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Topic: My latest Gretsch guitar acquisition |
Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 23 May 2016 8:39 pm |
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I found this guitar today at Sam Ash in Florida and ordered it. Should be in Oklahoma the end of the week. It is a new version of the 5420 Electromatic with no wording on the headstock, bound headstock, thumb inlay on fretboard. I will modify it with the G "branding iron" decal and Chet signpost for the pickguard from Setzer Signs and upgrade the pickups to TV Jones and probably the bridge and still wont have into it nearly what the "Pro" line costs. I already have the Gretsch 6122-1959 pro line guitar and it will remain my go to guitar, but this one will be a nice one to take to jams. 
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 24 May 2016 2:23 am simular
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Looks like the second toggle switch is the only difference (that I can see). I bought my 6120 back in the 90's.
Geo
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 24 May 2016 4:37 am
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I have one that I bought from Sweetwater last year. It has the "Electromatic" on the headstock.
Its OK but will never replace my old 61 PX6120 (That I bought new in 61). |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 24 May 2016 10:52 am
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Gotta love a Gretsch. That's a fine looking guitar, Larry. 
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke
Last edited by Michael Maddex on 26 May 2016 6:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 24 May 2016 6:57 pm
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George
Thats a great looking 6120 you have there...Chet left Gretsch because he felt the quality control wasnt good back in those days...the Japan made guitars of these days are far superior to the old ones. I have a 6122-1959 that I bought about 5 years ago and would never part with it...best sounding and playing guitar I have owned, other than the Benedetto Bambino.
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 25 May 2016 2:19 am yup
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Yes Larry, you have a great sounding guitar and you play it well. There is another fellow that sets up next to me at the Venture Out that also played one but I think his was a different model with the double cut away with the padded back.
Geo |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 May 2016 2:24 am
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| I thought the painted F holes were later? |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 25 May 2016 6:19 am
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Jack, I am not sure when the F holes were painted on...all I know is Chet wanted them that way so he didnt have to deal with feedback on stage...I always preferred the looks of the open F holes better, and thought the painted on ones looked kinda "cheesey", but the guitar sounds great with them painted so I go with it. Myabe it would be in the book "Me and my Gutiars" that was put out about Chets guitars, but I no longer own a copy of it.
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 25 May 2016 9:48 am
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With the pickguard reversed:
Edited:
I've just noticed that it has two cutaways. Must be a different model.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 25 May 2016 12:10 pm
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| Wow - everything's reversed, Bigsby tailpiece included. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 May 2016 2:51 pm
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Here is a band picture from 1965. I was working in the Sonny Lee band from York, Pa.
Its just a black and white photo, only one I have left from that band. I had my 1961 PX6120, that also had the white case with the tooled leather binding. The steel player is Harry "Hap" Hatterer (who later got a D-10 ZB).
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Will Houston
From:
Tempe, Az
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Posted 25 May 2016 5:33 pm
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| Great picture Jack. |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 25 May 2016 6:21 pm
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Jack, great picture...I love those types of pics from long ago !
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 25 May 2016 6:46 pm
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Larry, is this model Gretsch made in China - or is it one of their lower priced guitars coming out of Japan?
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Mark |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 25 May 2016 7:58 pm
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Mark
Well I aint sure, but I was thinking its Korea or China...the guitar was shipped to Oklahoma and I am in Arizona right now, so I will have to report back when I get there next week ! My Gretsch 6122-1959 was built in Japan and it is a "pro line" they call it and is way more money than this one was...around $3k compared to $800...I was not aware that they made a lower price Japan model, but of course its possible,,unless you are just jerking my chain...which is ok too
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 26 May 2016 4:37 am
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No chain jerking, I am genuinely curious. i was doing some googling but couldn't find out anything about it, this sort of thing seems to be a well kept secret until you get the guitar in your hands and can read the label as to where it's made.
I figured it's likely China or Korea, but there are American made Fenders and Gibsons that retail under a thousand, so I was thinking that perhaps Gretsch is able to get some of their more "entry level" Japanese made models on the market for under a grand as well.
Now the U.S. made Gretsch guitars from their Custom Shop - that's a whole other matter, some of those are priced through the roof! 
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Mark |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 26 May 2016 4:53 am
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| The G5420T, that I bought last year, is made in Korea. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 26 May 2016 9:59 am
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Hey Larry, I picked up mine last summer at my local GC for $800 with a nice hardshell case. I just lowered the action a little at the bridge and it was ready to go with no other adjustments necessary. I've been a Chet and Merle freak since the fifties and this guitar really handles the Chet stuff great as far as tone and playability... It looks a little like a white Falcon with the finish and gold hardware... Here's a shot or two of it. (the guy holding it isn't me)...JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 27 May 2016 7:20 am
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Jerry, nice looking guitar ! I used to own a White Falcon, but it was a lot of money tied up...the way you went is a lot more reasonable ! Good buy !
_________________
Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 31 May 2016 1:28 pm Small discourse on Gretsch 6120 history
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Joachim:
Gretsch's 6120 model became double-cutway in 1962 and that seems to be what's in that photo. The 6120 evolved over time, starting with cowboy fret markers and the G-brand, getting thinner and changing controls slightly until becoming a double cutaway. Edward G. Ball has written a fabulous book on just the Gretsch 6120 and delineated the changes through the various individual batches produced by the factory.
Below (photo taken ca. 2000) is my 1960 6120, the first guitar in the last batch for that year. The slightly pretentious camera angle is used to show Chet's signature on the peghead, which I obtained mere days after paying this off at a pawnshop about ten years earlier. It's been through some changes: the actual body finish is a bad repainting in salmon orange, which almost obscured the label inside the bass f-hole with paint drips. Someone added the Grover Imperial tuners--not the worst mod I could think of--and under their footprint and under the old bridge base, which some idiot glued down, are the only remaining traces of the body's original orange stain.
The good news: it was cheap--even after wiring restoration, a few parts (repro pickguard, Bigsby base-hinge piece, gold master volume knob and vintage '60s gray Gretsch case) I'm only into this about a grand--a small fraction of what a knowledgeable seller would ask for a batch mate that hasn't been so idiotically mistreated. (And Chet's signature--priceless.)
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 1 Jun 2016 8:50 am
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Ben, still a very nice guitar even with the flaws you described! And thanks about the information about the double cutaway. I was about fouteen when the group in the picture I posted had a few hits in Germany. The look of the orange really impressed me.
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 3 Jun 2016 6:01 pm
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I have a Brian Setzer model Japan made. It has only a volume control and pickup switch selector. I installed a "Vibramate" on the Bixby and it makes changing strings a breeze with no modification to the guitar. Kind of wish I had a tone control but would be a tricky install.
Congrats on your acquisition 👠|
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 4 Jun 2016 3:10 pm
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joachim..who is that picture of?
it kinda looks like a polish version of the monkees! |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 4 Jun 2016 11:41 pm
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Now that you say it Chris, I see similarities too. The band was Casey Jones and the Governors. If you listen to this great party song:
Edited:
But seriously, be cautious this song can be a nasty earworm, I have it running around my head all the time. Kind of unwanted!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfaHyqOMiys
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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