Compact, low-wattage tube amplifiers reimagine vintage tone for the modern player
After a long hiatus, Gibson is proud to be back in the guitar amplifier business. Inspired by vintage Gibson amplifiers and reimagined for today’s players, the Falcon 5 and Falcon 20 are handcrafted in Petaluma, California.
Focusing on great sound, simplicity, and ease of use, the new Falcon models pay homage to Gibson’s legendary past as one of the very first manufacturers of electric guitar amplification back in the 1930s but offer the versatility demanded on modern stages, in home studios, and beyond.
The Gibson Falcon 5 and Falcon 20 are available now in North America via authorized Gibson dealers and Gibson.com, with global availability starting April 2024.
The compact Falcon 5 and Falcon 20 combos hark back to the Gibson amplifiers from the late 1950s and early 1960s that inspired them, but beneath their vintage-style Cream Bronco vinyl and Oxblood grille cloths are all-new circuits developed by Randall Smith and the MESA/Boogie® Design Team. In a world in which it’s increasingly difficult to crank up a high-powered tube amplifier, the Falcon 5 and Falcon 20 bring unprecedented flexibility to the table.
Gibson Falcon 5
The small but raucous Falcon 5 delivers around seven watts of single-ended, pure Class A power from a single 6V6 power tube, switchable down to around three watts. Alongside volume and tone controls with a wider, more usable range, there’s a level control for the Falcon 5’s lush onboard all-tube spring reverb, while a 10-inch Jensen Blackbird 40 Alnico speaker helps deliver the Falcon 5’s touch-sensitive, harmonically rich tube tones.
Gibson Falcon 20
The Falcon 20 expands both the power and the feature set. The dual 6V6 power stage utilizes patented Multi-Watt™ technology to deliver 12, five, or bedroom-friendly one-watt Class A power modes, and the hypnotic throb of all-tube tremolo joins spring reverb in the onboard effects section, switchable remotely via the supplied two-button footswitch. A 12-inch Jensen Blackbird 40 Alnico speaker offers greater spread and projection, along with enhanced bass response.
Both Falcon circuits have been designed with the option to substitute the supplied 6V6 power tubes with optional 6L6 tubes, further adding to their flexibility, headroom, and punch. With their elegant cosmetics and boutique build quality, the Falcon 5 and Falcon 20 are the ultimate companions for Gibson’s finest stringed instruments.
