Gibson Labs Releases New Epi Blues Custom 30 Amp

gnw · Site Admin Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1620

- Press Release

Gibson Labs has announced the new Epiphone “Blues Custom 30” guitar amp with the perfect speaker designed by experts at Eminence to enhance its unique tonal characteristics and features. The result of the partnership is a completely new speaker called “Lady Luck.” Combining the legendary brands of Epiphone and Eminence has produced a quality guitar amp with engineering unmatched by any other musical instrument manufacturer.

The Epiphone Blues Custom 30” amp is designed and engineered in the United States by Gibson Labs. The guitar amp features include two channels of pure tone (footswitchable), selectable power and class operation (30W Class AB or 15W Class A). Other features include selectable independent or interactive EQ mode, all tube signal path, tube powered transformer driven Spring Reverb, tube rectifier, 16GA steel chassis construction with folded and spot welded corners and two custom designed Eminence Lady Luck speakers. The Epiphone guitar amp is constructed with sturdy 11 ply Birch cabinetry and slick retro looks. For photos of the Epiphone Blues Custom 30” guitar amp go to www.epiphone.com

Related Article: Best Blues Amp

jason · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:41 am Post subject:

Does anyone know if you can still buy the Blues Custom 30 new, or are they only available second hand?

1bassleft · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:46 am Post subject:

Any shop links I dug up turned 404. Like the valve jr, it has an interesting spec but needed tweaking to get right (according to the fora). Profit margins might have required volume sales, which this one never got.

A read around suggests it was discontinued about 2009.

jason · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:45 am Post subject:

Thanks - I thought that might be the case because I couldn't find it anywhere either.

Been doing a lot of research on blues amps - will have a buyer's guide out soon in the main news area of this site - http://www.guitarsite.com/news/

BTW - what do you think of the Fender '59 Bassman reissue ( http://www.fender.com/en-US/products/search.php/?partno=2171000010 ) as a blues amp for lead guitar? I've heard people saying good things about it, but I've never played through one either with bass or a real guitar Smile

PS - if you recall from my distant posts - I have admitted to being a bass player for several years in a band

PPS - I got over it, mainly play nylon 6 strings these days nana

1bassleft · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:40 pm Post subject:

Can't argue with the amps you featured, but maybe with the opening comment that speakers, components and valves are better made than in the past. The only way that some makers can provide an all-valve amp without the boutique price is to take their British/US design and have it made in China. You only have to look at the mod kits and threads available to see there's room for improvement. I used to buy old stuff (not the Holy Grails, I don't have that sort of money) that just needed a spit and polish. I don't mind a PCB, if it's well designed, but hate to see some cheap pot built right onto it.

I'm afraid I've never even tried the '59RI as I am not talented enough to play more than 5 strings. I have had access to a silverface Bassman head and I would very much like one, if the price were sensible, for bass. I know people with ops I respect and, even though they're a bit "nothing beats my original, pre-Cambrian era, vintage blah blah", the '59RI is considered a good try. It's a great circuit that might be a bit too clean for some players. As you'd expect; the well-known story being that Jim Marshall copied it but substituted the 6L6s for easier-to-get EL34s and inadvertently introduced the more raggedy crunch so beloved.

I have clones of the 5F1 Champ and 5E3 Deluxe amps and like them both but, if only allowed one amp, would go the British route. The best value option is still a 70s WEM Dominator and refusing to bid over £150.

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