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The black jet with flatwounds sounds pretty surfy. Not quite my jaguar, but pretty nice. The white corvette can be pretty growly. Still good for lots of instrumental type tunes, but not very surfy. I really dig both of these guitars, been playing the jet a lot lately. But I've never gigged with either of them, just rehearsals.
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Gretsch?
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Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 83 San Diego 
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Posted on Dec 07 2012 07:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ 
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Posted on Nov 02 2014 11:34 PM
Has anyone tried the centre-block 5622? (Looking at an option on one at the moment)
Youtube clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snp0hPnxepo The other one I was looking into at the moment is a 5129 with a compensated saddle and USA-wound DeArmond 2000s, which I've heard a lot of good things about —He who dies with the most tubes... wins Last edited: Nov 03, 2014 11:50:34 |
Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin 
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 02:35 PM
It's unbelievable how many roles the right Gretsch can fill in capable hands. I really enjoyed listening to Drew's when The Revomatics opened for Dick Dale. MONSTER great sound. —Wes DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. |
Joined: Oct 05, 2011 Posts: 744 France
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 02:48 PM
I saw this very model in a shop window last week on my way home. It's really putting my Gearoholics Anonymous pledge to the test That being said, I think I'd prefer the G5620T-CB — 2 pickup, single cutaway version. —Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers. |
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Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 05:22 PM
Okay I've got three possibilities now; 1) 5129 (with US DeArmonds and compensated bridge) with case (used) 1 and 2 are the same price. 3 is another hundy (but is still on a special). Dammit I hate these moments —He who dies with the most tubes... wins Last edited: Nov 04, 2014 11:34:55 |
Joined: Feb 06, 2012 Posts: 55 Anchorage, AK
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 07:27 PM
I'd love to try one of those bad boys! I love my 6120 filtertrons every now and then when we play. —The SpeNerds |
Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan 
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 08:12 PM
I used to have a mid-60s Cherry-burst Corvette, with Burns vibrato, single Hi-Lo Tron p'up and 2+4 reverse headstock. Super cool axe with tons of vibe. Had to get replacement p'guard as the original went all shrunken head on me and was screwing up the finish with acidic gasses. Eventually traded it in Nashville for a (non-vintage but in some ways better) Fulltone Tube Tape Echo, which I still use with all my axes. — |
Joined: Jul 23, 2014 Posts: 645 LA -ish
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 10:14 PM
Can't figure out add pics yet by I have a Centerblock Duo Jet with some upgrade TV Jones Classics that does me just fine. Plenty of clarity and sustain and a lovely master volume! mj —mj
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Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4054 Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Nov 03 2014 10:41 PM
Tough choices Tubeswell. In some ways I feel like the best, classic Gretsch sound comes from Dynasonic/DeArmonds. I think Dynas are better for traditional Surf sounds as well. Those US Dynas aren't that great though. The neck position usually sounds O.K. but the bridge can be weak and thin. They can also be very, very microphonic. The Centerblock Electros with Hilo's look and sound cool too. I always liked HiLo's. Weak in output but cool sounding and it sounds like they may have addressed some of that weakness with the new pickups......?? So, I guess I'm of no help except to say that any one of those three choices could sound great. Cheers, http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 12:31 AM
The new HiLos are humbuckers, not singles (if that matters to you). |
Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe 
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 01:37 AM
Hmmm, tough choice! I'm with Jeff on the DeArmonds, the neck pickup sounds great, but the bridge one can be thinny. I have an original Dearmond M75T that has two USA made Dearmond 2k pickups. Gretsch seems to use them on their 57 reisue Silverjet nowadays. I never got a good surf sound from the bridge puppy, but I saw the Tequila Worms use the same guitar with stellar results. May I add an extra option, that probably is a bit cheaper? I replaced the awfull gretschbuckers on my Gretsch electromatic g5120 with GFS Surf 90 Alnico II pickups. They have the twang of the DeArmonds, but ad some nice warm mids to the mix. While you're at it, ad a Wilkinson rollerbridge from GFS to the order, much better than the original bridge and it hardly detunes when I use my bigsby really agressive. You should have no problem finding a cheap used g5120 with gretschbuckers (the version before the blacktop pickups). It is now my favorite guitar in my collection and my worn down '65 Jazzmaster finally gets her deserved rest www.alohasluts.com |
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Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734 
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 01:56 AM
Like Arny said, have a look at the Surf 90's by GFS. I have them in a Ibanez Artcore AM-73T, which is somewhat like a 5120. Great sound and great quality for a very good price. |
Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 05:54 AM
I've not tried a center-block model yet and to be honest I'm not really digging the middle pickup config. That said I do own a Gretsch Electromatic 5420T and it's a great guitar. Incredible bang for the buck, versatile and great for Surf. Love the tone / sound of the pickups also! — |
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Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 11:38 AM
Las_Barracudas wrote:
I've tried one in a local shop and can get a bit of a deal on one at the mo. I too thought the surfy tone had some magic in it. Are they made in China? (I forgot to check)
He who dies with the most tubes... wins |
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Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 04:15 PM
Made in Korea. Okay - so that's my geetar. Arriving next week. 8-) Thanks everyone for the collective wisdom. —He who dies with the most tubes... wins |
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Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4054 Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 04:18 PM
Awesome, Congratulations. Cheers, P.S. You made me get out my Duojet and play it this morning......Thank You. —http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
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Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 04:25 PM
Yeah will definitely report - the exact same colour etc as the pic —He who dies with the most tubes... wins |
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Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 05:18 PM
tubeswell wrote:
Right on! Cool color. — |
Joined: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 859 Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Nov 04 2014 06:19 PM
tubeswell wrote:
my 18yr son has this guitar and he loves it. Although he's saving up for the tvjones version of the pickups. Toms pickups are incredible.
http://www.thenocturnebrain.com |
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Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Nov 05 2014 02:13 AM
Congratulations on the guitar Tubeswell! Hope you survive the delivery time in a good mood! Let us know how it plays and sounds! Almost bought the same 5420T a couple of months ago (had a little overtime money to spent), but in the store I saw a brand new Guild X175B with case for 700 euro's I couldn't resist. It was lower priced because it had a little scratch on the pickguard !?! The Guild is warmer sounding than my Gretsch, so not that surfy, but I love it for playing 'surfabilly' & Duane Eddy tunes! In the store they told me it is actually made by Fender in the same Korean factory as the Electromatic Gretsches. Last month Fender sold Guild to Cordoba. So it could be a rare 'Fender' in the future www.alohasluts.com Last edited: Nov 05, 2014 02:14:43 |
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