Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I agree, Steve Wood, that Gretsch bass does look nice. However, my G-GAS will have to go unfulfilled for the time being. Besides I also feel that pickguards on basses are an affectation … including the one on my idol Casady’s Epi.
Jack, btw, plays a couple of his signature models (including a prototype red one) with the pickguards taken off.

My Duo-Jet from MF arrived yesterday..wow what a deal for a grand. I've never played one prior and sofar really like the tone from bridge pup..nice light weight also. Put some Pyramid 11's roundwounds on her..Paul W sez he prefers flats anyone else use rounds on these?

Well I did it. My brand new (NOS) 2004 6122-1959 Nashville Classic lefty arrived this week, and I am absolutely in love. Big and beautiful, looks like a 1959 Buick! The twang of the Filtertrons through a Janglebox into a Vox AC15 is as thrilling to me as that beautiful jangle & chime of my Rick 12 through the same set-up. A whole new world has just opened up.

"The twang of the Filtertrons..."
Actually, it has TV Jones pickups, but you get the point.

They even have a blem Nashville coffee table.

A bit more pickiness for you, Jere, from another 59 owner, just to round out your day, LOL...

Tom Jones makes all kinds of pickups for Gretsch besides FTs.

The ones on the 59 are a Plus HT for the bridge and a Supertron Classic for the neck. The Plus is wound hotter than a "standard" HT and the Supertron is wound supposedly to late '50s specs.

Both of these pickups are nearly impossible to find and are special order from Gretsch parts dealers, I'm told.

Has the fixed-handle Bigsby begun to irritate you yet? I replaced mine with a swiveller within a couple of weeks. You have to play Chet style exclusively for that handle to work for you...

But, you're right. This is a guitar that awakens your passion for a certain type of vintage sound and feel, and it's to Fender's credit that they kept it in the Gretsch lineup!

"Has the fixed-handle Bigsby begun to irritate you yet? I replaced mine with a swiveller within a couple of weeks. You have to play Chet style exclusively for that handle to work for you... "

Paul...I'm such a neophyte to Gretsch guitars (I'm an acoustic player that happens to own a Rick 330 12)that the Bigsby hasn't fazed me in the least! I wail away without regard to "fixed versus swiveller" mainly because I haven't developed any technique for either!

As to the pickups, I like the Supertron a lot. As to the guitar in general, well, I'm in love. It has inspired me to grow some sideburns!

Question for Paul...after spending the last hour or so reviving the neighbors (Duo-Jet to full on tube screamer to showman amp (Green Day/Social Distortion) it seems that there might be a shielding issue (I can hear it now "how can ya tell!) when tapping the guard lightly and or the pups I get a kinda snapping sound ..cuts right through the mix...any ideas?

Yup. I'd invest in some copper tape and solder...

Jere, hold on a moment! What you have is NOT a "rockabilly" axe. Yours is a full-on hillbilly axe! No sideburns required. But a moonshine still somewhere on the property would help the atmosphere...

You want rockabilly? Your next Gretsch should be an Eddie Cochran 6120-57. Meantime, nail some nice fingerpickin'; that's why they made the neck wider on your '59!

Not to turn this into a private dialogue, but you got my curiosity up, Paul. We might have different models. Mine is a "new old stock" 2004 model Nashville Classic 6122-1959 with a cherry stain over flamed maple, not the walnut stain. The Bigsby is a B6GB LH, and it swivels like any other Bigsby Vibrato that I've ever seen. It appears from the Gretsch website that the current 6122-1959 has a skinny little vibrato bar. I'm guessing that's what you have (or had). Mine looks like a 17" TR with gold hardware, gold pickguard and of course the Supertron/HT Plus combo. It does have a 1 3/4" nut, which I've never owned before, and I like a lot. What a radical difference from the Rick 330 12!

And by golly, I'm keeping the sideburns! We'll think about the moonshine still, however.

Yup. Different guitars, interms of the color and Bigsby, at least. That "skinny little thing" was Chet's preference in handles. I replaced it with the same item, but a swivelling version.

Have you ever seen a Merle Travis hairpin handle? Now, that's a weird one...

Thanks to Forumite John Koelling, Mark At Music Zoo sold me the G6122-1962 for $1175. He only gave me that price because I was "a friend of John's". Thanks again!

Being "a friend of John's" definitely has its advantages, Randy. He's been absolutely fantastic with his assistance to me...... he's now an international shipping expert!

Three cheers for John!

Hear Hear - a really nice bloke!!!