70's Gibson Twin 200 watt amp--experience?

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

Any of you guys ever played steel thru one of these?
from the '70's: Gibson G-105 2X12 200 watts, spring reverb, mint condition.
I bought it at a pawn shop in Helena, MT for $100, with orginal Gibson speakers--like new shape with the orange stickers.
It's solid state, so it's missing the warm tube tone, but maybe one of you have been there, done that ??

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Considering where they put the 200W label, I'd expect that to be consumption, not output. Output probably two thirds of that.
So it's in the neighborhood of the JC 120. It probably sounds good until it clips. If it sounds good, it is good.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Roger Kelly · From: Bristol,Tennessee

Here is the Specs on the Amp...you probably made a good buy. Don't know how good it is for Steel. You could run a Tube pre-amp in front to give you that warm sound. Hope you like it.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Cool old amp. Looks like it's in great shape. I don't know anything about old Gibby SS amp value, but it appears to be a good buy too. Looks like the speakers are Eminence made for Gibson units. Enjoy! @ 100W rms, it ought to get plenty loud. Let us know how it how you like it for steel.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

pretty cool $100 amp!

even if it tends toward lane's 'bringdown negativity'
it's gotta be good for something.

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

Jerry, I read your note about the speakers being Eminence, and wondered how the heck you could know that? So I googled it up. Pretty cool, I had no idea speakers had codes sort of like dating an old Dobro. 67 7444:
67=Eminence
74=date they were made
44=week of the year (Is that right?).

They are mint condition, but I guess speakers have come a long way since those old '74's.

Thanks for commenting, I learned something.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I'm not that smart. I used the link that Stephen Cowell, Jon and Chris B. posted to one of my Silvertone topics, so they get the credit.

http://www.thespeakershop.com/speakerrepair/eiacodes.html

It just shows 67 being Eminence, looks like your research may have turned up the mfg. dates.

Lots of good info here on the forum sometimes.

So, have you put it to work yet?

Don Griffiths · From: Steelville, MO

Nah, no good for steel. I'll give you $120. for it though? Laughing

Seriously, put a Steel Guitar Black Box(3 1/2 times the price you paid)in front of it for Warmth.
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Shobud Pro1,BMI U12, Santa Cruz F, PRS Standard, Fender Twin Reverb, ‘53 000-28

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

I haven't cranked it loud yet. Playing low volume, it seems kind of sterile, but then my others amps do too. I have to wait until the wife goes to 'cards' night with the girls. Then I'll rattle the neighborhood.

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

My lack of electrical knowledge is embarrassing: if i run a tube preamp into this old Gibson, would I use the 'Hi' input or the 'Lo' sensitivity input on the amp?

And if I'm messing with a 40 watt tube amp (Pignose G-40) in conjunction with this old Gibson, any warnings or advice so that I don't fry it?

Thanks,
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

It would probably sound a lot better with some decent speakers. Those old plug-magnet jobs just aren't that good on a high wattage amp. Winking

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

Thanks guys. This is a great site.
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

As suggested, I'm replacing the two speakers. Was thinking Eminence Swamp Things. Any idea on what ohms? 8? There's nothing on the Gibson/Eminence speakers that i can understand.
Thanks
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

That's the same company (CMI Electronics) that made SG Systems amps. Bob Crooks designed the SG amps--he was the Standel guy. You can see the resemblance between this and a later Standel.

They later became Norlin, maker of Lab Series amps.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

Mike, any idea of who to contact for proper speaker ohm replacement?
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I would be very surprised if they weren't two 8 ohm speakers.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Disconnect the leads from the speakers.

Take a DMM set to the lowest ohmage range available, and measure the resistance of each speaker individually.

Then report back here with the results.

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

I thought I'd fill you in on the pawnshop Gibson: I took much of y'alls advice here. You'll get a laugh--my hundred dollar amp now has another $470 into it. So now it's a $570 amp. But it sounds AWESOME. I bought two new 8ohm 12" Eminence Swamp Thang speakers, re-connected the chopped ground plug, and bought a Sarno Black Box buffer.
It is really warm, clean, and I can rattle windows a couple blocks away. It sounds especially great with my 1939 Slingerland Songster. The Black Box is very subtle, but it does give the solid state amp some 'belly'. It also sounds real good with several of my overdrive pedals. Lately been messing with the Golden Cello at slight drive levels. Pretty cool.
The big real-deal spring reverb in the amp is great, but very sensitive to loose floorboards.
Really, REALLY happy with it--lots of power. Thanks for all your advice guys. If my wife asks, the amp only cost $100 Laughing

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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

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