univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 03 2012 10:24 AM
Hey all you surf guitar enthusiasts! Here's a new toy I saw on Craigslist a day or two ago while I'm out on vacation, it's a Gibson Minuteman amp from the mid 60's or so. It has 2x el84's for the power section, and some mix of 12au7's and 6eu7's in the pre amp, and solid state rectified. From the videos I've seen, and stuff I've read, it's Gibson's version of the deluxe reverb, although someone also said it's circuit bore more similarities to a pro reverb. The price for it is listed at 250, and it is missing the back panel and he seemed to think the effects aren't as deep as they should be. One cool feature is that the reverb runs in parallel to the preamp, so you can run just reverb if you wanted. It also includes the original footswitch. Any thoughts/advice?
http://www.bazaar-world.com/uploads/amp/38/260143533350-1.jpg
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
Last edited: Aug 03, 2012 10:25:16
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FritzCat
Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
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Posted on Aug 03 2012 02:17 PM
Definitely try before you buy, I had one but I could never get it to sound right, nor could the tech I took it to. I ended up using the cabinet for another project. If you get it and end up needing parts I still have the chassis and footswitch.
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univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 03 2012 03:17 PM
Luckily it comes with the footswitch, though it may be nice to have a backup. I love read they tend to be hit and miss, but I figure if I can get it for near 200, I may convert it into a Vox style clone or something, since most of the people claim the problem lies in the preamp filters.
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
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caddady
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Aug 03 2012 03:46 PM
Love it for what it is, a Gibson. Get the guts from Fritz if you want to monkey with one. I love the "other" amps out there, Sunn, Ampeg, Estey, EMC, Kustom and Earth. They are not Fenders, they are what they are and some are pretty darned good.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz
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tubesNtweed
Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507
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Posted on Aug 05 2012 02:25 PM
The offbeat amps are my favorite types of amps. Are they versatile, fine tuned "boutique" amps? Hell no, they are mostly for the cool factor and "nostalgia", but they have a sound all their own and are fun to noodle on. For jamming at home or low volume gigs it will be fine, but for a loud glass clean surf tone with a full band, forget it. If it were me, I'd go for it since $200 ain't that bad for a vintage tube amp with tons of mojo 
Last edited: Aug 05, 2012 14:29:28
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Toneschaser
Joined: Jun 14, 2012
Posts: 462
Ohio!
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Posted on Aug 05 2012 06:26 PM
I have one and use it somewhat regularly. While not as surf worthy as other amps the Minuteman does possess some very usable garage/surf tones. I jump the channels and plug my guitar into the reverb side. The verb sounds pretty good but the trem is a bit too subtle. It's also been re-tubed and capped. The amp is not quite as loud as a Deluxe but could be used on stage with adequate monitors. I use mine primarily for practice and recording.
Another fun way I use it is as a dedicated reverb amp, as you mentioned it has a verb that runs parallel to the preamp. Jump it with a clean amp and crank the verb up and the volume all the way down down. Sounds real cool!
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so1om
Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 492
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Posted on Aug 05 2012 08:33 PM
I have an old Gibson Falcon.. It's lot of fun and it's different sounding. get it and make it your own. You can't find a similar sized fender for that.
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univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 05 2012 09:51 PM
I was hoping someone might have something similar that they might be able to key in on them a bit. I did have a Gibson Vanguard (Crestline) that was "restored" and had an odd tone stack in it, along with some other mods on the vibrato channel, but the normal channel sounded really bright and happy (as opposed to the muddy on the other). The one thing I remember is that the vibrato channel seemed to be quite a bit louder than the other one. The reverb was just gorgeous. It reminded more of the indoor basketball court than anything.
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
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univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 06:15 PM
Today I called the guy about the amp, and he wasn't able to get it to turn on, so unfortunately, no amp purchase it seems. Maybe I should just wait till my Princeton reverb gets back from the amp tech...
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
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tubesNtweed
Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 08:57 PM
Actually I was in Guitar Center once and they had a Gibson Skylark amp that didn't turn on at first, but what do ya know, the fuse was laying in the back of the amp, so I popped it in and good to go. Could be something stupid easy like that, but you never know.
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univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 09:12 PM
Now that you mention it... A few months ago when I sold an amp on Craigslist (a Gibson Vanguard), I plugged it in to let the guy try it out, and what do you know, the darn thing wouldn't turn on! So I was getting a bit nervous, but then I plugged it into another socket and it powered right up and didn't miss a beat.
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
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tubesNtweed
Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 11:56 PM
univoxdontsurf wrote:
Now that you mention it... A few months ago when I sold an amp on Craigslist (a Gibson Vanguard), I plugged it in to let the guy try it out, and what do you know, the darn thing wouldn't turn on! So I was getting a bit nervous, but then I plugged it into another socket and it powered right up and didn't miss a beat.
Yep, there's an outlet in my house that only 1 of the 2 sockets work (it's a new house too). I'm not saying the guy selling the amp is dumb but maybe he last played through the amp 30 years ago, and now when he tests it before selling, he accidently uses a faulty cord or something, and says it doesn't work. Just stuff to think about.
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tubesNtweed
Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507
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Posted on Aug 08 2012 12:01 AM
If the seller is not too far, it's worth checking out, maybe he forgot to plug the amp into the wall 
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univoxdontsurf
Joined: Sep 06, 2011
Posts: 132
So Cal
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Posted on Aug 08 2012 09:37 AM
I think he said he had it capped, and the speaker reconed about 10 years ago, played it for a little, and then it sat till now. Maybe that's a sign.
and the seller is about an hour away, but we were making a trek out there anyways tomorrow.
— Maybe a Univox does surf...
Last edited: Aug 08, 2012 09:38:08
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