Page 1 of 1
1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:08 pm
by jps
There is one at my local Sam Ash, plays and sounds great, but is missing it's original pickguard and has lots of wear/worming, mostly on the back of the body. Most of the plastic is shrunken and is missing a screw or two, IIRC. The original (tweed?) HSC is included. What would be a realistic price for one in this kind of condition? Supposedly, this is a one owner instrument.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:34 pm
by collin
Guitar Center recently had a '56 with a couple minor issues for $3500 and it sold. I'd imagine you could add a fee hundred to this price and still get a fair deal.
The '56 at GC was listed for a couple months at least.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:02 pm
by jps
SA is asking $4600, which I think is too high. Going by what you just said, I am glad I didn't walk out with it.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:43 pm
by jdogric12
Is the binding eaten away yet?
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:14 pm
by collin
jps wrote:SA is asking $4600, which I think is too high. Going by what you just said, I am glad I didn't walk out with it.
That's not astronomical (and these
are a Beatle guitar..), but unless it's really clean, I would have passed at that price too.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 5:51 pm
by Ivan3000
Maybe Josh would want it?
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:09 pm
by collin
IvanMunoz wrote:Maybe Josh would want it?
It's not the right year.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:48 pm
by jps
jdogric12 wrote:Is the binding eaten away yet?
No, the binding is in quite nice shape, actually. The binding on my former (currently Jim Boyle's) 1961 6117 is also in excellent condition. The guitars that I have seen with binding rot has been from the mid to late '60s, was there any change during that period with regard to materials/construction on Gretsches, perhaps?
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:36 pm
by sloop_john_b
Yep, you don't really see binding rot before February 1964.
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:00 am
by collin
sloop_john_b wrote:Yep, you don't really see binding rot before February 1964.
And from what I gather, that's due to a change in the case, not the guitar (change happened when they went from blonde to black/grey cases).
Re: 1955 Duo Jet
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:08 am
by crstory
What would you consider the "right" year(s) for the duo jet. I read a book written by Dan Duffy who was QC analyst for Gretsch when they were in Brooklyn. He mentioned how the quality was much better before the Beatles. Great book if you are a fan of Gretsch which I definitely am.