Gibson GA20T Ranger 112 Combo

1957. 4 inputs, 14 or so watts, Tremolo & TONE. Requires no other features (except maybe a speaker out). The versatility lies within the fact that this is the perfect electric guitar sound - if you want to change it up, play with your guitars controls or muck with the tremolo, the rest falls on the player's ability, nothing more.

I have never heard a better sound. Warm, room-filling bass; angelic, singing mids; chiming top end sparkle; and the greatest snarl & bark when you dig in deep. These amps really do fall somewhere between the BEST examples of low-watt Fender & Marshall designs, and they were around a decade longer than Fender.

It's been untouched for 52 years. I'm going to go with yes.

See above. Best guitar company ever, until the late seventies.

I've been playing 32 years of my life. I own/have owned Savage, Dr. Z, many blackface Fenders (over the years), a Reissue AC30, a JMP 50 combo, a Ceriatone JTM 45 head, & a smattering of small-wattage tube amps from the '40s through '60s (Gretsch, Valco/Supro, Magnatone). I love it's light weight and amazing big sound. I hate the jealous looks it gets me - makes me worry that someone's gonna steal her. If it were stolen, I'd turn over mountains and reverse the polarity of the earth until the slimy slug came crawling for forgiveness.

I bought this amp new in 1957 and have been using it on and off ever since (not much playing lately). It has two channels with separate volume controls, a tone control ("voicing"), tremelo frequency, and tremelo depth controls. A tremelo on/off switch is attached through a long zip cord. A single large Jensen speaker puts out the sound. No unusual tubes are used, and they require no matching. A great Amp - I'll take it to my grave!

I bought this amp new in 1957 and have been using it on and off ever since (not much playing lately). The amp is bright when the treble is turned up and mellow when it's down. The microphone input has more high frequency response than the instrument input, but works for the guitar if you want more highs. I have never noticed any noticable distortion, but then I can't ever recall using it full blast. My music has been mostly blues, a bit of Jazz, and a little sixties rock and roll.
I use an ES-135 (two P-90's)now, but the amp has also served well with an add-on DeArmond pick-up on my L-48, a Fender Jazzmaster, and my son's Strat.

Excellent reliability. The amp has held up beautifully, kept under its original cloth cover when not used. I have never had to replace any parts except the tubes and the tremelo pedal cord. The original Jensen speaker is still fine.
If you find one that has been unused for a while it may need the electrolytic capacitors replaced.

Only dealt with the factory once many years ago to get a schematic diagram, which they gladly sent.

Playing since 1955. Jazz and blues bands in high school and college, and for myself since then. don't play much at all anymore.
Had a Fender piggy-back style amp in the sixies (with my Jazzmaster), but let it go and kept the Gibson. If you are looking for a vintage tube-type, it's a great choice for a basic amp with tremelo. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

My Ranger is a 1959-60. Is still a well put together amplifier and works perfectly.The amp has two channels. One is with volume and tone . Two is for the same as one but with the footswitch it has tremelo.The amp is about 14-16 watts and is a good overdrive amp but
is still possible to get a clean sound by useing both channel's volumes at the same time.My Ranger has a very loud volume range for the size of the amp. With a 5v4 rectifier tube in place of the 5y3 and a 12ax7 in place of the 12ay7. Plus, you must use R.C.A. 6v6's to get it's best . The Ranger is as loud or louder than a Tweed Fender Deluxe. The Fender has a little better tone though.

I use a Fender Strat that has a walnut wood body(made by the hometown
guitar tech)with a Fender approved Allparts neck,3 single coils(Stew Mac)and I use a 1965 Epiphone Riviera with P.a.f Mini Hums.I got the amp off of e-bay and it had been serviced before I got it and came to me in perfect working order. No hums or noises.This amp get's real warm and tone shines when pushed therefore making it a real smooth overdrive that I have;nt never been able to find in a pedal or any other newer amp.It is very, very satisfying. You don't miss it not having Reverb at all.I plug a Holy Grail Reverb in it and it's all there.The only thing I wish it had was a extension Speaker Jack so I could have my amp tech fix it to be a line out. But, this little amp is loud and if miked it work real well. If you are a Blues player who play's guitar with a bit of overdrive all the time this amp is it!This amp DOES BITE with a Strat.Billy Gibbons bite , you know what I mean? It will get the S.R.V.thing too. Just smaller doses.Mike it it out and your there!It's a experience to play with a good Strat.

This amp is pushing 43 years old. I think it's going to make it!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never had the pleasure. I did call the factory one time and talk to a guy about a bridge piece I needed for a old Japan made Epiphone
It was a very odd Steinberger Bridge and the guy said he remembered the bridge and thought there were still some laying around. About a week later I recieved two of them at no charge in the mail. How cool was that???!!!But, never about a amp>

I've been playing since I was a child and I'am now 42. Still loving it
more and more.If this amp was stolen I would be very disappointed. I would hope to find another one at the easy going price I found this one and would most likely buy it.I love the Cathode bias amps like this Ranger. They just have that something extra that makes playing them so much more enjoyable.I hope to someday be able to afford a Fender Duel Professional tweed or a 59'Bassman. But, I would find it hard to pay the stupid price they have on some vintage amps.So until then I'll just have to crank this Ranger and Use a good microphone!
The tremolo is cool also!!!!!!

I picked this amp up at an old church in Chicago. I believe this amp is a 1960. The Amp says it is a Ranger, but I found it listed on a website as a Minuteman. It is a 2 Channel with Tremolo on the second channel. It is 60 watts with a 12" Jenson loudspeaker and a pedal switch for the tremolo.

Fantastic tone. I'm pretty much a basement player and when I crank it I get some great overdrive. I haven't had the guts to take it on stage. I play a Jay Turser 3 pickup strat through it and occasionally a twin humbucker Fender Tele. Both sound great through it. Tremolo works but I don't use it often. The clean channel sounds clear for as loud as I can take it.

It had a buz when I got it so I took it in and spent fifty bucks on service. The tech said nobody had ever touched the thing and nobody has had to touch it since. It is the only amp I use anymore and I haven't had a problem.

I haven't dealt with Gibson other than trying to find documents on this thing and I haven't found much.

I really love this amp. I haven't been playing long, but this thing sounds a lot better than my old Peavy did. I love the 60's tweed with the brown grill and Gold Gibson logo. I see a lot of amps that are copying that old style, but none of them sound as warm as mine. My friend has been playing for years and he loves it's sound. If anyone has more info on this amp let me know.