Gretsch Jets

Iamnobody

Tell me about them!

I've got an urge for a silver sparkle.

Things I already know - made in Japan and they look good!

capo4th

I never liked Gretsch guitars until I saw this

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/gretsch-g6118t-ltv-130th-anniversary-junior-black-and-metallic-gold/117151?gclid=CjwKEAjws5CrBRD8ze702_2dyjYSJAAAJK9yd3-3u_mok6TbeAYpi6YJM4DQkMnMwwKKDWdqcFmaZRoCNVrw_wcB

slate

I have a pro line duo jet and it's amongst my favorite guitars of all time.
Get the filtetrons and the tone switch - tele tones to les paul tones and of course the great Gretsch tone - fat, sparkly and growling.
Superb build quality, lightweight and great feel when they're setup right.
Also pin the bridge (I screw all my Gretsch bridge bases directly to the body) and you're good to go.

Iamnobody

Cheers for the info @slate sounds really versatile. Found this through a
Google sold on this forum a couple of years ago - beautiful!

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/1249/sold-gretsch-silver-sparkle-jet-g6129t

badlydrawnbanjo

Our very own @lustycourtier is selling a lovely Grestch G6128 at the moment...

lustycourtier

Jets are amazing guitars. Ive had quite a few, and as long as you get a 2004/5 onwards, it will be a great guitar. I dont know if Gretsch still do Sparkle finishes but the 90s ones just arent right spec wise. All style pick ups are great. Dynasonics are very old school rock n roll and in your face, and Filtertrons are possibly my fave pickups ever.

 Also, my experience is the necks are all quite small. Its why my current one is for sale.

SNAKEBITE

What was the name of the range of the ones that were about £500?

A few years ago I really wanted one of those but the money never panned out.

lustycourtier

Electromatics. The jets werent hollow though in that range.

Iamnobody

lustycourtier;646619" said:

Jets are amazing guitars. Also, my experience is the necks are all quite small. Its why my current one is for sale.

That's good and bad news!

What would you compare the necks to?

And please tell me about your own that is for sale.

Iamnobody

Been thinking that not many players I listen to use these. In fact the only one I remember is Rupert Orton (Beth's brother) when he was in Jim Jones Revue.



Who else plays Jets?

slate

George Harrison, Joe Perry, Elliot Easton , Malcolm Young, that bloke from pink floyd...

ICBM

@lustycourtier - is your G6128 a '59 style with Filtertrons and a Bigsby?

CloudNine

Had a 90's USA one. Sounded quite good and had a cool vibe. On the downside, it had it's own gravitational field (nearly 11lbs), and a slight fretboard hump where neck joined body. I am sure the MIJ ones are a hell of a lot better, I think mine was from a very sketchy period of production.

John_BlackWolf

Major GAS for this Jap beaut I spotted on the bay a while back...

Moe_Zambeek

I had a white penguin for a number of years. Looked great, was a bit clunky to play and was never a 'great' guitar. I'd rate it as 'good'.
*edit - this is it at a daytime gig some years ago:




The necks are quite slim - all Japanese Gretsches seem to have similar necks - and the frets are on the small side, I don't like the poly finished ones, they just feel plasticky to me. Bridges need to be pinned and often the Bigsby too, as ICBM will attest. Also with the sparkle binding, the side dots disappear on darkened stages and under certain light, which was a pain.

I also had a 6120DL which was a bit of a pig to play, I never bonded with it but it recorded exceptionally well. I loved the recorded tones yet disliked them 'in the room'. That one I maybe should have kept...the Penguin I don't miss. I would like to find a *really* good example of a jet though cos they do have something different going on...and Malcolm is a hero of mine musically speaking.

Jaded

This thread has me gassing for anotehr Jet, I used to own a pro-line Duo Jet with the Dynasonic pickups and absolutely loved it. 

Ended up selling it because I was gassing for a Les Paul an now I'm kind of wishing I still had it. It was a little bit muddy sounding (even with a TVJones T-Armond in the bridge) and the low E used to buzz seemingly no matter how I'd set it up... but now I'm pretty sure swapping out the Melita bridge for a Tru-Arc or some other kind of metal bridge would have solved most of the issues that the Melita's nylon saddles caused. 

The master volume plus the volumes for each pickup was really nice, found myself using the controls for a lot more tone shaping. If you could adapt the Gibson 50's wiring for that setup it would be near perfect (for me anyway...)

Someone hurry up and buy my R8 so I can get another Duo Jet! 

Iamnobody

Interesting comments about the thin necks and poly finish...the sparkles are poly but from what I've read a thinner type than some.

I'm wasn't sure about the duo Jets before this thread but their look is growing on me.

That Penguin is nice Moe by the way!

They are quite pricey as well. Not sure I would risk buying a used one blind; but then again well over £2k for new is silly money really...

slate

All Japanese made professional collection gretsch guitars are poly finished unless they're limited runs or artist models that are specified as nitro (which are usually much more expensive).

Basher

I had one for a few years.
PROS: Amazing sound from stock Filtertrons - gritty yet jazzy etc. Killer looks. Light. Semi-hollow tones. Not a bloody Fender or Gibson.

CONS: Muddy as heck when backing off volume controls (despite endless experiments with bleed caps). Needed wooden shims to adjust pickup height. Skinny neck that was never quite right for action, relief etc. Hated the floating bridge - probably OK for Jazzmongers with their 15 flatwound sets but always worried about knocking it about (despite being quite a gentle player). Didn't have a Bigsby.