Do Any of you Tele Players Chickin' Pick a Gretsch Also?

billys · August 22nd, 2005, 05:20 PM

I don't have a gretsch...want one....it seems to me with the tone that they would lend themselves to chickin pickin? Any recordings out there I might check out?

Thanks

WickedGTR · August 22nd, 2005, 05:44 PM

Sorry.

Poppatwang · August 22nd, 2005, 11:30 PM

in Bamboo yellow! Does all kinds of cool sounds, but
lacks true Tele authority on the low E.
Serves up plenty of extra crispy chicken otherwise.

mk · August 22nd, 2005, 11:44 PM

Not currently, though I had an early '60s Annie for a while. I've had several old Guilds, though, and this one is currently getting more playing time than my teles, which are both in parts for various reasons:

http://www.fenderforum.com/userphoto...ml?recid=19940

The short answer to your question, though, is definitely![/url]

andrew · August 23rd, 2005, 02:21 AM

I don't have a Gretsch, but I want a pup in my tele from a Gretsch. :D

Tenbender · August 23rd, 2005, 02:53 AM

Yep, a 1958 Gretsch Firebird

olewichita · August 23rd, 2005, 03:09 AM

i have a 55/56 duo-jet... tj

Blazer · August 23rd, 2005, 07:47 AM

I used a Gretsch electromatic Malcom Young Jet Firebird (the two pickup version) to record the crunch sounds on the album "We said it first we are the Worst" I didn't keep it for long though, the long neck joint hindered my soloing abilities.

And I currently am using a Jazzmaster with Gretsch TV Jones Pickups as my main axe.

KuuKOO · August 23rd, 2005, 09:03 AM

As I said in another thread, I just sold my 120th Anniversary. It was a solid guitar but as it was just post-FMIC, there were a few "transition" features that didn't quite wow me. Bad switches and a heavy top for one.

As for chicken-pickin, the filtertrons are a little dark for my taste-- but if you like a little "Rawk" with your country then they might do the trick.

KK

Mike D. · August 23rd, 2005, 10:06 AM

A Gretsch Sparkle Jet. I find that this guitar is much more in the Les Paul camp than a Tele. I like it for songs that call for a humbucker guitar. I also find the bridge to be very uncomfortable. There is a very sharp edge that protrudes from the point where the palm of my hand normally rests. The guitar has plenty of vibe and attitude but I don't reach for it as often as I should and it really doesn't twang well at all.

[/url]

mk · August 23rd, 2005, 10:25 AM

olewichita, how do you like that Duo? I've played a lot of archtops and have a couple of great ones, but a '50s Duo-Jet with Dynas is very intriguing to me....

Blazer · August 23rd, 2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D.

A Gretsch Sparkle Jet. I find that this guitar is much more in the Les Paul camp than a Tele. I like it for songs that call for a humbucker guitar. I also find the bridge to be very uncomfortable. There is a very sharp edge that protrudes from the point where the palm of my hand normally rests. The guitar has plenty of vibe and attitude but I don't reach for it as often as I should and it really doesn't twang well at all.

Yup, I recognize those things all too well. If you look closely at my picture of me playing my Malcolm Young you'll see that in an efford to overcome that, I had replaced it's stock bridge with a wrap around tail but that shot my intonation to smithereens.

I Used my Gretsch as my main guitar for overdriven sounds on the CD, because its humbuckers sound brighter than the ones from our leadsinger's Gibson SG, they really cut through the mix.

gtrjones · August 23rd, 2005, 12:22 PM

I hadda sparkle jet w/ the dynasonic single-coils, instead of the filtertrons... I could get a pretty twangy SPLANK out of it, and it growled real well, but eventually, I just couldn't get along with the thin neck...

freshmattyp · August 23rd, 2005, 01:29 PM

My main guitar is a 6118 Anniversary in 2 tone green.

[/img]

bo · August 23rd, 2005, 03:12 PM

I had a 1960 Dbl Annie that insisted on biodegrading. When it was stable and not falling apart it was pretty cool. Not much for chicken pickin', but otherwise good for old country and rockabilly stuff.

Big Smokey · August 23rd, 2005, 04:11 PM

My tele is #2.

kaibu49 · August 23rd, 2005, 04:18 PM

My Hot Rod was my main axe til I got my tele, now the Gretsch barely gets action!

ne4tt · August 23rd, 2005, 06:50 PM

Purdy nice very early Setzer in laquer.

The Bigsby adds to the fun.

'Couse I still loves me some Tele !

jamie

Paul in Colorado · August 24th, 2005, 12:23 AM

I was never a Gretsch guy. I liked 'em, but I never bonded with them. Then a few years ago I got on a Buffalo Springfield kick and HAD to get THAT sound. I checked out some vintage guitars, but finally settled on a used '97 6120-60.

The previous owner tacked down the bridge and lost the pickguard screws. But he installed Sperzel locking tuners. After experimenting with strings, I landed on D'Addario XL 115's.

The poly finish is a little too glossy, but I love this guitar. Eventually I'll swap out the noisy switches and get TV Jones pickups, but I'm real happy with it as is. I'm amazed at the tones I get out of it and it turns heads where ever I play it.

Most of the music I'm playing on it is anything but classic Gretsch styles, so people are pretty surprised when they see me playing a "rockabilly" guitar through a Mesa Boogie doing Grateful Dead covers and blues.

It sounds best through my Rivera S120-210 amp with a delay or Space Echo in the loop. Pretty nice with a Vox AC-15, too.

Flaco · August 24th, 2005, 01:19 AM

I've got that same guitar that freshmattyp has in his picture. I love the way it looks, but with that green you either love it or hate it. I have to adjust my amp when I go from my tele to the Gretsch, because the Filtertrons aren't as bright as a Tele. They are brighter than your typical PAF style 'buckers, though. I love the sound, but the darn thing doesn't stay in tune through a whole song. Between the cheesy stock tuners and that non-anchored bridge, I spend more time tuning it than playing it. The neck is a little thin for my tastes as well.

The Gretsch is good for country, rockabilly, not-too-snooty jazz, and smokey blues. Hmmm, what other guitar fits that description? It's amazing that a Tele and a Gretsch would fit a lot of the same situations and yet be polar opposites as far as construction. Ultimately, I'm probably going to sell my Gretsch.

zeeman · August 24th, 2005, 01:30 AM

I've got a '99 purple hot rod with TV Jones pickups. Pre fender or not it is one sweet sounding guitar. The color grows on and off of me at times.

olewichita · August 24th, 2005, 01:32 AM

i love it but it has a lot of emotional meaning to me too... i used it on the road for years... i bought it in 1990 when i was 17 and it was my first "real" guitar... it has become a part of me... it's definitely not an easy guitar to play but it sounds great... i can get a kind of tele sound out of it but also a convincing hollow body or P90s carl perkins like sound... everything from cliff gallup and eddie cochran to george harrison and billy zoom i guess... those dynasonics have a lot of definition and clarity... they migh not be the most versatile guitars in the world but i've actually been using it in some R&B and soul settings lately and it worked quite well too... especially with small amps... it's been rumoured that chuck berry used one on some of the early chess stuff... i can definitely get that maybelline / you can't catch me / monkey bussiness sound out of it...

tj

astro · August 24th, 2005, 04:05 PM

sold it to someone who visits around these parts.

practically gave it away.

It was great guitar. I would prefer dynas.

Now I am playing bass, so the homemade tele is more than enough guitar.

Tele295 · August 24th, 2005, 06:32 PM

I'm thinking of getting back into a Duo Jet on a regular basis - either my old one with Dynas (badly in need of a fret job) or a new one with Filtertrons

Mur · August 24th, 2005, 07:16 PM

Early Chet Atkins and Travis picking sounds great on Gretsch ..and some of the best Gretsch ever is on Neil Young's first album: "Emperor of Wyoming", and "I've Been Waiting for You".

Rick 381 · August 24th, 2005, 07:44 PM

I play a Gretsch also. But I don't chickenpick so I can't say how it sounds.

August 22nd, 2005, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
billys NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2	Do Any of you Tele Players Chickin' Pick a Gretsch Also? I don't have a gretsch...want one....it seems to me with the tone that they would lend themselves to chickin pickin? Any recordings out there I might check out? Thanks

August 22nd, 2005, 05:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,127 4 Photos	No. Sorry.

August 22nd, 2005, 11:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,892 13 Photos	6118 120th Anniversary in Bamboo yellow! Does all kinds of cool sounds, but lacks true Tele authority on the low E. Serves up plenty of extra crispy chicken otherwise. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

August 23rd, 2005, 03:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
olewichita Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,261	yeah... i have a 55/56 duo-jet... tj

August 23rd, 2005, 07:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
Blazer Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,422	I used a Gretsch electromatic Malcom Young Jet Firebird (the two pickup version) to record the crunch sounds on the album "We said it first we are the Worst" I didn't keep it for long though, the long neck joint hindered my soloing abilities. And I currently am using a Jazzmaster with Gretsch TV Jones Pickups as my main axe. __________________ "I reject your reality and subsitute my own." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters

August 22nd, 2005, 11:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
mk Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 253	Not currently, though I had an early '60s Annie for a while. I've had several old Guilds, though, and this one is currently getting more playing time than my teles, which are both in parts for various reasons: http://www.fenderforum.com/userphoto...ml?recid=19940 The short answer to your question, though, is definitely![/url]

August 23rd, 2005, 02:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
andrew Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Valley Ranch, TX Posts: 799 5 Photos	I don't have a Gretsch, but I want a pup in my tele from a Gretsch. :D

August 23rd, 2005, 02:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tenbender Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 190	Yep, a 1958 Gretsch Firebird

August 23rd, 2005, 09:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
KuuKOO TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver Posts: 92 2 Photos	As I said in another thread, I just sold my 120th Anniversary. It was a solid guitar but as it was just post-FMIC, there were a few "transition" features that didn't quite wow me. Bad switches and a heavy top for one. As for chicken-pickin, the filtertrons are a little dark for my taste-- but if you like a little "Rawk" with your country then they might do the trick. KK

August 23rd, 2005, 10:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mike D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 570	Here's Mine... A Gretsch Sparkle Jet. I find that this guitar is much more in the Les Paul camp than a Tele. I like it for songs that call for a humbucker guitar. I also find the bridge to be very uncomfortable. There is a very sharp edge that protrudes from the point where the palm of my hand normally rests. The guitar has plenty of vibe and attitude but I don't reach for it as often as I should and it really doesn't twang well at all. [/url]

August 23rd, 2005, 10:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
mk Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 253	olewichita, how do you like that Duo? I've played a lot of archtops and have a couple of great ones, but a '50s Duo-Jet with Dynas is very intriguing to me....

August 23rd, 2005, 12:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
gtrjones Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX y'all Posts: 818	I hadda sparkle jet w/ the dynasonic single-coils, instead of the filtertrons... I could get a pretty twangy SPLANK out of it, and it growled real well, but eventually, I just couldn't get along with the thin neck...

August 23rd, 2005, 01:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
freshmattyp Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas City Age: 42 Posts: 960 18 Photos	My main guitar is a 6118 Anniversary in 2 tone green. [/img]

August 23rd, 2005, 03:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
bo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,776	I had a 1960 Dbl Annie that insisted on biodegrading. When it was stable and not falling apart it was pretty cool. Not much for chicken pickin', but otherwise good for old country and rockabilly stuff.

August 23rd, 2005, 04:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
Big Smokey Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 544	Since I bought a Gretsch 6120 DS... My tele is #2. __________________ www.bigsmokey.com

August 23rd, 2005, 04:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
kaibu49 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 389	My Hot Rod was my main axe til I got my tele, now the Gretsch barely gets action!

August 23rd, 2005, 06:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
ne4tt Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,553 4 Photos	Twangin' Purdy nice very early Setzer in laquer. The Bigsby adds to the fun. 'Couse I still loves me some Tele ! jamie

August 24th, 2005, 12:23 AM	#19 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,341 3 Photos	6120-60 from '97 I was never a Gretsch guy. I liked 'em, but I never bonded with them. Then a few years ago I got on a Buffalo Springfield kick and HAD to get THAT sound. I checked out some vintage guitars, but finally settled on a used '97 6120-60. The previous owner tacked down the bridge and lost the pickguard screws. But he installed Sperzel locking tuners. After experimenting with strings, I landed on D'Addario XL 115's. The poly finish is a little too glossy, but I love this guitar. Eventually I'll swap out the noisy switches and get TV Jones pickups, but I'm real happy with it as is. I'm amazed at the tones I get out of it and it turns heads where ever I play it. Most of the music I'm playing on it is anything but classic Gretsch styles, so people are pretty surprised when they see me playing a "rockabilly" guitar through a Mesa Boogie doing Grateful Dead covers and blues. It sounds best through my Rivera S120-210 amp with a delay or Space Echo in the loop. Pretty nice with a Vox AC-15, too.

August 24th, 2005, 01:19 AM	#20 (permalink)
Flaco Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TEXAS, USA Posts: 426 6 Photos	I've got that same guitar that freshmattyp has in his picture. I love the way it looks, but with that green you either love it or hate it. I have to adjust my amp when I go from my tele to the Gretsch, because the Filtertrons aren't as bright as a Tele. They are brighter than your typical PAF style 'buckers, though. I love the sound, but the darn thing doesn't stay in tune through a whole song. Between the cheesy stock tuners and that non-anchored bridge, I spend more time tuning it than playing it. The neck is a little thin for my tastes as well. The Gretsch is good for country, rockabilly, not-too-snooty jazz, and smokey blues. Hmmm, what other guitar fits that description? It's amazing that a Tele and a Gretsch would fit a lot of the same situations and yet be polar opposites as far as construction. Ultimately, I'm probably going to sell my Gretsch. __________________ Shawn "Flaco" Jones

August 24th, 2005, 01:30 AM	#21 (permalink)
zeeman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 332 5 Photos	I've got a '99 purple hot rod with TV Jones pickups. Pre fender or not it is one sweet sounding guitar. The color grows on and off of me at times.

August 24th, 2005, 01:32 AM	#22 (permalink)
olewichita Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,261	hey MK... i love it but it has a lot of emotional meaning to me too... i used it on the road for years... i bought it in 1990 when i was 17 and it was my first "real" guitar... it has become a part of me... it's definitely not an easy guitar to play but it sounds great... i can get a kind of tele sound out of it but also a convincing hollow body or P90s carl perkins like sound... everything from cliff gallup and eddie cochran to george harrison and billy zoom i guess... those dynasonics have a lot of definition and clarity... they migh not be the most versatile guitars in the world but i've actually been using it in some R&B and soul settings lately and it worked quite well too... especially with small amps... it's been rumoured that chuck berry used one on some of the early chess stuff... i can definitely get that maybelline / you can't catch me / monkey bussiness sound out of it... tj

August 24th, 2005, 04:05 PM	#23 (permalink)
astro Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Shoa, MA Posts: 872	had a 6120 SSU sold it to someone who visits around these parts. practically gave it away. It was great guitar. I would prefer dynas. Now I am playing bass, so the homemade tele is more than enough guitar.

August 24th, 2005, 06:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,403 14 Photos	I'm thinking of getting back into a Duo Jet on a regular basis - either my old one with Dynas (badly in need of a fret job) or a new one with Filtertrons __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

August 24th, 2005, 07:16 PM	#25 (permalink)
Mur Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: California Posts: 772	Chickin' pickin' is for Tele . . . Early Chet Atkins and Travis picking sounds great on Gretsch ..and some of the best Gretsch ever is on Neil Young's first album: "Emperor of Wyoming", and "I've Been Waiting for You".

August 24th, 2005, 07:44 PM	#26 (permalink)
Rick 381 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Baraboo, Wi. Posts: 63	I play a Gretsch also. But I don't chickenpick so I can't say how it sounds.