After all these years of fawning over one I finally bought a Gretsch.

[Rambozo96]

About 10 years ago when I would walk into the local music store that dealt in Fender stuff they always had a few Gretsch guitars on the wall. I always wanted either the country gentleman or what ever Electromatic equivalent they offered or the duo jet like Malcolm Young used. Of course at that time being 15 years old the idea of buying one was out of the question, couldn’t afford one. Something about the Filter’Tron in a slightly overdriven amp just had something about it that I loved. Fast forward 10 years later I finally cave and bought a Double Jet in natural. Should arrive next week, bought it used from Reverb. Strong Malcolm Young vibes with this one. Now we wait.

 

[GGJaguar]

Nice, congrats! Gretsch guitars have a totally different vibe from any other maker in much the same was a Rickenbacker is its own thing.

 

[Rambozo96]

Nice, congrats! Gretsch guitars have a totally different vibe from any other maker in much the same was a Rickenbacker is its own thing.

What strikes me as weird is I obviously had some liking to the Gretsch sound as I also remember liking a Cabronita telecaster that came to me for upgraded guts. Even bone stock that guitar sang.

 

[Bonneville88]

Congrats, looks like a cool guitar!
Body shape reminds somewhat of a mid-70s Guild M80.

 

[Rambozo96]

Congrats, looks like a cool guitar!
Body shape reminds somewhat of a mid-70s Guild M80.

I always wonder if that was Guilds attempt at a missing link between a Gretsch and a Gibson

 

[walrus]

But I have to think the Gretsch is lighter than an M80!

walrus

 

[Default]

I have an Astro Jet.

Weird beast, handicapped by the wiring scheme.

 

[Rambozo96]

I have an Astro Jet.

Weird beast, handicapped by the wiring scheme.

I always wanted one but have zero idea what in the world could possibly be going on under the pickguard.

 

[Rambozo96]

But I have to think the Gretsch is lighter than an M80!

walrus

The M80 was entirely solid wasn’t it? I think Gretsch had chambered bodies mostly

 

[walrus]

Yes, very heavy!

walrus

 

[Default]

I always wanted one but have zero idea what in the world could possibly be going on under the pickguard.

A pickup blend knob, volume, volume, volume for treble booster. Pickup switch, mud switch, treble booster bypass switch. Middle position on the blend puts both pups at half volume, the treble booster loads down the pups through an impedance mismatch.

Pull the battery, use only one pup and it's a great sounding guitar.

 

[Rambozo96]

A pickup blend knob, volume, volume, volume for treble booster. Pickup switch, mud switch, treble booster bypass switch. Middle position on the blend puts both pups at half volume, the treble booster loads down the pups through an impedance mismatch.

Pull the battery, use only one pup and it's a great sounding guitar.

They even have wonky active electronics too? I know Gretsch sometimes got weird with the guts but I can only see this set up aggravating most people

 

[Bonneville88]

The M80 was entirely solid wasn’t it? I think Gretsch had chambered bodies mostly

It was one chunky chunk of hog indeed -
might have made a formidable medieval war club

 

[Rambozo96]

It was one chunky chunk of hog indeed -
might have made a formidable medieval war club

They seem like lead weights. I forgot they were an all mahogany body.

 

[Guildedagain]

Cornell was using Filtertrons in his 335.

 

[Default]

They even have wonky active electronics too? I know Gretsch sometimes got weird with the guts but I can only see this set up aggravating most people

It was a 1968 kinda thing. 68-69, the solidbodies had trebleboosters.

 

[Rambozo96]

Cornell was using Filtertrons in his 335.

Despite me being a major AC/DC and Soundgarden fan it never occurred to me to try a Gretsch. I just remember my uncle liked them and played nothing but Surf and Spaghetti Western soundtracks which is about the same thing but with accompanying horns. I remember liking the Cabronita tele, the Electromatic equivalent of the Country Gentleman, an original Astrojet and Corvette and what sealed the deal was I was at a co workers house who owns like 7-8 Gretsch guitars and let me try a few. Went on Reverb and found this Malcom Young looking job and bought it outright. I thought about buying a red one and having an uncovered dummy pickup in the middle because I remember watching the video for Jailbreak when Malcoms Gretsch was still red and had a unsightly humbucker in the middle.

 

[GGJaguar]

it never occurred to me to try a Gretsch.

Careful though, they're a bit addictive (like Guilds). I had to have a Duo Jet in each flavor.

 

[mushroom]

I like Gretsch.
I'm probably in the minority but I like all the gadgets and weird additions they did.
I have pretty much always had one floating around.
The current one on my playing rack is this 68 Blackhawk.

 

[Guildedagain]

Gretsh, the other Geetar.

I have never lucked out when it comes to Gretches. I found Corvettes to be a little iffy compared to an SG, like a kids guitar.

The pawn shop/music store Gretsches were always either ancient and in really bad shape or crazy high priced.

Those Duo Jets are nice, how light is the one on the left?