Gretsch electromatic Pro Jet

[TelZilla]

Like This here

Just another in the million candidates to satisfy my jones for something LPish but super cheap (Currently led by the Hagstrom Super Swede, which has mojo for days and a really cool name to boot.

Anyway, does anybody have the Electromatic Pro Jet? I'm interested specifically in a couple of things:

• fit,finish, build quality
• Electronics (I assume these pups are standard mini-bucker sized)
• tone (specifically, does this thing straddle the fence between a hollow gretsch and an LP? I would like to be able to get close to the beano era clapton tone)

[chet]

Sam Ash has them cheaper than that. They're pretty good for the money- well made and ready to rock right from the get-go.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

Sam Ash has them cheaper than that. They're pretty good for the money- well made and ready to rock right from the get-go.

Thanks, Chet.

Do you have one? What's the neck profile like? I'm hoping for a 50's LP style, but that doesn't seem very popular.

Also, how would you describe the tone compared to a standdard LP or a tele or an ES-355.

[chet]

I'll try to compare them this weekend and post as I do it.

I have the trapeze tailpiece model. I wish it had the Bigsby. Mine is pictured in a thread within the last few pages. I paid under $300.00 for mine but have seen the Bigsy model around too although not as cheap.

[Rumble]

I used to have a black one with a Bigsby. I liked it a lot, very cool guitar. However, I never thought it sounded like a Les Paul. It has it's own vibe, but if you were only looking at two ends of a spectrum with Fender on one side and Gibson on the other, it would be more like the Gibson than the Fender. Try one out; it's got a pretty thick, gritty sound.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by Rumble

I used to have a black one with a Bigsby. I liked it a lot, very cool guitar. However, I never thought it sounded like a Les Paul. It has it's own vibe, but if you were only looking at two ends of a spectrum with Fender on one side and Gibson on the other, it would be more like the Gibson than the Fender. Try one out; it's got a pretty thick, gritty sound.

I played one last night at GC. It was used and had a wonky tuner (installed kinda crooked), so I'd never buy it. Also had a loose jack. But it was good enough to test the neck and the Pups.

I liked it a lot, actually. I thought the neck was sufficiently chunky. I hate the weenie strings they have on the guits in shops usually (I've been using 11's for a while), and this was no exception, but it played well. No buzzes, frets seemed pretty good, nothing poked me or anything.

And I really liked the pups- sounded great for some of the open G stonesy kinda stuff I dig. They seemed sorta filtertronish. I'm not sure they get me far enough to the really warm, thick PAF tone. I already have a Tele with a Fralin Blues in the bridge and a P-90 at the neck- so I can get close to some of these tones any way.

I need to do a good A/B with a real LP, but I didn't have the time to do it last night.
Another thing that holds me back is the size of the pups. It seems like I'd be pretty limited if I fell out of love with them. It's not like I could just drop in a set of burstbuckers or pearly gates.

But I have always dug the DuoJet Mojo. I really just need one of everything.

[chet]

Reality check needed: The Pro Jet cannot really compare with a Gibson Les Paul.

There's a reason why the Gibson costs more than 2 grand new. No need for me to try to fool you. If you want a Gibson Les Paul then you have to pay the price.


The Pro Jet is cool for what it is: a well made low cost rock guitar.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

Reality check needed: The Pro Jet cannot really compare with a Gibson Les Paul.

There's a reason why the Gibson costs more than 2 grand new. No need for me to try to fool you. If you want a Gibson Les Paul then you have to pay the price.


The Pro Jet is cool for what it is: a well made low cost rock guitar.

Oh yeah, I know that. I guess I should say I want to see if it sounds more or less like a Les paul than some of the other candidates (Epi LP, Asian Hamer, Hagstrom Super Swede, etc.). I have a feeling the Pro Jet has a sound all it's own, not necessisarily a bad thing.

[chet]

I got some great Les Paul tones from a Epi I had a few years ago.

The Gibson is the only real deal. American made by craftsmen who have been doin' it for years. The others are all made by newbies in Eastern countries.

[Skully]

Yeah. Figuring out how to make those magnets in the pickups work must be a daunting challenge.

[chet]

Let's see you do it then.

[TelZilla]

Chjet, any chance to try stuff out this weekend?

[chet]

I'll do it tonight. Got busy playing the Gretsches and the Vox.

You just want a opinion of the sound of each? I have SD Seth Lovers in my LP.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

I'll do it tonight. Got busy playing the Gretsches and the Vox.

You just want a opinion of the sound of each? I have SD Seth Lovers in my LP.

Gretcschs and a Vox? Now that is an excuse I can understand. Sorry to be a pest.

Yeah, just an opinion similarites, differences between a standard tele bridge sound and the Pro Jet and the Seth Lovers.

[wooderson]

Gretsch doesn't make anything in the budget ($700 and down) range with Filtertrons, do they?

[TelZilla]

They make this:


Gretsch Electromatic Corvette with something called mega'Tron Pups, which I assume are sort of knockoff 'Trons.

I think this is probably something of an acquired taste, but I think it looks cool.

[ghosttour]

Hey TelZilla,

I have the non-Bigsby version of the Pro-Jet and I like it a lot - I had goldtop GAS and this got me close enough. For a $300 guitar I think the fit and finish on mine are pretty good. The electronics are kinda cheap so you might want to have those upgraded. I personally found the pickups to be a little weak for my tastes so I got some GFS NYII singlecoils and I love it!


The Pro Jet is single-coil so that's one strike against it sounding like an LP right there. I think I remember someone on the TDPRI saying they'd installed the GFS NYIII humbuckers in their Pro Jet - that might get you closer to an LP sound, but as Chet mentioned the Pro Jet is kinda it's own thing. Before I looked at the Pro Jet I was looking at Greco LP copies - you might check those out. The Tokai LP copies are well-regarded, I think.

[teerjerker]

And then there are these Rondo Music guitars...

Agile LP "inspired"
'nother one
and yet another

...starting at $109. I like the Rondo (SX) Bass that I have. Not sure about these LP copies but you can ask around.

Hey Nick, what do you think about that Hagstrom Deluxe-F? I think it's a knockout. I kinda wish I'd never seen this post... I am now dealing with major guitar lust. Maybe it'll pass...

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by teerjerker

And then there are these Rondo Music guitars...

Agile LP "inspired"
'nother one
and yet another

...starting at $109. I like the Rondo (SX) Bass that I have. Not sure about these LP copies but you can ask around.

Hey Nick, what do you think about that Hagstrom Deluxe-F? I think it's a knockout. I kinda wish I'd never seen this post... I am now dealing with major guitar lust. Maybe it'll pass...

Yeah, the Rondos are on the list somewhere (if you do a search, you'll find this is not the first time I've posted about my mahognany set neck double bucker jones.

As far as the Hags, I love this one:


This is still the odds-on favorite. It's got a real cool vintage vibe , a real guitar heritage (Hags were around ibn the 60s-70s, and it's got standard paf sized pups. Plus, I think it's gorgeous.

The rarity of all of these is somewhat frustrating. The neck profile is really important to me (I really like the Gib 50's necks), and I've only been able to try the Gretsch so far.

[wooderson]

That Corvette is pretty nice - Gretsch pages say the Megatron is a 'hot' Filtertron.

[chet]

Originally Posted by ghosttour

Hey TelZilla,

I have the non-Bigsby version of the Pro-Jet and I like it a lot - I had goldtop GAS and this got me close enough. For a $300 guitar I think the fit and finish on mine are pretty good. The electronics are kinda cheap so you might want to have those upgraded. I personally found the pickups to be a little weak for my tastes so I got some GFS NYII singlecoils and I love it!


The Pro Jet is single-coil so that's one strike against it sounding like an LP right there. I think I remember someone on the TDPRI saying they'd installed the GFS NYIII humbuckers in their Pro Jet - that might get you closer to an LP sound, but as Chet mentioned the Pro Jet is kinda it's own thing. Before I looked at the Pro Jet I was looking at Greco LP copies - you might check those out. The Tokai LP copies are well-regarded, I think.

Sorry, but the pickups in the Pro Jet are mini-humbuckers. Look at thier website.

[chet]

Tellezilla: I'd check out the Gretsch Junior Jet II on Musicians Friend for $280.00. That looks like it'd be a great deal. 2 min-humbuckers on it.

Wait a sec- the neck is a bolt-on. Disregard!


Still haven't had a chance to play mine on the Vox yet. Maybe tonight.

[getbent]

I think the Dearmond M77T can be had for what the OP first guitar was listed at... used.

I have one... It is gretschy but has some good Les Paulness to it... and I think it is built really well with the Dearmond licensed bigsby to boot.

I see them on the bay all the time.

[ghosttour]

Originally Posted by chet

Sorry, but the pickups in the Pro Jet are mini-humbuckers. Look at thier website.

Huh, you're right. How did I miss that?!?

[chet]

Just ran the two guitars through some paces with my Vox AC-15.

The Les Paul Seth Lover pickups are a lot hotter and brighter than the stock Pro Jets or it might be the wood in the guitars. The maple top on the LP might be partly responsible. Compared to the LP the Pro Jets neck and middle position switch setting are kinda dull. Both guitars play well but I think I'm gonna put 11s on the Pro jet. The neck pickup might need to be raised a bit too.

The Les Paul was made to be played through the Vox AC-15 for hot lead playing. Whew! I played a few Led Zep riffs through them and they sounded pretty awesome together.

The Pro Jet could be a cheap guitar to take to jams and gigs where you wouldn't worry too much about it being stolen or dinged up but sonically it can't compare to a guitar like the '50 RI Les Paul. I have the Amber finish LP.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

Just ran the two guitars through some paces with my Vox AC-15.

The Les Paul Seth Lover pickups are a lot hotter and brighter than the stock Pro Jets or it might be the wood in the guitars. The maple top on the LP might be partly responsible. Compared to the LP the Pro Jets neck and middle position switch setting are kinda dull. Both guitars play well but I think I'm gonna put 11s on the Pro jet. The neck pickup might need to be raised a bit too.

The Les Paul was made to be played through the Vox AC-15 for hot lead playing. Whew! I played a few Led Zep riffs through them and they sounded pretty awesome together.

The Pro Jet could be a cheap guitar to take to jams and gigs where you wouldn't worry too much about it being stolen or dinged up but sonically it can't compare to a guitar like the '50 RI Les Paul. I have the Amber finish LP.

Thanks, Chet. That's helpful.

I know there's no such thing as a free lunch, but that doesn't keep me from looking for one.

BTW, I tried a Corvette and was really impressed. Not like a Les Paul at all, but that guitar had a lot of personality. Great for Rockabilly and grungy 60's garage rock tones.

I also tried an Epi LP. Obviously closest in sound to an LP, but I wish it had a beefier neck (or that they offered it as an option).

[chet]

The PUs in my Epi LP were pretty bad. I put SD '59s in it. The finish on them is pretty cheap looking also. It did sound pretty good with the PU upgrade. Guys on the street used to yell and clap when they heard me practice with it but like the Pro Jet it is what it is.

I like the Pro Jet as a little rockabilly guitar. Which is what I bought it for. Not to compete with the Les Paul. A pickup upgrade might not be a bad idea on this little axe also.

I was thinking of selling the LP but now that I've heard it with the Vox I think I'll keep it. The Lp would probably cost around $2500.00 with the pickups installed right now.

[chet]

I used the Pro Jet last night as I was trying to refresh my memory on a couple of Scotty Moore licks from Elvis songs. I like the bridge pickup and it performs this style very well. The guitar plays better with 11s also.
The problem is the neck pickup which is "muddy"- that's a good word to describe the tone. Maybe if I just raise it up a little but I don't know if you can with these pickups.

[chet]

Originally Posted by TelZilla

Thanks, Chet. That's helpful.

I know there's no such thing as a free lunch, but that doesn't keep me from looking for one.

BTW, I tried a Corvette and was really impressed. Not like a Les Paul at all, but that guitar had a lot of personality. Great for Rockabilly and grungy 60's garage rock tones.

I also tried an Epi LP. Obviously closest in sound to an LP, but I wish it had a beefier neck (or that they offered it as an option).

Yeah, I wouldn't A & B these guitars like I did. It's not fair to the Pro Jet which costs 1/10th of what the LP does. A neck pickup upgrade may be all this guitar really needs.

[chet]

I was curious about what would happen if I raised the neck pickup cause it just seemed not to be as loud as the bridge pu. So I raised it up an inch so it was about as loud as the other pu.
That did the trick. The guitar is very playable and I don't think it needs a replacement pickup(s).
Now it's a very nice affordable lead and rhythmn guitar. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a parent looking for a starter guitar or even a main guitar. Look at the Gretsch website. A lot of people are using it for gigs.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

I was curious about what would happen if I raised the neck pickup cause it just seemed not to be as loud as the bridge pu. So I raised it up an inch so it was about as loud as the other pu.
That did the trick. The guitar is very playable and I don't think it needs a replacement pickup(s).
Now it's a very nice affordable lead and rhythmn guitar. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a parent looking for a starter guitar or even a main guitar. Look at the Gretsch website. A lot of people are using it for gigs.

An inch! Wow, it must have been really low

[chet]

Hey, you asked what we thought about it. It's a damn good guitar for what I paid for it. You just have to find out what works best with it.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

Hey, you asked what we thought about it. It's a damn good guitar for what I paid for it. You just have to find out what works best with it.

What did I say?

[chet]

Thought you were being facetious.

[chet]

I wouldn't mind having a black one with the Bigsby.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by chet

I wouldn't mind having a black one with the Bigsby.

Hey, no worries. I dig the black ones, but I really dig the silver. That just seems like the color of a duo jet to me. And I like my bigsby too (got one on my #1- in the Avatar). I use it pretty sparingly, and you wont be playing eruption with it, but I've not experienced the tuning problems some people desc ribe.

[chet]

They're cheap enough that I might get a black one and a silver one. LOL