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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Gretsch for surf?

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I have a Gretsch 6116PTV Power Tenny that has TV Jones Powertron pu's and a heavily "trestle braced" body that can do surf well, especially when playing through an outboard reverb tank. IMO, the best Gretsch for surf would be a Jet with DeArmond "Dynasonic" single coil pu's. Dynasonics are big, fat, twangy sounding high output single coils that also have a percussive "thump" and clarity to them. TV Jones version of the Dynasonic, the "T-Armond" is now available in a Filtertron cover so you can easily replace the Black Top Filtertrons that come stock in the Electromatic Jet if you wanted to go that route.

Last edited: Apr 30, 2018 10:47:45

That Power Tenny is a heck of an instrument. I have a G6119-1959 to which I added a neck pickup. For a while I had Powertrons in both positions but ended up with DuoTrons in both positions.

photo

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

image

My main surf guitar is a Gretsch-styled Reverend. I replaced the stock pickups with a tv jones classic in the bridge, and a hilotron in the neck. It may not be the stereotypical surf tone. But it does have that old school vibe. And I'm no purist.

Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

revmike wrote:

Nice! Brent J Cooper sure gets some amazing soungs out of his Gretsch, as does Brian Connelly ( Shadowy men, Atomic 7). I got to hang out with Brent a couple of years ago and talked about lots of instro guitar stuff, and gear. His choice to use a Gretsch was strongly influenced by Shadowy Men.

Rev

Yes, the same influences
Just really miss Huevos Rancheros stuff, it was sooo great!

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Yeah, I got a JMJM, and Bass VI, and a small flock of Teles, all of which are quite surfable, but my Pro-Jet seems to keep up just fine...and then some! Setzer in the neck and a TVJ Classic on the bridge.
image

Guitar

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/

Cool

Last edited: May 05, 2018 15:02:10

I came up with my Gretsch Surfy Astro Jet (Custom-made neck, approx. '65-'68 Astro Jet mahogany body, TV Jones T-Armond single-coil pickups, Mastery bridge and tremolo, custom-made Astro-Jet metal tag plate, custom-made pickguard and truss rod cover, and Sperzel lock tuners):

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Here is my fave Dr. Frankenstein surfy instrumental tune, "Sneaky Surf" with a Gretsch G6129T-1957 Silver Jet:

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

Snorre wrote:

I came up with my Gretsch Surfy Astro Jet (Custom-made neck, approx. '65-'68 Astro Jet mahogany body, TV Jones T-Armond single-coil pickups, Mastery bridge and tremolo, custom-made Astro-Jet metal tag plate, custom-made pickguard and truss rod cover, and Sperzel lock tuners):

image
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Here is my fave Dr. Frankenstein surfy instrumental tune, "Sneaky Surf" with a Gretsch G6129T-1957 Silver Jet:

Rates a wow!

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/

Cool

Thanks, much appreciated, mj! Big Grin

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

revmike wrote:

Nice! Brent J Cooper sure gets some amazing soungs out of his Gretsch, as does Brian Connelly ( Shadowy men, Atomic 7). I got to hang out with Brent a couple of years ago and talked about lots of instro guitar stuff, and gear. His choice to use a Gretsch was strongly influenced by Shadowy Men.

Rev

Probably you know what gear was Brent using?

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai wrote:

Got the Gretsch again. Just love it for some heavy surf rock Huevos Rancheros style or some western inspired.
image

Had some rehearsals and it sounds gourgeous)
By the way, It feels different from the gretsches I had (6118, 6120) and then suddenly I understood that it has 25,5 scale! More sparkle and not so bassy as short scale, love it) Checked the model and the year - 25,5 scale)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

-

Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 13:58:49

Tqi wrote:

Related question, can one surf with a Blackface Champion?

IMO, certainly. I use a 5 watt amp all the time. Mix it through the PA and it sounds like a big amp.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

playing around with Gretsch, is it surfy enough?

https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin/surfingwgretsch

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai wrote:

playing around with Gretsch, is it surfy enough?

https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin/surfingwgretsch

Nothing wrong with that sound, at least to my ear.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

synchro wrote:

Samurai wrote:

playing around with Gretsch, is it surfy enough?

https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin/surfingwgretsch

Nothing wrong with that sound, at least to my ear.

In spite of playing into some rock style Blackstar amp with cab)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

synchro wrote:

Samurai wrote:

playing around with Gretsch, is it surfy enough?

https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin/surfingwgretsch

Nothing wrong with that sound, at least to my ear.

In spite of playing into some rock style Blackstar amp with cab)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai wrote:

synchro wrote:

Samurai wrote:

playing around with Gretsch, is it surfy enough?

https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin/surfingwgretsch

Nothing wrong with that sound, at least to my ear.

In spite of playing into some rock style Blackstar amp with cab)

If it works, it works.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

surfy Gretsch = Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

I did it again)
image

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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