❌SOLD❌ Gibson GA-90 Combo Amplifier 6×8 25 Watt, 1953

The Gibson GA-90 combo amplifier was designed by Seth Lover for Ted McCarty and appeared in 1953. Its design covered both guitars and the new Gibson electric bass.

At the time GA-90 was designed, it was common practice to physically separate the pre-amp and power-amplifier sections. That’s the case here, where the 25 watt power amp section is in the bottom of the combo cabinet. The controls and pre-amplifier were at the top, on an angled panel at the rear. The cabinet also contained six, eight inch Gibson-branded Jensen speakers.

This example dates to 1953 and was built at Gibson’s facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is one of 65 built in that year.

At this point the controls included five ‘chicken head’ knobs – four covering volume and tone for each channel, plus one for on/off. A Gain switch offering Normal and High levels was placed above the four inputs. The top two inputs could handle instruments or microphones, with the bottom two dedicated to instruments. Later models had seven knobs, added by separating the tone controls to Treble and Bass.

This amplifier is in good working order, with the original speakers. It has Hammond transformers, suggesting replacement at some point. The covering is in good shape, but the leather handle’s internal metal strap is broken.