Picked up this cutie today

[BrianS.]

1961 Maestro (Gibson) GA-1RV






Judging by the condition of the tweed, cords & footswitch, I don't think this amp was used very much at all. It is missing the recto tube, so I haven't tried it out yet.

I purchased this with the intent to resell. My original plan was to do a cap job/power supply tune-up, but this thing is damn near mint, so I'm wondering if I'd be better off selling it in all original condition. I'm leaning toward the upgraded powersupply, as that is what it will take to make this thing a useable, reliable amp.

Any of you buy/sell vintage gear? What would be better, all original or updated power supply?

 

[VHTJay]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

All OG if you are selling it. I am also wondering if there is no rectifier tube because it has been modified to use a solid state rectifier. I ask because the bassist in my band modified an old Sunn head for this. Very cool piece btw!

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

This amp has not been modified. I got it from the original owner.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

still a 2 prong plug?
I'm not a reseller so I dunno if this harms the value, but I'd suggest a star ground at least. One thing's for sure....I'd.Play.The.Sh!t.Outta.That.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Cool! What does 'Revers-Echo' mean? I would have figured reverb, but there's clearly no reverb control.

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Damn, that thing is F-in CLEAN! Nice score...

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Cool! What does 'Revers-Echo' mean?

Yeah, that's a little weird. This amp has reverb, but it only affects another amp that you hook up to this one. There are clip leads that you connect to the speaker of another amp, and that is what drives the reverb circuit of this amp. I haven't examined that part of the schematic too closely yet & there are no good demos online that I've seen. Guess I'll have to make one when I get a chance!

but I'd suggest a star ground at least.

Please don't take offense, but as a stand alone suggestion, this makes no sense. An updated power supply takes a 3 prong cord, new filter caps, some new resistors & maybe one or two more steps...star ground is not one of them.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Yeah, that's a little weird. This amp has reverb, but it only affects another amp that you hook up to this one. There are clip leads that you connect to the speaker of another amp, and that is what drives the reverb circuit of this amp. I haven't examined that part of the schematic too closely yet & there are no good demos online that I've seen. Guess I'll have to make one when I get a chance!

Hahahahaha . . . that's crazy!

 

[Ascension]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Filter caps is pretty much a given if it is all original not just for noise and tone but for safety and I would check that out before I plugged into it.
Might want the get it back up and play it before you decide to sell her. I found a MINT 59 Gibsonette sitting on top of a trash heap in my neighborhood several years ago when an old estate was cleaned out by the family. Once I got it back up and playing it was just a fantastic sounding amp. I was in a bad tight and had some one make me an offer at that time I couldn't refuse but wish I could have kept it and would love to find another one of those amps. Some of those old Gibson amps are flat tone monsters!!

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

it's a 3 prong plug stuck to the parts that need ground and grounding it to the PT. Also taking the death cap out in the equation. You don't need to recap the whole power section unless it's already screwed.

That reverb thing is really odd. heheh

 

[Ascension]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

it's a 3 prong plug stuck to the parts that need ground and grounding it to the PT. Also taking the death cap out in the equation. You don't need to recap the whole power section unless it's already screwed.

That reverb thing is really odd. heheh

Most of those amps used nothing but the paper and oil caps so all of them will be dried up and dead if they have never been changed. You need to take a hard look at them all or you could get a really nasty shock + kill other things in the amp.
Can you get a chassis shot of her I would love to see if it was layed out like my old Gibsonette was?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Picked up this cutie today

Most of those amps used nothing but the paper and oil caps so all of them will be dried up and dead if they have never been changed. You need to take a hard look at them all or you could get a really nasty shock + kill other things in the amp.
Can you get a chassis shot of her I would love to see if it was layed out like my old Gibsonette was?

yea, this is true. Maybe just look for fat or leaking caps and sell as-is if there are any. If you get a rectifier tube in there, play enough to figure out if it makes noise and then sell as "needs TLC". Put some rubber soled shoes on too.