Gibson GA18 Explorer

I bought this amp at a garage sale for $75. It had been sitting in a barn for years. I had an amp dealer re-tube and re-wire it in 1992, and it has worked 100% fine since. From 0-to-6 or 0-7 on the volume knob, the sound remains crystal-clear. It is the quietest, cleanest tube amp I have ever owned. I used it weekly, for playing lead guitar at church, from 1997-2002. I played through a Roland GP-8 effects unit, and I was happy with the amp's sound reproducing all types of sound (dirty distorted leads to shimmering clean chorus).

If I could change anything on the amp, it would be to add another knob for pre-gain (ie, a built-in distortion) and use the tremolo footswitch to switch between clean and dirty "channels". The amp's built-in tremolo circuit is adequate, but not great, and I never used it much.

THis is the cleanest, quietest tube amp I have ever owned. If you can find one to buy -- you will be really pleased. It faithfully plays sounds, of all types, from my various effects units (Roland GP-8, Johnson J-Station).

Unlike others, I don't like pushing my amps... and have never really turned the volume up much past 5 (I don't want to risk blowing out the vintage speaker). When I play, my amps are always mic'd anyway, so no need to crank it up. It is plenty loud on 2 or 3!

This amp has never had a problem for me. I do admit to babying it, however.

I will keep this amp forever, I'd get rid of all my other amps before this one!

According to the date on the original Jensen P10R, the amp was made around 1960. Features are as simple as it gets: three inputs, volume, single tone knob, depth and frequency controls for tremolo. I would trade reverb for the tremolo. The owners manual mentions a jack for external speaker and a preamp out/power amp in loop, but they are not on my model(that would've been sweet).

I had the amp recapped, retensioned and reconditioned by the reknowed Harry Kolbe Soundsmith in NYC. The original Jensen had a substantial tear along with a weakened spider. Rather than patch it or recone it, I installed a Weber VST P10RS (review forthcoming on Weber's site). The Jensen just had too much honk, weak bass and harsh highs. I also installed Brimar 6V6 as recommended by Mike K at KCA. Now the amp sounds absolutely gorgeous. I prefer running my SG Classic w/P90's in the second input. Volume at 7, tone on 4.5 and stand back. Glassy shimmering highs that rival Class A amps, warm crunchy mids and a nice plump tight bass. For solos, I kick in a nice blended clean boost with a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. The overdrive is rich and complex, though at higher settings it tends to get a little 'splatty'. I may try a different rectifier or perhaps go to solid state to tighten things up. I haven't gigged with it yet, but the volume is impressive for 12 watts. Most NYC clubs mic amps anyway.

With regular servicing I think it would stand up to regular rehearsals and gigs. My grandfather (the original owner) had it in his basement since 1960 practically unused. He gave it to me in 1984; unfortunately I destroyed the tweed and abused it hard. Think twice about giving a vintage amp to a 14 year old metal head.

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This is a wonderful sounding vintage amp. At 12 watts and a 10 inch speaker, it may be a tad undergunned for live gigs (we'll soon find out). I love the clean tones and that 'just-breaking-up tone'. The only minor drawback is the residual static, splatty sound when overdriven hard. I'm not sure what's causing it. Maybe it's just the natural sound of power tube distortion (which is unfamiliar to my ears!)

1960 Tweed Explorer, recapped, serviced by John Landgraff, of "Sounds Perfect", a great Pensacola, Fl. tech, and also makes effects pedals. This is a great harp amp, sort of a very suped up on steroids tweed champ. This amp has Brimars(6v6)x2 =wow. Creamy overdrive. About the size of a brown, or SF/BF Princeton. Has original? Jensen P10R speaker. On features read Jeremy Norris's review below. I use a Maxom analog delay(reissue) with this amp, and have gigged with 4 piece blues band a couple times recently, amp sounded great. This has the features I need, simplicity, and vintage tweed tone.

This amp is very quiet, with or without the analog delay pedal. Play harp(blues). 2x6v6, one 12Ax7( I use 12AY, or T, or 5751 when using analog delay), preamp tube, and tube I dont recall for the vibrato, which I dont use.Also 5y3 rectifier tube, I will also try with 5v4 for different sag/headroom. Great overdrive, great blues amp, about 8-12 watts?

This amp is dependable, especially serviced by good tech. I also use a 62 Ampeg reverberocket, a great amp( 12" Jensen P12R, GE 7591 power tubes-15-18 watts) for other applications. Also, have 65 Harmony 306 w/12" CTS alnico, 2x6v6) that after I get it serviced this month(needs cap job), I may run some together with the Gibson GA18.

Dont plan to deal with Gibson, just an amp tech, or Weber VST if I ever put another speaker in it, or internet tube distributors like Mike K.

Have been playing harp 28-29 years, over 20 semi-pro. Play as side person with couple part time blues bands, and with Methodist church group on Sundays at contemporary service. I like the 1960 Gibson Explorer. I like simple circuit amps, non master volume/or volume boost(yuk), just volume, and tone knobs. Gibson vintage amps are a lot cheaper than their Fender counterparts. Gibson quality went downhill in the early/mid 60s. There are a lot of old Gibson amps out there. The 50s tweed Gibsons serviced are affordable for the most part vintage blues tone. No Jeremy, this one is not for sale.

The site asks to be critical so I will in all fairness to others that damand many features form amps. Well this little amp is very straight forward. It has 3 inputs which attinuate after the first. One volume, one tone control, speed, and intensity for the vibrato. To me less is more. Many of you out there know exactly what I mean!!!!!!!! The vibrato in strong and swirly.

This amp is a one trick pony, but dam that trick is coool. With two 6V6s it puts out about 12 watts. It is very quiet. Hell its from 1959, and its tweed, so it has the KILLER VINTAGE TONE. Especailly when turned up all the way. True overdrive, not distortion! Very strong and consistent. So much so that I am going to have an amp builder make a version with two 6L6s and a GZ34 rectifier for about 38 to 45 gigable watts. This amps sounds better than a real 59 bassman!

The amp didn't work when I bought it. That made for the steal price! My buddy Ron Veil @ www.unclespot.com fixed it lickety split.
It has been fine ever since!

Never have had to deal with Gibson.

Been playing for twelve years. I also own a couple of Super Reverbs, and some Strats. I would look high and low for one of these if it were one day gone. It is the perfect recording amp, and also sounds good without the threat of an eviction notice! Thanks for reading.
Jeramy
p.s. Email me if you have one for sale!!!!