Gibson's GA-40 Les Paul 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-40 could push some historically great Fenders from the same period off to the side - no joke.
So what makes this 1958 GA-40T 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. There's a reason this particular variant - from mid-57 through 1960 - is the most desired.
The twin 5879 pentode preamp is the star of the show in a GA-40. With its fatter, darker tone and rich aggressive breakup, it does rock n roll like nobody's business. If you're looking for clean tone, keep on scrolling! Cranked up, this amp delivers some searing tube overdrive and saturation that would closet the most coveted of overdrive and distortion pedals. And when it's pumping through an original Jensen P12P alnico speaker - a great pairing for this amp right out of the factory - you've got all that sweet vintage goodness just exploding out of that gorgeous cabinet.
It doesn't end there, though. The amp is equipped with some amazing tube-driven tremolo thanks to the single metal can 6SQ7. It has more of a bias-vary type of response and sound, which is really sweet and musical. It can get more throbby if you'd like, but on lower settings it's very satisfying.
The larger cabinet that houses the aforementioned original Jensen P12P acts just like those great Fender Tweeds - resonant, airy, and almost omnipresent in its sonic footprint. The amp sounds considerably bigger than its 14 watts would let on.
So many of these amplifiers have been played into the ground. It's often we'll see the fragile injection-molded plastic badges snapped off or the Les Paul tag sheared off of the bottom edge of the cabinet. Handles broken, original Mahogany footswitches long gone, etc. Not the case with this one. It's about as complete as you'll find one of these. The chassis also maintains its original chrome plating with very little wear or fading. Sure, there's some staining here and there (mostly on the bottom edge of the cabinet) and it's missing one back panel screw, but we'd rate its condition as one of the best on the market today.
Pound for pound, a late 50s GA-40T like this one still remains of the very best values in vintage guitar amps. There's really nothing else quite like it.
**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.**
