Your First Amp

[jdr1014]

I first played through some kind of radio amp I hooked up to a larger speaker but it was so long ago, I can't remember much about it. I was desperate to find some way to make sound with my single pickup Kay electric guitar. Got playing in a band (through my bandmate's amp) and eventually managed to get my first real amp - a 1965 Ampeg Gemini 1. Soon after I got a 1965 Fender Mustang guitar. Loved them both and thought I was on top of the world!! Happy days!!!

 

[swivel]

My first amp was a 60 Brown Deluxe.

 

[senojnad]

Late '50s/early '60s Gretsch 6163. Wrap around grille, fridge handle, 15" Jensen + 5" tweeter.
I suspect it was a Valco, with something like 18 watts.
Got an Ampeg B-18X flip top w/ reverb/echo to replace it.

I had one of those (1961-62?). It is visible (sort ot) among the clutter here:


I loved that amp but I think I died a painful death due to overuse, being banged around, tossed into travel vehicles...........

 

[senojnad]

My VERY first amp was an early version of this:


I think I got it late 1951 - early 1952.

 

[ChloeDogsDad]

My aunt gave me a guitar that my grandparents had bought her in the 70's sometime, that had no brand or logo of any kind (fairly certain it was a kawai G-Holiday), and one of these little Checkmate 10 amps. the whole rig sounded like crap, but as a 10-year-old, it was the coolest thing in the world.

 

[GreTschocaster]

My first amp back in 1965 was a Magnatone Starlet. Picture isn't of my amp but it is exactly the same.

 

[tommyhawk13]

I got an amp just like this one around 1982. It was thrown in with the purchase of a Memphis Les Paul copy with a bolt on neck. Neither survived.