Gretsch Duojet and Filtertrons

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:38 pm

New looks or not I'm looking forwards to seeing and hearing about your new guitar.
The black EE has Filtertrons. From what I understand the Powertrons are the meanist T.V. Filtertrons. Thats what I plan to replace the stock pickups.
The add says P90 heavy with Gretsch twang. The neck is changed from the normal Gretsch neck as well.
Some people think that the EE is out of bounds as far as being a real Duo Jet. But I honestly think that most folks will think its a regular one until they get really close.
With all the extra stuff I'll take it with a slight loss in looks.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 1:12 pm

It is not a slight loss in looks; only to a snob. It's a great-looking guitar and I envy your choice.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:20 pm

Thanks Paul. I hope it works as good as all the thoughts I have of it.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:10 pm

Dan there is just no way that this guitar will disappoint you!

Wait until you hear those pickups. Also, the sustain is incredible.

I was listening to some old Cars on my new stereo last night, visualizing EE playing those riffs that he cranked from Mr. Holly.

Please post some pics or links when you finally score it!

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:09 pm

Paul, I will wait until I've heard the ones on the EE first then. I have heard before that they are not regular Filtertrons either.
I too can imagine Elliot playing those riffs on it and they are some cool sounds too. But I'm not sure at what time he jumped the Les Paul ship for Gretsch.
I have and old Car's Video somewhere I'll have to track it down some time when I have time.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:02 am

I can't believe those solos (re: Best Friend's Girl) were done on anything but a Gretsch. Way too clean. He also was known to play some weird stuff like Danelectros, but I don't think he ever recorded with one.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:14 pm

I dig his solo of Shake It Up the most of his guitar solo's. I wonder if he used the EE on that one? He does do a lot of other good ones but that one just sticks out to me. You are right too My Best Friend's Girl is a cool example of that Gretsch sound.
I hear that he is using a Tele on his CCR tour. But the Car's are susposed to do a reunion ablum so I'll bet the EE will be on it.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:51 am

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:30 am

Nice rescue job, Paul - cool guitar. Saved from the guitar knackery and not a minute too soon!!

britye · Post by **britye** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:33 am

Beautiful!! Touched by the masters hand

jonpaul · Post by **jonpaul** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:33 pm

Beautifully done Paul, I've been thinking of getting a Jet Pro and making the mods to make it more like a Duo Jet. Your work is again superb. By the way what color did you use for the yellow, nice selection.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:50 pm

Thanks, Brian and David.

Both the yellow and the copper I custom-mixed for the project, based on high-res photos of the Anniversary colors. The pickguard was an original Anniversary pickguard, but the color was very pink, even though they call it copper. So I stripped their copper from it and resprayed it to match my guitar before making a pattern and cutting it down to fit the solidbody's contour better.

Both colors are just a shade more vivid than the Gretsch factory colors--the yellow a bit more buttery and the copper a bit more golden. This was deliberate.

The clear coat had some transparent ochre tint mixed in to age the paint a bit, and it worked very well. In certain lights it looks quite old, though brand-new at the same time.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:08 pm

Paul I'd like to say its nice.
But its way more than that, its just overwhelming.
What a great looking guitar.
If it sounds half as good as it looks its one fantastic guitar package.
I can see that I've got a lot to learn about the insides of a Gretsch too from looking at it.
But looking at this one makes me happy that I've choose the Duo Jet model.
As a novice on them did'nt they make volume/control knob with a jeweled eye that marked its position on some models?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:20 pm

Dan, your comments on this topic have done much to keep me motivated.

The jewelled knobs I thought were peculiar to the White Penguins. They only come in gold plate, and besides the EE the Penguins are to my knowledge the only gold-plated ones with this body style.

But, I'm a novice Gretsch guy, too, so I could be wrong.

The yellow guitar is a Pro Jet set neck model from the late '90s (I think '97; no serial number). It said Electromatic on the head stock in that cheezy gold script, so I hand-cut some GRETSCH letters from black mother of pearl and inlaid them instead. Ahhh. Much better. I call it a Duo Jet project because it is a "phantom" design which emulates a Duo Jet style that was never built. And in terms of specs and sound now, it's a Duo Jet.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:50 pm

Paul, I'm glad to hear that I was a part in some small way of this thing of beauty getting finished. Its a one of one.
Actually I can't tell from the pics of the EE if it has those jeweled control knob thingie's or not and I could'nt remember what I had seen them on then if not.
I do think that they would be cool additions if they are not on it. Its good to know to know what model they are off of for reference on that. I wonder if Fender sells them seperately? They do most everything else.
I guess you are beginning to see that I like to personalize all of my instruments for some unknown reasons. I suspose it began in a quest for better tone. I don't have your tallent but I do enjoy looking at yours and working on mine too. Its time for a Gretsch for me.
If you had'nt told me I would not have known that you had done all of that work on the headstock. Its really nice. Good job.