Posted on Feb 28 2023 09:31 AM
It's also identical to a version of the Gibson GA-5.
I agree that these are excellent amps. But this Crestline era EA-35T is pretty much equivalent to the Crestline era 1962 Gibson GA-8T Discoverer or Gibson GA-18T Explorer, not the GA-5T (which in the Crestline era was called a Skylark). The Crestline versions of the GA-8T and GA-18T are, I believe, basically identical except for the speaker - the GA-18T speaker is a bit more stout. The GA-8T speaker is a Jensen with a really tiny alnico magnet.
The confusing thing about these Gibson/Epiphone amps is that there were micro-changes constantly being made to them between about 1960 and 1965. I think as each year passed, they got a little bit less interesting. The '59/'60 series featured 10" speakers and 2x6BM8 dual-triode preamp/power tubes. Moved to 12" speaker between '60 and '61, then Crestline series with 2x6BQ5(British numbering EL84) came in '62, and then gradually morphed between '63 and '65 or '66.
In comparison to an equivalent Fender, they're still a relative bargain - I see them these days typically in the 600-1000 range. A comparable Fender is in the stratosphere. But the Gibsons have moved up in price the last few years.
I have both a '60-61 series white tolex GA-8 and a GA-8T, as well as a Crestline era GA-5T Skylark (2x6AQ5 power tubes), and I traded my Crestline era EA-35T to a friend several years back. They're all great, but quite different from each other. I've been through a veritable ton of various Gibson/Epiphone amps over the last 40 years, the subtle and not-so-subtle variations over just a few years is startling. This page at Superior Music will give you some idea of the variations, but I don't think even this covers them all - https://www.superiormusic.com/page199.htm
Nonetheless, I highly recommend checking them out if you can find some to play. They're out there.
—
The Delverados - surf, punk, trash, twang - Facebook
Chicken Tractor Deluxe - hardcore Americana - Facebook and Website
The Telegrassers - semi-electric bluegrass/Americana - Facebook
Last edited: Feb 28, 2023 09:35:37