Gibson BR 3

Amp was made in 1948, has 3 channels, one for mic, 2 for instruments. No effects loops in '48, I don't think, that's like Marty McFly asking for a Tab. There's no speaker out, although I wish to hell there was, this thing uses a field coil speaker(ever seen MASH?) and I don't have a clue how to replace it or rewire it after it dies. It has 2 7B4s and a 6J5 for the preamp, 2 6V6s and a 6X5GT for the power amp, and a 5Z4 for the rectifier. I think the 6X5 has to do with the field coil speaker, which is why the other review doesn't mention it. Of course, the nice thing is when your amp uses these weird-ass tubes, you can buy NOS stuff real cheap. Puts out about 8 watts, I think, seems louder, the ol' tubes are louder than solid state argument again. Probably not loud enough to gig though. It gets a 6 because it had 3 inputs in 1948. Plus, it looks really cool, like an amp that's so old it should cost more. Of all the BR amps (there's like 9, about 5 models I've seen) it's the coolest looking one IMO.

This amp was made to be paired with a Hawaiian lap steel (also known as BR-3 model). Haven't actually seen one of those, but I've seen some of the other BRs and the instrument colors match the amps...pretty damn cool. So, it probably sounds really f'in awesome if you're a lap steel player. I'm not, but I still think this sounds awesome. It's sorta hard to describe, but it just sounds nostalgic. Like the way tubes should sound. When I first got it, it had all the stock(!) tubes in it, along with original speaker. Definitely sounds better with new tubes, but I almost miss the muddy sound it had. Kinda made my '69 RI thinline Tele sound like it was on an old blues record. The mic input distorts very early, and actually can get some pretty cool distortion going on. Definitely in the "bluesy overdrive" category opposed to the "wicked thrash metal" category, but it rattled my bedroom windows. The 2 instrument inputs are clean just about all the way up, and don't get very loud. I have played good sounding Beatles tunes through them, though. Doesn't like effects pedals, although reverb and a Small Clone work ok. Started screeching (literally) when I tried to use a multi-effects unit. After retubing, still some hum, probably the speaker, and at times it sorta flips out and makes a noise like a car idle (very loud and annoying). I can beat the top and sides of it, though, and it will stop, sorta like an old TV (probably same concept, too). Yea, I know how that sounds, but to me it's cool, like I get to interact with my amp, and I'm the only one who can make it work. Kinda like my old Chevy Cavalier, that wouldn't turn off unless the A/C was off......
Gets a 9 for the beautiful tube sound, not a 10 because of the noise.

Can I depend on it? HAH! Tempted to say yes, out of stubborness, but hell, no, I can't depend on it. This thing is living day to day, I'm sure, the speaker is 56 years old and I don't know how to replace it. Some electrical component is going to die soon, too, probably, and my electrical knowledge when it comes to amps pretty much ends after "buy tube, put in tube". Unless just throwing my soldering iron at it would fix it. You can definitely get reliable tubes, though, like I said, with these weird tubes they're real cheap. I've got a couple of NOS Mullards in mine right now. Probably a waste of 2 Mullards, but you just put that in your Fender Champ with its cheapass Raytheons and smoke it. There's no way I could gig this amp unless I wanted to go hit it in the middle of a show. However, it gets a 5 because it was working with all 1948 stock parts when I got it. I'll be lucky to still have all MY stock parts working when I'm 55.

Well...I found a schematic, I'm sure Gibson would tell me to screw off if I called them about my 1948 model amp. Only done repairs myself. Think the warranty's probably expired :)

Been playing for a couple of years, I'm not that good yet, but I'm kind of a gear nerd already. Have a Groove Tubes STPG-1 that I love and is my primary amp. My 69 RI tele sounds nice through the BR-3, so does my ES-335 copy. I love that this amp has CHARACTER. I know this will incite fury amongst amp nerds, but to me a Fender amp from the 50's with new tubes and speaker sounds just like a Fender amp from 2004 with new tubes and speaker. Plus, this was a lot less money than an original Fender Champ or something. Amp is perfect for me, because it's quiet enough that I can play it at home and get some REAL tube distortion. You can find these BR amps on ebay and used for cheap, (probably better deals than I got). I suggest getting one now, because I think people are going to figure out that these sound just as good as the much more expensive vintage amps. You can always get it totally rewired if it dies, like the other reviewer did. I've made fun of some of this amp's quirks here, but it really does sound great, better than nearly any other vintage tube amp I've heard. It gets a 9, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

This amp was made in 1948 or 1949 (so I've been told). Hot pickups make it break up at almost any volumn (EMGs). Its a huge miss match for what I play, but if I'm just jamming its fun. It has a on-off switch, 3 inputs 2 volumns and a master tone control. It uses 6V6GTs (a pair) for power amp and a pair of really odd 7B4s for the preamp along with a 5Z4 for the retifier. It has 2 inputs for instruments and 1 for a Microphone. 2 volumne controls, 1 for the microphone and 1 for the 2 instrument inputs. 1 tone control for everything. Really basic, but it gets the job done. All the controls are in the bottom on the back. When this was made the amps were on front of the stage, not behind it. And being its not ear bleeding loud thats a good thing.

I general play a cross of doom-death-speed atmosheric-old school metal, but not with this amp. This actually sounds good just strumming or fingerpicking, a style I'm not that familiar with. IT sounds best to me with single coils and not EMGs or anything really hot unless you turn the guitar volumne WAY down. The instrument inputs do not get very loud at all and stay clean until around 8 or so. The mic input distorts around 2 on up but in a good way. It gets a really sweet growl going. Sort of like a JCM900s clean channel cranked but a lot quioter. IT sounds really good with a little verb and delay with it (what doesn't?). I've tried a few distorition pedals with it and came to the conclusion, they don't work with this amp. The Boss Blues Driver sounds really good with it, but nothing else I tried has. Your ears are different then mine so you may think otherwise but for me the Blues Driver is it. You can channel switch with it (sort of) by using a A-B box and switching between the inputs. Mic input for that sweet sounding growl and instrument input (both work the same) for a decent clean. It works for me. Sooner or later I'll find some more pedals that work with it.

When I got it it did not work because the speaker was dead (and was dead for at least 25 years). I had it recapped rebiased and retubed. I also had a new transformer and speaker installed. The new power tubes are Sovtek 6V6GTs and the preamp tubes are NOS Sylvania 7B4s. THe speaker is a Eminence that required a new transformer to make work. The origional Utah speaker had no magnet, just a transformer on the side to make it move, interesting setup. Its been reliable so far (over a year wince rebuilt more or less) but I take it NO WHERE. No gigs, no jamming at the neibours, nothing. It stays right in the living room where I can play it when I want.

I called Gibson up and there were like, we used to make amps? I could not get a schematic for it (or anything else) but never really thought I could. Hell, the amps older then about every employee the have there I bet.

I've been playing around 17 years now and if it were lost or stolen it would be easy to find as I have never seen or heard about another. I love it because its almost as old as my dad, I hate it because I'm a metalhead and metalheads didn't exist back then. I don't normally play vintage gear so I really have nothing to compare it to. I'd say it sounds closer to a old Fender then anything else from my limited time playing them. The strange thing is it sounds better to me with single coils then humbuckers, unless the single coils are really hot then it distorts the input (when you don't want it too). I would some P90s would sound good with it but have yet to try that combination. I'll let you know if I ever do.