What's the story on the Gerlitz Revelator?

[bard2dbone]

I saw some mention of this amp in a thread and suddenly remembered a review I had read on it.

The review made it sound great, but didn't exactly gush over it.

I was surprised by that, because on paper, this sounds like the ultimate home recording/small gig amo.

For anyone not familiar with it, the Gerlitz Revelator is a two channel amp in which one is a tube amp alleged to be electrically identical to a plexi. The other channel is supposed to be a blackface Fender circuit. It is alleged that Vox-y tones are available on the BF side.

But the best part is that it has (either included or available) a footswitch that allows you to blend between the two channels with a sweep pedal.

I want one of these to try out, badly..

[jeffinaustin]

I owned one for about a year. It's a great amp that more or less does what it claims. The reason I finally sold it though was because of the solid state power section. After a while it just didn't feel right. The tones were great, took pedals extremely well, had a great effects loop, etc... It came down to feel.

Harvey isn't making amps anymore I don't believe. If you can find one it's probably a decent collectable to have if you're into that.

[bard2dbone]

I'm mainly a bass player so tube preamp/SS power amp isn't 'wrong' to me.

In fact two of my amps use that configuration already.

[jzgtrguy]

I played one for a couple of hours a few months back. It is a very, very nice amp. The fender side was IMHO spot on and it took pedals great. The marshall side was also very good but I am not the guy to talk to here because I am not that familiar Marsahll not really having spent a lot of time on them.

The amp has a "micro" power amp that gives the push pull feel of the tube power section. The solid state power amp just makes it louder like miking up a tube amp on stage and running it through a PA. Having said that 6L6's add there own musical flavor and so do EL34's so it is not exactly accurate but then again are any two amps exactly accurate. Are any two Super Reverbs "exactly" the same. I have lined up two of them and A/B's them and they were a little different so IMHO these were close enough as to be a non issue. If there was an issue it would probably show up at higher volumes where the affore mentioned power tubes will have an increasing influence.

I talked to Harvey on the phone had he is a great guy, very knowledgeable and very forth coming. He just said that it got way too expensive to build the amps. However he mentioned at the time that if you have an earlier version you can have it up dated if you want.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

[clemduolian]

Well, I've got this one (#006) and I'm fixing to sell it. It's GREAT but I'm going a different direction...older and smaller. Mine has ben upgraded by Harvey and it comes withe the prototype pedal..first one.

bard2dbone, I'm in the Hill Country near Austin if you ever get down this way. I haven't listed it yet and would love not to ship it.

The pedal is an amazing bit of gear and its very versatile. Wonderful at low volume.
http://www.troutstudios.com/gerlitz1.jpg
http://www.troutstudios.com/gerlitz3.jpg

[clemduolian]

Update...its listed now in the Emporium.

[jtvb]

I have a Gerlitz GI Revelator combo for sale if interested. I will send pic's to you. Please pass this on to anyone interested in one of these amps.

e-mail me at jeffrey.vanblarcom@verizonwireless.com or reply on TGP.

Thanks,
Jeff

[kebotrans]

I used to be a dealer. Harvey is one of the nicest guys in the business. I think it was getting to costly to make these things but they are great. You have a clean channel and plexi channel that can be blended. The unit also has seperate Reverb Tanks Long pan for Clean Channel Short Pan for Plexi Channel. This is also a very good Low Volume amp. A different way of thinking for sure but it has a very nice tone. Harvey is still always willing to answer any questions. Good Luck

[wardis]

clemduolian (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/member.php?u=9249), do you happen to still have your Gerlitz? I'm very interested in buying one. I know it's been a while, but your for sale post is the newest one for a Gerlitz I could find.
Thanks,
Wes

[Lgppdx]

I have #40. I bought it four years ago used, but in perfect condition. I contacted Harvey to ask about getting a pedal for the amp. He invited me out to his place and gave me one (we both live in Oregon) Personally, I really love the way this amp sounds. That being said I have never owned a real Blackface or a real Plexi so as far as how authentic the tones are I can't say. I will probably hang onto the Gerlitz, because if I sell it and then regret it, I will probably not find one again.

I just recently bought a Avatar 112 cab that has a Celestion Alnico Gold in it. The intent was to run the cab to push some more air. I decided to swop the Celestion Vintage 30 in my Gerlitz with the Celestion Gold. The new Gold speaker isn't really broken in yet, but I can tell that it sounds better. The low end holds together much tighter. I can also tell that some upper-mid harshness has been smoothed out as well. It's a little bit more 'alive'.

Does anyone have a Gerlitz? I have a few questions to ask of someone who is familiar with it regarding using the effects loop.

[hartsx5]

I have two Gerlitz's: an early 112 and a late 212 with a 212 extension cab. I am always up for talking about them. I noticed you replaced the speaker with an AlNiCo Gold. I replaced mine as well. I auditioned the AlNiCo Gold along the Weber high wattage AlNiCo and the Tone Tubby (also a high wattage AlNiCo) comparing all these to the original Celestion AlNiCo (low wattage version). I agree with you, the supplied speakers lacked a little clarity in their distortion. I really prefer the AlNiCo sound. My ears preferred the Tone Tubby, but they all have the same vibe.
Feel free to PM me.
Drew