Product: Fender GA-15 Reverb
Price Paid: I traded a 50's Premier amp for it. used
Submitted
12/06/1998
at
12:19pm
by
Zak Treblemaker
Email: zak<dot>treble at wid<dot>ca
Ease of Use
:
10
This is an original (non-reissue) tube reverb from 1963. You plug into it, plug it into your amp, unhook the clip that holds the reverb spring pan in place (for transportation) and proceed to bask in the best spring reverb money can buy. The controls are "dwell" (reverb duration), "mixer" (reverb volume), and "tone" (which only affects reverb tone, not your dry sound). You can get anything from mild to mind-bending with this reverb. The reverb can be bypassed with a footswitch. I can imagine it being used with any kind of music because of its wide range. My reverb has had a couple of capacitors replaced, otherwise its original. They came in several colors, mine is smooth beige tolex and a black panel with white "radio" knobs.
Sound Quality
:
10
I'm using this with a '65 Jaguar, a '65 Jazzmaster, a re-issue Strat, and a '62 Fender Super amp. The sound is, simply put, the best reverb you can imagine. I love early surf music (Dick Dale, The Jesters, New Dimensions, Crossfires) and the Fender GA-15 is THEE reverb for surf. You put .13-.56 flatwounds on your guitar and away you go! I use the reverb without other effects (I believe in using effects one at a time) but it'll probably work with other stuff before or after it. For an old tube thing from 1963, it's dead quiet and only makes noise if there's neon lights in the same circuit as the reverb or your amp.
Reliability
:
10
This thing is from 1963. It's eight years older than me and works fine, where as I usually get a cold once or twice a year, and get allergies in the fall. I don't have a backup and I don't need one. When I end a song, I sometimes kick the reverb (for an "explosion" effect) and it works after several years of frequent gigging (and kicking).
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've never had to deal with Fender. I once had my amp tech change a worn-out capacitor that was causing the reverb to distort at higher settings, otherwise it's a-ok.
Overall Rating
:
10
I use this to play surf instrumentals with my band the Treblemakers. I own a couple of guitars and an amp made by Fender in the pre-CBS days and that stuff is WAY superior to any reissues or modern gear. I had a re-issue Jaguar, and it was nowhere near as good as my '65 L-series Jaguar. The other guitarist in my band uses a re-issue reverb, and I've tried several other re-issues, they're not even close to the depth and detail and quality of the originals! If you want to see a photo of my reverb (and me) go to www.scenemusic.org/artists/treblemakers
