Gretsch relic jet experiences?

[Melj]

I'm on a bit of a Gretsch kick at the moment. I recently acquired a white penguin that was just exactly the guitar I was looking for. it rings like a bell acoustically - albeit a banjo-esque bell and plugged in sounds great

Annyway, my local joint has one of the relic Duo jets in stock. These are from the custom shop and appear to be extremely well made. The guitar is lightweight; well balanced; plays like a dream; has top class hardware - SD dynasonics, genuine Bigsby etc - and looks fantastic. The neck is excellent as well. Unfortunately...it seems to be pretty dead. It sounds good plugged in - smooth, warm, twangy and rocks up pretty well. Unplugged though, it just doesn't have the zing of the penguin. It doesn't ring out the same way.

I wonder whether this acoustic difference is really that big a deal?

Maybe putting a space control bridge on rather than the rocking bar would help bring out that zing.

Or maybe I'm trying to rationalise a purchase that is based on looks and feel rather than the sonics. It's a good guitar, maybe it's just not great...

WWYD? Has anyone else tried one of these, and what was your impression of the guitar?


:BEER

[74vibrolux]

I'd ask some of the boys at the gretschpages forum. From what I recall, they general consensus is the relics just aren't worth the cost. Unless you just absolutely love the looks, I would think the 6128tds could get you the exact same tone for considerably less.

Congrats on the Penguin! I love those things. I was really thinking of getting one until I found my current Duo Jet.

[Waxhead]

Originally Posted by Melj

I'm on a bit of a Gretsch kick at the moment. I recently acquired a white penguin that was just exactly the guitar I was looking for. it rings like a bell acoustically - albeit a banjo-esque bell and plugged in sounds great

Annyway, my local joint has one of the relic Duo jets in stock. These are from the custom shop and appear to be extremely well made. The guitar is lightweight; well balanced; plays like a dream; has top class hardware - SD dynasonics, genuine Bigsby etc - and looks fantastic. The neck is excellent as well. Unfortunately...it seems to be pretty dead. It sounds good plugged in - smooth, warm, twangy and rocks up pretty well. Unplugged though, it just doesn't have the zing of the penguin. It doesn't ring out the same way.

I wonder whether this acoustic difference is really that big a deal?

Maybe putting a space control bridge on rather than the rocking bar would help bring out that zing.

Or maybe I'm trying to rationalise a purchase that is based on looks and feel rather than the sonics. It's a good guitar, maybe it's just not great...

WWYD? Has anyone else tried one of these, and what was your impression of the guitar?

:BEER

Melj - coupla things

Are you gonna play this Jet plugged or unplugged. Probably plugged I'd say - so who cares what it sounds like unplugged.

The 2 guitars have different internal construction and chambering which would account for any playing differences unplugged.

If you research on the Gretsch pages you'll see that their was some variability in the quality of some Gretsch guitars in some periods when the the company had a few problems. The time periods and the guitars where quality dropped was variable and it only applied to some individual guitars in a few models. To find out if your guitar is maybe one of those you'd have to ask on the Gretsch Pages quoting the exact details of your guitar. That still won't tell you if this Jet is a dud.

The best way to do that is to compare this Jet with a current model one thru the same amp. The post 2000 Jets are fabulous.

[95strat]

I'm with Waxhead. It doesn't really matter what an electric sounds like unplugged because that's not how it supposed to be played anyway. If it sounds great plugged in then that's all you need. Some folks get wrapped up in the "does it have resonance unplugged" thing and that's just a waste....electrics aren't built for that purpose.

[dk_ace]

While the unplugged tone often says a lot about the plugged in tone of the guitar, in the case your describing it doesn't seem to play out that way. If it sounds good plugged in and your happy with the current electronics, I say forget about the unplugged tone.

As to whether or not the relics are worth the price, that's a call you have to make.

D

[rsdean]

My US Custom Shop Relic Duo Jet is the best guitar I have every played - the Duncan pickups take you back 50 years and the build, finish and playability by Stephen Stern is incredible...

[Melj]

Originally Posted by rsdean

My US Custom Shop Relic Duo Jet is the best guitar I have every played - the Duncan pickups take you back 50 years and the build, finish and playability by Stephen Stern is incredible...

Excellent, nice case too!

How many pieces is the back on yours? Looking at the body edges on the local one it seems to be 3 pieces.

[Melj]

Thanks to all for your comments, much appreciated.

I'll go back down to the shop next week and give it another go.

Cheers,

Mel

[PedalFreak]

If it was me, unless I was getting a really good price, I'd try to find a vintage one. That's just me though

[rsdean]

How many pieces is the back on yours? Looking at the body edges on the local one it seems to be 3 pieces.

Mine is two pieces - here's a close-up shot of the front and back...

[Melj]

That's actually a lot less reliced on the back than the one I was looking at...it's got an enormous patch on missing finish in the middle.

As to price, it's going for much less than a vintage model...