Gretsch Exterminator 15R Combo

This amp was made sometime in the mid 80's. Nowhere does it state on the amp who made it, other than the Exterminator 15R name, but I remember locating some evidence doing web searches a few years ago suggesting it was imported or distributed by Gretch. A small solid state, single 8" speaker, 15 watt Korean made unit with reverb.
I bought this amp at a discount store for about $69.00 as a practice amp. It is a single channel with volume, overdrive switch, treble, mid, bass, reverb and master volume, in that order. Also has a headphone and footswitch jack for the reverb only on the back.
One great feature it that it runs on 12 volts DC and uses an external 12 volt power supply. This means it can be so portable as to run off a car socket power supply when camping or playing outdoors.
This amp is somewhat remarkable in sound also; it has the best two spring reverb unit I've ever heard on a practice amp. Very rich and deep like a Fender so it can get twangy as used for special surf type sounds.
It is great for clean sound way beyond what you would think and I wanted to let other player know if they ever find one. The 15 watts is quite loud actually and can be used with a band is practice size rooms.
The only limitation I did not care for was that the footswitch only controlled reverb. I have now modified it to use a double foot switch and it can turn the OD on and off as well as reverb. This is great because the overdrive is just enough louder, about 6 or 8 DB, to make it as useful as a two channel amp. I would give it a nine or ten rating with this mod. It was simple because the jack inside already had a stereo type jack so the tip is reverb now and the ring is OD,

I use either a Heritage 535 semi-hollow body or an Ibanez Roadstar. With humbuckers it stays pretty free of noise, but with single coils it can be quite noisy. It it fairly noisy compared to name brands as might be expected but it not noticeable when playing.
As I noted above this amp is great sounding and seems to have even mellowed with age like some tube amps. The tone controls really work great. I have never heard a better sounding solid state amp and it may have to do with the DC power. Like Brian Mays old "Deacy" sounding battery amp this seems to affect the quality of distortion. The overdrive is unusual for a small, cheap amp - sounds very tube like and goes from jazz to blues OD to classic or heavy metal. Being a single channel you can use the volume and master to get a variety of overdrive and then get even more heavy distortion by turning on the OD switch. But you can also use the amp clean with the master set higher and still get a great tube type lead sound with the OD switch engaged.

It seems very reliable and has a fairly heavy but cheap covering of black tolex-like material. It looks fairly good but would always be taken as a cheap amp. One weakness is the floor power adapter plugs straight into the back panel and can be easily yanked out or hurt if the amp falls backward. I screwed a wing nut type angle bracket in the bottom of the amp to secure the floor supply when traveling or if I just did not use all the power line, I can leave the adapter inside.
I would not use it as a gig amp except in small places with a back up.
It can be a great recording amp however, quite versatile.

Unknown. As I stated there is no company name on the amp and I got it with no manual.

This is one instance where an almost unknown, cheap amp has a circuit that is remarkable. I don't know if anyone has any info out there but I would definitely find another or try to replace this if it broke. I love the overdrive - it sounds more tube that many amps that try to create the sound and they were not even trying to do so.
I have played for 35 years and have several other amps for gigs, like a Roland JC-77 and Crate Turbo Valve, but this one is great for home and recording. Great clean sound and useful OD. The reverb is great also and could wipe out any current practice amps made.
The only limitation was not being able to footswitch the OD but now that I have made that possible this amp certainly gets a nine.
I recommend keeping an eye out for one of these but I have never seen another.