Gibson EH-100 Combo

Actually, my amp is the dometop EH-125 from 1941. It, too was sold as a combo with a Hawaian lap steel guitar. Not alot of power, but WHAT A TONE! I play harmonica and Blues, naturally. This is the sweetest sounding amp I have...just not real loud. It has three channels-2instrument and one mic. One knob: volume, that only works on the mic input. Big 12" speaker with non-magnet. I had my tech go over it and all he had to replace were two caps. Tubes were OK...but they could have been replaced any time in the last sixty-seven years.
Six tubes: 2-6SQ7's, a 6J5, a 5Y3, and 2-6V6GT power tubes. Not sure of the output, but am guessing 15W that sounds more like 30W. I don't push it. I can always mic it, but my tech installed a slave lineout that can be easily removed at no damage ( for those purists ). Does make playing easier, although this is way too valuable for me to drag around anymore.

I play harmonica, and have used the Shaker mic with a plain cable into the mic input. I turn the mic's volume all the way up, then adjust the volume on the amp. Never go more than six.
Nice, warm, fat, Bluesy, perfect tone for harp.
I have a BluesBlaster mic, but it was too hot to use. I recently acquired a line transformer to convert to lo-z, but have not tried that yet.

Geez, still works and sounds terrific after sixty-seven years?
No gigs for this beauty. Only special home jams and studio work.

Just found an analog gearhead. Because I am friends with one of his best, he is going to have us over to search thru his used power tubes and letting us experiment finding the right matched pair, for FREE.
You get lucky when you are nice to people.

Well, the Gibson company did supply a schematic for it online at no charge. That's pretty cool.
Otherwise N/A

Playing 35 years, regular gigging only the last 15.
Have a hybrid Crate that I bought new ten years ago that I use for most gigs. I have had to goose it and pull some tricks to get it sounding right for my style. I have a ten tube monster Traynor YGL-3 that I use for concert venues. Can't play it small rooms.

This Gibson amp is virtually irreplacable. I have seen very few others. It is supposedly one of the rarest amps, as World War II halted production.
Can't really compare it to anything else.

Long story about my acquiring it. Needless to say it was "used". Either ten or eleven years ago, I was in the antique business. I stopped at a garage sale to hunt for bargains. These people did not throw ANYTHING away. Where they put all this stuff in a little bungalow was amazing, as it covered the yard. The garage was stuffed...barely more than a footpath. I saw a box filled with old wires and other obvious electric components . I rifled thru it quick, and noticed what looked like an old suitcase. Then moving some of the clutter, I noticed the Gibson logo printed in flowing script. I lifted the whole box up and asked the owners, "How much for this box of junk?"
"One dollar."
I said OK, and then went to the table and paid the man immediately. I then felt a little guilty, so I asked if I could leave it there while I looked around some more. I thought I should buy at least some more because of the tremendous bargain. While I am busy accumulating odds and ends that I don't need for around $50, the man says that he thinks there is a guitar that goes with the amp up in the attic. I don't want to appear too excited, but I say it sure would be nice if they were reunited and I would be interested in it. Gave him my number, but he never called. Of course, I was imagining a vintage Les Paul at the time, but now I know it would have been the lap Hawaian...so not as much of a disappointment.
But, HOW can I complain?

Serial #11458 Built between 1936-1938. Dark nut tweed with tan horizontal stripes. Originally amp was sold with the Electric Hawaiian lap steal guitar (hence the EH model). I understand this amp drives direct current into the 10" speaker - rated at 8-10 watts, sounds like 20-30. Has three imputes (two guitar - one microphone) and one dial labeled "Microphone" which is the volume control. Has on big transformer and 5 tubes. I pay harp ---- can I say more this amp has a raw blues sound. Needs more power for club settings, anyway this is something you don?t tramp around in public. Use this amp for practice at home.

Historically: This my was purchased new by Glen ?Red? Henton (worlds record for horseshoe pitching and ringers - was on the Tonight show with Carson in 70's). He told me he bought it about 1938 or 1939. Red played in a local C&W band in Maquoketa, IA. I purchased this at his auction. Find out more about Red at:
http://members.tripod.com/~IHHPA/greatest.html

I've changed to Suzuki Promaster Valved harps, also Suzuki Overdrives. Prefer down and dirty blues, slow blues and Chicago style. This amp has a slight buzz at low volume but at 7-8 it howles, rawnchy and a bit distorted. It produces a perfect blues amp sound. If you need a power loud amp this will not do the trick.

I had to replace the leather handle. Amps over 60 years old and still has strong legs. What can one say?

I think the warranty is expired. However, I contacted Gibson and they sent me a copy of the origional schematics. Had a local TV-radio repairman fix a small imput problem.

Playing harp for 35 years. Have a couple of Fenders. I am looking at a couple of other vintage amps --- don't think they will match this one. I have seen other EH 100's for sale in the $300-$600 range and the case was not nearly as nice. I got real lucky on the price.