digging into the notes enlivens the amp
with harmonics and texture, and gives you
extra edge when you want it. I found the
dynamic range impressive, given that the
Bassman’s volume was relatively low at just
about 3. 5. But I could still feel and hear the
tubes flirting with saturation that’s more
common in, say, a Princeton.
Cornering the Sixty 3 in the 3 o’clock
range makes the pedal and amp an entirely
different monster. At these less-than-deli-cate settings, the Bassman—which had so
readily posed as a civilized, if rowdy blackface combo—turned into an enormous,
kiln-fired ’70s beast. The volume difference
between straight and boosted signals at
these settings is considerable, and it’s probably most practical if you’re inclined to leave
the pedal on all the time, or if you’re working in a Pixies or Nirvana quiet-to-loud
context. Otherwise the volume difference
can make switching between the two modes
a bit difficult to work with.
With a ’ 65 Twin Reverb reissue and
Telecaster on opposite ends of the signal
chain, the Sixty 3 has a very different
RATINGS
Pros: Lots of tone variation for such a simple pedal.
Impressive build quality.
Gtr Wrks, 19 Sixty 3 Boost, $165 (street), gtrwrks.com
Cons: Slightly pricey for what you get.
Tones
Ease of Use
Build
Value
character. The Twin doesn’t really break up
until the boost is nearly maxed and the amp’s
volume was near deafening. If you’re looking for a little more grit from a high-power,
high-headroom amp, you’re really better
off using an overdrive. And you definitely
shouldn’t expect the Sixty 3 to act as a secondary high-gain channel in these settings.
On the other hand, the Sixty 3 adds a
discernable and really interesting personality to the Twin that sacrifices little of the
Twin’s tonal clarity, but adds a confident
presence—especially at lower volumes.
What’s more, any pedals I ran inline took
on a distinctly stronger version of their own
identity—fuzzes had a sharper sting, phasers a more robust swirl, and delays trailed
with a little more definition.
The Verdict
Glamorous they ain’t. But a boost pedal
is a valuable tool that every player should
consider. And they don’t come much better
than the Gtr Wrks 19 Sixty 3. It can be used
to add a touch of breakup in a small amp
without adding too much color, increase
volume, or simply liven up some tired pedals or pickups. It can also add dimension to
a high-headroom amp—nice when you’re
forced to play a bigger amp at lower volume or if you’re looking for Gilmour-style,
larger-than-life clean tones. The $165 price
tag might seem a bit much for a pedal that’s
so outwardly simple. But the 19 Sixty 3 is
much more than the sum of its parts, and
it just might send you on a second honeymoon with your favorite amplifier.
