Gretsch Recommendatioins???

[Nickcha]

What do you guys think of the new Gretsch Guitars (http://www.gretschguitars.com/), since Fender bought them?

I've never owned one but always been attracted to them. I understand their quality has not always been good - or at least I'm heard that over the years.

I played a nice small dbl cutaway at GC the other day and really liked it. With the TV Jones pups it had a lot of depth as well as the classic twang.

Anyone got exerience with them? Models you like to recommend?

[guitarmook]

Depends on exactly what sound you're looking for... solid-body, semi-hollow, or full hollow...

you might also poke around at

www.gretschpages.com

[sabbath90]

i really really like all of the hollowbody and semi-hollows that gretsch makes. the tenessean which is now called the tennesse rose is probably my favorite, and it's not terribly expensive (around 2k). i've enjoyed every new gretsch i've had the luck to play.

[sanhozay]

I've owned a 6120-1960 RI for almost two years. Great guitar!

They do not come ready to play out of the box and need a bit of set up work, so use a dealer who promise to ship it ready to rock or pay to have it done.

I did refret mine, pin the bridge and swap pickups w/ TV Jones. It's a dream guitar that I really dig. Don't foresee myself selling it - in the near future ;). It's a quirky axe but overall pretty versatile and a fricken boner blaster to play.

[TNJ]

Chris,
I had one of those Blue Pearl Jets too! Great guitar, but needed the tunomatic bridge, and sperzel tuners. I sold it...but now have a Setzer Signature 6120 that I really dig (Bought used, and it already had the fretwork redone).
S.
j

[Nickcha]

I'd be looking for a hollow body.

What should I look for and what should I avoid? I like FAT neck guitars - don't care for slim-fast necks at all. I like a robust but very vocal sounding guitar - not just twangy and not muddy, dark and non-resonant. I use early Fawn JMI AC30s and '67 Plexis.

What bridges are good/reliable - which ones should be avoided?

I'm assuming TV Jones pups are a must.

I usually end up upgrading my guitars with tone caps, pots, pups and bridges. What Gretschs already have the needed upgrades? What are the necessary upgrades if they don't provided them?

The Setzer 6120SSVLO looked pretty good to me.

Thanks for your answers. I know these are a looad of questions but I'm trying to save myself the time and money of going through a couple of these before getting what I really want.

[sanhozay]

The Koll Gliders are pretty tasty dishes, also.

[dan-o-guitar]

In February I bought a Setzer Signature 6120 fresh off the wall at WalMart (er... Guitar Center). It was flawless and perfectly set up from day one. It is now my favorite guitar of all time. Only my Tele comes close.

Really nicely made, plays great, and tons of mojo.

I think my next guitar will be another Gretsch.

[beNsteR]

Nick, i see you have a preference for BIG necks (like me).

Almost all Gretsches (old or reissue) have slim necks, so you might like to keep that in mind.

I used to have a reissue 6120-Nashville. Lovely guitar, looked fantastic, sounded good, but i had to sell it because i couldn't play the neck comfortably (it was ibanez shred guitar thin to me!). I regretted buying that guitar online sight-unseen.

If you like a bigger neck on a rockabilly guitar, i'd suggest looking for and trying a Guild X-160 Rockabilly. Hotrod red or orange finishes, DeArmond single coils and bigsby. They have a rounded neck carve similar to a Gibson 50's shape. These usually cost less than a new reissue Gretsch too.

http://secure.serverlab.net/shop/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=360-8600&Category_Code=GE&Store_Code=D00106

i think Fender has discontinued these after buying Gretsch, the model isn't on the Guild site anymore.

the Kolls look mighty fine too :D

Edit: didn't see Nick's post on BIG necks earlier on

[Jon Silberman]

A Gretsch is a good option but I'm the only one in the world with a Jackie-Jet. ;)

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/682310/1648976/36466653.jpg

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/682310/1648976/36466666.jpg

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/682310/1133497/20089437.jpg

[TNJ]

Nice Jon!
S.
j

Nickcha...TV Jones IS the only way to go, IMO...
:cool:

[sabbath90]

they're really versatile guitars too, despite what most people think. the beatles, chet atkins, ac/dc, and the jesus and mary chain really have nothing in common tonewise but all produced stellar results with those filtertrons and holowbodies.

[forestryguy]

I bought my first Gretsch last year after extensive study of all the features/models. Even after all that, I am still disappointed in what I have.
The model I chose was the G6118T-120, the yellow bamboo/copper mist annie. Absolutely beautiful guitar, wonderful tone from the TV Jones pickups. Lots of cool vibe. But it will not stay in tune. To me, that is a pretty basic function of an instrument at this price point. A half-step bend on string 3 and string 4 goes way flat. Will not return to pitch after slight use of the Bigsby.
I am going in for another setup and adjustment soon. I think the blame is with the cheap-ass Grover sta-tite tuners and the rocking bar bridge. Also I think the pickups are too close to the strings. I really hope a better setup will solve the tuning issue because it otherwise plays, sounds and looks great.
I would suggest looking for a model with better tuners, adjusto-matic bridge and study carefully the confusing array of different switch and pot configurations to get maximum flexibility. Some models are really just one-trick ponies. Also notice that scale length varies from 24.6" to 25.5" depending on model and some artist models are different from that.

[Nickcha]

This Setzer 6120ssvlo (http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/shopping/index.htm) looks pretty good to me. It's nitro finished, locking Sperzel tuners, better bridge, TV Jones pups...

I guess I need to go where there are some of these and just play 'em.

[Eric Pykala]

I've always loved Gretsches; there's just nothing else that sounds like one. Of the current models, I dig the White Falcon the most because...heck, it's a Falcon. The most-playable of the bunch design-wise is the Brian Setzer, as the upgrades to make it a working guitar are already done. My biggest problem is paying PRS money for Oriental construction, no matter how good/bad.
By the way, I think they've taken a cue from Gibson in that their factory "setups" are atrocious, as is the fretwork in a lot of cases. Wonderful buying a brand-new multi-thousand-dollar guitar that needs a fret plane and recrown and a full setup to make it playable out of the box!-Eric

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Recently bought a Country Classic (G. Harrison Model) and a
6120JR. The Country Classic has a big round and full tone
ideal for chord work. The 6120JR is a 6120 with a smaller scale
body and boy does this guitar rock. It has a punchier tighter focus
than the bigger hollowbodies and can give you a Tele twang
to a tight singing lead tone and is also great for chording. I'm
in love with both. The Country Club=traditional beautiful Gretsch,
the 6120JR=the logical evolution for Gretsch.

[WayneM]

I just recently bought a 6120Jr (post Fender change over) and I think it is just great. When Fender took over, they changed the pickups from ceramic to alnico magnets and made a few other changes. This one sounds super and stays in tune!

Most of the junior models have been discontinued by Fender recently. Too bad.

[DestroyAllGuitars]

WayneM,

They just put the 6120JR and one other model, I believe an
AniversaryJR, back into production. I ordered another 6120JR
yesterday and will have it on Tuesday. The info is not on
their website yet, but their sales reps are pushing them.

[Ogre]

Pickups too close to the strings? That will have NO effect on tuning, as far as a Gretsch goes. I would replace your funky bridge with a tune-omatic,(sp?) and put some graphite on the slots in the bridge pieces. If you are stringing the guitar properly, I doubt that the Grovers are at fault.
To the person who thinks "Asian" construction is inferior to USA-made, I strongly suggest a reality check. Many Japanese-made guitars are superior in quality. In my lengthy experience with Gretsch guitars, the Japanese models are vastly superior to the old Gretsch guitars of yore.

[Nickcha]

CliffC

I can't find a pic of the 6120JR. Do you have one you can share?

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Can send you pictures on Monday when I'm back at the
studio. Just email me a reminder.

This is one guitar that truly sounds and plays as good as it looks and it looks incredible.

[rickkane32]

About 6 mos ago I purchased a new Setzer 6120-SSLVO. You cannot go wrong with this one. I was consdering other cheaper models and just upgrading over time, but I really did not feel it was worth the time. No upgrades to make on this guitar at all. PUPS are fantastic, bridge is solid, Sperzel locking tuners, etc.. Oh and did I mention the Vintage Orange is to die for. They even ship the guiatr with Schaller straplocks:) Good luck, hope you get a SSLVO.

rickkane32

[Nickcha]

Originally posted by rickkane32
About 6 mos ago I purchased a new Setzer 6120-SSLVO. You cannot go wrong with this one. I was consdering other cheaper models and just upgrading over time, but I really did not feel it was worth the time. No upgrades to make on this guitar at all. PUPS are fantastic, bridge is solid, Sperzel locking tuners, etc.. Oh and did I mention the Vintage Orange is to die for. They even ship the guiatr with Schaller straplocks:) Good luck, hope you get a SSLVO.

rickkane32



Rick,

What's the neck like. I know Gretsches don't have fat necks but is this one at least a bit thicker than a Gibson Slim profile neck? I can get one of these new w/ case for about $2450. Is that a good deal?

[rickkane32]

I have a 61' Gibson SG and the Gretsch neck is similar in width but the shape of the neck is much more of a V on the Gretsch. I paid $2200 for mine, but there was a very small ding on the face of the headstock and one of the f-holes had some slight warping. For me it was worth saving the dough. $2450 is very reasonable though.

rickkane32

[Nickcha]

Rick,

As I recall, the early SGs had a fairly wide neck, which is fine with me. I have a 335 Dot RI with the '60 profile neck and I have to really pay attention when I'm playing it, not to mash on the chords or pull the neck because it pulls out of tune so easily. That's the kind of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Thanks,
Nick

[DestroyAllGuitars]

The Gretsch necks have a much healthier taper than the early
60's Gibson slim taper. I would say that the new Gretsch's
have a nice rounded medium taper. I played at least a dozen
different current production models and found that there was
a good level of consistency and the few that felt a little off
were easily set straight with the slightest of setup adjustments.

These are top quality front line guitars, not cheap foreign
knock offs by any means. Solid build quality, beautiful
appointments and great tone and playability. I never considered
myself to be a Gretsch style player, but that has all changed
since last week when I went to pick up a Tele and left with
the vintage Tele and 2 new Gretsch guitars.

[Nickcha]

Now Cliff, you stop tempting me ;)

[DestroyAllGuitars]

I don't even get a sales commission!!!!!

I just absolutely fell in love with the Country Classic and the
6120JR and could not decide which to take so they both came
home. The Country Classic for rhythm and the 6120JR for
pickin and soloing.

[Nickcha]

Cliff,

Did you get the 1962 Country Classic or the regular one?

Nick

[DestroyAllGuitars]

The regular one with the neck joint at the 18th fret. Plays like
a dream. Big fat tone with great definition and clarity.

Much better without the zero fret. Makes a world of difference.

[sabbath90]

for $800, those electromatic hollowbodies are neat little guitars. those dearmond 2k pickups really sound nice through a twin. they can get some very nice feedback too.

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Nickcha, I'll have those pics on their way to you tomorrow.
Tuesday the 17th. I will do my best to help throw you deeper
in debt.

[Mcclassic]

Great guitars, seems that have been getting more value on the last couple of years for years they were not getting much but lately they have a little bust, anyway, I have a 1979 blonde country club in near mint condition, it alos have the slim neck, I will maybe sell it to finance something else (due to wife, and a little big collection that I already have). I hate to sell but it may be now a good time for the Gretsch vintage guitars.

By the way I remember when I purchase this one from a friend, the first time I opned the case... wow it really impress.:dude