New Gretsch 6120

kayakman · #1 05-05-2021, 10:15 AM

Any thoughts on a new Gretsch 6120 model,made in Japan?Sound, workmanship,playability..Thanks,I already own a 58 Gibson ES335,a 1938 L5 and a white SG new,playing through a fender black face deluxe reverb.I see some fancy prices on the vintage 6120`s..

bsman · #2 05-05-2021, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayakman

Any thoughts on a new Gretsch 6120 model,made in Japan?Sound, workmanship,playability..Thanks,I already own a 58 Gibson ES335,a 1938 L5 and a white SG new,playing through a fender black face deluxe reverb.I see some fancy prices on the vintage 6120`s..

I've never heard anything bad about the current (MIJ) Gretsch guitars. Get one with TV Jones pickups and you should be good to go.

rockabilly69 · #3 05-05-2021, 11:23 AM

I love my 6120, it exudes quality through and through. You've just got to decide which one of the many variations you want. There is a big difference on bracing and pickups. There are so many different models, so do your research and play as many as you can.

https://www.gretschguitars.com/search?q=G6120T

Mine is the T-Armond equipped 6120T '55 Vintage Select and it really opened my eyes up to DeArmond style pickups.

Steve DeRosa · #4 05-05-2021, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

...You've just got to decide which one of the many variations you want. There is a big difference in bracing and pickups. There are so many different models, so do your research and play as many as you can...

Agreed 100%; you also need to decide which one will work best with your preferred amp setup: as a very general rule the DeArmonds are a better match for the mellower (some say smoother) midrangey tones of '50s-style amps, while Filter'trons come into their own with classic early/mid-60's American-voiced amps like blonde/blackface Fenders or blue-check Ampegs - although I recall an English kid who got some really cool sounds with a Filter'tron Country Gent and an AC30...

kayakman · #5 05-05-2021, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the input folks..

BoneDigger · #6 05-05-2021, 12:03 PM

I own two Japanese Gretsch guitars, a G6118 Anniversary and a G6228FM. Both are phenomenal guitars with top notch fit and finish. The 6118 I bought used, and it had the electronics replaced with TV Jones Classics. The 6228 was new.

rockabilly69 · #7 05-05-2021, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoneDigger

I own two Japanese Gretsch guitars, a G6118 Anniversary and a G6228FM. Both are phenomenal guitars with top notch fit and finish. The 6118 I bought used, and it had the electronics replaced with TV Jones Classics. The 6228 was new.

So what do you feel the TV Jones Filters brought to the table? I wish you had recordings of both!!!

BoneDigger · #8 05-05-2021, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

So what do you feel the TV Jones Filters brought to the table? I wish you had recordings of both!!!

Well, it's hard for me to say because the guy I bought it from didn't own the originals any longer. I've only ever owned it with the TV Jones pickups. As for the Jones pickups, they work well with this guitar. I can only compare them to the BT pickups in the 6228FM or the blacktops in Electromatics, but I like them. They have nice clarity and power. You can really pull some rockabilly from these pickups.

rockabilly69 · #9 05-05-2021, 01:47 PM

Oh well, I'm glad you liked them though!

Matt_Ellis · #10 05-06-2021, 10:44 AM

Hi,
I have a 1998 6120DE (Duane Eddy). This is pre-Fender - so doesn't have the trestle bracing.

It came with Dearmond pickups that were very high fidelity to me. Lots of bass and treble.

I changed out the wiring harness and pickup for TV Jone Filteron Classic at the neck and a plus at the bridge. IMO it made the guitar far more balanced and I could set the eq on the amp fairly flat and it still sounds great. Also the 60 cycle hum was eliminated.

Gretsches are definitely great guitars, but you probably want to play it 1st (if possible) because the voices can be quite different.

Matt

Rob W · #11 05-08-2021, 02:36 PM

I don't own a MIJ 6120 53, But I do own a MIJ 6128 and the electromatic (5420), Korean, equivalent of the 6120. Here are my thoughts. The 6128 is not a 6120, but it's beautifully built and shines in every way, from tonal quality to fit and finish. Now, with the 5420, I removed the black tops and put in a pair of TV Jones Classics. The guitar is amazing. Plays and sounds incredible. So I'm thinking that the MIJ 6120 would be something I would definitely love to check out! That being said, I'm completely happy with the TVJ-inspired 5420.