Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

[BigAlTheBird]

This one isn't mine, but it's identical. I've been doing a lot of research, and this amp just seems 'cool.' It's 42 years old, but it's got lots of balls. 20 watts, with analog (obviously) tremolo and reverb. 4 channels. Footswitch for the tremolo/reverb. 7 tubes (3x6EU7, 2x12AU7, 2x6BQ5). Not the loudest amp ever, but I don't need loud.

The backstory, for those who don't know, is that Gibson (in the 60's) watched as Fender ran away with the amp market. They were selling them hand over fist, and Gibson wanted in. So they made a bunch of amps which were almost identical (circuit/feature wise) to Fender's line. This particular one, the GA-20RVT (Minuteman colloquially) is nearly identical to Fender Pro Reverbs.

So from the research I did, and the people I talked to, and Harmony Central reviews, I just think this amp is gonna kick some ass. I can't wait to play it. Unfortunately, Im not gonna get to until June. I bought it on eBay, and my mother is picking it up (it was in Long Beach, only 5 miles away - also part of the allure) Wednesday. But I'm not gonna be home from college again till the summer. Whatever! I'm stoked, really happy. Hopefully I love it much more than I like the last few amps I had. I'm not quite B-Bent or Gearjoneser, but there's not much I like more in life than buying and selling gear.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Um, isn't the pro reverb like 60 watts through 2x12? 20 watts would be a LOT more like a Fender Deluxe Reverb, not a Pro

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Um, isn't the pro reverb like 60 watts through 2x12? 20 watts would be a LOT more like a Fender Deluxe Reverb, not a Pro

Every site I've seen has the circuit almost identical to the Pro Reverb, if not the wattage/speakers. But look at the controls/inputs, they are identical.

Here's one website. Scroll down to GA-20RVT, or ctrl-F Minuteman.
http://www.netads.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Gibson/gfmap.html

 

[cream123]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Crazy man, soudns fun. I've always loved vintage Gibson amps

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Every site I've seen has the circuit almost identical to the Pro Reverb, if not the wattage/speakers. But look at the controls/inputs, they are identical.

Here's one website. Scroll down to GA-20RVT, or ctrl-F Minuteman.
http://www.netads.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Gibson/gfmap.html

The control scheme from a deluxe reverb to a pro reverb is the exact same too....

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

So, it's just like a Pro Reverb except half the speakers, less than half the power, and it has EL84's in the output stage instead of 6L6's.

I think you're reading the wrong websites.

That said, it's a cool amp. I'd like to have one.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

I don't know enough about it dude, honestly. But I read on 3 or 4 websites that the circuits are nearly identical, and they all said Pro Reverb. Honestly though, I reall coldn't care less about that!

Thanks Cream! I think they're awesome. One thing I love is that there's only 1,005 of these in the whole world. That sounds like a lot, but that's really not. I'm a fan of good, old things.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

actually the deluxe and pro reverb circuits are almost the same except that the deluxe uses 6v6's instead of 6l6's. I'd think this thing is closer to a Deluxe...definitely a cool amp! good score man gonna sound really cool and have tons of vibe with the mean green semi-hollow machine!

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

So, it's just like a Pro Reverb except half the speakers, less than half the power, and it has EL84's in the output stage instead of 6L6's.

I think you're reading the wrong websites.

That said, it's a cool amp. I'd like to have one.

You guys could be right, I really don't know. That's not at all why I bough it anyways. I bought it because on its own, it seems like a sweet little amp. I've not heard a single bad thing about it yet. Who knows, I might hate it! All part of the quest.

My dad has an old Pro Reverb from the late 60's, and I like it a lot though.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

actually the deluxe and pro reverb circuits are almost the same except that the deluxe uses 6v6's instead of 6l6's. I'd think this thing is closer to a Deluxe...definitely a cool amp! good score man gonna sound really cool and have tons of vibe with the mean green semi-hollow machine!

Thanks dude! You're probably right. I'm hoping this amp is a rockabilly machine, we'll see. I'll be sure to post opinions in a few months when I get it and retube it (if need-be) and stuff. I know this is a tease, for me anyways.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

sweet....!

 

[rog951]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Only five amps in a whole year?! Dude, you're slacking!

Congrats on the "new" amp. Looks sweet!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Very nice . . . I love obscure old tube amps. Great score!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

funny thing, i just got one of those too! the transformer phase inverter is a little weird but its a cool amp. did you get the footswitch with it? i did and i heard that its hard to find a replacement due to the odd jack.

cool amp for low dough

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Nice Gibby Big Al,

I bet it will get louder when you get some new power tubes in it and do some clean up on it.

Tell us how it sounds when you get a chance.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Cool lil amp. And like Rich said 6bq5 is the same as EL-84, so just throw a $30 set of JJ's in it.

Did you find it through a friend or recycler.com?

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Thanks to all of you!

Jeremy, what are your likes/dislikes/recommendations? And yeah, a lot of the ones that sell or have sold on eBay didn't come with the footswitch, but this one did and it's perfect. Part of the allure/selling point.

Wixedmords, I definitely will. It'll be a while though.

Gear, I bought it through eBay, but I noticed it's in Long Beach so I asked if it could be picked up. Saved $50 of shipping, also a big reason why I bought it. I'm definitely gonna replace all the tubes, I personally can't wait to hear 12AU7's. Never have (only 12AX7's). And I knew 6BQ5's were EL84's, I actually just copied and pasted that part.

I e-mailed Gibson on Sunday for a schematic and tube list, and they replied at 9PM PST (so 12AM their time) with the schematic/tube list/some advice. That's good service!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

i just got mine up and running ($200 including the parts i had to put in). some of the tubes are microphonic so ill have to replace them. im running mullard el84's which came in the amp and seem to have some life left. it sounds like a nice amp so far. i need to spend an afternoon with it swapping tubes before i can get a good picture of what it can do

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

Oh ok cool. That's right around what I paid too, but I need (probably all) new tubes. Did you get the footswitch with yours?

I'd love to hear what you think once you get it completely up and running! Thank you.

BTW, one just ended on eBay a few hours ago for $300, so I'm felling pretty good about what I paid!

 

[ES350]

Re: Just bought my 5th tube amp in the last year, a '65 Gibson Minuteman!

I've had about a dozen of these 60's era Gibson/Epi amps over the years--all gone. Just hope your 6EU7's are in good shape---those are getting very expensive. Be careful with those pedal connectors too; not easy to find either. BTW---these are pretty different from most any Fender amp ever made; power supply, tone stack, PI, reverb circuit, etc etc etc...good luck.