Gretsch 6120/Brian Setzer models

[stonge]

Greetings.

I'm looking for some opinions on the Gretsch 6120 or Brian Setzer models; anybody currently using one or owned one for a while? I'm currently playing a Monaco with a pair of TV Jones TVTrons and the Bigsby, and I've got it set up with .011 flatwounds. It sounds good, but the Monaco almost sounds more like a friend's Duo Jet rather than what I've heard from a 6120.

Any opinions on build quality, setup, and tone appreciated. I grew up listening to Chet Atkins and classic country, so I'm interested in those type of tones as well as rockabilly/early rock.

Thanks, stonge

[kizanski]

I've had a couple of them over the years, but I had never been too impressed with the feel of them.

My first Gretsch was a 1964 6120 (the double cut). It had The Sound, but the neck fought me every step of the way. Bending was a chore no matter what gauge strings I used. This guitar hated me. Plus it had a zero fret, which is an abomination before all that is holy.

Next was a 2004 6120 that I bought from Dave's Guitar. Fine guitar, played well, sounded like a Gretsch, but was lacking in...something. Dave's has a really good return policy, so I took advantage of it.

Years later, I bought a Billy Bo Jupiter (just throwing this useless information in here for good measure, since you asked about the 6120s). It played great, but there was no setting which yielded "that Gretsch sound," so I sold it. I didn't see the point of buying a Gretsch which sounds like any of a million other solid body/humbucker guitars.

Now I have a 2012 6120 that I absolutely love.

It plays beautifully, build quality is terrific, and of course, it has the sound.

It's everything I always wanted from a Gretsch, so it's a keeper.

[Hfan]

I'm no expert at all but had been curious about Gretsch for a long time and finally stumbled on a Rev Horton Heat 6120 from a senior in a retirement community near here..CL of course.. my downfall.. It has TV Jones pickups which were also a new thing for me. Really enjoy it. Like a crazy Tele on steroids. A little reverb and it's a blast. And the Bigsby stays in tune. Also never had a Bigsby before. Mine is also the only autographed guitar I have had..on the front, Jimbo Wallace the bass player signed it too. Had a hard time convincing the seller that the autographs may detract from the value. Wouldn't have choose that but it grew on me. Lots of firsts for me with that guitar.

The Rev HH supposedly has one of the fatter Gretsch necks and it ain't that fat. OK for me though. The Japanese models (especially from the years after Fender bought Gretsch) seem favored by the Gretsch fanatics. Perfect fit and finish as far as I can tell. I put a gold guard on mine.Check out those Gretsch forums..nice guys there full of info..

Funny at one point I asked the seller how I even knew it was really the Rev who signed it. He sad look at the truss rod cover..duhh the sigs matched.

[serial]

Beautiful Gretsches!

I love my 6129T.

[currypowder]

I'm a big Gretsch fan. Like Kiz, I had several over the years, a 64 double cut jet that sounded great, but fought me every step of the way, and several pre and post Fender modern versions. I never bonded with any of the pre-Fender models I had. But the post-Fender ones have been great and consistent. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any post-Fender Gretsch sight unseen. I currently have an '05 Setzer SSLVO (lacquer vintage orange model) that's been lightly aged by our very own RoyB, an '11 White Falcon LDS (lacquer Dynasonic model) and a US Custom Shop Stern built Billy Zoom Sparkle Jet.

On another note, I'm a big fan of their drum line as well. Picked up a Renown 57 Bop kit when they were blowing them out a few years back. It's my go to gig kit, small but a big sound, especially mic'd

[atomicwash]

My Gretsch Spectra Sonic was made by Hamer and designed by TV Jones. Gretsch guitars are awesome. A good setup is important for Bigsby operation and preferably done by someone who has experience with Bigsby's.

My pre-Fender champagne Duo Jet is a sweet guitar also. I installed TV Classics and a Tru-Arc bridge.

[fractal]

I kinda have a hankerin' for the FSR Koa version:

http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/guitars/nashville/g6120t-koa-ltd15-nashville-hollow-body-rosewood-fingerboard-flame-koa/

[Michael_B]

It's interesting to read, though not entirely surprising, that the Monaco with TVJs sounds like a Duo Jet.

I've owned a couple of FMIC-era Setzer 6120's. I had an SSL that was flawless in its construction, sounded fantastic and had great responsiveness in the electronics. Stupidly, I sold it to fund an SSLVO. The SSLVO that I picked up was materially worse in every way. My SSLVO is a very nice and fun guitar, but that SSL was spectacular.

I also have a couple of 6129s: a silver Jet (which is outstanding) and a gold Jet (which lacks a certain something that the silver Jet has). Both the 6129s are beautifully built.

Based on those experiences with Gretsch, I'd say that FMIC-era are very nicely built, but a little hit-or-miss (ranging from outstanding to just OK) to my ears.

[Michael_B]

I really like to look of the 6129 with the Champagne finish and double-cut.

[Sugartune]

On another note, I'm a big fan of their drum line as well. Picked up a Renown 57 Bop kit when they were blowing them out a few years back. It's my go to gig kit, small but a big sound, especially mic'd

Those are really freaking sweet!

[tbonesullivan]

I've always been on the fence about getting a Gretsch. Many friends who have owned them said that the neck is not the most comfortable, and that the different switches on the guitar are often not very useful. I understand that Setzer also has "hot rod" models with simplified electronics.

And there is always the whole chambered vs semi-hollow, and the type of bridge to get, bigsby or no, etc.

[Michael_B]

I love the FMIC-era Gretsch necks. However, the distinctive small V necks are certainly not for everyone. Upper fret access is not so good. I've had mixed experiences with the switches' effectiveness. By and large, however, "not very useful" is a fair characterization.

You gotta get the Bigsby. I'm not a heavy trem user, but they're an integral part of "The Great Gretsch Sound".

The 6120 is a beautiful instrument. The 6129 is one of my favorite guitars. There's something about the 6118 two-tone that is almost irresistible, but I expect the tone would be too similar to the 6120 to justify getting it.

[JohnnyB]

On another note, I'm a big fan of their drum line as well. Picked up a Renown 57 Bop kit when they were blowing them out a few years back. It's my go to gig kit, small but a big sound, especially mic'd

Those are really freaking sweet!

They sound at least as good as they look. I saw a set in that color scheme, but with larger drums and the matching turquoise/white throne. They sounded suh-weet! I wish I could have taken 'em home. The Renown line has all-maple shells, but all drum sizes use the same shell thickness. There is/was a more premium product line where shell plies and thickness are proportionate to the drum size. Sounds better in theory maybe, but I wouldn't change a thing about the construction or sound of the Renown series.

[currypowder]

I've had a few drum sets over the years (not as many as guitars, take up too much room). This one is by far my fave. I could have gotten the bigger rock set, but I've had good luck with bop sets, even for rock. Especially the small places I tend to play. It always gets compliments, both for how it sounds and looks.

I was lucky when I was looking for a new kit, gretsch had discontinued this line and they were discounted everywhere considerably, I think the 4 pieces were around $500. I was really considering the 5 pc rock kit, but I just love the feel and look of a 4 pc.

I also have a US made 4 pc Gretsch Brooklyn rock kit with a huge bass drum. It sounds huge, too. But I never get a chance to play it, it's just too loud.

[stonge]

tried to pull the trigger on a 2014 Hot Rod today; it's still listed but the shop couldn't locate the guitar and the Gretsch specialist is out of town for a couple of days. If it's still there when he calls me back later in the week I'll take it, but I'm not too hung up on this particular guitar. Like all things FMIC, the pricing keeps creeping up each year while I put this off lol - I could see $3K on a custom-made Shishkov (and would feel like I was getting my money's worth) but $3K on a Japanese production-line guitar makes me hesitate a little. From what I have heard though the reissues are frequently as good or better than most of the originals (or at least more consistent). If Henry had Gretsch they would be priced at least twice that I suppose...

[cmatthes]

That White Falcon kills me.

[kizanski]

That White Falcon kills me.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind one of those.

[Michael_B]

tried to pull the trigger on a 2014 Hot Rod today; it's still listed but the shop couldn't locate the guitar and the Gretsch specialist is out of town for a couple of days. If it's still there when he calls me back later in the week I'll take it, but I'm not too hung up on this particular guitar. Like all things FMIC, the pricing keeps creeping up each year while I put this off lol - I could see $3K on a custom-made Shishkov (and would feel like I was getting my money's worth) but $3K on a Japanese production-line guitar makes me hesitate a little. From what I have heard though the reissues are frequently as good or better than most of the originals (or at least more consistent). If Henry had Gretsch they would be priced at least twice that I suppose...

$3k for a Hot Rod sounds high to me. >$2500 for an SSLVO seems fairly common and +/- $2k is not completely unusual. A couple of weeks ago, someone was offering a 6120 Jr. for $1450 (which was a helluva deal).

[cmatthes]

I think he dropped his final price on that 6120JR a little from there too.

Agreed that you can get the Hot Rods between $2k-$2.5k regularly. The new Anti-Freeze Green Flake might be tougher to find though.

[Michael_B]

I think he dropped his final price on that 6120JR a little from there too.

Damn. Bad time for me to try to quit GAS.

[cmatthes]

Now there's a guy over there with a '94 White Penguin for $1,650 PP/Shipped...

I need to stop looking.

[Stike]

I think he dropped his final price on that 6120JR a little from there too.

Agreed that you can get the Hot Rods between $2k-$2.5k regularly. The new Anti-Freeze Green Flake might be tougher to find though.

Get a used Electromatic, a pair of TV Jones and call me?

[tbonesullivan]

I just checked out TV Jones website. It's been a while since I was there, and they seem to have a bunch more pickups than they used to. I noticed that the Brian Setzer hot rod guitars now have Brian Setzer signature TV jones pickups.

of course, I have heard that the Filter'trons that the pro line has are very close to the originals these days, which wasn't true before Fender started managing production.

[stonge]

The new Setzer Hot Rods are MAP (minimum advertised price) at $3K, and the other Setzer models MAP north of that but I think all of the 2014 and up models have the new TV Jones Setzer signature pickups. I missed on a demo Hot Rod (sold to a walk in but still listed on the bay). There's a Black Phoenix on the local CL that I might check out when my funds are credited back to PayPal.

I like the anti freeze green hot rod but that's a little too much for me; I'd never be able to sneak that one into the set lol.

[RobB]

The new Setzer Hot Rods are MAP (minimum advertised price) at $3K, and the other Setzer models MAP north of that but I think all of the 2014 and up models have the new TV Jones Setzer signature pickups. I missed on a demo Hot Rod (sold to a walk in but still listed on the bay). There's a Black Phoenix on the local CL that I might check out when my funds are credited back to PayPal.

I like the anti freeze green hot rod but that's a little too much for me; I'd never be able to sneak that one into the set lol.

$3K is a LOT of skrilla for a Gretch. Buy used.

[Tres Aardvarks]

I think he dropped his final price on that 6120JR a little from there too.

Agreed that you can get the Hot Rods between $2k-$2.5k regularly. The new Anti-Freeze Green Flake might be tougher to find though.

Get a used Electromatic, a pair of TV Jones and call me?

Yeah sure, like you know anything about wicked cool flake jobs!!!!

My buddy always tells me he wants a Chet Atkins, and for the life of me I'm not sure why....cool enough, but he doesn't play guitar (he's gotten back into playing bass) and they're big money. I'd love that White Falcon!!