GB-440 completed stack..

[Matthew McArdle]

I have the completed stack of a Gibson GB-440. I have been searching long and hard (TWSS) for any information on this amp. I was able to get basic information but I am curious for knowing a price and the history if this amp. Please let me know what you wise men/woman of talk bass have to offer. Thanks!!

 

[agedhorse]

Never seen one of the racks that were supposedly available back in the day.

Here's a reasonable history, maybe not 100% accurate but close enough. The industry was quite small back then, yet the common theme is that every company struggled to survive and most didn't.

Amp Brand Bass Amplifier

AMP brand amplifiers seem to have a cult-like status and a small, but loyal following.

www.premierguitar.com

 

[Matthew McArdle]

Never seen one of the racks that were supposedly available back in the day.

Here's a reasonable history, maybe not 100% accurate but close enough. The industry was quite small back then, yet the common theme is that every company struggled to survive and most didn't.

Amp Brand Bass Amplifier

AMP brand amplifiers seem to have a cult-like status and a small, but loyal following.

www.premierguitar.com

Thanks man that explains a lot amd I can see that being the case for many company’s. I found that the “thunderfunk” company was made after these were released and the creator of thunderfunk worked for Gibson and helped make it. Looking at photos of the TF amps you can see the resemblance clearly on the heads.

Never seen one of the racks that were supposedly available back in the day.

Here's a reasonable history, maybe not 100% accurate but close enough. The industry was quite small back then, yet the common theme is that every company struggled to survive and most didn't.

Amp Brand Bass Amplifier

AMP brand amplifiers seem to have a cult-like status and a small, but loyal following.

www.premierguitar.com

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks man that explains a lot amd I can see that being the case for many company’s. I found that the “thunderfunk” company was made after these were released and the creator of thunderfunk worked for Gibson and helped make it. Looking at photos of the TF amps you can see the resemblance clearly on the heads.

Yes, kind of. It was originally Russ Allee’s design but it evolved

 

[Matthew McArdle]

Yes, kind of. It was originally Russ Allee’s design but it evolved

Thanks I haven’t seen his name I’ll look him up anyway.

 

[Luther]

Thanks I haven’t seen his name I’ll look him up anyway.

I have one paired with an Eden D-215XLT. My favorite amp. Someone had a complete stack/setup on ebay a while back for local pickup out of NY.

 

[Matthew McArdle]

I have one paired with an Eden D-215XLT. My favorite amp. Someone had a complete stack/setup on ebay a while back for local pickup out of NY.

Cool man can you attach a pic? Just wanna see the set up. Thanks

 

[Luther]

Cool man can you attach a pic? Just wanna see the set up. Thanks

It's just the amp sitting on the 215 cab. I tried to find documentation but was unsuccessful. I remember reading somewhere about the settings. where you set the eq flat, then set enhance for the bass level and timbre for the treble level preferred. I run mine that way with the compressor engaged.

 

[brianrost]

Congratulations on getting the full stack including the rack for the head. I have NEVER seen any of that gear in the flesh.

What happened with Thunderfunk was that Dave Funk was offered a chance to buy the remaining inventory of GB-440 parts from Gibson years after the amp had been discontinued. He then built some GB-440s himself until he ran out of parts. At that point he created the first Thunderfunk TB heads and over time made changes to the design to improve it, notably upping max wattage to 750W. An interview with Dave from 2008 is here.

I still own an AMP BH-260, owned four different BH-420 heads (bought my first one brand new not long before the company shut down), and owned a XB-15 cabinet as well as a later flip-top cab whose model number I can’t remember. I’ve posted many times about A.M.P. here at TB. Do a search and you’ll find plenty of threads about it and the connections with SWR, Eden, Gibson and Thunderfunk. These amps are still out there and are great bargains. The speaker cabs are much rarer. The XB-15 in particular is very heavy but the design does sound great.

I’ve played all the heads but the Gibson and there are definitely some similarities in how each one sounds, but I continue to like the A.M.P. the most.

 

[Matthew McArdle]

Congratulations on getting the full stack including the rack for the head. I have NEVER seen any of that gear in the flesh.

What happened with Thunderfunk was that Dave Funk was offered a chance to buy the remaining inventory of GB-440 parts from Gibson years after the amp had been discontinued. He then built some GB-440s himself until he ran out of parts. At that point he created the first Thunderfunk TB heads and over time made changes to the design to improve it, notably upping max wattage to 750W. An interview with Dave from 2008 is here.

I still own an AMP BH-260, owned four different BH-420 heads (bought my first one brand new not long before the company shut down), and owned a XB-15 cabinet as well as a later flip-top cab whose model number I can’t remember. I’ve posted many times about A.M.P. here at TB. Do a search and you’ll find plenty of threads about it and the connections with SWR, Eden, Gibson and Thunderfunk. These amps are still out there and are great bargains. The speaker cabs are much rarer. The XB-15 in particular is very heavy but the design does sound great.

I’ve played all the heads but the Gibson and there are definitely some similarities in how each one sounds, but I continue to like the A.M.P. the most.

Thanks dude!

 

[Jugghaid]

So, is that top speaker similar to the Trace Elliot Bright Box? 4x5" speakers?

 

[Matthew McArdle]

So, is that top speaker similar to the Trace Elliot Bright Box? 4x5" speakers?

No but those are cool, its a crossover so I can use the one head on both cabs.