Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paul: I've read many comments you've made about Gretsch guitars. You seem to have lots of experience with their newest guitars, so I'd like your opinion on this. I was in a local Guitar Center store this weekend. They were having a 'green tag' sale and had a brand new Tennessean with Hi-Lo pick-ups (the Harrison reissue) marked down to $1249. I assume that the case was included, but with Guitar Center you can never be sure. The best price I've ever seen is over $1600 from Northcoast Music. Did I miss out on a super deal? Should I go back and offer them their 'green tag' price? What do you think of these guitars?

Excellent guitar--make sure it IS a brand new one (check the serial number to make sure it's post-Fender). Check the neck for a "hump" at the 14th fret. This was a problem for awhile, and I'm sure it's a thing of the past, but no harm in checking!

At that price, I would not make a major issue out of the case thing, but if the guitar IS still there (doubtful, IMO), I'd try to deal on both.

It's a very good price! You'll read a lot of trash about the HiLos being inferior to FTs, but listen for yourself--my 6117 Annie had them and they are very nice pickups.

Paul: What kind of serial number should a post-Fender Gretsch have?

JT0301 or later. I'd look for a JT 04XXXXX... just to be on the safe side on the features and neck hump issue.

J=Japan
T=Terada (where they're made)
0401=January '04 (Fender took over manufacturing and marketing in January '03)

Thanks so much!

Paul, although I never saw a hump at the 14th fret on mine, nonetheless I had to check. mine is JT0305 So I'm cool. This "hump" is pronounced? Was the Tennessean the only model with this problem and how did it ever get past QC?

The hump can be quite noticeable when sighting down the neck from the headstock to bridge.

It was not limited to Tennesseans. It was across the line and seen on both Japanese and Korean models. I have a G3967 with a hump, although I'm going to shave the neck and refret it because it's a sweet little guitar!

I think the humps only showed up after ocean shipping and a good deal of storage time, becaue there are two QC checks--one at Terada and one in the USA after landing and clearing customs.

Thanks Paul, I do have another question..What did Fender do to cure this problem? Change packaging and mode of shipping perhaps?

I have heard that they modified the construction of that area of the guitars.

Thanks for answer, Mine is a sweet guitar

Guitar Center Gretsch deals are amazing. I got a BRAND NEW White Falcon from Guitar Center for $1399 with case during a one day blowout sale.

A Falcon? for $1399??? Geeez!!! Which one?

These one-day sales are open to rgistered customers and are a crapshoot, but I've heard of similar deals. The jungle drums are such that people line up early to get in to pick up the ones they've had their eyes on...

Let me know the next time they have a one-day sale on jungle drums...

Sorry.

That was 11/25.


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