Gibson Duo Medalist

2 channels, with Bass and mid controls. Footswtichable reverb and Tremelo. one 12" speaker and about 30 watts.

When I first bought the amp ($115) off ebay, it sounded absolutelty horrible. I read a Ken Fisher article about modding Gibson amps, and I took the internal "tone network" out of the circuit. It now sounds absolutely awesome. The reverb and trem are top notch too. I keep reading that some Duo Medalists get no distortion, but mine RIPS!!! it has sweet, sweet overdrive and awesome harmonics.

Not sure yet. I'll be gigging with it regularly though.

Gibson has the schematics online.

The epitome of a Pawnshop prize. I have to give it a 10.

1967. It has one of my favorite speakers, the small basket Jensen C12NA. 7591 output tubes, 3-D reverb and a cool tremolo. It's ugly but that just adds to the charm. Made by another company for Gibson, there were several iterations of the Duo Medalist. Most have the pre-amp chassis at the top and the power section on the bottom of the amp with the reverb tank on the side. Mine has the pre-amp chassis on top with the power chassis just under it.

Did I mention ugly? Looks like an old console stereo with stove knobs on the top.

I rate it high on features for the great 7591s, the C12NA and the reverb.

Vintage Deluxe Reverb killer for 1/5th the price. This one is sparkly clean below 3 and the treble is like a nail through your head if the knob is anywhere over 1. Not for Teles or Strats. Running the volume up past 5 gives a very definitive overdrive and tames the treble. Perfect hard blues amp with a P90 Les Paul guitar. It really has it's own voice and just begs to be opened up.

The filter caps were replaced recently and a three prong cable installed. Reverb was a little flaky but easily fixed. If it does break I'll fix it. Schematics are available on the web if you don't want to rip the small copy out of the cabinet.

Not made by Gibson, just badged. No customer support of course.

Belonged to a friend and I borrowed it a couple of years ago. I have a couple of vintage Fenders but had to have this amp. He finally decided to sell it and I'll never part with it.

Blues screamer.

Mine is a 1967 with the usual features. Reverb Trmolo, two channels.

LOVE the sound of this amp, at low volumes squeaky clean, breaking up nicely as you head toward "12". Best treble I've ever heard in any amp, especially for recording when you want a searing lead sound.

Have had this since 1977 and have never had a single problem. Changed two pre-amp tubes and that's it.

Love this amp!!! My trademark. If it were lost or stolen I'd look for another one, but I doubt I'd find one. Gibson was never known for their amps but they really hit the mark with this one.

Reverb and tremolo plus foot pedal
2 inputs

I have a 1995 usa fender tele.
It's a great blues amp has a warm tube sound.
it has a very clean sound even at top vollume.
It could be louder tho.
It had no distortion.

you don't wanna gig with this amp.
it's a good amp to mic tho.

No warranty this amp is too old.
It did have a speaker replaced and the
wireing all re-done.
new tubes also.

I have had this amp for 4 years I got it from a old friend.
I prob would buy something else just coz I can't gig with it.
Other then that I have no complants.
I do wanna sell my amp tho.I need something bigger.

two channels, plain and the other with reverb and tremolo. no standby which is kinda weird for a tube amp. really cheap stomp box for verb and trem but its lasted 34-36 years so far. Two inputs on each channel. Bass and treble on each channel. Reverb has one intensity dial and trem has speed and depth.

I got mine of ebay for $104. That is a super price for a vintage tube amp. It could probably use an overhaul, its smells like its been in someones basement for decades, but I don't have $200 to spend right now. Its all original and to me sounds great, a little skinnier than a twin reverb but a little warmer or sweeter than a deluxe or deville.
I only have a cheap korean hollowbody with a GFS dream 180 neck and GFS retrotron brooklyn in the bridge. Full range with deep lush lows or biting jangle respectively.

Only had it about a month.

Haven't checked into it yet.

$104 off ebay. I've been ebaying for years and I think this is honestly the first item I got that was a steal.
I love this amp and if I found another for up to $300 I'd buy it again just to have a stereo pair.

This amp traced back to 1967. Because I received this amp in payment of a debt by an non misician I wasen't expecting a Twin or a Boogie. the amp has two inputs similar to a twin. I would like a master gain or volume. I decided to use this amp with an acoustic effects box.

I use an ovation twelve and use it more for jangle playing and special tunings. I like the clean sound and the reverb is quite good.
I have used the tremolo however have to usa a bypas as I never received the foot pedal. If you want distortion out of this amp, it aint goin ta happen.

This amp withstood a lot of garage sitting and needed to be cleaned up, considerably. It has held up very well since, however it is used very infrequently. The split pre & power chassis make it very simple to work on. The only bugaboo is the long cable connecting the pre and amp.

I had to clean up the unit and install another spring reverb. The factory sent me a schematic very rapidly. The schematic was very helpful in cleaning up and restoring this amp. On the schematic, I believe it is item 6 or 7, the engineer writes " A man who really knows what he is talking about uses words that everyone understands."
Most profound, don't you think?

Playing 42 years. I might replace with a modern acoustic amp. The amp is simple to work on. It is not easily transportable and there is no distortion wven fully driven. I have used a silverface master twin since 1973 and this amp is not near the same league. I would like one of the original Boogie's For 28 bucks how can you go wrong. I might try to modify it because of the split chassis may make the work easier. The words of wisdom on the schematic are worth the price of admission alone.

Made in 1968 and has 2 effects and 2 normal inputs Reverb is Springy and Tremolo is crispy 2 7591 power tubes are about 40 watts ,but it's clear that someone designed it for tone not vast power distortion Makes it's presence known in a combo as it's own voice

I use 3 guitars with this amp Les Paul, Strat , and Gretsch 6120 It does them all justice It's quiet at all levels but loud in music power Trem is abrupt ,reverb is hall sound to surf (too much)

Other that initial age considerations I replaced everything but trannys and it's good as new

Gibson carries the schematic for it on the website It's the victim of being sold to CMI .they went solid state in 69 ,then basicly stopped amp production

I have ben playing for 35 years and it's as good as any Fender or Ampeg But not as biting as a Twin Reverb ,

1968 Gibson Duo Medalist

I play with a 1970 Stratocaster, in styles of Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Santana.

2 channel amp i run both channels with a patch chord for extra boost and to use the reverb. No effects loops. It has awesom reverb and Ungodly Tremolo (sounds like The Doors "riders on the storm" )It has 180 watts but it sounds like less, I sometime run an EQ for more power but it can get loud. It uses 3x 6eu7 preamp tubes (a real bitch to find new, they cost like $20-45 each. It also 3x 12au7a cheaper, like $8 each. I'm having the pinouts for the 6eu7s rewired, It also used 7591 tubes ($65 each- fuck that i aint buying those) i bought yellow jacket converters $30 each it uses el84 tubes as replacement plus it evens out the distortion.

Use a 1970 Stratocaster. Use the neck pickup for the warmer tones.
The amp fuzzes if it is turned up loud. It is loud enough for a small to medium venue. Cool ass tremolo like riders on the storm. No distortion I use an Ibanez TS9 (sounds sweet) and an Ibanez SD9 (for the real Pearl Jam distortion.

Eh, its kind of a pain to take care of, like old shit you know, like you grandpa or something. But is has been pretty dependable. Used it on a couple of gigs when i feel like sounding cool.

Hahahahahaha, please, they don't know the amp exists, those fuckers could care less.

I have been playing for 6 years. I also own a Sovtek MIG 60 (kicks ass). If it were stolen i probably would have a hard time trying to find one to replace it. I love the tone, hate the cost of tubes for it, and it looks like shit, it weighs a lot like a fat old woman. I wish it had a different look. I got it for free some guy gave it to mee because he doesn't like electric instuments bla bla bla..... anyway he paid $80 for it.

its a 1968 with tremolo and reverb my reverb doesnt work and the tremolo is not the greatest (probably needs new tubes)

i got a cheesy squire strat and it gives a pretty good sound not to good for heavier stuff but good for a bluesy sound. its got a bad ground in it some where and has a very annoying hum when turned up loud

it needed a lot of work when i first got it new tubes and som rewireing done (thank god for the schmatics that it had) othe that that i havent had a problam since

damn near impossible to find anything about it anywhere

it would be a great amp if the original tubes wernt so expensive and i could find that damn bad ground if any one needs the schematics email me or u have any suggestions for what i could do to get it to sound as gos as everybody else says it does it would be appreciated

1968 Gibson Duo Medalist. I still need to fix the tremolo on this, but the reverb is nice and deep. Plenty loud, especially driven hard with a Turbo Tube Screamer. The only thing missing is a presence control, it could use just a bit more "sparkle".

Sounds incredible with my Standard SG, and sounds great with my Strat and my old Japanese slide guitar, but this thing is made for humbuckers. LOTS of low end, smooth, non-honking mids, nice clear highs, not screechy. When you get close to this thing, you feel the sound as well as hearing it. I play it on the reverb channel with both bass and treble knobs turned all the way up, and use a Turbo Tube Screamer and Boss Super-Chorus for some tone-tweaking. Great blues and rock amp. I wish it had a presence control! Then it would be absolutely perfect. Amp has wonderful, in-your-face, old tube amp sound. Sounds great with effects. Breaks up really nicely, especially with my Strat.

Has not let me down yet, except that the fuse plug on the back is in a really bad place, and I've nearly broken it off a time or two.

Gibson had a fire years ago, and lots of records were lost forever. They have no knowledge of this amp ever existing. There are some decent schematics out there. I replaced the tubes in it myself when I bought it, no problem, except they are weird tubes. Apparently, this amp is the same design as a Fender Deluxe Reverb of the same year, but Gibson changed around the tubes so they wouldn't get sued.

I found this on my birthday at a pawn shop. I had been shopping around for an amp with no results, and some poor guy had been pawning it when he needed money, and then would buy it back later. I just happened to get lucky. This is a great amp, very loud, great sounds and cool vintage looks, and MUCH cheaper than a vintage Fender.