Going Gretsch

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:08 am

Well, today was the day that I went Gretsch and got myself a Gold sparkle Jet and took it home.
All I need to do now is replace the strings and then I'll be playing non-stop.

http://www.gretschguitars.com/repository/gretsch/images/G6129TAU_xl.jpg

Mine looks exactly like this.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:26 am

That will certainly add sparkle to your playing Wouter. Please don't forget to give us a full review.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:16 am

Wouter, you are gonna LOVE it. It's a great and unique-sounding kick-a** guitar!!!

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:36 pm

When I paid the guitar and asked for a package of D'Addario XL 011 strings, the guy behind the counter goes. "Are you sure, you probably need to re-adjust the neck when you put something that hefty on that guitar."

Four hours after I swapped the strings and the neck is holding up just fine, no adjusting needed whatsoever.

The way the guitar played and sounded GREATLY improved with those new strings, the 009 set it came with failed to get that wonderfull bell-like chime of the hollow body.

I plugged it into my Peavey Classic combo, dailed the reverb to roughly two o'clock used my trusty Boss overdrive for a little growl and my delay for some slapback. And it was instant riffing rockabilly licks. I am a metal guy but Brian Setzer is the guy who influenced me to play guitar and this little Gretsch enables me to get in touch with my inner rockabilly rocker.

I love it to death already.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:16 pm

That neck is stout. You probably won't notice any difference for a couple of weeks, if at all. Then if you have to adjust the rod, it'll take another week or two to settle in.

I play flatwound .011s on a couple of my own Gretsches, and the sound of these on a FULL hollowbody, with HiLoTrons, through a vintage Fender tube amp, is to die for.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:27 pm

Maybe so, but Brian setzer is using D'Addario XL 010 sets on his Gretsch guitars so I guess it's all just a matter of personal prefference.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:29 pm

I know. I have a set of Setzer's used strings on my Candy Apple Red Setzer Hot Rod...

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:46 pm

Ohhhhhhh yeaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! That is such a cool-looking guitar, Wouter! Congrats on your purchase; it sounds like you are already having fun with it!

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:04 pm

Unless it doesn't bug you, you might think about getting a Gretsch "Adjustomatic"[Gretsch version of Gibson Tune-O-Matic] bridge for it; then you can get the guitar to intonate properly.Or, do what I did on my recent White Falcon[came with same bridge as you have]; get the "rocking bar" bridge, as found on the Country Classics and Tennessee Rose models.For me, anyway, intonation aside, and in more than a few side by side tests[YMMV...],I think the rocking bar bridge gets the best ringing sustain of all the bridges Gretsch uses, especially if you use .011 gauged sets.That
is one cool guitar you got! Enjoy!

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:07 pm

I will second what Paul says about readjusting the neck after a few days to maybe a couple weeks. Just keep an eye on it.I have yet to see one of these in person.

rollingricker21 · Post by **rollingricker21** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:47 pm

That is one seriously hot looking guitar! Congrats on the buy!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:26 pm

Congratulations, Wouter... very nice get!

I'm a bit on the fence with the sparkling Gretsches - they just seem a little 'too much' for me. I'll have my custom PW 'Aitch Cadillac DeVille' Duo Jet very soon, so I'll post pics for comparison.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:00 am

Very nice guitar!

harvey49 · Post by **harvey49** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:13 am

You mean it's finally on it's way?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:04 pm

If not this coming week then definitely straight after NAMM, Ron. Woohoo!!