DetroitBlues Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Vintage New Amp Day for me. A co-worker used to play guitar and bought a Gibson G20 Solid State amp when he was a kid. He has grandkids now, so life is different for him today. Yesterday, he presented me his grandfather's Martin 0-15 from 1938 and his own Gibson G20. The Martin will be going off for repairs being as old as it is. The Gibson works well, nice clean tone to it. Full size spring reverb and tremolo work well, although there is a bit of hiss in there somewhere. The amp is free to me, might be a good project to convert to a tube amp... or at least get a three prong cord.... Anyone ever owned or still have one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Happy NADs Blues! Nice snatch on the Martin too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJTopes Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 So let me get this straight, Someone you know just gave you a Martin O-15??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gianluca Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 1938 Martin 0-15 ? sounds cool :-) enjoy your amp hacking(if I got it right) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGBOY Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 So let me get this straight, Someone you know just gave you a Martin O-15???This, huh!! and get a 3 prong plug for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 DB~I stopped reading your "NAD" post after you mentioned the pre-war Martin O-15. More info please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpuma Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 A friend of mine gave me his Ferrari F40 and I posted a "new vintage car air freshener day" on the FOC website once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalismanRich Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Good deal. For sure, get the amp checked out and have the plug converted. You might find that you like it. They should be nice for clean sounds and probably take pedals well. As for the Martin... well... gosh, what can you say. If it needs serious repairs, take your time and find the right person to do it. Its worth doing right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 So let me get this straight, Someone you know just gave you a Martin O-15??? Something like that. It's a very small guitar, pretty much a travel guitar pre-WWII Martin. It was a student model at the time selling for something like $25. Odd thing is the guitar actually dates 1939, but some records indicate the model didn't come out until 1940. Show and tell later gents. Anyone know much about the Gibson G20? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhoadsScholar Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I have a 1957 O-15. Great guitar. A lot of fans for those guitars. There is a guy that restores old Martins over the winter. Runs a farm in the summer. I had him reset the neck, secure the bridge. Plays great now. It cost $300 well worth it. These usually sell for 1500 that need work to 2700++ if in great playable condition. I love the sound of these. Nice score. I want to say his last name is Kiney or Kinsley, there are some folks on this form familiar with his work. I will have to see if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 A pre-war Martin O-15 can go for $2k - ??? depending on condition. This is a later model, but is this what yours looks like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 "Its not everyday someone gives me a pre-war Martin. But when they do I talk about solid state amps." DB, love ya like a distant relative 3x's removed on my cousins step fathers brothers wifes side but I think you got the order of cool stuff mixed up. Congrats on the amp btw, thats, something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Meh... How's the neck?! Just kidding, man. Congratulations. I hope it fixes up well for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polo Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 That's a VERY VERY VERY cool guitar!!!!! I'd STRONGLY suggest taking this project to Dave and Hesh at Ann Arbor guitars for a consult. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yooper Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 That's a VERY VERY VERY cool guitar!!!!! I'd STRONGLY suggest taking this project to Dave and Hesh at Ann Arbor guitars for a consult. Congrats! +1 They are long term pros who have worked on big time musicians' instruments, in addition to a few of us HOC "stars". They are upstairs in Herb David's old store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 To go back to the amp... The original owner bought the Gibson G20 for his acoustic guitar. While the amp was meant for electrics, acoustic amps didn't exist back then. My assessment after careful research at Steiner Ranch has concluded the Gibson G20 is a fantastic amp for acoustics. It's a bit farty using an electric unless you are playing lightly Jazz or Blues. But as an acoustic amp? Wow! Used a new Gibson J-29 (Fine instrument on loan for the occasion). I'm going to have my other Martin wired up to play through this little toaster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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