Ed literally wrote the book on gretsch guitars balls manual of gretsch guitars. Unfollow gretsch duo jet to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. As the 10 th anniversary of george harrisons november 2001 passing approached, gretsch worked closely with the late guitarists estate in developing a tribute model replica of his first gretsch guitaran allblack 1957 duo jet that harrison bought secondhand at age 18 in summer 1961. Friedrich gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums until his death in 1895.
Vintage guitar details the history of the gretsch duo jet. Vintage guitars february 2011 issue includes a spread on the birth of the gretsch duo jet. It you own or are interested in the history of gretsch guitars this is the book you need. Released in 1954, the gretsch duo jet electric guitar blew musicians always with its killer looks and tone. While a few companies and individual craftsmen had previously experimented with solidbody electrics, it was fenders telecaster and gibsons les paul models that first popularized the solidbody design, and moved the market beyond the standard amplified acoustic guitars of the time. Gretsch is an american company that manufactures musical instruments. Seeing the sales success of these new, untraditional guitars, my uncle realized solid body guitars were more than a passing fad.
The knobs are the same and its weighted about the same. A short history discussion in other guitars, other instruments started by bruxist, apr 9, 2020. As mentioned earlier, gretsch also constructs highly durable and impeccably designed guitar cases, and the g6238 is a popular option, fitting both gretsch duo jets and pro jet guitars. Upon first strum the guitar had much more resonance than the power jet. The company was immediately prosperous, but in 1895 friedrich gretsch died at 39 and his 15year. The new gretsch g6128t1962 duo jet is an inspired reworking of that version, complete with modern updates, vintage cool looks and authoritative tones that will help set you apart from the rest. In this case in the gretsch electric guitar book and also the gretsch guitar book by tony bacon and paul day. Gretschs guitar production hits the highest point in company history. Taking things up a notch, henrichsen routed a spherical channel via cnc on the top of the body to place the curly maple. The magazine rewinds to 1953 to share a detailed history of the first gretsch electromatic solid body guitar, aka the model 6128 duo jet. Gretsch was a 27yearold german immigrant, that opened this small shop shortly after his arrival to the united states. This is a run down of all the awesomeness of the duo jet. The g6128tgh george harrison signature duo jet guitar celebrates the legacy of george harrison modeled on the instrument that the legendary guitarist often referred to as his first real decent guitar.
The unique tonal quality in every instrument manufactured by gretsch is truly one of a kind. Duo jet features dual high sensitive filtertron pickups, tone switch circuitry, ebony fingerboard with neoclassical thumbnail inlays, space control bridge and gretsch by bigsby b3c vibrato. I have one of the george harrison duo jets that came out a few years ago and also an early reissue duo jet that i bought new in 1998 from guitar center in hollywood california that has the stop tail piece on it, that i had special ordered from gretsch. It offers the distinctive appointments and modifications found on harrisons original 1957 gretsch duo jet, which he purchased secondhand in the early 1960s. Harrison found this one through a member of a band called the delacardoes, who got a tip from a taxi driver. Keep it in your guitar case accessory pocket for quick reference about what to demand when purchasing a guitar, the maintenance and care of your guitar and how to use it to the full extent of its capabilities. Gretsch musical instrument production began in 1883 when friedrich gretsch, a german immigrant, set up a shop in brooklyn for the manufacture of banjos, tambourines and drums. Unlike many solidbody electric guitars on the market at the time, gretsch duo jets featured chambered bodies, making them in fact semisolid sixstrings.
The gretsch duo jet guitar was first introduced in 1953, at the dawn of the modern solidbody electric guitar era. The new one has way better pickups and standard gretsch controls. How gretsch guitars came back from the brink reverb news. Although only airing for two years, the show was seen by more than 30. In retrospect, its been 60 years since my uncle and his talented team wrote an important chapter in the gretsch companys guitar history book. The name duo jet was inspired by the guitars two pickups duo and the advanced aircraft of the day jet. Made of a chambered mahogany body, the duo jet model 6128 is one of gretsch. Gretsch was started in a small music shop in brooklyn, n. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. At the same place i found the power jet i found a brand new duo jet. Regardless, this specimen is a unique and historically significant instrument coveted by many gretsch aficionados. Gretsch 6128 duo jet pete townshends guitar gear whotabs. The gretsch dual humbuckers sound great and it has that distinctive gretsch sound.
Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. While most of us are familiar with gretsch s alist of classic guitar models 6120, country gentleman, white falcon, duo jet, sparkle jet, etc. Gretsch introduces the duo jet the companys first solid body electric guitar. Fast forwarding nearly 3 years i have literally played every type of guitar under the sun in an attempt to get a great playing guitar that sounds like a gretsch. Tonys book tells you the complete story behind the development of the gretsch guitar from its inception right through to the present. In january 1951, gretsch let the music world know it was a serious contender in the quickly evolving electric guitar business when it introduced the electromatic and electro ii models at a threeday promotional show at new yorks park sheraton hotel. The silverjet and sparklejet models were basically fancy versions of the duojet which came in black, or red and called a jet firebird. As i prefer the single coil sound of duo jets the new electromatic jets dont really have. I love both of these guitars and i have used them in the studio. Its not a light guitar by any means but very easy to play. Since the 1930s, that great gretsch sound has come in a variety of guitar shapes, sizes, colors, and model names. Meticulously recreated by gretsch master builder stephen stern and his crew, the gretsch george harrison tribute duo jet, recreates georges original gretsch duo jet with unparalleled accuracy. Gretsch custom shops kyle keesler unveils his firstever namm creation. The company was founded in 1883 in brooklyn, new york by friedrich gretsch, a 27yearold german immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the united states.
Loaded with great pics, anacdotes and without doubt superb research. Tv jones powertrons in the power jet are wound a bit hotter than the gretsch hs filtertrons which are in the duo jet. The gretsch duo jet is an instrument that sounds incredible its as simple as that. It has the old script logo on the headstock, and the missing first fret marker and a 1953 serial number. Gretsch supplies guitars and drums for the monkees television program. Further bids for vintage veracity came with oldiestyle takes on the country classic gent, country club, duo jet, falcon, nashville 6120, silver jet, and tennessee rose tennessean.
G6128 custom shop duo jet another natural beauty, henrichsens g6128 duo jet also has a book matched claro walnut top and head cab with curly maple binding. Mij duo jet vs usa custom shop duo jet page 2 gretsch. Aside from the extra cutaway, the double jets spec is identical to its singlecut brother. Gretsch g5441t electromatic double jet electric guitar with bigsby tailpiece, 22 frets, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, passive pickup, gloss polyester, firebird red. George harrison often referred to this gretsch duo jet as his first good guitar. If you dont gasp a little when you see that flawless black paintwork and gleaming chrome hardware contrast with the bubblegum.
For the early quadrophenia era uk gigs in octobernovember 1973, pete townshend used a black 1959 or 1960 gretsch duo jet on stage for portions of these shows. The electromatic double jet pays tribute to the doublecut duo jet that gretsch launched in 1961. The driver, ivan hayward, was a former merchant seaman who was planning on emigrating and had decided to sell the gretsch duo jet hed bought at sam goodys in new york city in 1957. Information essential to every guitarist students, hobbyists and professionalsis gathered together here for you in our gretsch owners manual. Every single detail of this guitar is identical to harrisons original duo jet, down to every scratch, dent, and tarnished piece of hardware. Gretsch history 60 broadway building 4, gretsch s ny home for decades. Opening the deluxe tweed case of the new g6128tgh george harrison signature duo jet, its hard to argue with sterns assessment. I have experience with both pickups and the powertrons are constructed like a filtertron but they produce more mids and generate a higher output than the filtertrons. Gretsch g5422tg whitegold electromatic guitar 2page.
Fourteen captivating gretsch custom shop creations. It was gretschs alliance with fender, starting officially on the first day of 2003, that seemed at last to make the most of what gretsch had to offer. He assembled his guitar brain trust of jimmie webster, duke kramer, and phil grant and the team worked diligently to develop the gretsch duo jet, one of the most desired guitars of the 1950s thats still going strong 60 years later. The 10 rarest gretsch guitars on reverb right now reverb. Gretsch g6128tgh duo jet black george harrison signature 2499 gretsch g6128 tgh george harrison tribute duo jet custom shop,900. My love, hate, love relationship with the gretsch g6128t.