#1
|
|||
|
|||
Gretschs are so good everybody is making them!
The Epiphone Swingster! I may end up with one when they start showing up used...
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I tried one of these. It's certainly voiced differently from a Gretsch. Plus, there are many different guitars of a similar variety. I own a Guild X175b, which is a great guitar. Other makers, like Ibanez, have similar offerings. I thought the Epi was a fun guitar and sounded good.
__________________
https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I always got the impression there was this loose association between Gretsch, Epiphone, and Guild back in the day in electric guitar design. With Guild and Epiphone the human connection is easy to make if I recall right (wasn't Guild started when the Epiphone factory closed down by ex- Epi folks?) Steve DeRosa will not doubt chime in with how Gretsch connected to the other two.
Now of course the current Epiphone and Guild brand owners are somewhat removed from that history, but our current century seems to have revived interest in "Non-Fender/Non-Gibson" electric guitar designs. I own a several DeArmond electrics from the turn of the century, an idea by Fender to make a whole line of Korean-made sorta Guild/Gretsch style instruments after Fender bought Guild, but before they signed the distribution agreement with Gretsch. The line famously bombed in the marketplace--buyers didn't know what to make of them--but they weren't bad guitars, and the ones I bought when they were blown-out at very low prices have stuck with me since then.
__________________
----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
As far as "That Great Gretsch Sound" is concerned, in the absolute nothing else sounds like a Gretsch but a Gretsch - a consequence of both the largely-proprietary electronics and unusually lightweight woods used in their construction, which lends them an airy resonance and upper-midrange chime few other makes can approach, much less duplicate; that said, there have been several very close approximations over the years: the early-60's Guild Duane Eddy thinlines and X-350/375 hollowbodies with DeArmond Dynasonic pickups (Gibson/Epiphone jazzbox punch with Gretsch chime and clarity), the ultra-lightweight Godin CW II (an interesting mix of Gretsch airiness and P-90 drive - my clean blues, rockabilly, and jazz-comping box), and the current Guild X-175 Manhattan Soecial/Starfire II ST-Dynasonic. Having played a couple, IME the Epi Swingster is most definitely not one of them - nor, come to think of it, is the Streamliner series...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) Last edited by Steve DeRosa; 01-12-2021 at 05:07 PM. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I had a White Royale, was a nice axe, however,, had big fat neck and very tall frets. I never bonded with it.
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
BTW, if you're looking for White Falcon visual vibe - and Filter'Tron tone - without the $3500 price of admission, check out one of these: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
^--- I got a Walnut one (looks like Wine Red to my eyes, but there ya go..)
I love the darned thing.. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Having owned my share of both Gretsch and Epiphone I’d personally select Gretsch EVERY time. IMHO the Korean models are superior to most Epiphone jazz/hollow-body style guitars that I've played/owned.
I would add that Ibanez does a really fantastic job with some of their jazz/hollow-body options also. Additionally, While I agree that Gretsch guitars are “so good everyone is making them”...I’ll still take the Gretsch over the “Gretsch Like” all day, every day. I’d offer for your consideration that there is no “Gretsch like”. It’s either a Gretsch...or, it isn’t. They have a very unique sound/feel/playability all their own. Play one long enough and the differences will be apparent.
__________________
2023 Martin GPC-11e 2023 Fender Players Tele Limited Edition - Oxblood 2022 Gibson Les Paul Standard 60’s - Unburst 2021 Fender Strat American Pro II - Black 2014 Gibson ES-335 Memphis Dot - Cherry 2013 Gibson Les Paul 50’s Tribute P90 - Tobacco 2012 Yamaha FS720 TBS |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Patrick 2012 Martin HD-28V 1984 Martin Shenandoah D-2832 2018 Gretsch G5420TG Oscar Schmidt Autoharp, unknown vintage ToneDexter Bugera V22 Infinium |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
https://quickguards.com/products/gre...lcon-pickguard - and one of these: https://quickguards.com/products/gre...ss-rod-cover-1 - and it wouldn't be complete without a set of these: https://www.angela.com/gretschusagol...knobsfour.aspx
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Patrick 2012 Martin HD-28V 1984 Martin Shenandoah D-2832 2018 Gretsch G5420TG Oscar Schmidt Autoharp, unknown vintage ToneDexter Bugera V22 Infinium |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
It looks far better without that stuff, IMO. Beautiful guitar.
|
#13
|
|||
|
|||
There was a time when I thought I would never leave my Gibson ES195 hollow body. P-94's, a Bigsby, and I loved the tone. Then, I played a Gretsch Black Falcon and it was all over. I had to sell another guitar to afford it but I couldn't get that sound out of my head. The ES195 just got put on the market last week. It was an awesome guitar that served me well for five years but that Falcon is just the most fun I've ever had on an electric.
-jay
__________________
'22 Gretsch Falcon 6136PE (Midnight Sapphire) '16 Lowden F35c (Mountain Rosewood) (For Sale) '07 Bashkin OM (Cedar/Mahogany) '98 SRV Fender Stratocaster Last edited by jay7347; 02-01-2021 at 09:43 PM. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks. I'm pretty happy with it.
__________________
Patrick 2012 Martin HD-28V 1984 Martin Shenandoah D-2832 2018 Gretsch G5420TG Oscar Schmidt Autoharp, unknown vintage ToneDexter Bugera V22 Infinium |