NAD - Fender "Pawn Shop" Greta

[River]

I didn't even know these existed until less than two weeks ago, when Joeydego brought them up. Well, I'd seen photos of the larger Excelsior, but didn't know it was part of a "line" along with this little gal, Greta:



Cute, stylin', two tubes, volume, tone, 2w RMS (at 45% THD ), line and speaker out, aux in.

Heavier than it looks (9 pounds), 'cause it's built like a brick shit house (metal and wood, NOT plastic). If I dropped it on the hardwood floor, it'd dent the floor and bounce. The grille is heavy wire mesh. The lighted Captain Nemo-style VU meter is just too cool for school. Sturdy enough for shipboard use, and then some.



So, how does it sound? I'm not exaggerating when I say my expectations were greatly exceeded. The little 4" speaker is boxy, but hardly in a bad way. More like a falling-down, rotten-floored juke-joint way. I've no real experience with a Pignose myself, but from what I've heard on street corners and in nasty bars in the deep south, Greta'd feel right at home. Cleans at vocal accompaniment volumes ain't happenin', but the probably-needs-a-shower tones are delicious. What headroom there is comes from cranking the amp volume and backing way off the guitar's. If you're after a full range of Blues/R&R/Hard Rock distortion at low-moderate volume, it's all there.

But wait, there's more!

Plugged into a Weber Vintage 10", all boxiness is gone, the clean-with-hair headroom is more than I need except maybe with an out-of-control drummer (which really surprises me, given that 45% THD rating), and all the nasty-yet-creamy distortion I'll ever need is right there with a twist of a guitar knob or hard dig with the pick.

Fender Greta | Sweetwater.com

For me, it's not a novelty item - it fills two niches in terms of volume and portability. Not bad for $200. I'm going to try it running into my Fender's power amp next, then try to get some sound clips together for y'all.

[Joeydego]

I'm fundamentally against going into debt for gear while I'm ALREADY IN zero interest debt, but after a few soundclips I heard its just a matter of time before I make the call. Mark my words, pawn shop amps WILL be collectors items some day. I've already got the bigger one on order.

[hipofutura]

Riv, that is so cool! I think Fender hit it out of the park with that design.

Petty good chance table top amps are here to stay. That's why I'm converting an old radio into one.

But I have to confess. You're about the last guy I would have guessed to buy one!

[River]

I didn't, Don. It's actually an iPod amplifier for Riverette.

[geochem1st]

I'll wait until the clips from that little beast put through the Fender get posted. Love the styling.

[River]

Originally Posted by geochem1st

I'll wait until the clips from that little beast put through the Fender get posted. Love the styling.

Just tried it, and it's oh, so rich. But even with the Fender on 12.5w, it's not going to do nasty dirt until somewhere around the threshold of pain, I don't think. Definitely have to wait until Riverette goes shopping or something.

[Cygnus X1]

Very cool looking!

Like Don I have been exploring this venue.
Did one already and the owner is very happy with it.

I've been buying the coolest looking old radios I can find to continue.

[AngryHatter]

I freaking hate you, man.
HATE.
That looks TOO cool. I can see using it to drive something else, like a pre amp would. I HATE you.

[Joeydego]

I'd actually love to buy one and relic it. Replace the grill with wire mesh, soak all the exterior metal in salt water for a few days etc.

[Rhust]

F clean headroom, how nasty does it get?

[adamajah]

Congrats and nice review!

[River]

Originally Posted by Rhust

F clean headroom, how nasty does it get?

Very nasty. I'll fix y'all up with a raw, 4" speaker, nasty clip as soon as I can. In that mode, it's quite a challenge to get humbuckers to clean up. Teles and P-90s are more flexible.

Joey - the grille is wire mesh already. There's nothing fragile about it, that's for sure.

Don, this is why River needs a table amp:



The coolest place to sit in the summer isn't big enough for much else.

[Joeydego]

Originally Posted by River

Very nasty. I'll fix y'all up with a raw, 4" speaker, nasty clip as soon as I can. In that mode, it's quite a challenge to get humbuckers to clean up. Teles and P-90s are more flexible.

Joey - the grille is wire mesh already. There's nothing fragile about it, that's for sure.

Don, this is why River needs a table amp:



The coolest place to sit in the summer isn't big enough for much else.

That just looks like "hey, you'd rather be here than at work".

[Rhust]

nice dude! thanks for the review, and in advance for the amp clip! I've wanted one of these to go on my desk, and then carry to the 2x12 for some lower wattage cranking...

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm really lusting after one of the Pawnshop amps.

I mean, really lusting.

Thanks for the review, bud. I think I see another trip to GC in the next few days.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by Joeydego

I'd actually love to buy one and relic it. Replace the grill with wire mesh, soak all the exterior metal in salt water for a few days etc.

Stop. Just put it on the roof of a tenement in Bed Sty and it'll be covered in pigeon shit and looked better than any "relic" job known to man.

[AngryHatter]

Needs a handle on top, though...wait, maybe it'd rattle too much?

[hipofutura]

Originally Posted by River

Riv, I am anything but a photography buff, but that picture is trophy class! The lighting and the harmonious colors are amazing! That should be in a photo contest.

[Joeydego]

Originally Posted by AngryHatter

Stop. Just put it on the roof of a tenement in Bed Sty and it'll be covered in pigeon shit and looked better than any "relic" job known to man.

[Iron Broadsword]

Grats!! The Greta's awesome eh? I played one at a Fender presentation and I was really impressed. Great tone, and when you slap it into a 4x12 or another amp it just gets downright buttkickin'.

[Tim Plains]

Very cool, River.

[LeftyF2003]

I - must - not - look - at - this - amp!

[kingedb]

It certainly is cool!! I didn't know it was a combo. All this time I thought it was a head. It's even cooler now.

HNAD!

[geochem1st]

Originally Posted by AngryHatter

Needs a handle on top, though...wait, maybe it'd rattle too much?

That's a great idea. I could see a heavy tooled short leather hand strap thats riveted to the case.

[River]

Greta perched on the bathroom sink (for semi-isolation) with an SM-57:

SoundClick artist: River Bottom Blues Band - page with MP3 music downloads

[chrisuk]

Very nice acquisition River, very nice.

[Thumpalumpacus]

[River]

I like Thump's idea, but folding so she'll still fit in a suitcase.

Cleaned up, everything the same except the guitar volume and pick attack:

SoundClick artist: River Bottom Blues Band - page with MP3 music downloads

[12watt]

That's a very cool amp indeed. I am still not convinced by the logo - it doesn't quite gel with the overall style. I think it looks more like the type on the cover of 70's romantic fiction.

Sounds nasty - in a good way.

[River]

Originally Posted by 12watt

That's a very cool amp indeed. I am still not convinced by the logo - it doesn't quite gel with the overall style. I think it looks more like the type on the cover of 70's romantic fiction.

Reminds me of a sailor's tattoo.

I'd prefer it in seafoam green, like the upholstery on an old diner stool.