It's time I wrote up some thoughts on this amp where they can be found and be useful to anyone considering an amp...especially a boutique amp.
First, I must give my impression as objectively as possible: this thing is absolutely brilliant.
It is made for Gretsch by Victoria. That is an impressive start. But it is the result which matters most and this is a work of art.
One of the first things I noticed was how light this amp is compared to my posture-crushing Fender Blues Deluxe. That in itself is a great bonus. And while I'm on that comparison, I may as well roll with it.
I have been a happy thumper with my Blues Deluxe. I love the warm tone...still with the chime, but also with astonishingly full bass. This is what I wanted for my lower-volume, 'round the house strumming.
The Playboy is a different animal altogether. It is designed and built to let your guitar shine in all its glory, with nothing in the way to muffle or color that tone. If this doesn't particularly mean anything to you, well...just take my word for it: the difference is not in the loudness but in the completeness and the clarity...the Spring-fresh cool aural air.
My Gretsch 6120 sounded great before. It sounds immeasurably more beautiful through the Playboy. The bass is not as full as the Blues Deluxe, but I don't know many amps that match that. And, again, we're talking 15W here. This thing is made to sing out. It's voice fills the room more, without being louder. Every note in every chord chimes clearly. Harmonics ring out nearly as loudly and clearly as fully fretted chords. Nothing is lost.
And pedals sound fantastic with this amp.
It has an all-tube tremolo which brings a smile to the face. Tone controls are smooth and effective. But this amp is not about features or specs. This thing is about sound, and lots of it.
Pure. Crystal clear. Transparent. Sweet. Scream and growl.
The Gretsch amps are expensive compared to standard, ordinary amps. Guess what: these ain't no ordinary amps. It's interesting that we sometimes pay a lot of money for a guitar, but tend to find the cheaper way out when it comes to an amp.
This is a masterpiece, as is its bigger brother, the 20W Executive. If you are considering a good amp, much less a boutique amp, you need to look for these things. I've played through numerous boutiques. These amps are at the top.
