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Topic: Restoring a 1952 Gibson GA-75 |
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2011 3:36 pm |
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She is a sad one. Water damage, had to replace bottom. I used the veneer from the bottom to make other repairs. I also used the botton veneer and applied it to the new bottom to look as though it was never repaired. Looking good. Now trying to find a nice leather to cover it with!
More pictures here:
Last edited by Ken Fox on 15 Jul 2011 5:44 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2011 3:37 pm
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Day #2 on the cabinet:
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Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
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Posted 3 Jul 2011 3:48 pm
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| Hey Ken, is that the model Andy Reiss plays through sometimes? Looks like a lot of work, it's a good thing that you're bringing it back to life. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2011 4:08 pm
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I believe that is correct. There were 3 circuits on these amps, this is the oldest one and has 5 inputs and a 6SJ7 inverter tube.
A cool amp with a P15N Jensen, 2x6L6 power tubes, 5V4 rectifier. Preamp tubes are 1 x 6SJ7 and 3 x 6SC7.
Got all the caps ordered. All filter are open or high ESR. Also will replace all coupling caps as well. Tubes are excellent. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 1:35 pm
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Go most of the bad parts replaced. Just waiting on a 10/10uf muti-section cap to replace the one hangout out there in the picture. Should be able to test it onthe bench this week. Got the cab ready to cover as well. Several hours just replace a few parts! Point to point amps are far more labor intensive than Fender tag board style/handwired amps!
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 1:59 pm
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Ken,
Sounds somewhat similar to my BR-1. The BR-1 has a 12" speaker, and is a great-sounding amp. Slight tube differences. I think mine uses a 5U4. Maybe one different pre-amp tube? |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:11 pm
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| Similar for sure. Not sure what power tubes are in the BR-1. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:13 pm
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Ken,
Two 6L6s. What does the case handle look like on yours? I need to get a replacement for my long-gone handle.
JB |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:17 pm
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No handle left, just the hardware (like a Fender tweed). I have a raised brwon handle on the way. I had to drill out the rivets holding the hardware. I replace those with 6-32" t-nuts. That way I can use 6-32" screws to hold the handle.
Here is a shot of someone elses amp, similar handle to what I will use.
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:23 pm
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Yeah Ken. The hardware that is left on mine looks like Fender stuff, but the actual old handles were not flat straps. They were rounded, and padded, and more, as Zappa would say, "bulbous!" At least on my early Post War amp. Not sure about the Fifties ones though. That's why I was hopin' you had the original. I haven't been able to find a supplier for the "old-style" handles.
JB |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:29 pm
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The reproduction ones that have the humped back are not as thick, but I have one of them to use.
At Antique Electronics:
P-H262
Handle - Vintage Fender Style, Brown, Raised
High quality replacement handle for vintage Fender amps. Will work on other amps as well. Mounts and screws not included (part number P-H282A). Center to center measurement is 6 1/2". Handle is flat and is raised throughout the center.
Here is another, made in USA that might be thicker
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350455850191&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:34 pm
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Ken,
The old handles that I'm referring to,,,, If you cut them in half in the middle, they'd be round. Much much thicker.
JB |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 2:42 pm
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Ken!
Just found this pic. Eggs Ackley like my amp. You're right about the handle! (If that's the original handle) Glad we had this little conversation!
JB
PS; Notice the very "transparent" grill "cloth!" Aluminum with tiny holes! Sounds better from the back than it does from the front! Back panel is missing on my amp. Maybe for a good reason?
Last edited by John Billings on 4 Jul 2011 3:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2011 5:30 pm
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Bot sure about that second handle. Like to see how it was mounted! I do not think it is using the original clips.
Here is another odd one. Not original either, I can see where it had the Fender style mounts
Here is another and it looks like the original was a flat style (probably with the raised center. The one on Ebay looks very good, might be the one I want.
I have around 40 pictures of various Ga-75 amps I found on the net. Most seem to have the flat style handles on them (proabably the original were a raised center style)
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2011 5:11 am
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That round handle looks like one of these mounted in between the old Fender style moounts:
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2011 11:22 am
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Ken,
This is the style handle I was thinking of;
Muy bulbous! |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2011 3:22 pm
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I had forgot about that one! Circa 1940's, I do believe. Note the end caps are rounded, not like the Fender ones.
Never seen one of of those for sale yet! |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2011 3:26 pm
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"Note the end caps are rounded, not like the Fender ones. "
But the fastening clips look very much like Fender clips. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 1:23 pm
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Almost done. Will have a new faceplate being made soon, leather piping to add to the cabinet, another 6SC7 tube on the way, a black Jensen P15N is being re-coned to 4 ohns today (test speaker is 8 ohms). It sounds fantastic!!
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 1:30 pm
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Ken,
How do you do the faceplate? |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 1:39 pm
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I am having it make by the same folks that do my plates. It will be laser engraved on a dark brown plate with white background for the letters, etc. I am awaiting Gibson's reply on the old style logo use. If they do not allow use of the old logo I will make the plate with everything but the logo. I did the art work in SmartDraw and sent it to my plate maker. She has revised it a bit, as I could not get the radius on the lines quite right!
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 1:46 pm
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| Interesting! I would assume the original plate is silk screened? After Gibson laughed at me 35 years ago when I asked for a schematic of my BR-1, I wouldn't have even contacted them! |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 1:56 pm
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Sandy will not do the logo unless we get permission. She and others have had the fear of God put in them by threats from Fender!!!
Last edited by Ken Fox on 12 Jul 2011 2:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2011 2:02 pm
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"have had the fear of God put in them by threats from Fender!!!"
Understood! I had a devil of a time getting a Twin faceplate for my Johnson cabbed amp. It was a Quad, and nobody wanted to sell me a Twin plate! Hadda do some fast talking to Antique Electronics! |
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