1963 Epiphone Pathfinder EA-28RVT (AKA Gibson GA-19RVT Falcon)

1963 Epiphone Pacemaker EA-28RVT vintage combo tube amplifier for sale. Identical circuit to the Gibson GA-19RVT Falcon and made in the same Kalamazoo factory using the same parts. 1channel, reverb and tremolo, 15 watts, 1 x 12" speaker.  Great atomic-age industrial design on this one.

The Epiphone Pacemaker EA-28RVT/Gibson GA-19RVT Falcon are sleeper amps.  It's tough to find a vintage amp combining low but gigable power, reverb, tremolo, and a 12" speaker for less than $1,000, but these amps have all that.  This is the more rare Epiphone version. 

This is a RestoMod - part restoration and part modification.  Stock - these early 60's-era amps sound absolutely terrible.  That's why you never see any professionals use them.  In fact, you often find them in excellent physical condition because nobody played them for long!  However, modify some of the component values and you've got a classic vintage amp on your hands.  I found this amp in non-working condition, cleaned up all components, performed necessary maintenance, checked all electrical components and replaced non-functional components, and made modifications (ala' the Skip Simmons mods) to make it sound absolutely great. It's now ready for its new life.  Specifics are listed below.

Amplifier Specifications

• 1 channel amplifier with spring reverb and power tube bias tremolo
• Configuration: 1 x 12" combo
• Controls: 5 knobs - Loudness, Bass/Treble (tone), Reverberation, (Tremolo) Depth, (Tremolo) Frequency
• Inputs: 2 (Hi and Lo)
• Tubes:
  • Pre Amp: 3x 6EU7 (low noise redesigned 12AX7), 1 x 6C4 (reverb driver)
  • Power Amp: 2x 6V6GT in cathode bias
  • Rectifier: 1x 5Y3GT
• Speaker: 1 x 12"
• Cabinet: Redwood
• Power Rating: 15 watts (est.)
• Size: 22" wide, 19 1/4" tall, 10 1/2" deep
• Weight: 32 Pounds

Restoration

• Amplifier was non-functional with a blown speaker and missing fuse cap. 
• Disassembled entire amplifier and cleaned cabinet covering, inside cabinet, inside reverb tank, outside and inside chassis
• Removed as much rust from the chassis as possible without affecting the silk screened graphics
• Replaced the fuse holder with a NOS vintage type
• Replaced the blown speaker with a 1963 Utah
• Replaced blown electrolytic capacitors, including all cathode bypass caps and the mail filter caps
• Serviced the electronics - cleaned and lubricated all jacks, potentiometers, and tube socket pins
• Inspected and measured all remaining and functional electronic components
• Tightened all hardware
  

Modifications

• Background - As is typical with this era of Gibson/Epiphone amps, the stock circuit features very small value coupling capacitors to block bass frequencies and a bridged-T notch filter for a steep mid range scoop. This reduces the overall volume, does not allow the amp to distort, and makes it sound very thin, anemic,  and too bright. 
• Pre Amp Mods 
  • Increased all coupling cap values to Fender tweed-era specs and removed the notch filter; the amp now sounds like a Fender tweed amp and starts to breakup around 4 on the volume control.
  • Re-wired the tone control to the old Fender tweed style. This cuts highs below halfway on the tone control, and introduces a treble bypass on the upper half of the tone control rotation.
• Speaker Mod - the original Jensen C12P speakers in these amps are under powered and often blow, as was the case with this amp. Rather than re-coning the underpowered speaker, I replaced it with a Utah speaker, also from 1963. This speaker has the same magnet size as a Jensen C12Q, and was re-coned with a Jensen C12Q re-cone kit. This gives the amp a little more volume and a lot better bass, and helps the amp sound "bigger". 
• Reverb mods - Slightly re-voiced the reverb circuit to be fuller. This reverb circuit is independent of the volume control - turning the volume control off and reverb level up gives you 100% wet reverb.
  
• Upgraded to grounded 3-prong power cord for your safety and less background noise.
• A previous owner wrote "Wild one" in white paint on the upper back panel. I left it intact because I love that. There was also an AC power outlet previously added to the upper back panel . This is not connected to anything.

This amp is an absolute gem now.  Fender tweed-style bold and fat tones. Overdriven as you crank the volume. Vintage tube-driven reverb and tremolo.  It works and it's awesome.

Note that all vintage tube amps require regular maintenance to work properly. Although this amp has recently had necessary maintenance and component replacement, please keep in mind that the vintage components remaining inside the amp can still fail from time to time. This is not my fault and I cannot take responsibility for component failure in the future. 

This amp is sold as-is.