Gretsch guitars...tell me about them
- Thread starter '64 Tele
- Start date
archtop_fjk
Tele-Holic
Now that's just badass!
jfgesquire
Friend of Leo's
I'm late to the party, but here's my '67. This was built almost exactly during the sale/move of Gretsch.
I've owned it since '87 when I bought it for $680. I gigged it for years, still bring it out once in a while. People think it's a reissue. The new ones just don't sound the same.
30 years apart:
I've owned it since '87 when I bought it for $680. I gigged it for years, still bring it out once in a while. People think it's a reissue. The new ones just don't sound the same.
30 years apart:
Here’s my Chet.
It is easily the best sounding electric guitar I have ever owned, bar none.
I’ve had a perhaps sinful number of electric guitars.
I’ve been fascinated with them I saw a double feature of Hard Day’s Night/Help, in 1966.
My Chet sounds clear and full, and stays in tune beautifully.
It’s not perfect, it’s cumbersome and not fun to play past the 14th fret.
The newer MIJ Gretsch guitars are the best ever, IMO.
The TV Jones pickups are inspiring, and I now have them in 5 of my guitars.
Lastly, pic #2 is not my guitar.
It serves as a “before” pic.
It’s stock/original.
I took the bling-ey gold parts off mine, and put a different bridge and base on it.
Officially, it’s a 2003 MIJ 1959 Nashville Classic.
I love it!
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JL_LI
Poster Extraordinaire
Gretsch 6118T Anniversary. A Gretsch with a mud switch isn’t for the faint hearted.
Only two problems here with Gretsch.
1). Control Knobs not really needed. I guess it's nice to have masters for this or that but I prefer a simpler look.
2). Glitzy head stocks that are just too over the top. I love the White Falcon except for the Royal Crown looking head stock. Everything else is wonderful. Stephen Stills used to look like he was feeling up the queen.
1). Control Knobs not really needed. I guess it's nice to have masters for this or that but I prefer a simpler look.
2). Glitzy head stocks that are just too over the top. I love the White Falcon except for the Royal Crown looking head stock. Everything else is wonderful. Stephen Stills used to look like he was feeling up the queen.
jfgesquire
Friend of Leo's
Henry Mars
Tele-Afflicted
archtop_fjk
Tele-Holic
It would interesting to convert the mud switch into a boost switch by adding an active circuit. You would then be able to boost your solos by activating a switch on the guitar rather than a pedal.
BorderRadio
Doctor of Teleocity
As several already said, these are Jet-style guitars, which include the Silver Jet, Firebird, and Roundup. The single-cut variety first appeared in ‘53, the “Scripty” version of which only 150 were made. The chambering varied over the years, but the first significant routing pattern changed with the introduction of Filtertron pickups. The Jet-style guitars made by Gretsch in the mid- to late-50s that had DeArmond 2000 pickups were heavily routed. The guitar in the lower right is a mid-50s style, but the first Scripty Jets had a little more wood on the sides. As mentioned, the thin pressed maple ply top only made contact with the back under the bridge (the two square maple shims). This makes them completely different than weight relieved Les Pauls, as the top is allowed to vibrate more than a ‘carved’ maple top.
The guitars on the lower left and top are the routing style for Filtertron Jet-style guitars. The two ‘rails’ are what the pickups screw into. The top is glued in more places.
Through the years this chambering style changed. In general there was less chambering over time, so a more solid body response ensued. By the time FMIC partnered with Fred Gretsch III, the Electromatic Jets were solid, but by late 2000s the Pro Jet and Electromatic both have larger chambers, but no pressed ply top. The MIJ Jets stayed more true to the originals, but they also vary by years and model number. The most true to mid-50s Dynasonic Jets came about with Billy Zoom’s model, which contributed to the ‘53 reissue model.
Funny enough, the ‘53 Scripty reissue doesn’t follow one other significant factor that make Jets unique—the drum cover glued on the top. Most vintage Duo Jets and Firebirds had black and red Nitron tops glued to the maple ply. The Silver Jet obviously had the sparkle drum wrap glued on as well. So while the top is more free to absorb the strings vibrations, its damped by the plastic top. I think only the Roundup was just wood on top, but I’m not sure about it’s chambering/top construction style.
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JL_LI
Poster Extraordinaire
Tell me about this. By PM if you prefer. The individual volume controls double as tone controls. I manage quite well with that. But I lose fullness and volume higher than the 7th fret.
I love my Japanese made Firejet; it's impeccable. I don't have it with me right now, but I believe it is missing something else that sets Gretsch apart: a zero fret. I like zero frets, but they cut the nut perfectly on mine so I don't care.
It came with Dynasonics, which are really great pickups. I had to put a TV Jones Filtertron in the bridge because any overdrive would make the Dynasonics howl. But the neck Dynasonic is beautiful sounding, one of the classic single coil sounds.
It came with Dynasonics, which are really great pickups. I had to put a TV Jones Filtertron in the bridge because any overdrive would make the Dynasonics howl. But the neck Dynasonic is beautiful sounding, one of the classic single coil sounds.
70s Gretsches (Baldwin era) were HORRIBLE guitars with ceramic pickups sounding like crap.
50s and 60s Gretsches sounded great but built quality ranged from7 mediocre to....just good.
The MIJ Gretsches are definitely the best ones ever made (especially the ones after 2004 when Fender took over ). The recent MIK ones are awesome too and amazing value for money.
Here's my 2007 MIJ White Falcon ,untouchable guitar built and sound wise
