Best Bang for the Buck Vintage Guitar Amp - 1967 Gibson GA-20 RVT - LET'S REPAIR! - EPISODE 47
Today the Tone Priest makes the case that a 1967 Gibson GA-20 RVT is among the best bang-for-the-buck vintage tube guitar amps that can be had. All it takes is a little knowhow and a few tweaks. This ain't your dad's amplifier - actually, it may be.
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* For clarity ~4:55: I was checking the heater wires to see if Gibson wired the amp for 12AX7's rather than 6EU7's in tube positions one, three and / or four. The 12AX7 has the same pinout as the 12AU7 so it would have had one heater wire going to pins 4 & 5 and the other heater wire going to pin 9 rather than heater wires going to pins 1 & 2 for the 6EU7's. Hope that makes sense.
**Correction: 12:45: The power transformer secondary high voltage B plus leads connect to pins four & SIX. My vision is going to hell in my old age. Checking continuity on pins two & eight is for the 5v tube rectifier heater winding section of the power transformer secondary.
- Schematic: https://schematicheaven.net/gibsonamps/ga20rvt.pdf
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People we like - no affiliation, just channels I enjoy and learn a lot from:
The Squishy Guitar Project: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdOIsOWKupFbet1zQ8zr5Rg
Uncle Doug: https://www.youtube.com/user/Stratosaurus1
Brad the Guitologist: https://theguitologist.locals.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/user/electrictoothsyndrom
Rob Robinette: https://robrobinette.com/Amp_Stuff.htm
Mr. Carlson's Lab: https://www.youtube.com/c/MrCarlsonsLab/videos
Blueglow Electronics: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlueglowElectronics/videos
Vintage Guitar Amp Repairs & Online Guitar Teacher: https://www.youtube.com/@vintageguitaramp_guitarteacher/videos
Guitar C.P.R. https://www.youtube.com/@guitarc.p.r.9675/videos
Stuart guitarampguy: https://www.youtube.com/@stuartukguitarampguy5830/videos
Johan Sageborn: https://www.youtube.com/user/JohanSegeborn
Matthew Scott: https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewScottmusic/videos
Fran Capitanelli: https://www.youtube.com/@francapitanelli9775
Dave's World of Fun Stuff: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOXNPo7CtnzzZ9A4GyQ6Tog
REXYLAB: https://www.youtube.com/c/REXYLAB/videos
SCAR-MY-GUITAR: https://www.youtube.com/user/scarmyguitar
ElectroBOOM: https://www.youtube.com/user/msadaghd
Lonesome George: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms6sf0XfQNc
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Want to help the channel out? Below are some Amazon links to stuff I use. If you make a purchase using the links below I make a small commission:
- Wilkinson middle pickup: https://amzn.to/3AkZAfl
- Wilkinson Telecaster pickup set: https://amzn.to/41Q9bGt
- Resistor kit: https://amzn.to/3HPoNTk
- Capacitor kit, pico: https://amzn.to/3M1iYVg
- Capacitor kit, nano: https://amzn.to/3pjnmGl
- Electrolytic capacitor kit: https://amzn.to/3pl8WFn
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- Trimmer kit: https://amzn.to/42aTDhp
- Hookup wire: https://amzn.to/3nBqi0j
- Radius gauge set: https://amzn.to/41jhYAw
- Notched straight edge tool: https://amzn.to/40Wvuuh
- Radius sanding block: https://amzn.to/43gUgHb
- Volume pots: https://amzn.to/43jwUk6
- No load tone pots: https://amzn.to/3Kt35Vp
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- 3 conductor power cable: https://amzn.to/3UtvhMz
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This and all Tone Priest videos are for edu-tainment purposes only. Vacuum tube amplifiers can have lethal voltages in excess of 700 volts. Capacitors can retain a deadly charge even when an amplifier is turned off and unplugged. Videos are not instructional nor do they advocate anyone doing any kind of repairs on their gear. Nobody should do electrical work on anything for any reason ever. Keep your hands and belongings inside the car at all times.
tonepriest@gmail.com
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