Question for Gretsch guys...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:56 am

Smuggler. A third career, after my experience smuggling a contrabassoon into Brasil last year, as some Forum members may remember...

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:18 am

Bassoons to the 'Contras', eh? That's going into your dossier, Mr. Jangle...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:48 am

Better a 'Gretch smuggler' than a 'Budgie smuggler' (or is that an Oz only expression?)!!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:35 am

Robert, there is one on eBay right now, by the guy in Spring, TX, at $1790.00US. Four and one half days to go.

Howard, it's Oz-exclusive. Should it be taken literally or is there a humorous double-entendre in it somewhere?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:51 pm

'Budgie smugglers' is a coloquial term for Speedo swimming briefs, Paul. Sometimes it looks like a guy has jammed a budgerigar or two down the front!!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:08 pm

Har! So it is typically, colourfully Oz in flavour.

Did I get enough "OU"s in there for you, Aitch?

Reminds me of the joke about the two, er, Polish guys and the potato...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:23 pm

Yes..... "ou"s are nice (but optional, of course!)

Er....... haven't heard that one......

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:26 am

I almost won this one last night.as Maxwell Smart would say "missed it by this much"(got sniped 3 seconds from closing).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7340886648&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:13 am

That's OK, Mitch. You were right at top dollar for a 4-year-old guitar. A few hun more and you'll have a post-Fender one of much better quality.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:12 am

I don't really know that much about Gretsch Guitars so I was going by what they sell for new at MF,about $2400 so I thought it was a good deal as this one is "new old stock" but I guess it wasn't such a great deal.Are these still made in America?Who owns Gretsch? Maybe I should just stick to Rickenbackers.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:47 am

My understanding is that Gretsch still owns Gretsch, but Fender controls marketing, research and development, etc. They are beautiful instruments, Mitch. Earlier this year I A/B'd every Gretsch I could get my hands on (with the intent of purchasing one). It's funny -I hated almost all of them!!! 2 pickups, 39 switches and knobs, and no matter how they're set it sounds like mud. Dark mud. That was MOST of them. I was unable to try a Country Gent or Country Club. In the end I narrowed it down to the two which sounded best: a bog standard 6120 and the MIK Electromatic (with DeArmond 2K single coils). I opted for the low-rent Electro and told myself that if I continue to lean in the Gretsch direction, I'll consider a pricey model.

I will say this: on a recent trip to Chicago I was trying out various guitars. When I plugged a 6120 Nashville into a Fender Twin, turned the reverb on 4, and strummed an FM7, numerous heads turned. That guitar had a buoyant, bright, rich sound which I could only describe as alive. Very responsive instrument.

There is a brassy character to the Gretsch sound which seems hard (for me) to escape. That said, I like it and find it quite useful on some songs.

They will never eclipse my Rickenbackers, but they are great guitars -and the Gretsch humbucker sound is far superior to that of Gibson.

=noel=

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:15 am

Mitch, as I mentioned to Rob Callaghan, there are a whole lot of cosmetic blems that can't be told from new, with full warranties, on eBay, on BIN, at any time. All except the deluxe Setzers and Falcons are under $2K. Many are under $1500.00. For $2400, you can get a Falcon or a lacquer premium Setzer SSLVO on eBay.

Noel has his preferences, obviously. I would never describe a Gretsch as sounding "brassy". My word is "juicy". Filtertrons are superb humbuckers and I much prefer them to Gibbys. The single coil on the Electromatics and some of the Pro line, is a terrific pickup, too.

xtone · Post by **xtone** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:43 am

In the mid-'80's I had a '66/'67 Nashville that was pristine. I had to sell it unfortunately. I now have a Japanese made Country Classic Jr. and I must confess that it is overall a much sturdier and solid feeling instrument. Put some Pyramid flats on it and it really gets a warm sound. I think the Japanese have been building guitars for American companies long enough to get it right. I will give them a thumbs-up.

It's not the price. It's the money!

Xtone