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New guy...just purchased a '65 Gemini 1
#1
Hello!
i'm not new to ampegs; in my life i've owned:
1 b15
2 Gemini 2's
2 unknown Gemini, (i cant remember)
1 '66 Reverberocket.

but i sold them all in the 90's. i didnt have internet then, and i couldnt find the tubes.
My father worked at RCA camden nj. we had boxes of tubes; but not the ones i needed.
Growing up here in jersey, seemed like every guitar playin' kid inherited their dads old ampeg. except me.
i however, inherited the ampegs from THEM, after they stopped working, or they graduated to a "cool" amp like a marshall or whatever. this was about 1980.
EVERY AMPEG I've EVER TRIED GAVE ME A SHOCK. it didnt discourage me tho...
In 2004 i bought another gemini 2. i bought tubes from fliptops. they didnt work. i sent them back. he sent more. they didnt work either. my original ampeg tubes still worked a little; but his made no volume at all; you could barely hear it. he refunded my money.
convinced that the tubes were "re badged" and not really 7591's and 7199's; i sold the amp.
now i see that tubes are available from a few manufacturers. i played thru a reverberocket at sam ash that had new tubes, i think electro harmonix. sounded ok; i couldnt really blast it. i missed out on that one, shoulda bought it. i came back and it was gone.
so...
i found a beautiful '65 Gemini 1 on craigslist.
original owner!!!! "never been out of the house" he said.
came with the original cover; in very good condition; and everything works fine on it.
it doesnt have the original speaker. it has an RCA speaker;
RCA was in camden. i bought the amp in collingswood, a few miles from camden.
it still has the 2 prong cord. i guess i'll be changing that out along with the death cap.
i will need some instruction on that one.
i will also buy the ampeg book.

in the groove tube book, there was a chapter that showed how a gemini could be converted to use 6v6 tubes.
i brought the book to my serviceman and he proudly did the conversion....it sounded terrible. monster compression at half volume. i hated it. i sold that gemini. a year later my friend called me to come see his new ampeg...it was my old converted one...poor thing.


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#2
Nice find! And welcome to the forum!
The gemini 1 is my favorite ampeg model. such a great circuit.
Also, the 7591s that are in the gemini are being made again! so you won't have to convert it. it can sound like it is supposed to
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#3
so...
i bought an eminence legend gb128 50 watt speaker and some jj 7591's from fliptops.
i bought new 12ax7's and a nos 7199 from a local amp shop.
i had no luck w/ the 7591's. i called Bruce at fliptops and he offered to take them back. they lit up bright. they worked. but they were burning very hot.heating the room hot. i knew something wasnt right so i pulled them back out. Bruce said he'd exchange them or return my money but i kept them. maybe they'll work in another amp. I'll try some other brands. Bruce seemed like a nice guy, answering all of my newbie questions...
it sounds good as it is right now, with the new speaker, preamp tubes, and the old 7591's in there; i'm just anxious to get some new power tubes. I've never owned a NEW set of 7591's that worked...but i'm hopeful.

   
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#4
I haven't had any problems with the JJ 7591s. my Gemini 1 runs great with them. Ive been meaning to try the new Tung Sol 7591s from New Sensor. They are apparently really nice.
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