say what will be collectable in the future, but the Gibson name has a good track record. On Aerosmith DVD You Gotta Move, Joe Perry has a ton of amps on stage and Brad does, too. Talk about gear.

I ran into a Gibson Rep at a Guitar Center and he said, with regard to the Goldtone line, something about it being hard to keep the same people working for you. I'm not sure if he was talking about production workers or designers. He did mention that they're having some problems with the new line of amps Gibson is supposed to be coming out with. He mentioned Soldano as contributing to the design. These amps should be interesting. They will be running 6V6's on the lower watt ones. But he said management dosn't have a lot of patience so they need results fast. Not sure about quality of the new Gibson Amps, pretty sure they are made in Asia.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

I think Gibson has some amps right now, but they're handwired and extremely expensive.

I hope Gibson does come out with amps again, and an affiliation with Soldano sounds promising. If they're made in Asia, at least they'll be affordable......knowing Gibson's pricing.
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

What speakers are you guys using in your Goldtone's? I like my GA15R a lot thru a different cab, but not digging the V30 in it too much. Thinking hard about replacing it, but with what???
 
Re: Gibson Goldtone GA15R

That's a good question. So far, I like the Vintage 30 in mine. It's well broken in. The guy I bought from used to crank it all the time.

If I was going to change speakers, I'd look at the one Weber makes like a Blue Dog with an alnico magnet. To be safe I'd get the one that handles 50 watts. The 15 watt version might be cool, but I think it not last in the Gibson. The guys at Weber would know for sure, though. Should give you an AC-30 flavor. https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/ Look in the British flavor section of their site.
 
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