Gretsch Loves VOX

[Nickcha]

This may be old hat to some of you guys, but being a new Gretsch owner I just found out how much my new Setzer likes my '61 AC30.

I guess there's about as much misguided myth floating around about Gretsches as there is about AC30s. Outside these circles most people refer to AC30s as Chime machines and Gretsches as twang makers. Well let me tell you, my new 6120 is about as limited to twang and my AC30s are limited to chime. And these two make serious music together. I just had my first experience playing this thing live with the band and it flat takes command. No whimping out here.


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2001-12/6752/SetzerAtChurch3.JPG

[Jon Silberman]

Agreed but remember Gretsch Loves Tweed and Standel, too. :)

[Nickcha]

I think this Gretsch could go slummin' with a Crate.

[Hipster Dofus]

A friend of mine works for Sweetwater Sound. Just a few days ago he was telling me how good the new Gretsch's sound with the AC30cc.

Do you have any clips!!!!!!???????

[Mark Robinson]

Jim Mogine, while in Midnight Oil, took that combo to the bank for years. Huge great sound, using two AC-30's.

[mrbluetone]

Looks like fun!

[Nickcha]

I must admit, I was holding my breath to see what would happen when we got the Gretsch and VOX together. I was impressed with how misleading the reputations of Gretsches are. You know, most guys comment on the fact that they are "twang guitars". But I found that this 6120 is about as limited to twang as my AC30 is limited to chime. The guitar is very robust and piano-like. It definately takes command in a live band situation, and cuts through all the other levels. The tones (whether bass or treble) are sweet and well rounded; quite full sounding actually. I changed the strings and put on Pyramid 11s (because I had two sets laying around). Apparently this thing loves 'em.

I has that characteristic hollowbody hollow-tone but it's not the least bit scooped out sounding. It handles distortion beautifully w/o getting ratty; and it stays powerfully clean until you slam the front of the amp.
This was what I was hoping for when I got the guitar. So I'm pretty happy with it. Besides...everyone ohhhs and ahhhhs over it - makes the player look good :-)

[57special]

Glad you found out a "magic' combination . Another tip on Gretsches. The Dynasonic pups (especially the originals) sound incredible with most amps, but especially with a basic BF type amp(just about ANY one) and AC30's. Beautiful cleans, cool out of phasey type sounds, and GREAT rock tones. Different than the Filtertrons.

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Great news. My 6120JR sounds incredible through both the
Club and King Royales. I get lost for hours in that wall of sound.

Gretsch 6120 & Vox AC30 = magic

[Orren]

I've got a Gretsch Duo Jet that is a dream--and it loves playing angry industrial metal just as much as it loves my THD Flexi-50. :)

Orren

[JohnK24]

Brent Rowan's work with country singer Gary Allan has a ton of Gretsch - Vox tones. The finest is "Smoke Rings in the Dark", add a touch of echo and the lead fills are haunting.

Brent uses a Gretsch on the past 3 Allan albums for nice twang and chimey bigsby chords.

Excellent tone indeed.

JK

[bluesbreaker59]

God that's a nice looking pair! Maybe someday, I can get a 6120, cause that is one beatiful looking combo you got there. Play it hard.:dude

[Nickcha]

Originally posted by bluesbreaker59
God that's a nice looking pair! Maybe someday, I can get a 6120, cause that is one beatiful looking combo you got there. Play it hard.:dude


Thank you for the comments. I just got home from rehearsal and I was using the Gretsch and '61 AC30. MAN! Do they sound awesome together. Of course eveything sounds good through that amp.

Earlier today I was playing the Gretsch through my '67 Plexi 50w and that was dreamy sounding - Big and rich.

[bluesbreaker59]

Watch out using "Big and Rich" together on a "musical oriented" forum, we don't want their fans getting the wrong idea and thinking that those guys actually play "music".

[Nickcha]

Right ;)

[JohnK24]

Originally posted by bluesbreaker59
Watch out using "Big and Rich" together on a "musical oriented" forum, we don't want their fans getting the wrong idea and thinking that those guys actually play "music".

you mean Cowboy Troy ain't real country ?:(

[bluesbreaker59]

Originally posted by JohnK24
you mean Cowboy Troy ain't real country ?:(

SAY IT AIN'T SO, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!:D

[Red Planet]

Man that thing is sweet.

I'd like to hear that combination.


I can almost here the Clean with a little breakup on it sound right now.

[impactblue]

+1 Gretschs dun have anywhere as much twang as ppl think...! I've got a Gretsch Power Jet...and my P90 Goldtop out twangs it by miles hahaha....

I use a reissue AC15 and it can chime, but it can roar when dialed in right...!

[photoguy]

It worked pretty well for the Beatles!

[teleman1]

Totally "BITCHEN"

[KennyM]

I just picked up a Brian Setzer a couple of weeks ago and am loving it with my D13 RSA31 (very Vox). Man, I've been putting this thing on every tune I've tracked since getting it and it just sounds killer. I think I may take this setup down and sit in for a set or two at some friends club gig tomorrow night. What a sound.

[JimmyR]

I've used Gretsches for a few years now - mainly 6120s like the Setzers and now the Rev Horton Heat model. I absolutely love 'em - my main guitar. I used to see a local guy playing 6120s through a Vox and it sounded great. I like them through Badcat amps. My Hotcat's Clean channel sounds very Voxy indeed but with a much tighter and clearer low-end. In fact a friends who plays AC30s said it sounded just like his AC30 but without the low-end fart.

It sounds like an odd combo, but Gretsch and Badcat work together like they were meant for it.

[kovachian]

+1 Gretschs dun have anywhere as much twang as ppl think...! I've got a Gretsch Power Jet...and my P90 Goldtop out twangs it by miles hahaha....

I use a reissue AC15 and it can chime, but it can roar when dialed in right...!
Dude your Gretsch has Powertrons in it, the least twangiest pickups ever conceived by TV Jones. Matter of fact, they're closer to PAFs than any other TV. If those pups were swapped out with something like TV Classics of Magnatrons, you wouldn't be making this post!

[steve_chiro]

Have a White Falcon that I can't find an amp to make it sound right. I'll try an AC30. Thanks!

[rastus]

I love the combo of a Gretsch with Filtertrons into a Vox tube amp-it does not get any better for getting that "hifi-mono" sound that was prevelaent in the sixties.
My dad has used a Gretsch Country Club as his main axe for over 40 years now, with a Standel, and as kid, I dismissed Gretsch guitars as that sound was all I identified them with, I wanted a "rock" sound. I plugged his CC into a 100 watt JMP Marshall at a rehearsal for kicks once. The sound drove me straight out to get my own. I picked up a refinned 65 Nashville at Gruhns for 550.00 I think the year was 86. I used it as a main axe in a very heavy band for years, mostly through a Hiwatt halfstack. GLORIOUS power, tone, and distortion, but when turned down the cleans were pure and transparent. I literally played it to death, just falling apart, finally retired it and went on using Les Pauls.
I then picked up a used Gretsch Japan Jet Firebird-put in the trons from the Nashville, and to this day that Gretsch is one of my "go-to" guitars. It excels through any amp, including my Matchless which is very vox like.
I think these guitars and amps were so connected in peoples minds to the Beatles that most don't realize how versatile and unique they are.

[mad dog]

Another tip on Gretsches. The Dynasonic pups (especially the originals) sound incredible with most amps, but especially with a basic BF type amp(just about ANY one) and AC30's. Beautiful cleans, cool out of phasey type sounds, and GREAT rock tones. Different than the Filtertrons.

+1 on those Dynas. Just got my first Gretsch, a 6121 Roundup (chambered solid body) with dynas. It's a learning curve for me. The Dynas are unlike any other pickup I've tried. Trying different amps now. First with the Clark Tyger (bandmaster tweed), plugged into the Bright channel. Way too much bass, harsh top end. Tried the Normal input ... BIG difference. Wow, some beautiful tones in here!

Another great amp for this guitar is the Twilighter 260 (magnatone). Wish I still had BF amps. thinking this would work really well in a SR or VR.

[wil]

Have a White Falcon that I can't find an amp to make it sound right. I'll try an AC30. Thanks!

Check this out for your white facon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFmKcHnMCyM I don't think that he makes this model any more though. I think that this clip has great Gretsch tone. My brother has a white falcon jr that sounds great thru a tweed deluxe as well. good luck on the amp quest.

[steve_chiro]

Nice.

[Shane S]

One of my favorite combos: Filtertrons & EL84s:AOK

[impactblue]

Dude your Gretsch has Powertrons in it, the least twangiest pickups ever conceived by TV Jones. Matter of fact, they're closer to PAFs than any other TV. If those pups were swapped out with something like TV Classics of Magnatrons, you wouldn't be making this post!
:o Right...! Sorry..!

[audiodrome]

AGREED!

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4015/grestchvoxwn2.jpg

[SG John]

Sweet combination. I've been gassing for a Gretsch for quite a while now. Hopefully in the next year I'll get one. Another great sounding guitar to pair with an AC-30 is a Rick 330. Mine sounds the balls. It's definitely no one trick pony.

[Sniper-V]

I love both my Gretsch Duo Power Jet and all my Vox inspired amps including an AC30HW and coming soon JMJ30.

[SHM]

I use this one with AC30 and AC15. Very nice!http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r90/Madsen_photos/guitarer008.jpg

[playon]

Another rock guy that favored a Gretsch was Randy Bachman.

[Steve Gambrell]

Somebody mentioned "piano-like" tone. My wife, who has learned to ignore guitars since she met me, heard my MIJ 6122 through my Chinese AC30, and thought it sounded like a grand piano! THAT kind of tone! And I've since bought a 5120, and it's right there too! One of the great guitar/amp combos, up there wth Les Pauls and Marshalls, or Strats and Supers!

[talpa]

Love my JMJ30, and was fiddling with the Rhythmeen songs tuned to C. Heard BG used his old Gretsch Bo Diddley on that LP .. pre BillyBo I suppose.

so what could I use these days to get that tone without buying a BB or Diddley - (going thru a Vox/JMJ) ?

i think my JMJ30 could get there with the right Gretsch & correct pedal, although I suspect just a cranked AC30 type amp with some kind of 'Tron pickup would work.

at first i thought it was a P90'd Telecaster making that sound..maybe it is.

any comments ?

[909one]

I've played a Tennessee Rose, a Duo jet and an Anniversary with Dr.Z's Maz 38 and a Stangray. There was in something perfect about Vox sounding amps with Gretsches. I have neither a Gretsch nor a Vox inspired amp right now. That's what GAS does to you. Though a Gretsch with a Tweed Bandmaster is pretty amazing too!

[Fab4ever]

I just last night put a Celestion Blue into my Vox AC15CC1. I had already put some NOS tubes in there as well as a new reverb tank. I also removed the bright cap.

NOW that thing sounds heavenly with my Gretsch 6118T!

[Adman103]

I have a 5120, so not really a big boy Gretsch, but still a great guitar... And I haven't found a NMV amp it hasn't played well with. I have an old 64 Bassman that it just sounds right with. A nice Morgan or Matchless is on the list though. Anyone find an amp their 5/6120 didn't play well with?

[jota]

My Gretsch loves my Pathfinder!

But I'd love to have an AC30...

7QnD1tzaf20

[Gretsch47]

My 6120RHH likes my Swart STR-Tweed but so does my Jazzmaster....it's a twang and tweed thang.

[losergeek]

I think the reason I've never understood the hate for the pickups in the G5122 is because my AC15 is perfectly suited to it.

[bicktrav]

I found the same thing with my Power Jet. I'd owned it for about a year before I got my Morgan AC20 Deluxe, and while it was always great, it was leaps and bounds better through the Morgan (which is, of course, a slightly modified VOX circuit). It really made me feel like Gretschs were just made to be played through a Vox.

[Allbread]

I'm with you on the Vox thing, but my power jet also can't seem to get enough of my /13 CJ11.