xxx Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 If anyone has ever considered getting a GA-5 my advice is BUY ONE! I purchased mine from sweetwater for $399. They just dropped the price $300!! A beautiful made in America handwired low wattage amp for $399 !?!?! I"m very happy with this one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 Just curious, has anyone else had the opportunity to play thru a GA-5? What did you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185cat Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I have owned one for over a year now and really enjoy the amp. I have a 1981 LP, a LP Smartwood Exotic and an ES137. I think the old LP sounds best through the amp of the three guitars, just seems to fit. For the money you can really get some nice tone out of this guy and boy is it a pleasure to drag around from one place to another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 Boy, for a while there I thought I was the only one here who thinks this is a great amp! Every time I use it I like it more. What a great little amp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimtlin Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I just ordered one from Musicians "Fiend" for 299.00 -- must be discontinuing these little amps. I've been wanting one for a few years, but really didn't have a use for one (at least not for 699.00). Anyway ... I should have it by the end of next week. Here's the link ... Â http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Goldtone-Les-Paul-Jr.-Amp?sku=481209 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackerdan Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Â Oh Yeah mine's coming!! Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younkint Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 I have one of these. It's one of the best amps I've ever heard - bar none. At the price they're going for now, it's the absolute best deal there is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 XXX.................... Nice AXE!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimtlin Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I got the amp Thursday ... Very cool little amp. A lot louder than I thought it would be (that's what all the reviewers said -- but I was still suprised). When I plugged it into my THD cab ... it sounded huge, but the 8" speaker is pretty nice sounding as well. For use at home (I live in a condo) I have to throw a pedal in front of it for any kind of breakup ... or just wait until my wife and downstairs neighbors are out ... probably enough power for small gigs especially when using a 2x12 cab -- YMMV. My original intent was to have a recording amp ... I'll have to rig up some kind to isolation box for that ... this amp sounds great cranked! Â The funny thing is, I didn't miss the lack of tone control -- it only has a volume. This amp's tone is really amazing. The amp sounds nice with a strat, but shines with my Les Paul (afterall, it is a "les paul jr" amp). The overdriven sounds are very nice with a humbucker. Anyway ... that's my 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilowatt Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I ordered one of these amps from MF for 299.00 and it arrived today. The build quality looks superb and the tone is incredible. I only got to try it out for a couple of hours so far, but it's one of the best sounding amps I've ever played through. At this price, I don't think you could find a better amp. I think this one will be with me for a long, long time. Do any of you know who made the speaker? Looks a lot like a Weber to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manimal Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I have one as well and you sir...........are correct!! It is a ceramic Weber Special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthonya Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I ordered mine from MF and should receive it Monday. I can't wait. I currently play through a Valve Junior and really like it. How are people hooking this up to an extension cab? From what I've read, the speaker out is RCA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I got mine yesterday and think it sounds great !! Soooooooo touch sensitive.....(seems to amplify (no pun intended) ALL of my sloppy playing habits!!) From clean to growl, it's all there with just an amp volume knob and the guitar tone and volume knobs....Wow!!! Way to go Les!!!! Â Â Rick 360 with "toaster" pickups by the way (single coils) Â Only "issue" I have so far is a slight bit of a HUM (not very loud by the way) that starts a few seconds after turning it on (volume at Zero.....nothing plugged in)...Should I be worried about it, or is this just (normal) transformer HUM? Â Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 The insignificant hum is not even percievable when I have it totally pegged and am wailing away. Try it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks for the response....Yup....The hum is not that loud, so I am not going to worry about it....however....Something else to worry about: Â My GA5 amp says it was manufactured 6/1/06, so I guess it sat idle somewhere for 21 months before it was ever really played....Is this a problem? ie: caps drained down, speaker cone getting brittle, etc.....I just seem to remember hearing that NON-USE of certain electronic equipment is NOT a good thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Good question. I guess I'd think of it like you found a " closet classic " of Dad's, and now you're going to play it! But this one is only a couple years old. I've got a 1970's Fender Champ that I purchased from the original owner, the thing is completely stock. He played it very little over the years and it is in NEW condition. I take it out every once in a while and put it thru the paces, Its Great!! I would'nt worry about an amp thats not been in use for a relatively short time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 On my GA5, the EL84 is anchored with a spring type retainer, while the 12AX7 is anchored with more of a tube shield type retainer. Is this normal? (sounds like just a few of you have opened her up and thus know what lies beneath..........) Â Reason I am pondering this is my 12AX7 is real snug, wheras the EL84 is extremely loose. I am getting quite a bit of lower end rattle, so I am wondering if this could be the source and if the EL84 maybe needs a more substantial retainer. (and logic tells me a spring (and thus the tube) will vibrate.....it just seems counter intuitive to put such a thing an amp, but then, what do I know????....I do see spring retainters sold on line.... !!) Anyway, could this be a source of rattle? Â My other rattle theory is that the JJ EL84 has small pins....I know JJ had a run of small pin tubes, and I think it was the EL84's. Will a loose tube create a "rattly tone"? Â Hoping to get rid of the rattle as it sounds and feels great! Thx!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Fiddler, If the rattle persists, take it in for warranty repair. I think they carry a 90 day warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilowatt Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I've been enjoying my GA-5 quite a bit since it arrived. I swapped out the 12AX7 with a U.S. JAN 5751 to see what it sounds like. I wasn't sure how a lower gain tube would sound since it's only a 5W amp. Couldn't really tell it lost any gain but it really sounds sweet. Also, on my amp the holes punched in the chassis for the tubes to pass through to the sockets are really close tolerance. Not all 12AX7s and EL84s will fit. I tried new production Mullards and Sovtek and they won't work. The glass on these must be thicker. Anyway, just thought I'd share this and was wondering if anyone else had tried a 5751. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Kilowatt, did the 5751 overdrive as easily or retain a cleaner sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 "Congratulations on purchasing your Gibson Amplifier. Gibson equipment is guaranteed against defects in parts or workmanship for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase (excluding loudspeakers and valve/tubes, except at the discretion of Gibson). However, misuse or use contrary to the operating instructions supplied with your unit will invalidate this warranty. Please complete and submit the following form, printing a copy for your records. This will ensure prompt attention and accurate information in the unlikely event of technical difficulties. This form does not affect your legal rights under common law. If a problem should occur, please contact the dealer who supplied your equipment" Â Above is from the Gibson website...sounds like tubes have a ZERO day warranty "except at the discretion of Gibson" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxx Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 Oh, good to know! By the way, how did the new tubes you put in effect the sound? Overdrives easier, or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilowatt Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 XXX, it may have given me a little more clean headroom, what I like is that it sounds a little tighter with maybe a little more punch. It also seems a little more touch sensitive now too. Might not be good for me, I don't play very well and it may really bring out my mistakes. Overall, I think it's an improvement over the JJ 12AX7 that came in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthonya Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Well, finally was able to fire up the LP. Great amp with wonderful tone, but why the low level hum? My Valve Junior is dead silent. That being said, it does not get louder with volume and is quite low. I had one of the original VJ combos, and that had HUM!!! It's like a VJ on steriods. Brighter and loves the Les Paul, but sounds great with a Strat knockoff with P 90's. A keeper for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthonya Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 By the way, mine has a manufacture date of 6/1/06 also! Did Musicians Friend get a bunch of refurbs? Still a keeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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