Introduction of the Gibson Goldtone
Musical Instruments has looked to the past — the 1950’s , to develop the new Gibson Goldtone Series. The Gibson Goldtone amps are faithful reproductions of the Gibson “S” Amplifiers from the 1950’s, which set the standard for versatility, quality and sound. They utilize true, Class A all-tube technology with the celebrated 12AX7 preamp tubes, EL84′s in the power amp, and the ultimate in contemporary guitar amplifier design.
“When they were introduced in the 1950’s, Gibson amps set the whole standard,” says Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. “If you listened to rock, jazz, country or blues at that time, chances are that it was being played through a Gibson “S” amp. We are excited to reintroduce the Gibson amplifier, and are extremely proud of this Goldtone Series.”
The new series includes the GA-15 (15 watts Class A; 10 inch Celestion Vintage speaker; bright switch), the GA-15RV (15 watts Class A; 12 inch Celestion Vintage speaker; Triode/Pentode switch; Accutronics reverb; bright switch), and the stereo combo GA-30RVS (15 watts per side, dual 12 inch Celestion Vintage speakers; Accutronics reverb, stereo effects loop; stereo external speaker out; footswitchable gain boost; bright switch). Each amplifier is handcrafted in the U.K. and features a striking gold metallic grill and brown leatherette finish.
What is Class A? With Class A the full electrical current passes through the tubes, whereas with other classes, only a small portion actually goes through the tubes. The resulting sound is breathtakingly rich in harmonic content, warmth and sweetness. Even the distortion is musical. It is a harmonic distortion created by the tubes and Class A design.
And don’t be confused by the low wattage, a requirement of the Class A technology. Aside from their unbelievable tone, these amps are real powerhouses. Add an extension cabinet and look out.
Gibson Goldtone FAQ
Q. What kind of speakers are in there?
A. Celestion Vintage 10 and Celestion Vintage 30 for the 10″ and 12″ amplifiers, respectively.
Q. What does the triode / pentode switch do?
A. This switch shuts off the screen grid in the power tube. Changing the EL84 from a pentode to a triode. This allows distortion to be introduced into the signal more quickly.
Q. Is 15 watts enough to do gigs with? (referring to the GA-15 and GA-30RV)
A. Absolutely, this amplifier is modestly rated at 15 watts RMS and is voiced specifically to “cut through” when being used in a live situation.
Q. What kind of tubes are in there?
A. 12AX7’s in the preamp and EL84’s (6BQ5’s) in the power amp.
Q. If I choose to use an extension speaker, will the internal speaker be disabled?
A. Yes.
Q. What is meant by, ” Class A “?
A. Class A amplifiers are biased so that their tubes are drawing full current without any signal being applied to them (unlike class AB). The power tubes will also conduct 360 degrees of the signal without resting (unlike class AB). The result is a sweet sounding amplifier very rich in harmonic content especially at higher volumes.
