Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Make it loud here.
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supersonicjazzmaster
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Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by supersonicjazzmaster » Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:33 pm

Hi there,

is there anyone with any experiences with a Guyatone GA 540 amp, please?
They are solid state. I guess "at home" amps?

I like the look of them a lot...
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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by Sauerkraut » Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:06 am

What’s the asking price? I recently bought a 70s solid-state Guyatone (super lead 580, from 76-77?). Their tube amps from that decade are relatively well-known, but it’s hard to find info on the solid-state models.

Mine cost me €100 and it’s fantastic; loud (1x12”, 80 watts, cant turn it past 3 if I want to stay friends with the rest of the band), clean, has a nice built-in spring reverb, surprisingly decent speaker. It also looks relatively easy to fix if something breaks at some point.
So, if it’s cheap, just buy it and ask questions later.

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by Sauerkraut » Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:17 am

Had a look and the GA 540 has an alnico 12” speaker, which may explain its 30 watts rating. So, not crazy loud (though probably loud enough for band practice), but should sound good. I love alnico speakers. Also, built-in reverb and tremolo and great looks...

there’s one in Düsseldorf for €150. Is that the one you’re looking at? Better hit the BIN, cause I’m tempted to myself now. Really don’t need another amp though. Maybe I’ll talk a friend into it.

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by supersonicjazzmaster » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:48 am

Sauerkraut wrote:
Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:17 am
Had a look and the GA 540 has an alnico 12” speaker, which may explain its 30 watts rating. So, not crazy loud (though probably loud enough for band practice), but should sound good. I love alnico speakers. Also, built-in reverb and tremolo and great looks...

there’s one in Düsseldorf for €150. Is that the one you’re looking at? Better hit the BIN, cause I’m tempted to myself now. Really don’t need another amp though. Maybe I’ll talk a friend into it.
Hi,

yes, the seller asked 149€.
I asked him for less, but he said no.
I am in the same position... don´t need it really, but it´s a nice amp for at home playing I guess. (I have a good modified Princeton Reverb
at home...) Ahhh!!! I don´t know.
There where a GA 540 for 40€ last week...
149 is a lot for an old Guyatone solid state... It´s hard to sell it for this price again I guess.

@Sauerkraut: Du wohnst auch in Berlin? :)
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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by Sauerkraut » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:28 pm

€40?! Wow. That same seller asked €280 a couple of months ago. I suppose if we wait another month it'll drop below €100. If it's anything like the Guyatone I have, it's definitely worth €149 though. Best solid state amp I ever heard by some distance. Admittedly though, I haven't heard many.

Ich wohne auch in Berlin, jup! Vor 10 Jahre aus den Niederlanden hier hingezogen. In welche Band(s) spielst du?
Last edited by Sauerkraut on Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by supersonicjazzmaster » Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:32 am

Hi Sauerkraut,

yes, I live also in Berlin. Prenzlauer Berg.
Came here 12 years ago. :)
check out my band here:
https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

Are you in a band also?

cheers!
Ralf
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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by Sauerkraut » Tue Mar 02, 2021 5:34 am

Thanks for the link, Ralf. Excellent surf band!
Hope I'll get to see you play whenever that's possible again.

I live down in Neukölln, here's one of the bands I play in.
Hope you don't mind the diy, poor quality of the recordings:
https://ultrabonus.bandcamp.com/album/e ... casa-vol-1

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by JUNELBEJEC_1234 » Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:33 pm

I have guyatone 540 solid state. Spring reverb is sensitive

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by Sauerkraut » Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:28 am

I just pulled the trigger on a Guyatone Zip 300 (aka GA-300) for €75. Seemed too good a deal to pass up. Built in ‘79, solid state, 12” speaker, two channels (clean and gain, the latter of which will likely sound awful), 3-band EQ, reverb, 42 watts output, 17 (!) kgs. It’s supposedly in good condition after having recently been serviced.

On paper and based on the original retail price (59,000 yen), this should be better than the Guyatone 580 super lead (aka GA-580), which I love and has become a practice room favourite. I’ll compare them and, unless the Zip surprisingly disappoints, I’ll sell whichever one I like least to a bandmate.

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Re: Guyatone GA 540 amp anyone?

Post by HNB » Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:21 am

I have one of their small tube bass heads. It sounds great using guitar. :)
Christopher
Lilith Guitars

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