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Amps

1960′s Vintage Ads for Kay Electric Guitars & Amps

Kay Musical Instruments of Chicago was the first company in 1962 to manufacture guitar amps that were 100% solid-state electronics. Here are some vintage advertisements from that time period. The first ad, Transistorized Amplifiers, I found as a JPEG somewhere Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsMay 16, 2011 ago
Amps

Kay 704 Photos Posted

Finally had a chance to upload some photos of the 1965 Kay 704 Vanguard amp we acquired last month! The photos are posted here: Gallery Photos – Kay 704.

By alex, 14 yearsMay 15, 2011 ago
Amps

Photo Gallery: Kay 704 Vanguard Vibrato

Introduced in 1962, the Kay 700 Series of guitar amps were the world’s first mass-produced amplifiers with all solid-state electronics, using early technology Germanium transistors and diodes to replace traditional vacuum tubes.

By alex, 14 yearsMay 11, 2011 ago
Amps

A Briefcase Full of Blues

1965 Kay 704 Vanguard Vibrato Find the full review here: Kay 704 Review The Kay 704 Vanguard with Vibrato was the world’s first all transistor solid-state guitar amp, introduced by Kay Musical Instruments in 1962. Based on traditional tube amp Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsMarch 28, 2011 ago
Guitars

On eBay: Rebuilt 1960′s Harmony Stella

Auction Alert! Check out this very cool, nicely restored, Harmony Stella from the 1960′s. Rebuilt with Martin-style X-bracing by Barton Lane Guitar Company. This guitar is on ebay right now at: 1960′s STELLA HARMONY guitar w/ Martin 0-18 X-bracing!!. This auction ends Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsMarch 23, 2011 ago
Vox UL730 Head
Amps

Beatles Amp Rediscovered

The Vox UL730 amp played by George Harrison on the Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s recordings was rediscovered by accident when the owner took it in for repair.

By alex, 14 yearsMarch 18, 2011 ago
Amps

First Solid-State Guitar Amplifier

Lucky me! I was looking for a vintage solid-state combo amp to use at practice, and to give my trusty tube Silvertones a rest. Just scored this one off ebay today for cheap! The very first solid-state guitar amp was Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsMarch 13, 2011 ago
Artists

Roger McGuinn and the Regency TR-1

Long before iPods, CD’s and Walkmans there was the transistor radio. The advent of the transistor radio is integral to the history of rock and roll. The first transistor radio, the American-made Regency TR-1, arrived on the scene in 1954 about one Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsMarch 5, 2011 ago
Effects

Mini-Review: DOD FX10 Bi-FET Preamp

The information in this post has been moved to: <link to be inserted here>

By alex, 14 yearsDecember 16, 2010 ago
Effects

Danelectro DC-1 Cool Cat Chorus

Birthday’s are great! This pedal was a gift! My son and his wife remembered my affinity for chorus pedals and found this Danelectro at a used music shop. It’s the 18-volt version, all analog, made about 1996. It sounds great! Very Read more…

By alex, 14 yearsNovember 17, 2010 ago

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Tone Gems is a labor of love, and I have maintained this website for over 15 years using my own personal resources. Thank you! I ran this site ad-free for 3 years. But unfortunately I had to bring the advertising back.

About This Site

Tone Gems: Vintage budget guitars, amps, effects pedals and gear. Plus all things early Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Tone Gems is based in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.

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About This Site

Tone Gems: Vintage budget guitars, amps, effects pedals and gear. Plus all things early Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Tone Gems is based in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.

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