Gibsons and Gretsches...my thoughts

[JakeK]

I was in the New Orleans Guitar Center today...not too bad a place. The metal riffs and the obnoxious high-school type males did kinda drive me insane. The staff were polite, and helped me when I needed it. But I played mostly Gibsons and Gretsches today. I kinda wanted to share my thoughts, nothing offending, mind.

For Gibsons, I tried a Firebird V, a '59 RI Les Paul and a SG doubleneck. They weren't too bad. The baseball-bat necks kinda got to me a little. The humbuckers are different from what I'm used to hearing (single coils). Gibsons are nice guitars, but I don't think that I'll be buying a Gibson in the future. The SG doubleneck 12-string body, a lot different from my 660/12, a whole different animal, if you will.

For Gretsches, I tried a Country Gentleman Harrison RI and an Orange Electromatic. The Filt'rons are awesome pickups, and make the guitar versatile. They do give off a nice early Beatles sound, as well as a cool Country twang, but again, I don't see a Gretsch in my future.

In short, I'm a Ric and Fender man! Gibsons and Gretsches aren't for me.

I don't think I'll be returning to Guitar Center, either. There's a local shop (about 25/30 miles from my house, really) and International Vintage in the heart of New Orleans, who are all nice people, who don't have that many customers, so I can jam out as I please when I go. When you're trying to play Classic Rock above Heavy Metal riffs, it's a horrible noise, really.

[doctorwho]

Every Guitar Center I've gone to sounds the same.

[jingle_jangle]

When you're trying to play Classic Rock above Heavy Metal riffs, it's a horrible noise, really.

Surf--now that's pure stuff...hand me my Jaguar, will you there, Jake?

[1965]

I don't go to Guitar Center anymore, too painful. Anyways, I like Gretsches, but I most likely won't be getting one until I've already got too many Ricks. They're fun to play, but just don't do it for me like Ricks. They've got a quirky thing going on whereas '50s–'60s Ricks look like Italian sports cars. As for Gibson, my '57 RI Les Paul is still my go-to guitar. The only Gibsons I really dig are 50's LP's. It's versatility is phenomenal, but mind you there are a lot of duds out there. If you find the right Gibson you've gotta hold onto it.

[deaconblues]

I don't go to Guitar Center anymore, too painful. Anyways, I like Gretsches, but I most likely won't be getting one until I've already got too many Ricks. They're fun to play, but just don't do it for me like Ricks. They've got a quirky thing going on whereas '50s–'60s Ricks look like Italian sports cars. As for Gibson, my '57 RI Les Paul is still my go-to guitar. The only Gibsons I really dig are 50's LP's. It's versatility is phenomenal, but mind you there are a lot of duds out there. If you find the right Gibson you've gotta hold onto it.

+1...about everything!

I used to hate baseball-bat necks too, but since I got my '58 LP I find that I appreciate that extra thickness. My hand feels fatigued after playing a slim neck for too long.

[hjarnett]

Every Guitar Center I've gone to sounds the same.

+1 but i found the best time to go is on a weekday when they first open that way the teens with there ibanez guitars are still in bed also i love the fat neck on my gibson les paul vm and the nice sounds i get out of the burstbucker pups also dont overlook the power of the melody maker i got a 59ri dual pickup and after a truss rod adjust she plays and sound very nice almost tele like and there cheap too.

[paologregorio]

I'm a big Gretsch fan. I especially like my `57 Silver and `55 Duo Jet RI guitars. I use them more live than I do my Ricks, at least live, though not by much. they have a "chunkier" sound than the Ricks seem to, though it varies by Rick, of course.

I also like my Fenders, but those ususally just get used in the studio or at home, or at the rare surf gig, at least at this point.

I don't own any Gibsons. They just don't interest me as a brand. Some of them look nice, but I can always find a Gretsch that appeals to me far more than a Gibson does. Then there's the whole Hondo II LP copy overdose I was exposed to as a kid that just ruined any appeal that a LP might have for me. There are other reasons, but I'll stop here.

[lennon211]

For me, it's Gretsch before Gibson. A Gibson really has to be something for me to be interested in it. I have a few Gibsons for that very reason: J-160E, non-reverse Firebird, SJ-200 Townshend, Townshend SG. But with Gretsch, it's different. The feel of the guitars is very comfortable and the sound is always pleasing. I don't think that I have tried one yet that's been a loser as they've all had some great playability. I'll take my '57 Duo-Jet TPS RI any day over a Gibson LP.

Regarding the ongoing saga of Guitar Center and how badly they suck, I'm very glad that I don't have one here where I live. There have been rumors for quite a while that they were going to build one and thankfully the idea now seems dead in the water. I'll stick to my local independent dealers who always make sure that the customer is well taken care of and where there are small rooms for trying things out instead of big showrooms where you're stuck hearing others.

[paologregorio]

In this day and age I have practically no reason to actually ever go into a Guitar Center.

[cheyenne]

I really dont care for the GC vibe, but I have been lucky enough to score some really good deals there.

I'd be nice if you could make an appointment and have the whole place to yourself for a while.

[deaconblues]

Although I'd like to shop at the smaller stores, they can't offer the amount of merchandise GC has on hand...

[phlemmy]

I go to GC when i needs cords, stands and such but my trips there usually last about 5 minutes.

[whojamfan]

I don't have a music store anywhere near me, so generally have to do the mail order thing.

[soundmasterg]

To the original poster, if you like the single coil sound out of your Fenders and Rics, you may try a Gretsch with the Hi-Lo Tron pickups on it. I think the Tenny Rose comes with those, or you can get some TV Jones ones and put them on. Those are weak for single coils and give a very nice twangy country sound. Listen to most of Beatles For Sale for examples.

Greg

[antipodean]

To the original poster, if you like the single coil sound out of your Fenders and Rics, you may try a Gretsch with the Hi-Lo Tron pickups on it. I think the Tenny Rose comes with those, or you can get some TV Jones ones and put them on. Those are weak for single coils and give a very nice twangy country sound. Listen to most of Beatles For Sale for examples.

Greg

That's the Country Club that comes with the single coils. My 6119 TR has Filtertrons, which I believe are standard. Alas, no Bigsby on the Country Club....

There are so many different Gretsch arch-tops that it makes my head spin!