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I am the very proud owner of a rare Gibson GA-79RV, made in 1961. This is the reverb only model. The reverb is the most lush sounding reverb I have ever heard. Imagine playing an amp in a tiled bathroom the size of an aircraft hanger - that would probably be 50% of the sound you can get from this reverb tank. The tank is located at the front and seems to be actuated further by speaker vibrations, causing it to just sustain for ever (or so it seems). The amp has a mostly clean sound with some very tasteful light overdrive as you push it. With a strat you can actually get feedback using a clean sound - very interesting experience. But unfortunately it needs some TLC.

Feel free to read up more about it here, quite an interesting amp!

http://www.guitaracquisitionsyndrome.com/Gibson_GA-79T.php

Here are some pics:



















So I am going to have some work done on the amp.
Firstly I am going to get rid of those ugly tiny speakers (they look a bit rusty) and get some nice 12" wharfedale replacements for more bass - may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger.
I want to add an effects loop because that is just what I need for my delay pedal (Behringer digital delay DD600).
My cousin does car sound installs (starsound audio mostly) and knows his stuff! He will do the mods... He says I can repay him with a six-pack, how cool is that!?!
    COOL. thats a very interesting amp! loads of cool stuff going on. good luck! if you don't have any plans for those jensens, PM me please ?
      aja wrote: So I am going to have some work done on the amp.
      Firstly I am going to get rid of those ugly tiny speakers (they look a bit rusty) and get some nice 12" wharfedale replacements for more bass - may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger.
      I want to add an effects loop because that is just what I need for my delay pedal (Behringer digital delay DD600).
      My cousin does car sound installs (starsound audio mostly) and knows his stuff! He will do the mods... He says I can repay him with a six-pack, how cool is that!?!
      Shoh Aja, you feeling allright.....? You seem to be either coming down with a bad case of Trollanitis or some neural disorder compromising your sensibilities..... ?

      That is another super cool little amp. 8) The hope of finding something as cool as that is what keeps me popping into every 2nd hand store and pawn shop I come accross.
        chris77 wrote:
        aja wrote: So I am going to have some work done on the amp.
        Firstly I am going to get rid of those ugly tiny speakers (they look a bit rusty) and get some nice 12" wharfedale replacements for more bass - may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger.
        I want to add an effects loop because that is just what I need for my delay pedal (Behringer digital delay DD600).
        My cousin does car sound installs (starsound audio mostly) and knows his stuff! He will do the mods... He says I can repay him with a six-pack, how cool is that!?!
        Shoh Aja, you feeling allright.....? You seem to be either coming down with a bad case of Trollanitis or some neural disorder compromising your sensibilities..... ?

        That is another super cool little amp. 8) The hope of finding something as cool as that is what keeps me popping into every 2nd hand store and pawn shop I come accross.
        LOL! Read the first line of my signature! ?

        I was inspired by the other recent threads appearing on the forum. ?

        I am taking the amp to Karel in december to have it professionally serviced. It may need some new tubes and pots and so on but everything is just perfect as it is thank you very much!

        The only thing bugging me is the terrible tolex job. I am trying to figure out if the original covering was tweed or cream tolex.

        The previous owner says it was cream but there is a tweed handle insert that is making me rethink the cream tolex.
          Where do you guys find these amps?! Do you go knocking on old people's houses and ask if you can rummage through their garages looking for neglected musical stuff??

          Keep us posted of the restoration please...
            Rikus wrote: Where do you guys find these amps?! Do you go knocking on old people's houses and ask if you can rummage through their garages looking for neglected musical stuff??

            Keep us posted of the restoration please...
            I will definitely get Karel to take some pics of the restoration if he is willing!

            I asked the owner if I could buy the amp. He said it is not for sale since he waited seven years (gasp!) to buy it from the owner before him, but I could have first preference to buy it. I waited a few months and finally he agreed to sell it to me at a reasonable price. Don't worry though, he knew exactly what this amp is worth in good condition (approx $3000) so I can sleep easy at night ?

            Just keep your eyes open and don't be shy to give the owner your details and say you want first choice. Be persistent and show genuine interest. Even if he refuses and says it is not for sale, people change their minds and their life circumstances also change (smaller apartment/going overseas etc...) In this case he sold it to me because he knew I am passionate about it and I will look after it. Owners will often not sell unless they are certain you will look after "their" amp. I have bought gear where the previous owner asks me about the amp a year later, basically interrogating me to make sure I am still looking after it. People are silly sometimes hehe!

            I have just about given up on pawn shop finds. They use the internet to research the stock and then sell directly to dealers so we as customers never get the chance to buy it. You will notice that their stores usually do not have high value items on display anymore like they used to. Now they just want to move stock quickly to see a return on their investment. Have you ever watched storage wars and auction hunters? They often flog items to a dealer at a much reduced price just to make a quick profit.

            Unfortunately it takes years and years to find these amps. Vintage guitars seem to be even more difficult to come by since dealers take them all out the country since we (Safricans) are not willing to pay US prices. A crying shame if you ask me...
              aja wrote: I am the very proud owner of a rare Gibson GA-79RV, made in 1961. This is the reverb only model. The reverb is the most lush sounding reverb I have ever heard. Imagine playing an amp in a tiled bathroom the size of an aircraft hanger - that would probably be 50% of the sound you can get from this reverb tank. The tank is located at the front and seems to be actuated further by speaker vibrations, causing it to just sustain for ever (or so it seems). The amp has a mostly clean sound with some very tasteful light overdrive as you push it. With a strat you can actually get feedback using a clean sound - very interesting experience. But unfortunately it needs some TLC.

              Feel free to read up more about it here, quite an interesting amp!

              http://www.guitaracquisitionsyndrome.com/Gibson_GA-79T.php

              So I am going to have some work done on the amp.
              Firstly I am going to get rid of those ugly tiny speakers (they look a bit rusty) and get some nice 12" wharfedale replacements for more bass - may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger. I want to add an effects loop because that is just what I need for my delay pedal (Behringer digital delay DD600).
              My cousin does car sound installs (starsound audio mostly) and knows his stuff! He will do the mods... He says I can repay him with a six-pack, how cool is that!?!
              Jirre...you almost had me there ? Was gonna offer you a tidy sum NOT to do those mods....LOL ! And then Makepeace was interested in them Jensens ! :roflmao:

              EDIT: You forgot to possibly change the OT to a bigger one ?
                aja wrote:
                chris77 wrote:
                aja wrote: I was inspired by the other recent threads appearing on the forum. ?
                :-[ haha come on guys its 2012 :roflmao: why wouldnt you put "low-glows" on a vintage camero?
                I will from now on be way more cautious of what I post. ?

                BTW awesome amp!
                  You lucky bugger !

                  I'm a peaceful guy but if you modded that amp I would had to buy you a Bieber CD as punishment.

                  Congrats Aja, that amp is beyond cool ? If we have another forum get together and it is up and running you have to bring it, I am sure a bunch of us would love to hear it.
                    Vic wrote:
                    Jirre...you almost had me there ? Was gonna offer you a tidy sum NOT to do those mods....LOL ! And then Makepeace was interested in them Jensens ! :roflmao:

                    EDIT: You forgot to possibly change the OT to a bigger one ?
                    Good to know I could make someone laugh! So.... erm, can I send you my banking details? ?
                    Reinhard wrote: You lucky bugger !

                    I'm a peaceful guy but if you modded that amp I would had to buy you a Bieber CD as punishment.

                    Congrats Aja, that amp is beyond cool ? If we have another forum get together and it is up and running you have to bring it, I am sure a bunch of us would love to hear it.
                    Now now, no need to get violent here! >☹

                    I will definitely do that ?
                      Rob Brown wrote:
                      :-[ haha come on guys its 2012 :roflmao: why wouldnt you put "low-glows" on a vintage camero?
                      I will from now on be way more cautious of what I post. ?

                      BTW awesome amp!
                      Hehe dont stress about it! It is always better to ask advice first. I only learned about the differences between preamp and poweramp distortion and why vintage amps do not really benefit from an effects loop much later on. I have learned a hell of a lot from reading your thread. Some very insightful replies!

                      uh, you didn't actually do the low-glows, did you? ?

                      ?
                        Flip that's nice!
                        Reinhard wrote:
                        I'm a peaceful guy but if you modded that amp I would had to buy you a Bieber CD as punishment.

                        Haha!
                          aja wrote:
                          Rob Brown wrote:
                          uh, you didn't actually do the low-glows, did you? ?

                          ?
                          I may live in Port Elizabeth but I assure you my car is definitely not important enough to be highlighted underneath ?

                          Although considering the types of cars with lights underneath are normally having a mechanical beakdown on the side of the road, it would be quite handy to see around the engine bay ?
                            Rob Brown wrote:
                            aja wrote:
                            uh, you didn't actually do the low-glows, did you? ?

                            ?
                            I may live in Port Elizabeth but I assure you my car is definitely not important enough to be highlighted underneath ?

                            Although considering the types of cars with lights underneath are normally having a mechanical beakdown on the side of the road, it would be quite handy to see around the engine bay ?
                            haha good way of thinking about it! Much easier to fix something at night ? +1 karma for making me laugh at work...

                              ...."may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger"....

                              this made me think this could be a joke...LOL.....Chris' response was excellent !! .... ?
                                Vic wrote:
                                ...."may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger"....

                                this made me think this could be a joke...LOL.....Chris' response was excellent !! .... ?
                                The part that made me nearly spew my coffee over the keyboard was his Car Sound Cuzzie doing it for a six-pack.... ? I had a CD player and speakers installled in my first Golf by a mates brother who charged me a bottle of Richelieu..... True story! ?
                                  chris77 wrote:
                                  Vic wrote:
                                  ...."may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger"....

                                  this made me think this could be a joke...LOL.....Chris' response was excellent !! .... ?
                                  The part that made me nearly spew my coffee over the keyboard was his Car Sound Cuzzie doing it for a six-pack.... ? I had a CD player and speakers installled in my first Golf by a mates brother who charged me a bottle of Richelieu..... True story! ?
                                  Oh shyte...this is soooo funny !

                                  :roflmao:

                                  Any recommendations of a good spray painter around CTown.....I'm tired of the colour of this

                                    Vic wrote:
                                    chris77 wrote:
                                    Vic wrote:
                                    ...."may have to cut the holes in the box a bit bigger"....

                                    this made me think this could be a joke...LOL.....Chris' response was excellent !! .... ?
                                    The part that made me nearly spew my coffee over the keyboard was his Car Sound Cuzzie doing it for a six-pack.... ? I had a CD player and speakers installled in my first Golf by a mates brother who charged me a bottle of Richelieu..... True story! ?
                                    Oh shyte...this is soooo funny !

                                    :roflmao:

                                    Any recommendations of a good spray painter around CTown.....I'm tired of the colour of this
                                    why a spray painter? just use a roller brush and some PVA roof paint...
                                      Aja, I need to ask your forgiveness bro.........
                                      When i read the first post, i said some really bad stuff about you..... :-[
                                      Can't repeat it ? haha

                                      Flippen awesome find!!
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