New Amp! Sweet Score!

[Shnook]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

Awesome score!!! I've got a Goldtone GA15 RV and it's a very cool amp. I don't care for the V30, sorry, so I run it with a 4X10 cab with Vox speakers. Love the tone! Gibson actually improved the Trace Elliot design in a couple of areas so I'd take the Gibson version over the Trace anyday. Especially in the transformer dept and tube sockets.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

Awesome score!!! I've got a Goldtone GA15 RV and it's a very cool amp. I don't care for the V30, sorry, so I run it with a 4X10 cab with Vox speakers. Love the tone! Gibson actually improved the Trace Elliot design in a couple of areas so I'd take the Gibson version over the Trace anyday. Especially in the transformer dept and tube sockets.

If it's not a hassle, can you take a look at the power transformer and see if it has a sticker or brand name on it? Everything looks totally stock on mine, and the sticker says wound by Demeter, which is sort of a surprise. Is yours black or tan?

Tonight, I used the strat with it, and now I'm convinced it's a keeper. The amp has a dual 15W in stereo, equalling 30W. So it feels like 2 low wattage Vox's or plexis in stereo. The reverb is a pseudo stereo spring reverb that sounds just as good as any Fender spring reverb.

I like how I can assign either of the stereo sides to a speaker output, so I could put another 2-12 cab under it, and have 15W out of 1 Goldtone speaker, and 15W to a closed back 2-12.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

That amp kills on style points alone!

 

[Young Angus]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

Great looking amp gear...i especially like the avatar of the komet limited

 

[fretburner]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

uh...where are the controls? are the 3 knobs at the back it?

btw, gearjoneser, what are the best EL34 cleans in your opinion? i'm an EL34 guy myself, but i wonder if there's ever an EL34 amp that can get a chimey fender clean?

thanks!

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

I'd recommend the Goldtone 15RVS or 30RVS to anyone looking for a great sounding amp for a decent price. I know Skarekrough has owned a few, and always uses his 15RVS. If I ever saw the 15, I'd jump on it, since they cost about the same as a Blues Jr.

I've owned the Trace Elliot branded 10" and 12".

I got the 10" first; great amp. Just had tone for days and was louder than any other amp I'd owned. Tiny little box....BIG SOUND! The bummer of it was that the back screen had been lost by the previous owner, there was no reverb and it was just too loud to take anywhere but a gig.

A week after my wife and I brought our son home from the hospital I saw one of the 12" on eBay and contacted the seller. He was local and was favorable to conducting a deal in person rather than wait for the auction to end; he had a definite number in his mind what it was worth and I managed to guess it. One of my great memories was coming home and having my son in my lap and going over the amp with him at a whole whopping ten days old!

The pentode/triode option made the price difference worth it for me. The reverb was just gravy on top of it all!

As someone once put it, it's VERY "British" sounding. With a Spina-modded SD-1 in front of it the amp's all I need for a night of gigging.

Great buy on that amp....I saw one locally awhile ago and pondered it but decided against ultimately.

Now....the question I have....Did Gibson discontinue these amps? What the heck have they done with them?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

My EL-84 amp gets all the love right now...guess I am in the same mood as Joneser
I run mine through my 4x12 G12H cab...fat and warm with that extra British midrange bite, but in a very sweet and pleasing way, recorded more stuff at work today, it is good after a long day of soldering to relax with a small amp, a huge speakercab, two expensive mic's, a nice console and kick back and play
Very mini Marshall here as well.
Anyways that is some cool options it has,a dual amp in one
Niels

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

uh...where are the controls? are the 3 knobs at the back it?

btw, gearjoneser, what are the best EL34 cleans in your opinion? i'm an EL34 guy myself, but i wonder if there's ever an EL34 amp that can get a chimey Fender clean?
thanks!

The best clean EL-34 amps I've heard are Matchless Chieftain, Bad Cat, and Hiwatt, although many EL-34 amps can have great cleans. It'll always have that British flavor, which is really solid in the mids.

Chime is the main characteristic of EL-84's, along with the nice thick mids that all British tubes have.

Because this Goldtone is such a simple amp with great tone, I'm not bothered by having the 3 knobs on the back of the amp. Once they're set, I don't find myself touching them much. The reverb stays low, the amp sounds best with the tone around 11-1 O'Clock, and the volume just stays where the amp breaks up the best...around 11-12 O'Clock.

This is definitely one of my favorite amps I've owned. Even though it's a PC board amp, it definitely has the sound of an old PtoP non master amp. It gives the $3000 Matchless a run for it's money.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

I should try to copy that look and use a controls on top chassis like a tweed amp. I really do dig it a lot.

Do I see the form factor of the new Hoss-breaker?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

I like the look, but so far it's the tone that's flooring me. I'm getting some of the best LP blues tones I've ever gotten, and the reverb is the best reverb I've ever heard. I like it even better than Fender reverb, because it has a long tail that sounds really natural.......they call it pseudo stereo, because it feeds out to the two 15W stereo sides. I'm really impressed with this Goldtone. It blows away a lot of amps out there, and certainly most of the mass produced ones.

My favorite thing is grabbing a note, then positioning myself in front of the amp to get feedback in the same note. It just howls in the right key everytime......and sounds rich and fat.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

heh the feedback that is right!!
Right note and with those funny climbing overtones right??
And if you move your fingers the amp just follows??
Uh....I gotta convince the boss about EL-84 amps

 

[fretburner]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

The best clean EL-34 amps I've heard are Matchless Chieftain, Bad Cat, and Hiwatt, although many EL-34 amps can have great cleans. It'll always have that British flavor, which is really solid in the mids.

Chime is the main characteristic of EL-84's, along with the nice thick mids that all British tubes have.

Because this Goldtone is such a simple amp with great tone, I'm not bothered by having the 3 knobs on the back of the amp. Once they're set, I don't find myself touching them much. The reverb stays low, the amp sounds best with the tone around 11-1 O'Clock, and the volume just stays where the amp breaks up the best...around 11-12 O'Clock.

This is definitely one of my favorite amps I've owned. Even though it's a PC board amp, it definitely has the sound of an old PtoP non master amp. It gives the $3000 Matchless a run for it's money.

hhhmmm... pretty much boutique stuff... what's the best marshall cleans to you ears?

how does the goldtone compare to the ac30?

 

[Hoss]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

I should try to copy that look and use a controls on top chassis like a tweed amp. I really do dig it a lot.

Do I see the form factor of the new Hoss-breaker?

you know me pretty well....hehehe

yeah i dig that ALOT!!! nice score for sure Joe!!!

hey Scott...where would we get that cab from? i think the Cocoa Phoenix is definitely the way to go on this one!!! the oxblood grillcloth looks good too!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

hhhmmm... pretty much boutique stuff... what's the best marshall cleans to you ears?

how does the goldtone compare to the ac30?

The best Marshall cleans usually come out of 4 input non mastervolume amps like Plexi's, JMP's, and JTM 45. I like them with an EH Holy Grail bridging the channels, so I can mix in the reverb with the warmth of Vol II. Then, a strat gets me that Hendrixy/Trower/Fruciante clean.

The Goldtone is a lot like an AC-30, and probably more like two AC-15's in stereo with reverb and Celestion Vin 30's. That'll give it less chime and more Marshally growl. If I put Alnico Blues or Greenbacks in it, it'd probably sound a lot more like an AC-30......more glassy chime.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

If you do a cab like this, you'll have to do it with an extended top, like the Super Goldtone. Otherwise your Celtic chassis will bump into the speakers.

 

[34029324079]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

Hehe one does need bread on the table, Cartoon music eh??
Sounds like it could be more fun than Hip Hop haha.
Would be nice to hear that new amp.
Here is the newest clip of my little EL-84 amp.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=139983&songID=4105497
Niels

cool demonstration of that amp

sounds good, looks good, I am jealous! :13:

 

[fretburner]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

The best Marshall cleans usually come out of 4 input non mastervolume amps like Plexi's, JMP's, and JTM 45. I like them with an EH Holy Grail bridging the channels, so I can mix in the reverb with the warmth of Vol II. Then, a strat gets me that Hendrixy/Trower/Fruciante clean.

The Goldtone is a lot like an AC-30, and probably more like two AC-15's in stereo with reverb and Celestion Vin 30's. That'll give it less chime and more Marshally growl. If I put Alnico Blues or Greenbacks in it, it'd probably sound a lot more like an AC-30......more glassy chime.

hhhmmmm... those are non-EL34 marshalls... i guess marshall can't sacrifice their dirty sound for a great clean sound...

it's funny when you said the goldtone will give the matchless a run for their money, because i immediately remember this guy who said something like "any gear less than $2,000 doesn't inspire me". he's so proud of his diezel herbert

 

[Scott_F]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

If you do a cab like this, you'll have to do it with an extended top, like the Super Goldtone. Otherwise your Celtic chassis will bump into the speakers.

Yep, gotta have some clearance for the tubes and chassis. Unless we just make it deeper. Like maybe a full 12-14 inches deep? Yep, that'd work. Also, the extra depth might really add to the tone. I really like my cabs to be a few inches deeper than the norm. (like what rivera does)

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

hhhmmmm... those are non-EL34 marshalls... i guess marshall can't sacrifice their dirty sound for a great clean sound.

Old Marshall Plexi's 1959 and 1987 have EL-34's and have spanking nice cleans
And here is the amp of mine...
Ugly really...I need to get it rehoused someday.

 

[fretburner]

Re: New Amp! Sweet Score!

Old Marshall Plexi's 1959 and 1987 have EL-34's and have spanking nice cleans
And here is the amp of mine...
Ugly really...I need to get it rehoused someday.

old plexis have that many pre-amp tubes? or some of those are for the reverb and tremolo(?)?

and judging from the number of power tubes, those should be 50-watts max right?

obviously, im not so good at these things... it's just that i happen to love amps with EL34s when they're overdriven... or maybe my ears just got used to that kinda sound that's why i love 'em.