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Gibson GA-20T (1956)

Vintage

Currently unavailable
DOCUMENTED HONESTLYEvery repair, every change
VETTED ON THE BENCHBefore it's listed
SINCE 1968Still independent
Gibson's GA-20 amplifier has long been considered by vintage enthusiasts as one of the very best amplifier models to come out of Kalamazoo. Stretching back to its introduction in 1952, it has proved over the years that some of Gibson's designs could really give Fenders a run for their money. We'd confidently make the argument that a well-tuned GA-20 could push some historically great Fenders from the same period off to the side - no joke.

So what makes this 1956 GA-20T so special? It's got the perfect combination of looks, sound, and tonal versatility that will keep you smiling every time you plug into it.

Closely related to Fender's Tremolux, the GA-20T is a two-channel 1x12 combo with Normal and Tremolo channels. The former uses a 12AU7 preamp stage with the latter incorporating the 5879 pentode. This gives the player two different preamp flavors, with different gain voices, respectively. Combined with the great tube tremolo (that's where the 6SQ7 tube comes in), it's got great tonal range for a low-powered amp. While its bigger brother GA-40T has a more aggressive overdriven tone, the GA-20T shines with a warm low volume vintage voice that pairs very nicely with single coils. Its breakup is more reserved with a rounder attack, too, making it a nice choice for alt country, singer-songwriter, and folk rock based material.

This is an exceptionally clean example of the last year of Gibson's two-tone poodle-esque vinyl and dark brown covering before moving to a slightly tweaked two-tone look and logo change. It's just recently been serviced and sounds beautiful!

It's hard to argue the value of a great 50s Gibson amp like this.

**Please Note: All vintage amplifiers - regardless of service history - contain electronic components that will eventually require replacement or repair. This is often unpredictable and should be expected as a vintage amplifier owner. We are not responsible for additional service upon receipt.**
Condition: Vintage. Fully inspected and set up by TME staff before it ships or leaves the showroom.
Power 12-14 Watts
Controls Volume | Volume | Tone | Depth | Frequency
Switches On/Off
Inputs 4
General Plywood cabinet
Covering Original Two Tone w/ original grill cloth
Tubes (2) 6V6 | (1) 6SQ7 | (1) 5879 | (2) 12AX7 | (1) 5Y3
Speaker 12" Jensen P12R
Transformers Original
Service History Recap / 3-prong cable
Dimensions 16½" x 20" x 9½”
Weight Approx. 30lbs
Serial Number 34479

Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.

Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.

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Whether you're chasing a tone, honoring the history, or building a collection, we seek out the finest vintage instruments and, when needed, perform tasteful restoration to ensure they'll play beautifully for decades to come.
Gibson GA-20T (1956)
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Glenn Nichols, Repairs & Restorations

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