vintage 60'S AMPEG Gemini II

Bflat · #1 01-04-2011, 11:23 AM

http://mail.aol.com/33069-111/aol-6/...ail&partId =1

Does anyone know anything about these amps? I have a chance to make a trade for one of these. How about $ value?

Thanks!

hot ford coupe · #2 01-04-2011, 02:50 PM

I couldn't get the picture to come up for me but I do know a little about Ampeg amps. Like Fender amps were the standard on the West Coast, Ampeg was king on the East coast. The Gemini II ( had a 15 inch speaker) was the jazz amp to have at that time. In fact, there was something called the New York Guitar Club. Everybody chipped in some cash and outfitted some clubs and venues with the Gemini II's. Each amp's on off switch was replaced with a lock which could only be turned on with a key given to the members of the guitar club. That way, when you played a lot in several particular places, you never had to drag your amp around, just your key and your guitar. Nice and convenient. If the condition of the amp is great and all the tubes and guts are the correct ones (and the reverb works), it's an incredibly sounding amp. I've got a Gemini I with the 12 inch speaker through which I play a DeArmond 1100 Rhythm Chief. What an incredible sound. Value? Not sure anymore.

Bflat · #3 01-05-2011, 06:24 AM

Thanks for the info. Pretty good idea to have a lock for on/off switch.

hot ford coupe · #4 01-05-2011, 08:41 AM

No problem. I wonder if they bolted them down to the floor also to keep them in the club. There was also a Bass Club that did the same thing with the Ampeg B15. That was THE bass amp to have. It was the best but it weighed about 80 pounds. No wonder they formed the clubs.

Bertrand tB · #5 01-08-2011, 10:27 AM

In the old day's Ive heard a jazz box through an Ampeg, not sure what modell. The sound was FANTASTIC!!

mad dog · #6 01-10-2011, 11:50 AM

I have one of those amps. Had heard several Gemini II through the years. Always loved the sound of it, but never seemed quite loud enough for my (non-jazz) applications. Found a beat old one on ebay which had been modded for 6L6 power tubes. (Most came stock with 7159 tubes). Turned out to be poorly done, so after much negotiation I was able to get it repaired and working fine. Many changes (now it's tube rectifier, bigger transformers), so far from stock. The sound is amazing. Doesn't look like much, but has that magic.
MD