Gibson GA30RVH Head

2003 Gibson Super Goldtone RVH30 Class A Amplifier. This amp is perfect for the sounds I love- AC/DC, Aerosmith (Joe Perry uses and endorses these amps), Queen. Basically any Classic sounding tube guitar sound from Clapton to Page. This amp is loud and rages like no other I have ever had! The two channels plus boost, reverb, effects switch, and ability to play through 4, 8 or 16 ohm cabinets makes this the ultimate in versatility.

This amp has that perfect clarity that I've never heard anywhere else. Clean sounds and reverb are lush and warm. Every note comes through even at blinding distortion levels. It is also very responsive to your hands- goes from a whisper to a roar depending on how hard you strike the strings on your axe. Very dynamic! Probably not for the novice player, as YOU WILL hear every mistake, scratch, string buzz, bad technique, with embarrassing clarity. However, if you are gifted enough (like myself) this sensitivity will reward you and your listeners.

I've had the amp for 3 months and no problems yet. I use it without a backup.

I haven't had to talk to the people at Gibson yet, so I don't know.

I've been playing for 8 years, have a B.S. in Music with concentration in guitar performance. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to playing and enjoying the guitar. This amp will make you want to play more, and (at least for me, better). I use a 2002 Gibson Firebird V and an'79 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Both guitars scream, cry, and combust with orgasmic delight when plugged into this amp. I also recommend getting the matching cabinet for this amp. I did, and it sounds better than other Marshall cabs I have used the amp with. Buy this amp and you will not be sorry!

This is a 2003 model of the Gibson Super Goldtone GA-30RVH head. I am running this through a marshall 1960B cabinet and all i can say is...this thing is a tone machine. From every style of blues you could ever ask for, to pearl jam, to load/re-load era metallica rhythm , to great clean tones... this amp has it all. The main reason i bought this was because of my love of just balls to the wall amps, i know that i could probably buy a mesa and sit around for 3 hours getting that "perfect" sound for every style, but ya know what, i am an old school kinda guy and i would much rather just plug in and play through this gibson goldtone, you will not be dissapointed with this amp. The boost features are great both on the clean channel and the crunch channel, on the clean the boost implys a great rhythm sound, or bluesy leads tone, when you kick it on the crunch the channel with the boost, as i said earlier, you are livin the load/reload era again.

If there is one thing i can tell you, buy the 5 button footswitch that gibson offers with this amp. the option of using the Preamp 1/Preamp 2 setting on that is worth the price alone, its a great sound.

I am using a 1991 Gibson Les Paul Standard through this amp. It suits all of my musicial styles perfectly. Of course, standing right in front of this thing, it sounds like shit (as do any heads/cabs), when i play through it, i usually stand about 7-10 feet from the amp, and the sound is just amazing, clarity on all the notes. There is a hum whenever the amp is turned up though, which is kind of annoying sometimes, but not annoying enought to deduct points. The clean channel is just that, clean throughout the all the ranges of volume.

Well, i first bought the gibson goldtone ga-30rv combo, i had some problems with this amp, and after having it serviced twice, i decided i was not waiting anymore to play through my new amp, so i decided to throw down an extra 200 bucks and buy this head with a marshall 1960B cab, and i am so glad i did. this thing has not farted out on me yet though so... .

Never had to deal with gibson, went through the retailer who sold it to me.

I have been playing for 5 years, and this is the first time i have had an "actual amp" my previos was a crate gx 212, its been a long time waiting, but ive finally got my dream amp. When i decided to make the leap from the combo to the head/cab, i basically had any choice of heads and cabs to choose from, but i stuck the gibson brand because of what i heard from the combo, i loved the tone from this thing, this is the perfect amp for me. i would definitly buy another one if it were stolen. I love the vintage sounds in this thing, just pure balls, guitar playin good times with this thing, very good buy, the knobs are just plain stupid, they are all messed up on how you read them, very dumb for gibson to do it like this, its just annoying. I choose this product because it covered basically every tone i was looking for , and i have no regrets, so everyone should do what i am going to do as soon as im done writing this, GO PLAY THROUGH ONE!!

- 2002
- rock/pop style
- 2 channel. included footswitch. Optional midi controlled 5 way switch. Effects loop.
- ability to switch both pre-amps (channels) on at the same time with included footswitch. Can only do with optional 5-way footswitch.
- used in studio only. Has plenty of power, class A 30 watts.
- All tube operation, including tube operated reverb.

- Gibson SG/Burstbucker pick-ups.
- Amp suits rock/pop styles.
- Extemely Noisy, especially when egaging the reverb.
- clean & dirty sounds
- remains clean at high volumes, but sounds boxy.
- the high gain channel does not have a very good sounding distortion at all.

- NO! Sent it back the day after I received. Here is the list of the initial defects:
1) Power lamp was blinding. I had to cover with black electrical tape.
2) Boost switch LED not functioning.
3) When the boost switch was dis-engaged, the boost would return to normal sound level at a gradual pace (2-3 seconds). Not instantaneous. I don't know if Gibson designed it this was, or if it is a defect.
3) Reverb was wired backwards with the optional 5-way footswitch. Switch off, reverb on, switch off, reverb on.
4) The reverb was EXTREMELY noisy.
5) The 2 way footswitch was NOT included in the box.
6) Gibson does not provide any type of cover!

- Called customer service and told them about all the defects (read Reliability) and that I sent the amp back the next day. They seemed friendly enough and couldn't believe that this amp shipped for purchase. If this is the kind of quality you get from a Gibson amp, I recommend to NEVER buy one!

- 20 years.
- Sent it back. I will never buy a Gibson GA30RVH amp again.
- Sent it back.
- see reliability
- compared to THD & Bogner. Never had a chance to audition before I purchased. I bought it because of all the positive reviews I'd read.
- I also didn't like the fact that you couldn't engage both preamps at the same time without having to purchase the $100 optional 5 way footswitch.

This RVH was built in 2001 in england. I got it at Mars when they were going out of business, musicians friend sells it for $1299.00, and I would have paid that if I had to! I love it because it is so straight forward. No BS to mess around with and no F/X gimmicks. Reverb for both channels. I got the 5-button footswitch to combine channels one and two. I can't believe the capabilites of this amp, from country, blues, jazz to hard rock, it covers them all with ease. It looks like fine furniture as well.

I play a 2002 Les Paul standard with burstbucker V's and an SG through this amp. The sound quality is the best I've heard. I shoped around for a long time and played EVERYTHING out there! I love Marshall's, I love Mesa's, I like fender's, but this amp beats 'em all for that fantastic class A tone. 30 watts class A can go just about as loud as you would ever want, so bolume is no problem. easy no nonsense controls make adjustmets super easy and quick to find the tone required. I give it a 10 for sound because I really don't believe it gets any better for any price.

Just got it a while ago, sent in warranty card, no problems yet, but I'll let you all know if I have to use it!

I have a lot of Gibson products and always find them to be curtious, helpful and I always get a himan being on the phone when I call them. ( I have never had a problem with anything from Gibson)

I've only been playing a few years, and I've gone through a lot of gear already. My first guitar was a wasburn acoustic, then an Ibanez electric(fun for 10 minutes), and Epiphone les paul that I put Gibson pickups in, a Takamine g330(which is a great player for $250.00) a gibson dwight yoakam acoustic(like j-185) a gibson SG, and my latest 2002 Les Paul which just rocks. I had a Marshall AVT275 which I really liked, but I bought it for the vast range of F/X and quickly learned that a lot of built in effects are gimmicks that loose their novelty after 3 days tops. Otherwise that was a real nice amp, and grat for a solid state. I'm hooked on tubes now. If my GA30RVH was stolen, I would get another the same day. I can't think of one thing bad to say about this amp. I lacks nothing. If you are concidering this amp, take my word for it you will have no regrets.

Versatility on a stick! Two channels (pre-amps) each with a gain boost switch, and most impressively with the optional 5 way foot pedal allows you to play both pre-amps at the same time. (this and the boost ended up being the features that swayed me away from the new orange AD30TC) Basically this amps has it all: effects loop in series or parallel etc etc etc. i was a little concerned about the 30 watts initially, but being class A, the entire signal is amplified and volume is not a concern, with ample head room. However if you want super volume get an orange AD140..... Tooooo fkn loud.
If this program allowed i would deduct 0.3 points for the dials being read from the bottom, it takes some getting used to, you think you have 4, but you actually have 10.... a little strange!
But i cant stress enough that this amp has the lot.,
The cab is also feature rich. It has two celestion vintage 12 inch speakers closed in at the bottom (infinite baffle) and two celestion vintage 10 inch speakers at the top of the cab with an open back, this give a well ballanced soundand the two different speaker size adds more intrigue to the alreadr very impressive appearance.

This amp excells in sound production. Which i guess is good it being an amp and all. I am using a godin LGX and this amp does no lack of favours for the guitar. The clean on pre amp one is really sweet and really clean if you so desire, and with the gain pushed up either by rolling up the dial or by clicking the boost an awesome tube driven cleanish distortion (...you know what i mean) is achieved. Then there is pre-amp two: I prefer the lower gain brittish cruch which sounds like brittish crunch should...... brittish crunchy! but for those who like the really gainy, mesa-type distortion, its there too.
This amp is an expensive amp, but it only takes one play to listen to the sounds that this thing makes to soften the blow of dishing out that much cash.

Havent had it for long enough to know.

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I have been playing for about 12 years, and i wasnt even thought of when the gibson company began making guitar amplifers. But for those of you who were you would not be dissapointed by the super goldtone series. The appearence is inspired by this time frame, with brown leather covering and big gibson logo, and the sounds of the time can still be produced, and more... so much more.
With the head retailing at about Aus$3300, and the cabinet goes for about Aus$1700 it would not be so easy just to buy it again if it were stolen, but i would definately buy this amp again if was to spend that kind of money again.
The sounds achieved by this amp do away with the need for two amps - one for clean one for dirty. Both pre-amps or spot on!
I have no hesitations in recomending this amps to anyone.... Actually i will go further that that, i urge those about to part ways with that kind of money for an amp to try this amp,as it speaks better for itself than i ever could