Gibson 1962 Falcon Trem/Reverb

This is my current #1 for small gigs. I got it in mint condition for 300 bucks. The tube chart is loaded with tubes that are a little difficult to get - but the tubes were ok I think. The caps were melted - on the verge of causing a fire. When I had them fixed, the amp sounded worse, but still good. Mark Baer says tubes sound like they look. This is a case in point - 6v6's nice and round.

The reverb is clangly but it has a vibe. The circuit is the type that lets you run the reverb gain separately from the main volume control so if you just turn up the verb you hear 100% verb. Like a mixer with a return channel for the effects. Very intuitive. The Trem is great. Like a brown pro – it modulates. See "rockabilly queen" on this site - or, hear it. That demonstrates the great trem. I'm a trem fanatic and this is among the best.

These amps can be had cheap. For some reason they are not valued - but they are a deal. Deluxe eat your heart out. This amp is organic and sweet and soft and can bark when pushed.

It came with an original Jensen 12 - a C12N. I hate these speakers for live work. They just have no low end. Fine for studio - and I'm sure manageable in a “big sound” situation - but for those small club gigs they just can't put out the low end I want. So I put in a Celestion clone. Pretty good. Then a Weber T12TH and it was golden.

My advice to anyone is: If you see a Falcon in any condition for under 400 bucks buy it. These will be hot some day - if they aren't already. Tedrank: *****. Authentic vibe and very usable in a lot of styles cheap.