Improving a vintage amps functionality - good move or good gravy?

[Wally Gator]

I just picked up a Gibson GA20T from our very own Dano. It's in great shape overall, but has to go in the shop to bring back the tremolo. There are two mods I would like to do to improve its functionality at this time. Move the transformer off the speaker and relocate to the chassis and add a speaker jack. The stock Jensen may look great and original, but it sounds tired and ratty. The jack would allow quick speaker cab auditions and then I could swap out the Jensen (save what's left of it) and replace it with whatever sounds best. Your opinions are welcome.

 

[secndshft]

The purists will tell you to leave it alone but what's an amp without proper functionality. Find someone who can do the work cleanly and go for it. It's a tool. Use it and enjoy.

Oh...and pix??

 

[Wally Gator]

Ask and yea shall receive.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/go9lWdm3cRPRnlruYDAnSjnjyo4eLO7VDxCPkHRodo4?feat=directlink

 

[wrathfuldeity]

Do you want to use it or look at it I'd rather be a player than a purist.

 

[secndshft]

That's 2 votes for player. Just make sure it's done tastefully. FWIW, if I owned that amp I would never sell it. That is a beauty. Congrats!!

 

[wrathfuldeity]

Send it to a tech that really knows vintage...don't use any local hack, have them restore to specs and then mod or adjust to taste...I've used Skip Simmons...highly recommended.

 

[meterman]

that's a beauty!! For resale, any mods will hurt the value. From a playing standpoint, get it how you want it and enjoy it!! I have a '65 Kalamazoo II (not nearly as nice but) and had local guru Jeff Bakos tune it up and then do a couple of mods to make it much more usable. No regrets....

 

[riffmeister]

Completely reversible mods are best, IMO, if you are thinking of the amp as an investment for resale somewhere down the road. If not, then the sky is the limit!

 

[chervokas]

Well, I for one wouldn't touch IF the original speaker sounded good. Those old Jensens are great, especially actually after the cone has gotten a little dry--but fragile of course in that condition. But since yours sounds band moving the OT might be a good idea to facilitate speaker swapping (you might also consider a recone job). But of course modding the chassis will have an effect on it's value.

Is there room on the chassis for the OT? Why did Gibson mount the OT there post-field coil if not to save room?