GA-5: A tale of 2 Gibsons

Just snagged both within the past several days....

A 1960 GA-5 Skylark + a newer 2006 GA-5 Les Paul Jr.

I haven't had a chance to crank them up yet, but both sound great at low volumes... which is good because this is why I needed lower wattage amps since we're now in a townhouse.

The newer one is louder, the older one is smoother.... both are really cool though, with amazingly complex tones for very simple 1 knob/low volume amps!




Thanks again to the good Cap'n for his insight on the older ones!

Hi Michael; it's a fact that amps come in different flavors; in this case 6V6 v. EL84. When it was on eBay, I liked the older GA5 from the beginning for its recent maintenance, the speaker out jack, and for-its-age excellent cosmetics. There are two schematics out there for it: a 6SJ7 / earlier and a 12AX7 / later preamp versions; know which you have yet? If you get the chance, try running its output through a 12" speaker ... Congratulations on both amps; I don't think the newer GA5 is still in production. CJ

Mine's a '60, and I believe it to be 12AX7... it's definitely the 8" Jensen "special design" speaker, but I haven't had a chance to take the back panel off yet for further inspection. Will do that probably by next week.

Have a look here at Figure 3 and the text that corresponds with it... that photo could be of my amp:

http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjo ... _ga_5.html

Thanks; you're right, the 6SJ7 is the much earlier model; looking forward to the A/B results. John

I just hit tone gold. It's always a great feeling... this time with a Gibson combination:


'60 GA-5
'01 LP Jr.

Also used an Ibanez Tubescreamer + Analog Delay... everything sounded great. The P90's were roaring and the GA-5 cookin'!

Saving the settings hopefully for some recording use soon.

Get a splitter box and play through both at the same time! I guarantee you'll love it. :mrgreen: