NAD: 1970 Ampeg Gemini GV-22

[decent_rancher]

Recently stumbled across this community, so I figured I'd share this recent acquisition...

Stopped by a certain used music store on my way up 95 this past weekend and happened across this nearly mint 1970 (or late 69, going by speaker codes) Ampeg GV-22. It's a bit dusty, and the grill cloth is stained, but everything else is in nearly perfect condition. Apart of the grill cloth, it appears to have been kept in grandma's rec room for the last 45 or so years - no tears in the grill cloth, ink on the face plate is 99% intact, the foot switch looks like it's never even left the back of the amp. Crazy! Aside from having been retubed (7199 > 6GH8A w/ Adapter and some Ruby 6L6s) and a three-prong cord, it appears to be mostly stock.

Tonally speaking, these are pretty unique insofar as Ampegs go - they're not as smoky as the blue check RR (I've got a 65RR2) and Geminis I've played, nor are they as brawny and in-your-face as the later V-series (Also own a V2) amps are. Given they have 6L6 and the usual allotment of weird Ampeg tubes, they almost sound like a very smooth and refined SF Fender with a bit of a high-end cut. I haven't gotten to play with the EQ much (Ultra-Hi / Lo), but it sounded remarkably close to the early 70's SF SR sitting right next to it in the store, with just a bit more umph from the 12" speakers.

Anyone who's played one of these knows the reverb and trem are out of this world. Coming from my 65 RR2, I was expecting something similar, but I was totally wrong. The reverb is splashy as hell, and the rhythmic trem/vibrato will definitely have you time traveling back to the Nixon days. Despite this, the execution is pretty good, and it doesn't sound cheesy if you're tasteful with the application. It's sad they omitted this from their 70's creations. It's also worth noting that the reverb on the V-series is much more conservative than what's included on this GV-22.

Anyhow, I played it for about 15 minutes and loved it. I'm sure you all know the criteria, it's a vintage Ampeg, it sounds good, and it was less than $500. SOLD!

Maybe someone here can fill me in on the evolution of these amps, as there's not much info online about them. There's got to be more to it than just a repackaging of the larger Geminis, because it doesn't sound like any of the older ones I've heard. I'm actually someone surprised they didn't continue with this this format; these amps sound great, and in some ways feel more versatile than the V-series as a "general purpose" guitar amp along the lines of a SF Fender. Just a thought.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys think!









Family pic...

[journeyman]

Welcome to the Ampeg forums. You'll find that here is not a lot of activity here yet, unfortunately, but every post and new member help build it. Regardless, nice find and at a great price; congrats.

[decent_rancher]

Welcome to the Ampeg forums. You'll find that here is not a lot of activity here yet, unfortunately, but every post and new member help build it. Regardless, nice find and at a great price; congrats.

Thanks, journeyman!

Hopefully Hangman or Liquids will be through soon to throw in their two cents!

[Hangman]

The evolution of the Gemini series is an interesting one, however it's more linear than you might expect. its goes roughly like this.

gemini 1 -> Gemini 2 -> GV22

The Gemini 1 was the first in the series. This amp is also really unique, and It is the original Gemini in every way. The design demonstrates the tension that existed within ampeg at the time. It was still owned by Everett hull who was known to have an absolute distaste for rock and roll and wanted clean / clear sounding amplifiers for jazz musicians. At the time many of the designers were rock musicians, guys like ken Fischer, Dennis Kager, Bob Teneyck, and Gene Andre. I believe the Gemini 1 was the closest ampeg could come at the time to making a rock amplifier. It definitely rocks, but it doesn't growl like a blackface deluxe.

The Gemini 2 was basically a beefed up Gemini 1. Using a 15 inch speaker, larger cabinet, and configuring the power tubes in fixed bias rather than cathode bias. this required that the gain stage before the cathodyne phase inverter receive a cathode bypass capacitor. The Gemini 2 could put out about 35W The tremolo circuit was also swapped for the one used in the b12xt. (the vibe/trem)

the GV-22 swapped the 7591a power tubes used in the previous generations for 6L6GC, They also changed the speaker complement to 2x12. This boosted output power to 40-45W.

although not technically a gemini, and introduced the same year as the GV22 (1969) The B42x and B22x were in many ways the next logical progression of the GV-22
The B42X/B22x boosted the B+ to 500V and swapped the 6L6GC tubes used in the GV22 to 7027a tubes. (this output section was very similar to the B25, or V3. those amplifiers did not have reverb or tremolo) this amp was available as a head (B42x), or a vertical 2x12 combo (b22x) and was a solid 55W


The gv22 is a really great amplifier. I prefer the 2x12 configuration to the 1x15 gemini 2. but i honestly think the 7591 is such an amazing output tube. if I had it my way, the Gemini 1 would have the vibe/trem circuit.

one additional point of interest is the ST-42. This is a solid state amplifier that ampeg made. It is essentially the solid-state counterpart to the gv22. the vacuum tube circuits are almost tube for tube replaced by transistors. its really cool. it has a really beefy sound. I owned one for a while with the matching 4x12. really awesome amp, but way too loud.