1967 Ampeg Gemini I ---- Does anybody have knowledge of these as a "Jazz" amp?

[Wildcat]

My local Craigslist has 1967 Ampeg Gemini I amp for sale. This is the "canned" description for the amp.

"Ampeg Gemini series amps are well regarded by jazz guitarists for their rich, clean sound. This is not surprising since Ampeg founder, Everett Hull, was a jazz bassist that aimed his amplifiers squarely at jazz guitarists, bassists, and accordionists. The Gemini I, with its dual channels, and separate bass and treble controls, was an UPGRADE from the Reverberocket. In addition, the Gemini was equipped with an "Ultra High" feature which acted somewhat like a bright switch, and a "Repeat Percussion" feature which provided a more percussive Tremolo Effect. In fact, this amp was used predominantly by the "Manhattan Guitar Club" which was comprised of top New York metro area studio and performing jazz guitarists."

Specs:
All Point to Point Handwiring
Power Amp: Tube; 2 x 7591A, 20 watts RMS @ 8 ohms
Preamp: Tube; 3 x 12AX7, 1 x 7199, 1 x 6CG7
Rectifier: Solid state
Channels: 2; 2 inputs per channel (Guitar, Accordion) *Accordion channel is higher gain
Effects: Tremolo, reverb (Reverb also active on channel 2 but less intense)
Controls: Bass, treble, volume; tremolo intensity and depth, reverb intensity, foot switch for tremolo and reverb (Ultra Bright feature on both channels and Repeat Percussion on the Tremolo)
Dimensions: 22 H x 25 W x 12 1/2 D inches
Weight: 46 lb.

This is the sellers write-up. From what I understand this amp has a lot of headroom, even when dimed out. However, I thought it was odd that the sell noted the nice grit when cranked up. I asked if he had a cap job done.

Just finished this amp as a winter project. Spent several hours scrubbing years of dirt and dust off and from inside of the amp, and polishing all the metal. Had TRVR Custom amps install all new tubes (including a hard to find NOS 7199 phase inverter), bias the power tubes, do a comprehensive sweep of all the electronics, replace the original power cable with a grounded, 3 prong plug, and replace anything that was questionable. Last order of business was to install a brand new Jensen P12Q speaker with Bell Cover.

This amp needs nothing, and it's ready for the business end of your guitar chain.
Even though described as a "Clean" or "Jazz" amp, you can get some nice grit when cranked up. Also, this amp takes well to pedals.

All original tubes, electronic parts that were removed are included. Also included is the Olsen 12" speaker that was in the amp and a clutch-head screwdriver.

[mongrel]

I'd love to have that amp. You should be able to get a range from '50's smoky jazz to Bo Diddlely with that tremolo circuit.

[Wildcat]

I'd love to have that amp. You should be able to get a range from '50's smoky jazz to Bo Diddlely with that tremolo circuit.

Seller asking $800 for the amp. Not bad if you ask me given the work done.

[Dennis D]

I had a '60's Gemini II w/ a 15 in . Jensen speaker, also 2 Channel w/reverb / tremolo. Bought new & kept it 'til about 2006. Very quiet, almost never any buzz, used it as a practice amp. Really good sound.

I never gigged with it, and this model was notorious for being underpowered. It weighed a ton, and that may have been where the tone came from. At low volume w/ a hint of reverb, I could absolutely nail Wes Montgomery's sound, and all I had was a '60's 175 w/ a single humbucker.


For me it was perfect, but I just got tired of even just lugging it around the house.


Bottom line -- at low volume you'll love it. But they struggled w/ power output - - or at least - mine sure did.

FWIW

[Greentone]

I, too, used a Gemini II in the 60s. Great amp. It differs from the Gemini I chiefly in that the I has a Jensen 12" speaker while the II features a Jensen 15" speaker. Both amps are outstanding designs.

Jazz is their strong suit (accordion, too).

Oh, yes...in one of my bands in the 1970s the rhythm guitarist used a Gemini II, while I used a Fender Pro Reverb. I honestly thought that the Ampeg sounded better.

[Hammertone]

I've had them all and still have a few Ampegs from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
A '67 Gemini I is a great amp for jazz.

[Wildcat]

I've had them all and still have a few Ampegs from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
A '67 Gemini I is a great amp for jazz.

Hammertone;

The owner got back to me on the amp. See below. He told me that the amp breaks up at 10:00/11:00. That's seems a bit early for a clean amp with lots of headroom? Also in his ad he described it as "This amp is comparable to a Deluxe Reverb. However, it's actually got more bells and whistles." I never thought of a Deluxe Reverb as a good/great jazz amp. What am I missing? Also, for the price, $800 (usa) with the work done and new speaker is not crazy.

Of course the logical thing to do is go play it, but I wanted to get a feel for what others have experienced for this amp. and what I should expect for the amp.

"Thanks for your interest in the Ampeg. The caps have been changed as well as anything else that was questionable when TRVR did a complete sweep of the electronics. I have all the original parts he took out in a plastic bag along with all the original tubes and speaker (non-original I believe) that was in the amp when I got it.

The footswitches in these old Ampegs are hardwired into the chassis. The footswitch is included and fully operational. If you are using single coil pickups, the breakup point is with the volume 1/2 way up. If you are using humbuckers, then probably about 10 or 11 o' clock.
If you use the accordion inputs.. it breaks up faster.

All the tubes are brand new.
Electro-Harmonix 7591A Matched Power Tubes (TRVR Biased... btw this amp is cathode biased), EH 6CG7, 3 x Svetlana 12AX7s, and a NOS GE 7199. It really needs ... nothing. Maybe only an hour or two on it since it has been completed."

[Hammertone]

I guess it depends on a few things, like how you actually play, how loud you want to be, whether you use the volume control on your guitar as well as on the amp, what kind of output your pickups provide, etc. The description of the amp seems reasonable.

Yes, you can crank the amp for a nice distorted sound but you can also roll back the volume on the guitar and/or the amp for a nice clean jazz tone, or a jazz tone with a bit of grit when you dig in. That has been my experience playing these amps for over 30 years. I have also tended to favour highly efficient, over-rated speakers in mine - old Altec and JBL speakers, as opposed to old Jensens, so that I get a bit more headroom and no speaker distortion.

I think the Gemini I is a fine-sounding, well-designed, well-built product - I used one and have continued to use others like it extensively for years. I think it was designed to compete with the Deluxe Reverb, and it does indeed have more bells and whistles than a DR.

Seems like a very fair deal for a fully reconditioned amp from that era. They are highly reliable and dead easy to work on in terms of future service. I'd recommend you go and try it out if it's local to you. That seems like the only way to really decide if it suits your needs.

[jasonc]

I had a '65 Gemini I that I really regret selling. They are fantastic amps. They are big and bulky though. Great...now you guys got me thinking about old Ampegs.

[Wildcat]

I guess it depends on a few things, like how you actually play, how loud you want to be, whether you use the volume control on your guitar as well as on the amp, what kind of output your pickups provide, etc. The description of the amp seems reasonable.

Yes, you can crank the amp for a nice distorted sound but you can also roll back the volume on the guitar and/or the amp for a nice clean jazz tone, or a jazz tone with a bit of grit when you dig in. That has been my experience playing these amps for over 30 years. I have also tended to favour highly efficient, over-rated speakers in mine - old Altec and JBL speakers, as opposed to old Jensens, so that I get a bit more headroom and no speaker distortion.

I think the Gemini I is a fine-sounding, well-designed, well-built product - I used one and have continued to use others like it extensively for years. I think it was designed to compete with the Deluxe Reverb, and it does indeed have more bells and whistles than a DR.

Seems like a very fair deal for a fully reconditioned amp from that era. They are highly reliable and dead easy to work on in terms of future service. I'd recommend you go and try it out if it's local to you. That seems like the only way to really decide if it suits your needs.

Thank you Hammertone. Just the perspective I needed to hear.

[Petimar]

I had a 66 Gemini II and a 66 Reverberocket. Both wonderful Jazz amps!

[Hammertone]

The G-series are essentially deluxe versions of the RR series to me.
Here's the last version of each, side by side, with the G-12 on the left and the R-II on the right:

[Klatu]

I've been drooling over the Ampeg Gemini series for some time now but haven't pulled the trigger on any because of their apparent size. The Gemini II and VI look particularly huge, in some of the youtube videos I've seen appearing to be about the size of a Fender Super Reverb. What has been your experience with its size an bulk?

Another concern I've read in regards to the Gemini II and VI is that they don't have sufficient headroom to deal with a drummer. This sounds odd to me since specs report over 30 watts of 6L6 power. Is there enough clean headroom in the Gemini series to be heard over a group containing horns and a drummer?

[Greentone]

Great sounding amps. I think the reverb is better than Fender--heresy! The I I and VI are about the size of Super Reverb amps. How loud is the band? I have used Ampeg Gemini and Portaflex amps successfully in bands. Usually, it's only other guitarists who cause stage volume to be a problem. Convince the band that only one guitar is needed.

[Klatu]

It isn't a rock band, that's for sure. How might you compare its headroom to that of a Super Reverb?

As to the size, It doesn't bother me at all, it's my wife who doesn't find amps quite as elegant as I do.

[Greentone]

The Super Reverb is a louder amp. With more or less comparable power but four speakers, the SR is a loud amp. They almost keep up with Twins. Still, the Gemini I I and VI are "cleanish" amps with their power tube complement. ..some have 7591 tubes, IIRC.

[mad dog]

The Geminis are very cool amps. The Gem 1 would be - and has been - a jazz amp. Remember reading that Rudy Van Gelder had one at the Englewood Studio, and that Grant Green (among many pros) used it often. The Gem 1 is reasonably sized, not hugely heavy, 1x12. Not a volume monster, but a real sweet sound. Intense and beautiful reverb. My impression is that this amp was widely used for jazz in 60s and 70s.

The Gemini II is big and bulky, a 1x15. In stock form, with 7159 tubes, rather underpowered. Specced at 30 watts, but didn't sound that way. Some came from the factory with 6L6s, slightly larger power transformers. These were louder.

My beat old Gemini II got modded with 6L6s, also had a tube rectifier instead of the stock solid state. With a higher efficiency ceramic speaker in there it was one of the most distinctive sounding amps I've ever played. I'm still kicking my butt for selling it. Jumpering channels works wonders on both the Gemini amps.
MD

[DC Ron]

My 67 Reverberocket II (GS12-R) is a great Jazz amp, but suspect it could get lost in a larger band setting. Never tried. Fantastic jazz tones though...