The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Followed me home. A Gretsch 2420 Chromatic-I'm no Bigbsy guy. I was asked to do a little project and was looking around for a inexpensive instrument with a bridge pickup-I had nothing in the stable with one. Really impressed with this guy at the price point! Plays well, sounds nice (has a coil tap push pull master volume knob) and although the Sunburst is not wonderful it's OK. With some trades of some gear I wasn't using anymore I walked out of the Bako GC with it for $98.00! I had a spare gig bag that fit it perfectly.
    Oh-and BTW you can play Jazz on it.....

    NGD-It's not a Dog-it's a Gretsch!-2024-2024-jpg

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Good for you. I've been considering a Gretsch and the more I learn about them, the more I'm tempted.

  4. #3

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    So it doesn't bark? Mine does, despite that it's also not a dog but an alligator

    I'm not at all interested in this kind of instrument or bling, but I do have a soft spot for the white-and-gold Gretsch Electromatics/Falcons/whatever

  5. #4

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    Peerless made Gretsch guitars in the... early 2000's I think. They've also been made in Japan.

    Gretsch serial numbers:
    “JT” is most common among the several two-letter country/factory prefixes, signifying Japan (J) and its Terada (T) factory. Others are “CS” (U.S. Custom Shop), “CY” (China, Yako facility), “JD” (Japan, Dyna Gakki facility), “JF” (Japan, Fuji-Gen Gakki facility), “KP” (Korea, Peerless facility) and “KS” (Korea, Samick/SPG facility).

    I like the cat's eye models [not that orange color though]:

    Gretsch G3161 "Historic" Synchromatic Orange Hollowbody NOS B-Stock | Cream City Music

    Gretsch G6040MCSS Hollowbody Guitar #JT12031190 - Used


  6. #5

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    As you may know I love Gretsches. My 6117 Double Anni reissue is currently my main go-to guitar. Gets that perfect combo of feel and thunk.

    I personally am inclined toward the models with a "mud" switch and not necessarily a tone knob, as well as P90s, but they're all interesting.

    Gretsch and Ibanez--keeping the fully hollow archtop tradition alive.

  7. #6
    Update: after some minor tweeks and a new set of DR Pure Blues 11's I must say we've bonded. Guess it's really mine now since I removed all the protective plastic film on the pickups, pickguard and truss rod cover.
    Pretty aware of the jazz players that employed Gretsch archtops: Freddy Green, Sal Salvador, Mary Osborne (who ended up in Bakersfield). I'm sure there are more. The little project I got it for is some Western Swing/Rockabilly stuff and it will work perfectly for that.

  8. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Mick-7
    Peerless made Gretsch guitars in the... early 2000's I think. They've also been made in Japan.

    Gretsch serial numbers:
    “JT” is most common among the several two-letter country/factory prefixes, signifying Japan (J) and its Terada (T) factory. Others are “CS” (U.S. Custom Shop), “CY” (China, Yako facility), “JD” (Japan, Dyna Gakki facility), “JF” (Japan, Fuji-Gen Gakki facility), “KP” (Korea, Peerless facility) and “KS” (Korea, Samick/SPG facility).

    I like the cat's eye models [not that orange color though]:

    Gretsch G3161 "Historic" Synchromatic Orange Hollowbody NOS B-Stock | Cream City Music

    Gretsch G6040MCSS Hollowbody Guitar #JT12031190 - Used

    Great info, however you might want to add the Heritage-built Archtops branded as Gretsch. I don't think many were made, however IIRC someone on this forum had or has one.

  9. #8

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    Hey! Congrats! Another member of the Gretsch brotherhood! I'll never get used to seeing a Gretsch withOUT a Bigsby tho LOL. They go together like bread and butter! Like beans and cornbread!

    Like shrawberries and shortcakes, YEAH

    Like cornbeef and cabbage, YEAH
    Like liver and onions, YEAH
    Like red beans and rice, YEAH
    Like bread and butter, YEAH


  10. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by ruger9
    Hey! Congrats! Another member of the Gretsch brotherhood! I'll never get used to seeing a Gretsch withOUT a Bigsby tho LOL. They go together like bread and butter! Like beans and cornbread!

    Like shrawberries and shortcakes, YEAH

    Like cornbeef and cabbage, YEAH
    Like liver and onions, YEAH
    Like red beans and rice, YEAH
    Like bread and butter, YEAH


    How appropriate of a song choice. I don't know if he played on that particular record, but Bill Jennings played a Gretsch in Louis Jordan's band around that time:


  11. #10

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    I just checked out how inexpensive those are...cool! Love the look and no stupid Bigsby

  12. #11

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    Nice guitar! I love that great Gretsch sound myself, and owned a few over the years. Unfortunately I could never really bond with any of them because the necks always felt a little bit too thin. At least on Made In Japan ones, that had a beautiful sound. Couple of times I came across the vintage ones, and the necks felt perfect, noticeably rounder than the modern ones. But the price was not comfortable lol.

  13. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
    I just checked out how inexpensive those are...cool!
    Just a word of warning: don't change anything to it during the warranty period if you ever might want to be able to use it, and don't expect to be able to get any model-specific replacement parts. Fender own Gretsch and have stopped providing the latter (for "consumer grade" models at least) and will void the warranty if you as much as change the nut.

  14. #13
    Got me thinking about the "ghost built" Heritage Gretsches. Looks like forum member Marty Grass had 3 (!) at one time. 18" based on the Super Eagle. Apparently only 10 or so were built. I know there are a few members here with the ghost built D'Angelicos.
    Guess they were called the "Eldorado".

    NGD-It's not a Dog-it's a Gretsch!-heritage-gr-jpg

  15. #14

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    Congratulations! Those made in Indonesia Gretsches are an awesome bang for the buck!

    I grabbed a slightly older 2420T (block inlays instead of the thumbinlays) and modified it a bit (the Filtertrons are much nicer pickups than the gretschbuckers imho).

    Sorry Mr Beaumont, it does have that stupid Bigsby ;-) Granted, that does take away a bit of the jazz vibe, but I wanted something else and I really like the bigsby for other stuff.

    Enjoy yours SierraTango!


  16. #15

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    The Bigsby is a wonderfully expressive tool. For those who learn how to use it.

    All music communities are close-minded in general (and ironically, jazz seems to be the worst for this; being all about freeform and expression, it's surprising)... "no Bigsby's for jazz" is just as stupid as "no bending in jazz"

    NO FUN FOR YOU!!! THIS IS JAZZ!!!



  17. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by ruger9
    The Bigsby is a wonderfully expressive tool. For those who learn how to use it.

    All music communities are close-minded in general (and ironically, jazz seems to be the worst for this; being all about freeform and expression, it's surprising)... "no Bigsby's for jazz" is just as stupid as "no bending in jazz"

    NO FUN FOR YOU!!! THIS IS JAZZ!!!


    This is my favourite take on Caravan ever. When I play this tune I always use this as a template. And the reason I put Bigsby on my tele.

    Bigsbys are awesome. This forum is weird, strats are ok, but bigsbys are not? Getouttahere!