GA-1RT(-1) Maestro Reverb-Echo (tweed)
GA-1RVT Maestro Reverb-Echo (aka Maestro M-1RVT) (tweed)
GA-2RT Maestro Deluxe Reverb-Echo (tweed)
GA-2RVT Maestro Deluxe Reverb-Echo
GA-3RV
GA-4RE
GA-5 Les Paul Junior
GA-5 Skylark (two-tone)
GA-5T Skylark (two-tone)
GA-5 Skylark (Crestline)
GA-5T Skylark (Crestline)
GA-5 Skylark (White Panel)
GA-5T Skylark (White Panel)
GA-5 Skylark (1967-)
GA-5T Skylark (1967-)
GA-5W
GA-6 (two-tone)
GA-6 Lancer (tweed)
GA-7 Les Paul TV
Gibsonette
GA-8 Gibsonette
GA-8T Gibsonette, GA-8T Discoverer
GA-8 Discoverer (Crestline)
GA-8T Discoverer (Crestline)
GA-9 (two-tone)
GA-14 Titan
GA-15 Maestro (two-tone)
GA-15RV Maestro (tweed)
GA-15RVT Explorer (White Panel)
GA-16T Viscount
GA-17RVT Scout (Crestline)
GA-18 Explorer (Tweed)
GA-18T Explorer (Tweed)
GA-18T Explorer (Crestline)
GA-19RVT (Tweed)
GA-19RVT Falcon (Crestline)
GA-20
GA-20 (Two-Tone), Crest (Tweed)
GA-20T (Two-Tone), Ranger (Tweed)
GA-20RVT Minuteman (White Panel)
GA-25
GA-25RVT Hawk (Crestline)
GA-30
GA-30 (Two-Tone), Invader (Tweed)
GA-30RV Invader (Tweed)
GA-30RVT Invader (Crestline)
GA-35RVT Lancer (White Panel)
GA-40 Les Paul
GA-40 Les-Paul (Two-Tone), GA-40T Les-Paul (Tweed)
GA-40T Les Paul (Crestline)
GA-45T Maestro (Two-Tone), Standard (Tweed)
GA-45RV Maestro (Tweed)
GA-45RVT Saturn (White Panel)
GA-45RVTL Saturn (White Panel)
GA-46T Super Maestro (Two-Tone)
GA-50
GA-50T
GA-55 (Two-Tone)
GA-55 Ranger

GA-55V (Two-Tone)
GA-55RVT Ranger (White Panel)
GA-55RVTL Ranger (White Panel)
GA-60 Hercules (Crestline)
GA-70 Country and Western (Two-Tone)
GA-75/(75W)
GA-75 Recording (Crestline)
GA-75L Recording (Crestline)
GA-77 (Two-Tone),
Vanguard (Tweed)
GA-77RV Vanguard (Tweed)
GA-77RVT Vanguard (Crestline)
GA-77RVTL Vanguard (Crestline)
GA-77RET Vanguard (Crestline)
GA-77RETL Vanguard (Crestline)
GA-77RET Vanguard (White Panel)
GA-77RETL Vanguard (White Panel)
GA-78RV Maestro 30 (Tweed)
GA-78RVT Maestro 30 (Tweed)
GA-78RVS Maestro 30 (Tweed)
GA-79 Multi-Purpose (Tweed)
GA-79RV Multi-Purpose (Tweed)
GA-79RVT Multi-Purpose (Tweed)
GA-79RVT (Crestline)
GA-80 Vari-Tone (Tweed)
GA-83S Stereo-Vib (Tweed)
GA-85 (Two-Tone)
GA-86 Ensamble (Tweed)
GA-87 Stereo Maestro (Tweed)
GA-88S Stereo Twin (Tweed)
GA-90
GA-95RVT Apollo (White Panel)
GA-95RVTL Apollo (White Panel)
GA-100 Bass (Tweed)
GA-100 Bass (Crestline)
GA-200 (Two-Tone),
Rhythm King (Tweed)
GA-200 Rhythm King (Crestline)
GA-300RVT Super 300 (Crestline)
GA-400 Super 400 (Two-Tone)
GA-400 Super-400 (Crestline)
GA-CB
GA-Custom
BA-15RV
Atlas IV
Atlas IV (Power Plus)
Atlas IV L (Power Plus)
Atlas Medalist
Duo Medalist
Mercury I (Power Plus)
Mercury II (Power Plus)
Mercury II L (Power Plus)
Mercury Medalist
Titan I (Power Plus)
Titan III (Power Plus)
Titan V (Power Plus)
Titan Medalist
Thor

18W 2x12" Guitar Combo with Vibrato
Speakers: 2x12"
Inputs (instr. + mic.): 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: Bass, treble
Tremolo: Vibrato
Tubes: 9 (2x12AY7, 6SC7, 2x6L6, 5V4)
Extension Seaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 18
Shipping Totals: 1954: 1, 1955: 188, 1956: 117, 1957: 103, 1958: 64

This amp was introduced in 1954. (www.drtube.com, March 28, 2003)

Rate the GA-55V (two-tone)...

50W 4x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: 4x10"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble
Jazz Switch: No
Presence Switch: 2
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 9 (Pre (6x6EU7, 1x12AU7, 1x6CG7) (aka 6FQ7), Pow (1x6L6 PAIR + 0A2) (like the GA-45RVT Saturn (White Panel)))
Diodes: 3
Extension Speaker Jack: Yes
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 50
Shipping Totals: 1965: 284, 1966: 1102, 1967: 600
Harmony Central Review GA55RVT Ranger
Harmony Central Review Ranger
Schematic

Push-pull 6L6s; like a 6G8 Fender Twin; plus reverb (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

I recently found an all original Gibson GA-55RVT [...] for no money. Was missing 6L6 tubes, speakers, and the waferboard speaker panel was falling apart. It was repaired with new D1 and D2 (Fast Recovery Diodes), new filter caps, and 2 new 470 ohm cathode resistor in finals. Everything worked except reverb and the tank shows an open output coil... will fix one day.
The tone controls do work differently than Marshall or Fender but are useable with some hands-on learning. I start with all tone pots at zero and then bring up Bass still I get a nice bottom, then bring up Treble just enough to hear clear little "E" string on 5th fret (A) and then fill in middle as desired just enough to balance out everything. The Tremolo works but not real deep so you have to use a little more Treble to hear the effect clearly. It’s neat to watch the OC2 Tube Rectifier glow in sync with the frequency of the treble warble.
The amp had no speaker but running through a single 12” older CTS 40w guitar speaker gave a loud enough output but the amp doesn’t distort until around 80% output volume but drive the frontend of the amp a little with a TS-9 or SoulFood pedal or even series stacked pickups and a nice distortion appears. A 50 year old amp that’s similar to a Fender Super Reverb but with a cleaner tone range especially if the presence swith is in the up position... ear piercing possiblities.
The amp has a strange foot pedal using a 5-pin DIN-style connector but is easy to make one out of spare parts since it's uses same latching stomp buttons as most pedals. Jumpering Ch1 and Ch2 and plugging into Ch2 input can give a little more drive and tone control but the amp is versatile enough as is. Definitely an amp to make mods on or leave it a classic as less than 2-3000 were made. Eventually I will plug this amp into a 4x10 cab and if it really rocks then I’ll go buy some Eminence 10” or Webers... or maybe redo the speaker panel for a single 15" for plenty of bottom end and a completely different sound. (Ken, Aug 2015)

Rate the GA-55RVT Ranger (white panel)...

50W 4x10"? Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: JBL?
Inputs: 2+2?
Channels: 2?
Volume Controls: 2?
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble?
Jazz Switch: No?
Presence Switch: 2?
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 9 (4x6EU7, 12AU7, 6CG7 (aka 6FQ7), 2x6L6, 0A2)?
Diodes: 3?
Extension Speaker Jack: Yes?
Monitor Jack: Yes?
Watts Output: 50?
Shipping Totals: 1967: 101
Harmony Central Review Ranger

Rate the GA-55RVTL Ranger (white panel)...

25W 1x12/15"? Guitar Combo
Speakers: 1x12/15"?
Inputs: 2
Channels: 1
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble
Tremolo: No
Reverb: No
Tubes: 5 (Pre (2x6EU7), Pow (1x7591 PAIR + 5AR4) (correspond to Epiphone EA-65 Rivoli))
Diodes: 3
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1962: 263, 1963: 230
Harmony Central Review GA60 Hercules Combo

Push-pull 7591s (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

Rate the GA-60 Hercules (Crestline)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo
Speakers: 1x15" (Jensen Concert)
Inputs (instr. + mic.): 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: Bass, treble, fidelity
Tremolo: No
Tubes: 6 (12AX7, 12AY7, 12AU7, 2x6L6, 5V4 or Pre (1x7025, 1x12AY7, 1x12AU7), Pow (1x6L6 PAIR + 5V4))
Extension Seaker Jack: Yes
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1955: 1, 1956: 159, 1957: 98, 1958: 74
Harmony Central Review GA-70 Country and Western Combo

This amp was introduced in 1955/56. (www.drtube.com, March 28, 2003)

GA-70 Country Western, push-pull 5881s; like a 5F4 Fender Super; GA-70 has mod. DR-type tone stack (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

A+
I love this amp.
It is perfect for old time Western Swing and R&B.
I play weekly in small clubs in the NYC area, and wether I am using my 1956 Gretsch Electromatic guitar or my 1939 Gibson ES150 CC, it delivers just the right amount of volume and gain for the type of music I play. And it looks stylish with the rope lettering. I removed the longhorn badge because it rattled on occasion. But I love love love this amp. (Smokey)

Rate the GA-70 Country and Western (two-tone)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo
Speakers: 1x15" (Jensen P15N)
Inputs (instr. + mic.): 4+1
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: Bass, treble
Tubes: 7
Preamp Tubes: 6SJ7, 2x6SC7
Phase splitter Tubes: 6SC7 (12AX7)
Output Tubes: 2x6L6
Rectifier Tubes: 5V4
Tubes: Pre (1x7025, 2x6SC7, 1x6W7), Pow (1x6L6 PAIR + 5V4) (GA-75W)
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1950: 101, 1951: 410, 1952: 338, 1953: 274, 1954: 101, 1955: 23

I have owned them all. This is the BEST SOUNDING AMP FOR ANY GUITAR THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. (Rick Gould)

1950 GA-75. A rare amp indeed with a single Jensen P15N (see first three pics). [...] has a real unique tone. [...] As you can see in the pics there are still coke bottle tubes. [...] My tech really loves the tone of this one. (ebay, June 21, 2003)

I have one of these and I can't see how it has 25 watts. Not loud at all. My '68 Deluxe, rated at 22 watts, is way louder. The Gibson is, however, an interesting amp with a certain tone that is quite nice. Doesn't break up early, and is very warm. Looks cool. Is pretty large sized for what it delivers, bigger than my Fender tweed Pro, but the cabinet is light, so it is not godawful heavy. If I had to grade it, I'd say a B. (Lisa, Apr 2014)

Rate the GA-75/(75W)...

25W 2x10" or 1x15"? Guitar Combo
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble
Tremolo: No
Reverb: No
Tubes: 6 (Pre (2x6EU7, 1x6CG7 (aka 6FQ7)), Pow (1x6L6 PAIR + 6C4))
Diodes: 3
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1963: 58, 1964: 91, 1965: 17, 1966: 15, 1967: 1
Schematic with 2x 6EU7, 1x 6C4, 1x 6FQ7 & 2x 6L6GC (1963 or later)

This amp was introduced in 1950 [as GA-75/(75W)]. (www.drtube.com, March 28, 2003)

Push-pull 6L6s; like a Fender 6G8 Twin; no tremolo (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

I have owned this GA 75 Recording 2x10 since 1967. I was given this amp for demos I did for Gibson at a NAMM show. I have traveled far..had many amps..but I have always used this amp especially for studio. We modified the tone circuit and replaced the speakers with JBL110s (I still have the originals). Amp is mint..except for a cigarette burn form the show !
Strong..bright but still deep and clean. It breaks up nicely with my 69 Les Paul or 67 Es355. I use a ES 175 for blues/Jazz with it..sound is delicious. Gibson amps where not "cool" back then..but quite amazing tone and constrution.
This and my old Traynor YBA-2B have retired a lot of other amps I have owned. Sound great with OD..or a pedal. (K docc)

Rate the GA-75 Recording (Crestline)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo
Speakers: 15" JBL
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble
Tremolo: No
Reverb: No
Tubes: 6 (2x6EU7, 6CG7 (6FQ7), 6C4, 2x6L6)
Diodes: 3
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1963: 13, 1964: 25, 1965: 16, 1966: 20, 1967: 1

I bought a Gibson GA-75 recording (400 Euros) with a 15 inch JBL speaker so I guess it must be this type (though there's no 'L' on the amp). This is a great sounding amp. Very warm and powerfull. It is in great shape, all original. The sound is much warmer than my old Fender twinreverb. I play on it with an American Fender Stratocaster: It sounds warmer than any other amp I've owned. Also a high volume for such a small amp. With a distortion/overdrive or pre-amp this amp rocks like hell. Much more natural than the twinreverb.
The only negative thing I can say about the amp is that I miss a reverb/tremolo as in the twinreverb. Soon I will probably have the amp modified to obtain this. One more thing: The amp gets hot after some playing and I mean very hot. You'll burn your fingers when touching the metal on top of the amp. I hope the tubes will last in this heat (I've played it for 6 months, until now no problems). (Frank Heine)

I have 10 Gibson amps[;] my GA75L is one of my favorites[;] I got it in LA from California Vintage[;] it is in excellent condition with original the speaker and owner's manual. It was recapped when I got it and had a new power cord. The only thing I have done to the amp is replaced the two JJ 6L6 power tubes with NOS Sylvania 6L6 tubes[;] the preamp tubes are all original Gibson tubes. All my Gibson amps have most of [their] stock tubes in them[;] Gibson's run so cool that the tubes last forever. This amp sounds amazing[;] it is big and full sounding and loud enough to do any kind of gig. Although rated at 25 watts compared to my [19]61 GA-77 and [19]60 GA-80 [-] they are all somewhat similar amps with two 6L6 power tubes and single 15" speakers and rated at 25 watts [-] the GA-75[L] is the most powerful sounding and loudest of the three amps. I tried a JBL D130 speaker [in] the other two amps to see if that was what made the GA-75[L] so much louder[;] it helped but not that much. I have never seen another one of these amps and as soon as I heard it I had to have it and everyone that plays it falls in love with it. The amp likes pedals[;] I use a Tone Candy Spring Fever for reverb and a Klon to drive the amps natural overdrive into distortion. I just saw a Vintage Guitar Magazine article about Johnny Smith it said that the GA-75L Recording Crestline was made for Johnny and he used it on all his records on the Verb label. (Glenn, Nov 2013)

Rate the GA-75L Recording (Crestline)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo with High Gain Channel
Speakers: 1x15" Jensen AlNiCo
Inputs (instr. + mic.): 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: Bass, treble, fidelity
Tremolo: No
Tubes: 7 c 6 (12AY7, 12AX7, 12AU7, 2x6L6, 5V4)
Extension Seaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1954: 147, 1955: 247, 1956: 136, 1957: 112, 1958: 143, 1959: 173, 1960: 160, 1961: 102
Harmony Central Review GA77
Schematic with 2x12AY7, 5V4, 2x12AX7, 2x12AU7, 2x5881

GA-77 [Vanguard (tweed)] amp. Tube layout is 5U4, 2x6L6GC, 12AU7, 2x12AY7. Serial # is 86232. [...] Amp works great and sounds great. (ebay, June 21, 2003)

A mid 1950s Gibson GA-77 Vanguard [two-tone] has a much different tube configuration: The tube layout is 12ay7, 12ay7, 6SL7, 6J5, 6L6GA, 6L6GA, 5V4G. The tone is said to be amazing. It made an excellent harmonica amp as well as a guitar amp (see pics four and five). (Rob of Buffalo Amps)

GA-77 Vanguard, push-pull 5881s; like a 5E7 Fender Bandmaster or 5E4 Super; no real equivalent, but these are closest (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

[GA-77] On the top of the amp it has "GA" right over the fidelity knob... the 'Gibson' to the right of that. It been a great amp with a lot of range... and that 'brown' sound for jazz. (Dale)

I once owned this guitar amp, a GA-77 Vanguard, 25W, bought from a friend who bought it at a music store, second hand. The 15” speaker was a Jensen AlNiCo, don't remember the exact model.
It is the best amp I ever owned and was superior in sound to an Ampeg 100W guitar amp I owned intermediate. The Gibson had an incredible tone, and I played it together with a Harmony H47 guitar, it was to me the perfect match.
I changed to the electric bass and bought an Ampeg V4B, and a colleague of mine used the Gibson for a Wurlitzer piano. An evening we had to remove the stage for an intermediate show, the idiot just pulled the plug from the speaker enclosure (I had taken the amp out of the original enclosure for versatility and made it into a top) leaving the speaker wire in th amplifier wih the output open. When we reentered the stage, the output tubes were almost white from glow, VERY hot, and the amplifier was never the same again !! I guess the output trafo was damaged !!
I don’t know where the GA-77 is now, and the guitar is long gone too. My experience : Never sell gold !! (Henning, Jan 2018)

Rate the GA-77 (two-tone), Vanguard (tweed)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo with Reverb and High Gain Channel
Speakers: 15"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble, tone
Tremolo: No
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 6 (or 7 tubes: 3-6EU7, 1-12AU7A, 2-6L6GC, 1-GZ34/5AR4 I obtained this info from an original Gibson GA-77RV schematic. This is a pretty obscure model as far as getting info and schematics is concerned. (Robert, Nov 2013))
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1961: 337

Killer amp (Val)

I bought my first Gibson amp in 2005 a Tweed 1961 Gibson Vanguard GA77RV it looked good had a changed speaker otherwise it was stock. I had never played through a Vintage Gibson amp but as I worked for Gibson I felt I should have a Gibson amp and it changed my life. I found the amp on eBay won the auction for $800.00 plus $35.00 freight and it showed up in a week. Turned it on plugged in a Les Paul and it rocked my world big fat tone reverb for days and the quietest amp I had ever heard.
I took it to Hal at Guitronics in San Francisco as the amp was stock and appeared not to ever have been serviced I figured it needed it after 45 years. Hal went through the amp put a 3 prong cord on got rid of the death cap changed the ground switch to a stand buy put in some NOS 6L6 black plates. The pre-amp tubes were the originals and were still good so we left them.
The amp most resembles a tweed Pro except it has reverb and stays clean a little longer so more clean head room then compresses into nice warm distortion. The amp is rated at 25 watts[.] When you jump the two channels together it allows you to dial in an amazing range of tones and you can dial in Humbuckers or single coils to the tone of your choice. From big clean to chime or overdriven crunch but with a Gibson twist[. T]weed Gibson amps give you a bigger fuller note than with other amps. To understand it you have to try one. I have now owned 14 Gibson amps I currently have 6 as there are so many cool vintage Gibson amps. (Glenn, Aug 2019)

Rate the GA-77RV Vanguard (tweed)...

50W 1x15" Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: 1x15"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble (middle from 1963/4)
Tremolo: Depth, frequency
Reverb: Yes
Stereo: No
Tubes: 8 (4x6EU7, 12AU7, 7199, 2x6L6)
Diodes: 5
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 50
Shipping Totals: 1962: 160, 1963: 267, 1964: 321, 1965: 143, 1966: 13, 1967: 15

Gibson GA-77RVT Vanguard Amp (see first eight pics): Brown tolex, 2 channel, great reverb and tremolo, 15 inch speaker [US] $465 SOLD
This amp has a very sweet vintage tube tone and an incredible reverb, it would be a great recording amp! (www.accessguitar.com; May 30, 2003)

The GA-77RVT Vanguard amp was introduced in 1962 and replaced by the GA-77RET in 1965. A few remaining amps were shipped in 1966 and 67. Most GA-77RVTs were covered in smooth brown tolex and brown Saran grill cloth with tan stripe. At first a tolex fabric with a texture more like modern guitar case tolex covering was used but this was changed into a chiseled like texture tolex sometime in 1963. In 1964 a rough weave black tolex and silver Saran grill cloth was used. This should make it easy to date a GA-77RVT at a glance. The tubes use are 6EU7, 7199, 6EU7, 12AU7, 6EU7, 6EU7, 6L6 and 6L6. It used a 15" JBL D130F Signature speaker. Other features were reverb, tremolo and separate bass, middle and treble tone controls. The amp in the picture [number 13] has the second type tolex covering. (amp info courtesy Björn Anger (hem.passagen.se/ekabjan/GibsonAmps.htm), taken from http://www.scottymoore.net/GA77RVT.html)
Info on Scotty Moore's GA-77RVT can be found at www.scottymoore.net/GA77RVT.html

I have a GA-77RVT which looks identical to Scotty Moore's except it has a Jensen original speaker in and the tube compliment is of the OA2 variety with middle control and full size and sound reverb pan. The amp has a very sixties tone great and clean. (Danny)

Rate the GA-77RVT Vanguard (Crestline)...

50W 1x15" Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: 1x15" JBL
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble (middle from 1963/4)
Tremolo: Depth, frequency
Reverb: Yes
Stereo: No
Tubes: 8 (4x6EU7, 12AU7, 7199, 2x6L6)
Diodes: 5
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 50
Shipping Totals: 1962: 41, 1963: 99, 1964: 106, 1965: 51, 1966: 12, 1967: 1

Rate the GA-77RVTL Vanguard (Crestline)...

25W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb, Echo, and Tremolo
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble
Tremolo: Depth, frequency
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 9 (3x6EU7, 2x12AU7, 6CG7 (6FQ7), 2x6L6, 0A2)
Diodes: 3 (+2 zener)
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1963: 32, 1964: 288, 1965: 73, 1966: 67, 1967: 1 (new style from 1964)

Rate the GA-77RET Vanguard (Crestline)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo with Reverb, Echo, and Tremolo
Speakers: 1x15" JBL
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble
Tremolo: Depth, frequency
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 9 (3x6EU7, 2x12AU7, 6CG7 (6FQ7), 2x6L6, 0A2)
Diodes: 3 (+2 zener)
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1963: 2, 1964: 107, 1965: 41, 1966: 30, 1967: 1 (new style from 1964)

Rate the GA-77RETL Vanguard (Crestline)...

25W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb, Echo, and Tremolo
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble
Jazz Switch: Yes
Presence Switch: No
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Reverb/echo
Tubes: 9 (3x6EU7, 2x12AU7, 6CG7 (aka 6FQ7), 2x6L6, 0A2)
Diodes: 5
Extension Speaker Jack: Yes
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1965: 288, 1966: 73, 1967: 67

Rate the GA-77RET Vanguard (White Panel)...

25W 1x15" Guitar Combo with Reverb, Echo, and Tremolo
Speakers: 1x15" JBL
Inputs: 2+2
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, middle, treble
Jazz Switch: Yes
Presence Switch: No
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Reverb/echo
Tubes: 9 (3x6EU7, 2x12AU7, 6CG7 (aka 6FQ7), 2x6L6, 0A2)
Diodes: 5
Extension Speaker Jack: Yes
Monitor Jack: Yes
Watts Output: 25
Shipping Totals: 1965: 107, 1966: 41, 1967: 30

Rate the GA-77RETL Vanguard (White Panel)...

2x15W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble
Tremolo: No
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 8 (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)
Diodes:
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 2x15
Shipping Totals: 1960: 101, 1961: 38

Rate the GA-78RV Maestro 30 (tweed)...

2x15W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 8 (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)?
Diodes:
Extension Speaker Jack: No
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 2x15
Shipping Totals: 1961: 1, 1963: 3

I recently acquired the only 1961 example of the GA-78 RVT! It is fairly rough it will be offered for $2750 US [2005]. (Richard)

I have one that is in the charcoal tolex.... Great amp. (Daniel, Jan 2018)

Rate the GA-78RVT Maestro 30 (tweed)...

2x15W? 2x10"? Guitar Combo with Reverb
Speakers: 2x10"?
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo?
Channels: 2?
Volume Controls: 2?
Tone Controls on Each Channel: Bass, treble?
Tremolo: No?
Reverb: Yes?
Tubes: 8 (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)?
Diodes: ?
Extension Speaker Jack: No?
Monitor Jack: No?
Watts Output: 2x15?
Shipping Totals: 1961: 105

Rate the GA-78RVS Maestro 30 (tweed)...

2x15W? 2x10"? Guitar Combo
Speakers: 2x10"?
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo?
Channels: 2?
Volume Controls: 2?
Tone Controls on Each Channel: 1 (Bass, treble)?
Tremolo: No
Reverb: No
Tubes: 8 (later 9) (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)?
Diodes: (later 4)?
Extension Speaker Jack: (later yes)?
Monitor Jack: No?
Watts Output: 2x15?
Shipping Totals: 1959: 163, 1960: 47
Harmony Central Review [GA-?] 79 Tube Amp
Harmony Central Review GA79

Rate the GA-79 Multi-Purpose (tweed)...

2x15W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb and High Gain Channel
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: 1 (Bass, treble)
Tremolo: No
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 8 (later 9) (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)
Diodes: (later 4)
Extension Speaker Jack: (later yes)
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 2x15
Shipping Totals: 1961: 409, 1967: 1

My original 1960 GA-79 amp had tremolo (on one channel), but no reverb (since it apparently preceded Gibson's use of reverb). The next year, I saw my current amp, the 79RV in a music store, with reverb, but no tremolo. (Jack Harvanek)

Rate the GA-79RV Multi-Purpose (tweed)...

2x15W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb and Tremolo
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs: 2+2 mono, 1 stereo
Channels: 2
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls on Each Channel: 1 (Bass, treble)
Tremolo: Depth, frequency
Reverb: Yes
Tubes: 8 (later 9) (3x6EU7, 7199, 12AU7, 4x6BQ5)
Diodes: (later 4)
Extension Speaker Jack: (later yes)
Monitor Jack: No
Watts Output: 2x15
Shipping Totals: 1961: 203, 1962: 335, 1963: 211, 1964: 160, 1965: 128, 1966: 56, 1967: 39
Harmony Central Review [GA-?] 79-RVT
Harmony Central Review GA79RVT

The GA-79RVT, with its bandstand cabinet, is generally acknowledged by players as one of the finest amps made by the Gibson Company. Introduced in 1961, this amp brought on-board reverb to Gibson's amp line. As such, it was somewhat of an upgrade from the GA-83S.
Like its older brother, the GA-79RVT uses a pair of cathode biased 6BQ5/EL-84 power tubes for each amplifier to drive a pair of Jensen P10Q speakers. There is a single power supply with solid state (diode) rectification for both amp sections. The preamp section consists of three 6EU7s, a 7199, and a 12AU7A. These tubes are available, though NOS 7199s and 6EU7s are pricey.
The speakers are splayed in a 45 degree angle to accentuate the stereo separation. In fact, the Gibson catalog claims "180 degrees of stereo separation." While the stereo effect is accentuated, there is a "dead zone" right in front of the amp which doesn't disappear until you're at least 15 feet (4.6 meters) away from the amp.
The control panel contains a volume, treble and bass for each channel, reverb intensity, tremolo intensity and tremolo depth. Like the GA-83S, the GA-79RVT treble and bass controls, as well as the tremolo controls, are the "stacked knob" concentric pot type. However, these are not nearly as easy to use as on the GA-83S. There are guitar and accordion inputs for each channel, and a single stereo input jack.
The reverb and tremolo effects are only available on Channel 1 in stereo mode. The tremolo effect is quite nice, better than a blackface Fender tremolo, but not as good as, say, the tremolo on a brown Fender Concert. The reverb is deep and splashy like a Fender, but with a longer decay rate. Adjusting the reverb depth control above a setting of "7" results in a very muddy signal, but you really don't need to go that high to get surf reverb.
The amp has good, tight bass response and the same creamy overdrive as the GA-83S, but with slightly better headroom. In mono mode, the amp has even more headroom and better bass response which is well suited for jazz. Stereo mode is more conducive to electric blues. At 15 watts per side (stereo) or 30 watts mono, the GA-79RVT can be used for gigs in smaller venues. [...]
The Gibson GA-83S is just too cool to look at, too cool for blues tone, and too cool with its Leslie effect that I've got to have one someday. However, despite it's high CGF (how many amps do you know with five speakers?), it really is tonally limited to one, albeit great, sound. Better yet is the Gibson GA-79RVT because it has reverb and a little more headroom to add to its versatility. [...]
These amps were all produced in relatively low numbers since they were very expensive to manufacture and had limited appeal even back in their day. As such, they aren't too easy to find. The GA-83S pictured here is the only one I've ever seen and it wasn't for sale, so it's impossible to give a price range for it. The GA-79RVT is highly regarded by players and collectors and since it is a Gibson... it's expensive. These typically fetch $1000 and up if they are clean and original. The Maestro and Bell versions bring a little less. (Copyright 1997, 20th Century Guitar Magazine; pirated without permission from Greg Gagliano's web-site at http://home.att.net/~gggjaguar)

GA-79RVT Multi-Purpose, stereo, push-pull 6BQ5s each side; like a AA964 Fender Princeton Reverb (with 2 amps in 1 cab); no real equivalent; this is closest approximation. Unique, angled speaker cab for channel separation (Miles O'Neal's web-site; May 30, 2003)

Rate the GA-79RVT Multi-Purpose (tweed)...

2x15W 2x10" Guitar Combo with Reverb, Tremolo, and High Gain Channel
Speakers: 2x10"
Inputs:
Channels:
Volume Controls:
Tone Controls on Each Channel:
Tremolo: Yes
Reverb: Yes
Stereo:
Tubes:
Diodes:
Extension Speaker Jack:
Monitor Jack:
Watts Output: 2x15
Shipping Totals: 1962: 335, 1963: 211, 1964: 160, 1965: 128, 1966: 56, 1967: 39
Harmony Central Review [GA-?] 79-RVT
Harmony Central Review GA79RVT
Schematic

Rate the GA-79RVT (Crestline)...