1962 Gibson Invader GA-30RVT Crestline

[dgstandard]

One popped up locally for $600. Looks in good condition. Is it worth a look?

[JohnnyB]

One popped up locally for $600. Looks in good condition. Is it worth a look?

Well, how much would a new handmade, point-to-point wired amp with vintage tubes cost? Or how much would this one cost if it was a Fender?

Some of the Gibsons like this aren't as loud as the same-era Fenders (though I don't know about this one), but they usually sound very good. I'd like to see BCRGreg (and other vintage enthusiasts) weigh in on this.

In the meantime, check closed auctions on eBay for this amp and get over and try this one out.

[crunchee]

I'm thinking that this is a little later than a '62 model, just from the styling and the number of knobs. I'm hoping you've Googled some info on it. Some of the tubes that Gibsons used are kinda esoteric/funky, in that they're not as common as what you'd find in Fenders, Marshalls, Voxes, etc...do you want to keep it long enough to have to buy new tubes for it? How much do replacement tubes cost? Plus, a amp tech that likes to work on old Fenders may not like unfamiliar brands, though in a perfect world it shouldn't matter. The big question is: what do you want it for? Gigging? Home use? Collecting? An end table? Just sayin', once you buy it, there's a level of commitment there. Selling it might not be as easy as buying it, also.

I couldn't find a great deal of nuts and bolts info on it in a brief look online, but this review is interesting as it gives a breakdown of THREE different versions of this amp, and the tube complements they have:

http://www.harmonycentral.com/reviews/344454

Good luck!

[dgstandard]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

I think it is a 1963. The guy has had it for a while and said it is good working condition. It still has the two prong plug so it will definately go to see an amp tech. There are a couple good ones in town from what I heard.

I just want it for home use and something else to go to my estate when Uncle Greg finally gets around to fixing my brakes.

[BCR Greg]

(reaches for the 10mm wrench......)

[G Man]

I recently picked up a 1965/66 Gibson GA5 Skylark. Having done some research on them, it appears Gibson amps are notorios for undocumented changes, even so far as having schematics inside the amp that does not match the actual outlay of the amp. That being said, there are some great Gibson amps out there for short money that sound great and have a tube compliment a little off of the normal, and therefore when you do find them, are quite bit cheaper to play with. Case in point, my GA5 came with 2 EL84 power tubes, (the GA5 only had two EL84s for two year,) and a 12at7 pre-amp tube. It turns out that this amp should have had a 12au7. Quick trip to ebay and I got 7 NOS and UOS 12au7 tubes for less than $20 shipped. Now I have a bunch of tubes to play with and they all sound better than the 12at7 that it came shipped with.

Anyway, long-winded response to say, talk him down $100 and go for it.

[Armitage]

Well past time for a re-cap though...

[dgstandard]

Well, I bought it without even plugging it in. The fellow had it for several years and is more into acoustic guitar than electric. I got it for a song.

Cosmetically it is in very good shape. The local amp guru remembers these when they came out and owned a Falcon at the time (which he just ran accross again recently when it came in for service -still going strong!). Going to drop it out tomorrow. He's going to check it all out, re-cap if neccessary etc. Greg is sending out a couple of Jensen MOD speakers (kinda weird configuration: 1x12 and 1x10). In the end I won't be into it for too much.

I don't know anything about this amp and it is my first "vintage" amp. If by plugging it in I can go for a trip back in time, I'll be happy!

Thanks for all your thoughts and recommendations re: tubes.