Do You Like Gretsch Synchromatics?

fontaine · May 24th, 2005, 11:15 PM

Mine is featured in this months 20th Century Guitars.
Jay has better pics than i do.And it's sitting 6 feet to
my right. I better get busy cataloging all this stuff.
I would love to hear about any Synchro owners out
there. Kinda quirky but i love them.

Marc H. · May 24th, 2005, 11:31 PM

I got a used Historic 3155 and I love it. All the classic Gretsch tones for low $$.

Will probably get a test drive at rehearsal tomorrow....

Ben Harmless · May 25th, 2005, 05:32 PM

The "Synchromatic" title seems to get used a little inconsistantly by Gretsch, and from what I've seen, it's been for the lowest end of the line in the last few pre-Fender years, with "Electromatic" being somewhere in the middle.

I've got a Historic Series hollow body that someone identified as "Synchromatic," though it doesn't say that anywhere on it. I personally love the lower-end Gretsches. They're real players axes, for real players. Mine's a virtually flawless insturment, and IMHO every bit equal to a Gibson of similar design, but at a much lower cost.

Truth be told, the pickups that came in mine were total excrement. They were humbucker-sized FilterTron knockoffs. I ripped 'em out and replaced 'em with some Duncan Phat Cats. This thing is taking some serious playing time away from my Tele now.

Crappy picture, but I my apartment's too small to accomidate my cheap, narrow-angle digicam.

fontaine · May 25th, 2005, 08:53 PM

Cool guitar Ben. I think the catseye soundholes are the
best.
My synchro is a 1939 model 200 acoustic with the cats-
eye holes. For such an ancient design and it still holds up
today in great fashion.
I havn't played a model such as yours Ben, but would
really like to. Especially with a good set of pickups!

Geo · May 26th, 2005, 04:48 PM

Never played or owned one but remember seeing a
guitarist with Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers
using one in the '80s. It was a single cutaway archtop
with 2 pickups. The body was about the o/a width
as an ES-175 or 295. I'll guess it was a '50s or maybe
early '60s version. It sounded unique and good for that
style of mostly jump blues.

I've seen some other different looking/style/age
versions with that name tag though including the
non cutaway earlier '30s one like yours Fontaine
and Ben's.

Andy R · May 26th, 2005, 05:55 PM

Hey Fontaine, I used to have a 300 and a 160, both with he killer light bulb headstock. GREAT sounding guitars!

fontaine · May 27th, 2005, 12:58 AM

Why oh why did you get rid of the 300 & 160?! And not
call me first!
I own about 20 guitars. "67" Flying V (real). Strat, Tele,
all the rest are Gretsch. Nutty guitars but i guess that"s
why i love them. Evreysumthin special bout a Synchro
tho!! Yes it is.

May 24th, 2005, 11:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Do You Like Gretsch Synchromatics? Mine is featured in this months 20th Century Guitars. Jay has better pics than i do.And it's sitting 6 feet to my right. I better get busy cataloging all this stuff. I would love to hear about any Synchro owners out there. Kinda quirky but i love them.

May 24th, 2005, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marc H. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 223	Just picked one up.... I got a used Historic 3155 and I love it. All the classic Gretsch tones for low $$. Will probably get a test drive at rehearsal tomorrow.... __________________ "How much more blacker can this be, and the answer is none, none more black."

May 25th, 2005, 05:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,283 6 Photos	The "Synchromatic" title seems to get used a little inconsistantly by Gretsch, and from what I've seen, it's been for the lowest end of the line in the last few pre-Fender years, with "Electromatic" being somewhere in the middle. I've got a Historic Series hollow body that someone identified as "Synchromatic," though it doesn't say that anywhere on it. I personally love the lower-end Gretsches. They're real players axes, for real players. Mine's a virtually flawless insturment, and IMHO every bit equal to a Gibson of similar design, but at a much lower cost. Truth be told, the pickups that came in mine were total excrement. They were humbucker-sized FilterTron knockoffs. I ripped 'em out and replaced 'em with some Duncan Phat Cats. This thing is taking some serious playing time away from my Tele now. Crappy picture, but I my apartment's too small to accomidate my cheap, narrow-angle digicam. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 26th, 2005, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,484 15 Photos	Never played or owned one but remember seeing a guitarist with Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers using one in the '80s. It was a single cutaway archtop with 2 pickups. The body was about the o/a width as an ES-175 or 295. I'll guess it was a '50s or maybe early '60s version. It sounded unique and good for that style of mostly jump blues. I've seen some other different looking/style/age versions with that name tag though including the non cutaway earlier '30s one like yours Fontaine and Ben's. __________________ "Somewhere between culture and agriculture"

May 27th, 2005, 12:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Andy R!! Why oh why did you get rid of the 300 & 160?! And not call me first! I own about 20 guitars. "67" Flying V (real). Strat, Tele, all the rest are Gretsch. Nutty guitars but i guess that"s why i love them. Evreysumthin special bout a Synchro tho!! Yes it is.

May 25th, 2005, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Cool guitar Ben. I think the catseye soundholes are the best. My synchro is a 1939 model 200 acoustic with the cats- eye holes. For such an ancient design and it still holds up today in great fashion. I havn't played a model such as yours Ben, but would really like to. Especially with a good set of pickups!

May 26th, 2005, 05:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Andy R Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nashville Posts: 652 4 Photos	Hey Fontaine, I used to have a 300 and a 160, both with he killer light bulb headstock. GREAT sounding guitars!