NGD Gretsch 6120T '55 VS

[rockabilly69]

I sold my Gibson R6 Goldtop, as it was a bit heavy for me, and I started playing my SG Special much more. That left a little money in the guitar buying account, so I decided to use it to buy a guitar I've thought about for awhile, a classic, a Gretsch 120T 1955 reissue Vintage Select. This one comes with TV Jones T-Armond pickups which are his version of the famed Gretsch DynaSonics. Recently I played a friend's Dynasonic equipped guitar and I really loved how they reacted to fingerpicking! And this Gretsch comes with a lacquer finish which is rare on modern Gretsches (other than the custom shop models), which I prefer over poly. Can't wait to take this one out to my solo gigs and fingerpick away on it, won't be here till Tuesday, but here's a pic from the ebay auction...

[DanR]

Congrats on the new guitar. It's a beauty. I love 'that great Gretsch sound!' ♫

[Dru Edwards]

Congrats! Must be quite the change from the R6.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Congrats! Must be quite the change from the R6.

I'll let you know when I get it, it will be here Tuesday. The change shouldn't be too bad as I already have two other Gretsch guitars so I'm used to the Gretsch neck shape! I also have a few Les Pauls (R7, R0, and two Heritage H150s), and for years I've gone back and forth between Gibson and Gretsch guitars. The only thing I haven't had is a Gretsch with Dynasonic pickups so that will probably take a bit to get used to.

[Steel and wood]

Magnificent!

Don't own a Gretsch but if I did, it would most likely be this guitar!

Congratulations!

[The Growler]

Fantastic! Very, very nice.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Steel and wood

Magnificent!

Don't own a Gretsch but if I did, it would most likely be this guitar!

Congratulations!

Thank you, I hope one day you find yourself a nice Gretsch!

Originally Posted by The Growler

Fantastic! Very, very nice.

Thank you I hope it's half as good as you described it

[Steel and wood]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Thank you, I hope one day you find yourself a nice Gretsch!


Thank you I hope it's half as good as you described it

If I didn't already own a semi and a Telecaster to look after my rockabilly/country/Americana/other needs then a burnt orange Gretsch 6120 like yours (with branding on top if possible) is what I'd want.

Stunningly beautiful guitar even to look at!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Steel and wood

If I didn't already own a semi and a Telecaster to look after my rockabilly/country/Americana/other needs then a burnt orange Gretsch 6120 like yours (with branding on top if possible) is what I'd want.

Stunningly beautiful guitar even to look at!

Well I do like semi-hollows and Teles too! Not only is this one fully hollow there's not even a tone post just parallel bracing on the top. It should be pretty resonant and sound good for my fingerpicked solo material.

[Johnny K]

Nice. The flame maple top looks great!

[jseth]

A venerable, iconic electric guitar! Sweet...

Doesn't surprise me that Gretsch's are great for fingerpicking... Chet did a whole lot of that on a Gretsch! I owned an early 60's model for 6 or 7 years, but it wasn't like this one; mine actually had painted-on F holes (to reduce feedback?)... I wasn't much of an electric player back then; sort of wish I had dug a bit further into what that guitar could do; unfortunately, it met a tragic fate after taking a "header" off a stage and snapping the neck, just below the headstock...

I've seen "real" '55's before, and yours looks very close. One thing I don't see on yours is the little button (opposite the G brand) that sounds an A440 tuning fork! Always thought that was pretty cool, although a bit redundant with today's proliferation of various tuners...

Enjoy that beautiful beast!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by jseth

A venerable, iconic electric guitar! Sweet...

Doesn't surprise me that Gretsch's are great for fingerpicking... Chet did a whole lot of that on a Gretsch! I owned an early 60's model for 6 or 7 years, but it wasn't like this one; mine actually had painted-on F holes (to reduce feedback?)... I wasn't much of an electric player back then; sort of wish I had dug a bit further into what that guitar could do; unfortunately, it met a tragic fate after taking a "header" off a stage and snapping the neck, just below the headstock...

I've seen "real" '55's before, and yours looks very close. One thing I don't see on yours is the little button (opposite the G brand) that sounds an A440 tuning fork! Always thought that was pretty cool, although a bit redundant with today's proliferation of various tuners...

Enjoy that beautiful beast!

Thank you very much! One thing though, 1955 6120Ts (or any 50's 6120s) didn't have a tuner button, maybe you where playing a later 60's variant (the tuning fork bridge was cool, but it wasn't a button), as the 55's were very simple electronics wise...

Master volume, master tone, neck volume, bridge volume, 3 way pickup switch, is all they had on the tops.

Here's some references to show what I mean...

https://www.garysguitars.com/catalog/1955-gretsch-6120

http://www.6120freak.com/1955.html

http://gretschpages.com/guitars/models/examples/4470/

[Steve DeRosa]

You need a tweed Twin...

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

You need a tweed Twin...

Ah yes for tone and the bonus of a loose color coordination

And BTW rockabilly, speaking of looks what a killer look, if it plays anywhere near as good as it looks, it will be a dynamite guitar congrats

[Steel and wood]

Not only is it the quintessential rockabilly guitar, it's got those country and western appointments which I love.

Some real eye candy right there!