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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 14 May 2006 at 06:24 AM.]

it had a neck issue and had to be sent to Brooklyn for a FIX it....I believe they re-seated it..

The Electromatic (budget) Gretsch guitars are made in Korea.

quote:

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Almost all new Gretsch electric guitars are made at the Terada factory in Japan.

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Now that Fender owns Gretsch, I assume that the quality of the newer guitars is at least as good as the originals, if not better.

What's important is not WHERE the guitar is made, but HOW WELL.

I desperately wanted an orange 6120 - just like Duane Eddy's, Eddie Cochran's, or Chet's - but all I could stretch my budget to was a 'Jet Firebird'. The experiejnced guitar salesman urged me to spend whatever money I had on a Gibson (back then 165 Pounds Sterling would have bought me an ES-175) but I wouldn't listen. He pointed out the Gretsch's poor finish, unseasoned timber, and more, but it was in vain. Odd as it may seem, I knew he was right, but I took that Firebird home anyway.

I bought a new 6120DSW recently - I could never get that unattained orange arch-top out of my head - and I can confirm that there's a major improvement in these current guitars over the 'originals'.

I still feel like an idiot for spending all that money just for something I can stand in front of the mirror with, but at least I've crossed one item off my 'lifetime want list'!

Now - about that Gibson L-5.....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 15 May 2006 at 03:54 AM.]

The weight and smaller size sure made it a gas to play. Sounded just as sweet as its bigger brothers, too.

And I mean by far.

Really I haven't had many guitars cooperate the way those Japanese Gretches did.

My thoughts EXACTLY, Roger! I need another guitar like a hole in the head, but Gretsches just got that LOOK! When I got a drop-dead price on the 6122, I decided to let the new roof go for a year. Hey, the old one only leaks when it rains !

Here I am, getting ready to play a 15-week gig 2,500 miles across the country, away from my wife, and away from my golf-course - in other words, needs must, as they say. The mortgage must be paid. It'll be fun when I get there but, right now, I don't want to leave on Thursday.

And yet, and yet..... Do you know what I did today? I went to an exclusive Martin-only dealer right here in Naples and salivated over a brand new Martin 000-42 at $3400. I was really considering it for a while, then I left the store and the guitar's spell gradually evaporated.

'Deranged in Naples'.....

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 15 May 2006 at 06:04 PM.]

Ahh, what's a roof? A little tarpaper should get you through to next spring. I've done it.

A buddy of mine is a Gretsch dealer - they just had a special deal, and it's good time to be looking. I've had to slap myself a couple of times. I have two great ones, one new, one old.

Of course, we're not going to know precisely how the new guitars will fare in the same time frame as the old ones for some time. Still, I used to trepidatiously string up .012-.052 flatwounds on my '56 6120 or 59 6119 and hope that the neck joint didn't give - they literally creaked every time I restrung. The 6119 just flat out came loose, and I had to get it reset. With my new one, it's no issue at all - .013-.056? No problem, it barely even notices. The slightly thicker top also means less feedback issues at gig volumes. The top on my '56 was so thin that it was only useful for extremely low-volume gigs. Don't get me wrong, it sounded amazing at low volume, but the top vibrated like crazy on a rockabilly gig, and the DeArmonds squealed at a very annoying high pitch. That's why I consider the modern ones better practical stage guitars.

On a side note, check this out from the Gretsch site:

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My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 17 May 2006 at 01:54 PM.]

edit for spelling.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 17 May 2006 at 04:05 PM.]

I loved how that guitar looked and I bought it from him. Every time I opened the case I smiled. BUT...when I took the guitar to the stage, the magic faded fast. For the music we play, the guitar just was not bright enough to cut across the mix. I was forced to sit on the bridge pickup with the tone full on every set I played. I was heartbroken, as I just couldn't justify the cost of the guitar if I couldn't use it on stage...no matter how beautiful it was (and it WAS!!!).

Around the same time I acquired a new cherry-red Gibson 'Lucille' (I really wanted an ES-355, but Gibson, in their wisdom, have scrapped the 355 in favour of this BB King 'signature' guitar ). Even my wife (not a player) was struck by how dull and lifeless the Gretsch sounded when compared to the Gibson.

Now I've totally scotched any chance of selling the 6120 here on the Forum , but that's the sad truth....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 17 May 2006 at 06:41 PM.]

Thank you for the heads up.

Is that a Gretsch 12-string that D. Crosby is playing?? It looks almost like an Epiphone, but I couldn't ever get a good look at it.

I saw this show live, real-time on network TV. What was that guy's name- David Steinberg? This is one of the events that made me believe that I had to have a Gretsch. I had several (both vintage and Japanese models), sold them, and miss them now. But you can't keep them all, can you?

Steve Stills is da man.

[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 19 May 2006 at 09:38 AM.]

Those guys were really into the Country Gentleman/ White Falcon thing...

And..the Epiphones looked like Gibsons rather than Gretsches back then I believe...more 335ish.

I never found the Guitar Crosby is playing but I did find several Gretsches with the same fret markers..

Couldn't find it with Epi's or Gibsons either, not even close.

I wonder if Gretsch didn't make him a Guitar because he was known to be such a 12 stringer ?

The Headstock is really puzzling though,couldn't find anything like it..

PUPS look to be the DeArmond that Gretsch did use...sort of have that Humbucker look...

but at the end of the day..

what the heck do I know....?

Absolutley nuthin'..

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 19 May 2006 at 01:53 PM.]