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Anyone experienced with Epiphone pacers?

Big Al

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Hey, I'm getting an early 60's, I think, Epiphone PACEMAKER amp in blue, in a recent guitar deal. Am I right in assuming it is the same as the Les Paul Jr GA5 amp? How close is it to a Tweed Champ? Anyone have one?
 
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Wally

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Big Al, that is one with which I am not familiar. I don't find any reference to a ?Pacer/, adn I don't find a schematic, either. I know the Epi Pacemaker EA-50??? That amp is a much larger amp than a Gibson skylark. Got pics? Tube compliment? Speaker/s??
 

Big Al

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Big Al, that is one with which I am not familiar. I don't find any reference to a ?Pacer/, adn I don't find a schematic, either. I know the Epi Pacemaker EA-50??? That amp is a much larger amp than a Gibson skylark. Got pics? Tube compliment? Speaker/s??

I haven't gotten it yet. Today or tomorrow I hope. It looks like the Gibson GA5 or Tweed Champ in the photo's. Only has one volume knob and IIRC an on off switch. I am assuming, as I do not know that it is a single ended 5 water.
I'll look at the pics again and get back.

OK I got the name wrong it is a PACEMAKER. One knob on the back slanted rear top panel with a switch and light. Has a cool Epiphone badge in the top right corner and that has to make it sound better, right???

I didn't see any model number, just the PACEMAKER in script. I bought an Epi Singlecut Olympic, double pickup which came from the original owner and this is the amp he bought with the guitar at the time, 1961? Sorry about the name confusion. I was hoping you'd chime in as I value your opinion in these matters greatly.
 

Wally

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Big Al

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Sorry Wally, I was assuming it was like a GA5, not that it was. It looked similar so I was hoping, ya know?

6AQ5 huh? Will need to find some. Not single ended I'm guessing. 8 watts or so. 6BQ5 is more powerful, IIRC. Can't wait, new tubes, filter caps and 3 prong power cord and tone city.
 

Wally

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NO problem, Al. Hey, knowing Gibson, it may show up with the EA-50 model number on it and be nothing like that schematic above!! LOL... The schematic shows it to be cathode biased 2 x 6AQ5's, which are seven pin 6V6 type tubes, in a push/pull circuit with a cathodyne phase inverter. but....it is a Gibson...it might show up with 2 power tubes in a parallel single-ended!! LOL....
 

Big Al

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NO problem, Al. Hey, knowing Gibson, it may show up with the EA-50 model number on it and be nothing like that schematic above!! LOL... The schematic shows it to be cathode biased 2 x 6AQ5's, which are seven pin 6V6 type tubes, in a push/pull circuit with a cathodyne phase inverter. but....it is a Gibson...it might show up with 2 power tubes in a parallel single-ended!! LOL....

I played through a Crest and found it vey flabby and farty. I assumed it was the amp and did not know it's history or maintenance. It wasn't mine so I didn't say anything, but I wasn't impressed. I have played through the GA5 and later Skylark and loved 'em. This amp from the cabinet and face plate looks identical to the Skylark so I was all excited. I will of course reserve judgement on the Pacemaker until I have it serviced and gone through. I'm just a little bummed because I was so much wanting a tweed Champ/GA5 type.
No if by some crazy fluke it is a dual single ended amp like my Gibsonettes I will be estatic, but I think that may be more wishful thinking. Still I got the guitar and amp for way less than the guitar alone is worth so this is a huge win win no matter how you choose to look at it.

Wally, I wish you lived next door. My life would be so much easier!:laugh2:
 

Wally

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Al, all I could do for you if I lived next door would be to share that there are 3 different Gibson GA-5 schematics and then there is this Epi EA-50 Pacemaker, which looks like the GA5 Crest by the schematic.
The GA5 is simpler.....http://schematicheaven.net/gibsonamps/ga5.pdf...single 6V6 with a 12AX7 and a 5Y3 rectifier.
Then, there is the GA5T Skylark....http://schematicheaven.net/gibsonamps/skylarkga5t.pdf....with a 6X4 rectifier, two 12AX7's that cover the preamp input stage, the trem function and the driver for a 6BQ5/EL-84 power tube.
these schematics will not cover any 'of the moment' changes that Gibson might have done. Now, I wonder what you got??? (;^)
Fwiw, I have heard quite a few bad-sounding amps that sounded bad for a reason. I just resurrected a '57 5E3 that was not a very good sounding amp last week. This week it is the biggest and best sounding tweed Deluxe I have heard in person. I put a reconed 1960 Jensen P12P in it after the recap and tune up. Magnificent!
 

Professortwang

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Where are the pictures? I believe the pacemaker is one of the amps that Doug and Pat review. It's a sweet sounding little amp if it's the one I'm thinking of.
 

Big Al

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It is arriving tomorrow. I don't know if I can post the Reverb pics. It looks to have the same square cabinet as the early 60's Gibson Skylark but in Epi blue tolex. It has the large pie wedge metal Epiphone logo badge in the upper right corner of th speaker grill. It has the back sloped metal control panel, a single volume knob, fuse, power toggle switch, power light, Pacemaker in script and serial number.
An original Alnico Jensen, (10 inch?), is all I see.

All else is a mystery too me.
 

Professortwang

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Here is a link to a Doug and Pat show, they discuss small amps.

They start talking about the epiphone pace maker early. Not sure if that was just a mistake in the name or if it really is a pacer.
 

Wally

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Big Al, I think that when you get the amp you will find a single 6V6 there. That 2 x 6AQ5 amp and the single-ended 6BQ5 version came later, I think.
 

Big Al

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It just came while I was watching Doug and Pat. GA5 circuit as I hoped for, yet marked as an EA50. Gotta figure out which sockets to plug the power tube and rectamifier into, no marking at all. WTF?

The guitar and amp appear 100% and in very good condition. The Olympic plays great and really sounds spectacular. This thing is as good sounding as an early 60's Tele.
 

Wally

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Generally, the rectifier will be closer to the PT than the power tube will be. I like to look at the circuit before firing an amp up, so that visual inspection would tell one where the rectifier should go.
As to the model number designation, EA-50 is correct. IF it were in a Gibson cab, it would be a GA-5. Not all GA-5/EA-50 amps are alike.....they changed over the years....same model with different tubes and/or circuits. don't let the confusion confuse you!!! (;^)
Congrats on getting what you wanted.
 

Big Al

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Generally, the rectifier will be closer to the PT than the power tube will be. I like to look at the circuit before firing an amp up, so that visual inspection would tell one where the rectifier should go.
As to the model number designation, EA-50 is correct. IF it were in a Gibson cab, it would be a GA-5. Not all GA-5/EA-50 amps are alike.....they changed over the years....same model with different tubes and/or circuits. don't let the confusion confuse you!!! (;^)
Congrats on getting what you wanted.

Thanks Wallace! I got lucky as it was what I hoped for. I did do some research after your first post and EVERYTHING I found was as you said. The EA50 was not a GA5 had two EL84's and some oddball, (for me), tubes and I thought, oh well, that's what I get for assuming anything based on appearance. Now it is off to the tech to clean up and install a 3 prong grounded plug as well as caps, etc. The Doug and Pat video got me stoked and I feel pretty lucky with this whole deal.
 

Wally

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Al, is there any numerical model designation on the amp anywhere? I have never seen a Gibson-built Epiphone tube amp with anything other than EA----. However, I have never head an Epi amp as old as that one. 1962 is as early as I have had.
 

Big Al

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Al, is there any numerical model designation on the amp anywhere? I have never seen a Gibson-built Epiphone tube amp with anything other than EA----. However, I have never head an Epi amp as old as that one. 1962 is as early as I have had.

On the bottom edge of the control plate is is marked EA50. The circuit however is SKYLARK/GA5 from appearance as it has the 5Y3/12AX7/6V6 single ended topography. Nothing I could find indicates an EA50 would share that circuit.

This one is just like the one in the Doug and Pat video, which also shares the GA5 circuit. Like that one, mine sounds mosterous!!
 
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