The Gibson Falcon 20 is a Gibson amplifier, currently around $1799. Close alternatives include the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Gibson Vanguard GA-77 RET. It pairs well with the Carl Martin PlexiTone and the Carl Martin Crunch Drive.
Gibson Falcon 20
Gibson · amplifier
The Gibson Falcon 20 is an all-tube guitar amplifier based on the classic Gibson Falcon design from the late 1950s and early 1960s. At 20 watts the Falcon 20 provides vintage Gibson tube amp character — warm, chimey cleans with smooth natural breakup — in a stage-practical format that allows natural power tube saturation at achievable volumes. The Falcon is a vintage-inspired design that draws on the warm American tube amp tradition associated with Gibson amplifiers of the original era.
- american
- natural
- chimey
- tube
- smooth
- clean
- vintage
- country
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
- Practice
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson Falcon 20 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Rockabilly
- Country
- Swing
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Falcon 20
Carl Martin PlexiTone
Carl Martin
19% matchCarl Martin PlexiTone's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
18% matchCarl Martin Crunch Drive is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Gibson Falcon 20 gives it exactly that
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
17% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman BE-OD gives it mid-forward to fill it with
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
12% matchPut Maestro Orbit after Gibson Falcon 20 in the signal chain, clear of Gibson Falcon 20's own gain stage
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
9% matchWhat Xotic SP Compressor brings here leans toward mid-forward — that's worth building a pairing around
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay in Gibson Falcon 20's effects loop, clear of Gibson Falcon 20's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Line 6 DL4 MkII
Line 6
6% matchPut Line 6 DL4 MkII in Gibson Falcon 20's effects loop, clear of Gibson Falcon 20's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchFender Hammertone Overdrive's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Gibson Falcon 20 delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Gibson Falcon 5
Gibson
65% similarityShared character: white_falcon, 1960s, smooth
Blackstar CV30
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Victory VC35
Victory
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar CV10 Carmen Vandenberg Signature 10-Watt 1x12"
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar TV-10
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
64% similarityShared character: smooth, crunch, vintage_charm
Gibson Vanguard GA-77 RET
Gibson
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Framus Ruby Riot
Framus
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Pre-Sale! Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar St. James 50 EL34H Fawn
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson Falcon 20 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Falcon 20?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman Dirty Shirley, the Gibson Vanguard GA-77 RET, the Framus Ruby Riot. Budget picks: Gibson Falcon 5, Blackstar CV30, Victory VC35. Boutique upgrades: Headstrong Santa Cruz.
What pairs well with the Gibson Falcon 20?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carl Martin PlexiTone, Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Friedman BE-OD — Carl Martin PlexiTone's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Gibson Falcon 20 cost?+
Around $1799 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).