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Executive Amp Mod (Cosmetic)

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- Rated: 36 ↑
Nov 16, 2008 3:17 p.m. senojnad:

I had posted a review of my new Executive amp in early Sept. '08. The only aspect of it that was "not to love" -- my personal opinion -- was the front cover board with its diagonal wedge-shaped opening:

My wife wasn't crazy about it -- it's in the living room... -- although she did not complain about it. So all things considered, I made a new front grill (5/16" plywood covered with black grill cloth and wrapped with gold piping):

This mod is easy to reverse -- just a matter of removing 6 machine screws. I plan to keep the original front in case I suffer some temporary insanity and decide to sell the amp. Photo below shows the front removed with the original grill cloth from the factory.
- Rated: 33 ↑
Nov 16, 2008 3:53 p.m. TomfromPA:

I'm not wild about the original diagonal cover board either. It looks like it's interfering with the speaker opening.

Your mod does look to be more living room friendly. There's much to be said for keeping wives happy. That is so much better than explaining the need for 2 amps and 7 guitars.
- Rated: 76 ↑
Nov 16, 2008 3:55 p.m. Tsar Nicholas :

Now it's a sleeper.. looks very nice and understated. I'm sure the amp's got enough gorgeous tone to speak for itself without the loud front covering anyway.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Nov 17, 2008 6:28 a.m. Barry:

Funny I liked the look of the amp. I would love to here one but can't find one. How do you like the amp. now that you had time to play it. Barry
- Rated: 36 ↑
Nov 17, 2008 7:28 a.m. senojnad:

Barry -- scroll down to "Executive Amp: Field Check/Road Test Report" (9/5/08) below. Basically, the longer I work with the Executive, the better I like it!

The only "bad news" with the Playboy, Executive and Variety is that they are VERY hard to find in dealers' showrooms and they are expensive. I was fortunte and good an extremely good deal on mine -- an offer I couldn't refuse.....
- Rated: 46 ↑
Nov 17, 2008 8:57 a.m. audiodrome:

I actually like the look with just the covering removed and the blond grill cloth - nice!
- Rated: 54 ↑
Nov 17, 2008 10:02 a.m. DangerousMan:

That's an excellent job; I really like that - it actually makes the original look garish by comparison.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Nov 17, 2008 10:38 a.m. Charlie Vegas:

audiodrome said: I actually like the look with just the covering removed and the blond grill cloth - nice!
I agree. Just move the Gretsch logo to the blond grill.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Nov 18, 2008 11:08 p.m. Macky54:

I don't know, I've left mine as is. There is just something about it that just reeks quality. It's an amazing amp and I wouldn't trade it fer nothin. But I do like what you've done.....good job.

Jeff
- Rated: 139 ↑
Nov 21, 2008 9:20 p.m. wenzel:

You should have used VOX grill cloth material and really thrown her for a loop! It would have looked like the Brady Bunch moved in! Hey Johnny Bravo!!!
- Rated: 46 ↑
Nov 22, 2008 8:57 a.m. audiodrome:

Charlie Vegas said: Just move the Gretsch logo to the blond grill.
Can you buy a "stand-alone" Gretsch logo like Fender?
- Rated: 329 ↑
Nov 22, 2008 8:58 a.m. Proteus:

Dunno...but don't you mean "screw-alone"?
- Rated: 57 ↑
Jan 11, 2009 9:34 p.m. atomicwash:

Here.
- Rated: 122 ↑
Jan 12, 2009 5:41 p.m. Ric12string:

That Gretsch logo is the wrong color, atomicwash. I suppose one could always spray paint it gold, however.
- Rated: 57 ↑
Jan 12, 2009 7:47 p.m. atomicwash:

They offer a pulldown with white, silver, black, and gold colors.

Might look good on the back of my Vibe!
- Rated: 36 ↑
Jan 13, 2009 7:50 a.m. senojnad:

I decided a gold one would look "proper" on the black grill cloth on my "moded" Exec...... Thanks for the find, Atomicwash. This is a good dealer -- I've bought a lot of stuff from them.
- Rated: 67 ↑
Jan 16, 2009 4:30 p.m. Joel:

I like the asymetrical art deco look. To me, there's already too many basic black amps on the market...
- Rated: 57 ↑
Feb 3, 2009 12:34 p.m. atomicwash:

Senojnad - Did your logo arrive? Any photos?

~Danny
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 3, 2009 6:49 p.m. senojnad:

atomicwash said: Did your logo arrive? Any photos?

No it did not arrive -- but the problems was NOT with PartsIsParts. My cable company/internet provider had "An Episode" around the time I placed the order (or I thought I had...) I finally wrote myself a note to try again.
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 6, 2009 1:25 p.m. senojnad:

atomicwash said: Did your logo arrive? Any photos?

Finally got it....
- Rated: 3 ↑
Feb 6, 2009 10:59 p.m. marksguitars:

Senojnad, question for you, Does your reverb buzz on this amp? I just bought one new and am scratching my head at how noisey the reverb is. Even w/o footswitch or guitar cord plugged in. I actually thought it might be the dimmers in my basement so I plugged in a Fender Hot Deluxe and my old Vibrolux amp on right next to the Executive. They were both almost completely quiet with reverb maxed. I supposed it still could be dimmers and maybe this amp is just more susceptible to noise. Amp it to die for in every other way. BUT I like my reverb quiet... Any thoughts on that? thanks Mark
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 7, 2009 7:17 p.m. senojnad:

marksguitars said: Does your reverb buzz on this amp?

No, the reverb on my amp is very quiet. I wonder if you have a problem with a tube -- V2 (12AT7 -- the 2nd tube from the right as you face the rear of the amp) and V3 (12AX7 -- 3rd from the right...) are the reverb driver and reverb recovery/driver tubes respectively.

You could try emailing Mark Baier at Victoria Amps -- he is very helpful.

My only "issue" has been that the tremolo stopped working about a week ago. It started making a very quiet "thumping" noise about 6 weeks (?) ago -- the "thumping" was at the speed of the tremolo setting. Then -- it just died. Not a big deal -- I don't use tremolo often (except when gigging with some friends doing late 50's/early 60's stuff). I thought it might be a tube, but it was not. So -- one of these days I'll take it back to the dealer.
- Rated: 30 ↑
Feb 7, 2009 8:59 p.m. Whofan:

I like the mods you've done senojnad, that's a unique looking machine.
- Rated: 57 ↑
Feb 10, 2009 7:57 p.m. atomicwash:

Senojnad - The logo looks great! Very nice.

I recently picked up an Exec and had a hissy reverb; not bad at 2, really hissy at 10. I replaced V2 as suggested and it made a huge difference. Thanks for the suggestion.

With the troubleshooting, I did find out that I have a noisy footswitch.
- Rated: 40 ↑
Feb 10, 2009 8:41 p.m. Ripley1046:

I saw a used Playboy at my local Guitar Center when I was with my wife. I didn't even mention it as I had just bought a bunch of gear, and all of a sudden she's like, "whoa, check that out. You should get one of those!" I look and she's pointing at the playboy. Wow. As much as she liked it, and I wanted it, it doesn't do what I need an amp to do right now. But wow was the trem awesome.

Moral of the story, she liked the look of the thing more than I did! But she doesn't mind my tweed Classic 50 sitting in the living room so I can't complain.

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