I came across a tube amp from Montgomery Ward's in a pawn shop recently. It was two channel with four inputs and appeared to be all tube. It was manufactured by Magnavox and had the designation GIM9171A. It was interesting with reverb and tremolo features. I did not get a chance to play it, but plan to take a bass in and hook it up to whatever cab they will let me use. Has anyone used, owned or encountered this amp? Ran a bass through one? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Border.
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Montgomery Ward's Amp ?
- Thread starter Border
- Start date
This is an old Valco amplifier made for Wards (Airline) and Sears (Silvertone) they have the potential to be good guitar amps and some are even collectable. If it works and is realativly inexpensive it may be worth having. Search info on vintage amp websites for National/Valco amps.
billfitzmaurice
Commercial User
- Sep 15, 2004
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- Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design
The Valco's were pretty poor quality. Some early Silvertones were made by Danelectro, and they're the ones with value.
We had an old Silvertone. Four-channel amp with 6x12's (maybe 6x10's), all Jensens. We cut it up and made it into a p.a. cabinet and added a fourth speaker to each column. We used that for four years, all through high school.
Wish I still had it, sometimes.
Wish I still had it, sometimes.
It's a very old amplifier and will need some TLC. If you actually are considering this for bass it would be a poor choice. Save your money for something more practical.
The schematic can be found here http://www.webphix.com/schematic he...en.com/bargainbin/airline_wards_gim-9171a.pdf
Four 6l6's??? Hmm, if it's cheap grab it, if not cheap, pass.
Four 6l6's??? Hmm, if it's cheap grab it, if not cheap, pass.
billfitzmaurice
Commercial User
- Sep 15, 2004
- 16,860
- 278
- 76
- Disclosures
- Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design
The problem lies in the cheap undersized transformers, and the screwy dual output transformer arrangement. These things had a habit of toasting those 6L6s. A friend of mine went through three of these amps in one week before giving up, getting his money back and buying a used Fender.
Ooohhh...didn't even notice the screwy dual OT's.
Yep, I'd pass. Not even worth getting it cheap just to use the trannies for something else.
Yep, I'd pass. Not even worth getting it cheap just to use the trannies for something else.
I had a Montgomery Wards bass rig when I was a kid (got it for Christmas or birthday). Big tube head with large knobs on it (no reverb or Tremelo), matching 2x15 cabinet. I was really excited to get it, was a big step up from my little Premier 1x8 combo.
The manual for the amp had a picture of a band called "The Cryin' Shames" all using the Montgomery Ward's amps. The singer had what looked like a fake hook for one of his hands.
That amp lost power very quickly and all the tubes became microphonic if I set the head on the cab. I eventually got a 50w Fender bassman head that worked a lot better for me.
I kept the MW head into my adult years, complete with manual. When I was living in Memphis I stored it in the attic of a small guest house I was renting and forgot it was up there when I moved out in a hurry. That was 16 years ago, sometimes wonder if it's still there.....
The manual for the amp had a picture of a band called "The Cryin' Shames" all using the Montgomery Ward's amps. The singer had what looked like a fake hook for one of his hands.
That amp lost power very quickly and all the tubes became microphonic if I set the head on the cab. I eventually got a 50w Fender bassman head that worked a lot better for me.
I kept the MW head into my adult years, complete with manual. When I was living in Memphis I stored it in the attic of a small guest house I was renting and forgot it was up there when I moved out in a hurry. That was 16 years ago, sometimes wonder if it's still there.....
LOL, this is the picture. My amp was the same one the bass player has, same color and everything (sigh...)
The Azure Dominsion
The Azure Dominsion
Danelectro also made some guitar amps for Ward. I've got one...a little 15w 112 combo from 62. Horrible as a bass amp, but I threw a Mod 35 in there and it kicks as a guitar or harmonica amp.
The hook was real. 
"Jim Pilster ("J.C. Hooke", so named because he was born without a left hand and wore a hook)" I was a fan boy back in the day.. hate to admit it.
"Jim Pilster ("J.C. Hooke", so named because he was born without a left hand and wore a hook)" I was a fan boy back in the day.. hate to admit it. 
We came across a Montgomery Ward amp.
Model 9136 Production code 6447
Can’t seem to find any info on this amp. It isn’t a tube amp and it’s a combo amp. If anyone can lead me in the right direction it would truly be appreciated.
