I’m debating on a PB or EX, I can get the PB (NOS) and the EX for a little more but used??? I will be using this for home use only and love reverb which the PB does not have…mmmm, but it’s small and won’t take up as much room in the studio…. So my friends, PB (with tube reverb) or EX???? And if the PB any thoughts on reverb????

Can't help you on those two amps... but I can say that I'm really impressed with the way Victoria put together an amp (they made the recent Gretsch high-end amps... so I think they probably manufactured the two amps your considering). I have a Victoria bassman and it's an awesome quality amp.

What sort of difference is there in the price of the two amps you're considering?

Yes Sir Old Picker they are made by Victoria, Playboy is 15w with a 12” and no reverb ($1000 New in the box) Executive will be around $1200-1400 used, 20w 15” with reverb, but bigger than I really want. I spoke with Mark yesterday at Victoria and he wants to build me an amp but that would take up some major $$$$$....lol, I think I would be more than happy with the PB but wondering about reverb???

Here in the UK... we can only dream of those sorts of prices! US amps are waaaaay more expensive over here.

Good luck with your choice.

I think we have the same issue with Marshall.....lol, last time I was in Glasgow i wanted to buy every Marshall I saw and bring it back to Texas....lol

I owned an Executive for a couple of years -- it has fabulous reverb (and tremolo). I sold it only because a Standel 25L15 came into my life and I could not justify (i.e., afford) to have two amps that are so very similar.

The Executive is a wonderful amp!

I've never seen or played a Playboy -- those who have, seem to love them. If you opt for the Playboy, I recommend (VERY highly) a VanAmps Sole Mate reverb. They are expensive (about $285) but well worth it. I made the mistake of buying a Boss FRV-1 pedal for my Standel -- that turned out to be a waste of money (about $130).... limited reverb capabilities and it had a negative impact on the amp's tone.

Given your criteria, it sounds like a Playboy + Sole Mate might be the solution for you!

But it seems to me that the major differences between the amps have little to do with reverb. The Exec. has a 15" speaker, higher wattage, and runs 6v6s (so it might also take 6l6s for more clean headroom if you want). If i were choosing between them, I'd do so on that basis. Then, if you truly prefer (or can better afford) the 15 watt EL84 amp, add the reverb.

Thanks, the problem is I know nothing about tubes, as far as 6v6s, 6I6s, EL84s I am really illiterate about that right now... the only tube amp I have owned and still own is a Marshall S-LX with 12AX7 which I replaced with the help of a friend to make it hotter but that was 15yrs ago….. I just want a great at home tube amp that just sounds awesome whether it be with my 6118-T-120, 6120TM or one of my strats or lps , this all started with me wanting to buy a Playboy….lol,hahaha, that sounds funny

They will both sound awesome with those guitars. Guaranteed. In addition to tonal flavor, the Playboy is significantly easier to lug and the Exec is louder. I'd recommend you find a local shop and try out a Peavey Delta Blues, if they have one. It will give you an idea of the Exec's neighborhood, with a 15" speaker and 6v6s. Then ask what they have in a 15 watt EL84 1x12 combo to compare. These GreTscH amps should sound superior to most you will find. And there are indeed tons more variables beyond speaker size and power tubes. But at least you will have some frame of reference.

The other way to go about it is get an Exec. If it turns out to be too big and/or too loud for you after a year or two of wallowing in its deliciousness, sell it and fund a Playboy purchase with the external verb you want.

Oh, and there's always the option of calling up Mark Baier at Victoria in Chicago, the guy who designed these, and tell him what you are looking for. He's known to be very accessible and helpful. Many of these small boutique builders are. I've spoken with Michael Swart and David Barnes this week, and emailed with Jer who built my de Lisle. So call Mark. He might even offer you a deal. But he'll certainly be helpful.

Classic difference between the two is Fender Princeton/Deluxe (6V6) vs. Vox AC15 (EL84). Smaller Marshalls and the Fender Blues Junior use EL84s too.

Thanks Strummer, I did speak to Mark yesterday and he sounded more than happy to build me an amp but I only have about a grand to spend right now as I just bought the 6118-t-120 over the weekend…. I can pick up the PB at 1G and spend an extra 2 or 300 on a nice reverb that I can use on other amps…. Am I talking myself into just buying the PB…. Mmmm, maybe..lol,,, that fact that the PB is brand new makes me feel a little better too. a nice pic of my new 6118-T with my 6120TM

Purdy gee-tars!!!

I can't imagine you'll regret picking up the Playboy, if you can swing it. You can always move up to an Exec. if you want down the road. These amps should hold a good amount of their value. You shouldn't plan to be able to sell it at what you paid, but you never know, especially given that the Vic-GreTscH partnership is now defunct.

So if you are leaning Playboy, and have one in your sites, don't resist too hard. Never heard anyone not like that amp. I've played them in shops. Sound beautiful for sure.

And if you need to buy time until you can afford an expensive tube reverb unit, consider a used Digitech Digiverb to hold you for a spell. It's digital, but warm. The Church setting is HUGE and the Spring is an amazing emulation. Drippy Drippy Drippy! Picked mine up on Tavo's rec for $20 like new from a GC.

You are sure sounding like a Playboy to me.

If I were in your position (and I have been, since I own an Executive), I think one thing that I would look to is the power of the amplifiers and then ask yourself whether you tend to play clean or with some dirt. The Executive renders very pristine, shimmering highs with a nicely focused bass response, but it is somewhat difficult to get to break up. You can put an overdrive pedal in front of it to achieve some dirt if you play with some, but, if you are playing live and want that native tube breakup, you have to play the amp pretty darn loud to achieve that.

On the other hand, at 15w, the Playboy does break up very nicely at a lower volume. The tradeoff, as you have noted, is that you don't have the native reverb.

Another consideration is the speaker size. With its 12" speaker, the Playboy sounds great. But, there is a certain richness that accompanies the larger 15" speaker in the Executive. You should get down to your local store and play through a 15" speaker and see if you like that.

I am assuming, since you say that you will primarily use this amplifier in your house, that weight is not really a consideration. The Playboy clearly is easier to lug around than the Executive. But, that wouldn't be an issue if it resides all of the time in your house. On the other hand, the Executive is also taller and commands a greater geographical presence in your house than would a Playboy.

I wouldn't give up my Executive, but I would love to have a Playboy for its portability and ease of getting it into overdrive. I would worry about reverb later by buying a pedal.

Maybe i should just get the Playboy and then an Executive later and have both.... I'm just looking for a really clean Chet Atkins / Jerry Reed / bluesy clean sound that’s nice and crisp but yet warm…. mmm , is this tooooo much of a combination!!!!

Yes, both! And one of each for me as well!

A huge +1 to everything Ric12 wrote. But if you want to prioritize "really clean Chet Atkins / Jerry Reed / bluesy clean sound that’s nice and crisp but yet warm" I reverse my prior recommendation. An Exec will give you more of what you are looking for. I think that really nails it. Prioritizing clean (more power and bigger tubes means more clean headroom), the 15" will give you more bottom and thus richness. Both amps will be crisp, I think. So that's a wash. And the Exec. has a very lush vintage reverb like you seek.

If "really clean Chet Atkins" is what you seek, then you should get the Executive. You can get "really clean Chet Atkins" out of the Playboy, but you'll have less volume of it. As you crank up the volume on the Playboy, you will begin to break up and add some dirt to your sound. That is great for a bluesy type of tone, but not really a Chet tone.

If you are playing only at home, where volume is not a concern, then the Playboy is more than adequate and will give you great clean tones.

But, you are correct that the easiest solution is one of each. But, not the most economic solution.

Ok, thanks guys, so for playing at home after work relaxing and playing some Chet It sounds like I would be more than happy with a Playboy, unfortunately I can’t play either one of these amps till I purchase one or the other so I’m really confused about which to get.. I more than likely won’t be jamming that loud while playing Chet but if I run my 60’ CustonShop Strat, SRV or 50th anniversary Strat with CF 54’s a little loud then the PB would start to break-up which would be a good thing… does this sound about right… man this is confusing…..

What I am sensing from your posts is that you would prefer to go the route of the Playboy because it is new. I get that and can't really fault you for it. On the other hand, people pay big money to buy forty-year-old amplifiers and don't seem to have much hesitation in doing so. I would not hesitate to buy a three or four-year-old Executive if the owner has generally maintained it well. If you have to replace a tube when you get it, "oh well." No biggie. You'll have to replace tubes sooner or later anyway.

But, if you want to crank it up and get some dirt, then I think that the Playboy is a good choice.

Also, even though the PB will be clean at bedroom/livingroom volumes, it still won't have the warmth of a 15" speaker. And the 15" speaker in a 3-4 year old Exec. will be broken in. I think a nicely treated Exec. will suit you better, and probably be better value. My guess is by the time you get a tube reverb, the new PB will equal the used Exec. So economically, it's likely to be a wash, or close to it. The downside isn't that the Exec. is used, it's that it is heavier if you are moving it around a lot.

Personally I would not be too concerned about weight, especially if your primary use is at home. I think the Exec. is 50 lbs. -- not sure what the Playboy weighs (40 lbs.???). HEAVY = Big Fenders.

My Standel is close to 60 lbs. When I lug it, I use a dolly -- a collapsible/fold-up light weight unit I found at Home Depot for about $20-30.....

I agree with suggestions by Ric12string & Strummerson to road test some quality amps with 12" & 15" speakers... Personally, I like 15" speakers (I play finger-style, Chet-type music mostly).

At home use only?

I own an EX and love it but for home use only I would definitely opt for the PB. That is just me though I guess.

In fact, someday I may look for a PB for at home and exclusively use the EX for gigs.

I have a PB and just bought an EX! I use a RE20 which has a nice reverb and a super slap back, Mel Waldorf has one for sale right now. The PB has a great tone more on the treble side and I am looking forward to more bass response from the 15 and big bottle tubes. The PB does break up like at half volume, and it is very touch sensitive. You play gently and it is clean and when you attack it goes crunch! Very cool!! I cant wait till I get my EX, I am very excited!!!

Any thoughts on the Victoria Rebal II.... look very versatile, but will it do “Chet” clean

The Regal II is no shimmering Chet machine; I have one. It's clean quite long, but dark and class A blues like.

An Executive has more chime. Your best bet.

The Playboy has less Chettish specs; more of a crankenrocker.

Geoff, Thanks for the input....since you have one!! How versatile would the Rebal II be for this combination of music with these guitars???

Love to play Chet Atkins, to SRV to Brad Paisley style riffs….

Here is a list of the guitars I use: Gretsch 6118-T-120 Gretsch 6120-TM 60’ Historic LP 60’ Closet classic Relic 2004 50th anniversary Strat with 54’ CF pus 2009 SRV Strat 1989 Fat Strat (HSS) 1887 Strat Plus (lace sensors)