Gretsch 6114

2001
This guitar is fairly basic as far as features. The pickups may be the biggest feature with this guitar. The pickups were designed (but not made) by TV Jones--a very well respected Gent in among all the Gretsch fanatics for making vintage (and modern) style pickups better than Gretsch does themselves. The other main thing with this guitar opposed to other Jets is that the bridge is pinned. A nice feature. I'm using 10s and I have no problem with intonation. Other than that, the hardware is pretty stand issue Gretsch stuff. My particular guitar has an issue with the jack. It sometimes loses its connection, cracks up a little then goes silent. I got this guitar used, so I can't say how this problem occured. The body has a hollow chamber that give this guitar a unique sound. More on that below. The tuners feel weak but the guitar stays in tune about average. The frets are double sized. Nice for bending.

I play a fairly wide range of stuff. I'm not in a band. I do some home recording and play for my own love of the sound. This guitar was made, so I'm told, to capture the Les Paul's crowd's interest. The result I believe is a guitar capable of a wide range of sound. I mostly play with a stressed out clean sound. I don't use much overdrive/distortion. I play through a Traynor Blue 50 watt tube amp with a standard JJ tube replacement I bought from the great guys at Eurotubes whom I highly recommend. I sometimes us a Rocktron vertigo vibe stomp box. I could go on and on about the different sounds I get, but when I say that it does a great job of giving me a wide range of sound, it's not an overstatement. I can get Rockabilly, Jazz, Blues, middle of the road rock. Most Gretsches sound more like Fenders than Gibson's but this guitar leans about dead smack in the middle. Please note that this Gretsch does not however have 'that Great Gretsch Sound' when compared to other Gretsch Jet's and hollowbodies. It's does come very close with both pickups on. But it doesn't quite get there... which really at this point (summer 2008) makes this guitar the most under valued guitar I've seen. I'll explain in the overall paragraph.

I need to have this guitar set up. I have to raise the action fairly high to keep it from buzzing. It buzzes in strange places all up and down the fret board. I think I need to have the frets looked at and maybe cleaned or shaved. That said, the action is not horrible. I can play it just fine. And the overall feel of this guitar is really, really nice. Like all Gretschs it is a Gibson type of feel not a Fender. Other than the buzzing which I intend to have fixed, I like the feel of this guitar.

This guitar will turn seven in a couple month or two. It has buzzing issues and some trouble with the jack. The turners feel loose or weak. Otherwise this guitar is as good as new. The pickups are still quiet and powerful. The bridge show not sign of break down. Not finish defects on would or metal. I don't know what kind of life it had before I got it this year.

Never need it.

It may seem strange to give this guitar a 10 in the overall without giving it a 10 in any other category, but it is indeed a fantastic value.
I got mine for 630 bucks off of ebay. And this guitar plays and sounds like a $2,000 guitar. Maybe better. My buddy has a Les Paul signed Standard Les Paul he got for 3500 bucks at a charity auction. My guitar plays and sounds better (even with the fret problems I mentioned earlier) than his guitar. Standards routinely sell for 2200 bucks used. This is a very well made guitar that has a flawed marketing niche. When Les Paul players see the name 'Gretsch' they assume it's a twangy guitar that they'd rather not have. Gretsch players look at this guitar as if it were the black sheep of the family because it strives to me more 'Gibson-like' which is why Fender killed the line of guitars when they bought Gretsch back in 2003. Fender does not need to go after Les Paul players.
Soooo, what we have here is a very well made guitar that sounds great in it's own right and has escaped the attention of a lot of hands and ears. It is currently being sold for well under 1,000 dollars on a fairly regular basis. I have to believe that it's the best kept secret in solid body electrics. If you ever have a chance to play one. Do it. If your at a store try not to make to big a fuss or the secret will get out.

? Carved maple top with flamed maple lamination
? Mahogany body with comfort fit back
? 13" wide x 1.7" deep
? 2-pc mahogany neck
? Ebonized rosewood fingerboard
? "Jet" humped block inlays on fingerboard
? "T-roof" Gretsch pearl inlay on headstock
? Width at nut 1.7"
? 24.6" scale
? 22 jumbo frets joined at the 16th fret
? Adjustable truss rod
? Chrome Hardware
? Dual FilterTron pickups-TV Jones Design
? Pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone, 2 volume controls, straight side jack
? G-stop tailpiece - short
? Tune-O-Matic bridge
Harshdell Case

I play mostly roots rock and some punk. It can do either very well. I use a Mesa Mark I, Fender Bassman, and a silver faced Princeton it doesn't sound noisy at all, no effects, just guitar to amp. I tend to play with both pickups on, the bridge pickup is nice and bright and the neck pickup is very warm and thick, put them together and it sounds great.

The action is perfect for me, very low with no buzzing. The pickups are matched pretty good, I did raise the bridge pick up a tad to make it match the neck volume. the top looks great and the frets are nice. i replaced the tuners with Sperzels, just because I prefer locking tuners, the stock ones were pretty good.

I don't do shows anymore, so I haven't road tested it, but it seems very solid. I never gig without a backup no matter how much I have testeda guitar.

I have never had to deal wtih Gretsch.

I have been playing guitar for 20 years, this is not the best guitar I have ever owned, but it is pretty close. If it were lost or stolen, I probably would get another one.

chambered mahogany body with nicely flamed,arched maple top in antique natural finish. high output tv jones designed filtertron humbucking pickups with adjustible pole pieces. 3 piece maple neck with rosewood fretboard and humpback inlays. one tone and two volume knobs and one master volume knob. three way selector switch. included nice gretsch hardshell case.

so this is where i was plesently surprised. i had heard mixed opinions about the high output filtertrons, but i have found them to be quite versatile. with a little tweeking of amp tone, i've been able to generate warm, fat, well rounded jazz tones in the neck position and go to the opposite extreme with crunchy, high gain tones in the bridge position. from jazz and blues, to modern high gain rock styles, this guitar can cover most styles well and do it with great looks and a cool vibe. i'm currently playing through a marshall 1987x 50 watt plexi head and vintage marshall 4x12 cabinet with 25 watt celestion greenbacks. this guitar does classic rock extremely well, especially in conjunction with the plexi head / celestion loaded cabinet. the chambered body allows for a bit of air in the tone without much sacrifice in sustain.

the guitar feels very well built and made to last. nice low action, nicely crowned frets, beautiful flamed top, flawless finish.

well built and road worthy, but never gig without another guitar.

just checked out the web site, some usefull information. have not delt directly with gretsch, hope not to have to.

15 years of playing, too many guitars to count. i've finally settled on this gretsch G6114 and my all time favorite guitar, my Gibson les paul 56 reissue gold top with p-90's. though they didn't catch on all that well, the G6114 is a top notch instrument ready to tackle just about any style. due to the fact that these guitars are relativly inexpensive (consider that the original list on these was like $2200...) you can score one of these guitar with all it's tone, playability and coolness factor for the same price as a lot of the cookie cutter guitars hanging on the wall of your neighborhood guitar center. this guitar is most certainly worth a look.

2002, carved top, book matched AA Maple Top, mahogany body, three peice mahogany neck with Ebony stripe, Ebony freetboard with large pearl(?) inlays, chrome hardware, trapeze tailpeice, and fixed bridge, no name tuners, three volume and one tone control, incorrectly fit TKL case, and Guitar Made in Japan, Case in Canada.

The AA carved top, contrary to an earlier re-view, is comparable to a Gibson, ("1/4 thick), and is actually matched, which is something that you don't always see on a Gibson now-a-days.

to begin, Live, I use a Pod Pro going into carvin and Ampeg power tube amps that go into 4x12 Sunn cabinets. Studio setup would be Marshall JCM's into 4x12's with various boss and vintage stopmboxes for a warmer tone. Alt rock and throwback full sounding stuff to go against a really loud drummer and another guitar player who plays deaper tones.

It gives me good clarity for all the 'flavor' stuff that goes ontop of the rock. Good cut for leads, without stading out like a sore-thumb. compliments a band that uses thick Fender bass through an old 2x15 cabinet and a guitar player using SG's and Old Ibanez Lawsuits through JCM's with the deep button engaged. The Gretsch cuts through without being harsh or overpowering. It compliments well.

Not noisey, though the pickups can be a little micro-phonic when trying to find a good feedback...... particularly in front of the amp cranked all the way up.

it was an overstock, so it was probably sitting in a case for a few years. The frets were mildly corroded, (not rusted, just had a 'crust' over them that rubbed right off). That being said, it was set up nicely from the start. I went up to 10's, and the Fender (?) strings that were on the guitar originally were excelent. I'd like to to know for sure what type of strings they were b/c they handled the sweat/acid from by hands very well.

Finish is nice, smooth, even, no flaws but not tough. Scratches easily, Soft Finish. Worming on the back started imediately, yet other guitars I have don't do this this fast.

Good neck feel. decent fret Job. good inlay work. Bookmatching was clean and accurate. very well built, with the acception of the soft finish. I would have liked to have had the body bound to protect the lovely flamed top.

I do play it live, it hold up quite well, and I had get pretty active on stage. I don't know how it would hold up to being banged around alot though. I would be freaked if I dropped it, but I believe it would hold up well. Would highly recomend loosing the Gretsch terible 'strap pins' and using straplocks (but, it should be noted that I don't like any basic strap-buttons, I don't trust them). Would have liked to have seen the body single/double/or triple bound to protect the edges of the flamed maple top.

Haven't gone to a gig without a backup in 10 years. No guitar is that dependable. strings break, wires randomly come loose, etc....

haven't had to. N/A

I own, 4 vintage Carvins, (1) Epiphone hollow bodies, (1) Les Pauls, (1) Guild. electro harmonix stomp boxes, various tub amps.

If stolen, I would be very upset. Would seek out new one. The fixed bridge is a huge plus for me! Alwasy wanted a Gretsch, but knew I would knock the floating bridge out of place.

Light weight for size, nice hot and responsive pickups, comfortable neck, easy to play, low fatigue, easy on the eyes.

This is a semi hollow compact bodied guitar similar in shape to a Les Paul. My guitar was made in 2001 (pre Fender takeover)in Japan. It looks very striking with a beautiful maple veneer top and mahogany everything else.The wood work is excellent throughout.Some minor problems with poorly seated fret ends which can be put right by any good guitar tech.A It sports TV Jones designed pickups (Alnico magnets)which are wound with thinner wire to sound meatier than vintage Filtertrons.GREAT through my vintage VOX AC30...
It rates a 7 because of some careless fret work and/or a lapse in quality control.

Construction wise, this guitar has more in common with a PRS Hollowbody than a Les Paul. It's more like a compact archtop with beautiful resonance and sustain. The pickups are quiet and responsive.
Very versatile overall except, perhaps,for highly overdriven sounds.
I LOVE it.

This guitar was bought as a factory overstock item at a great price.
I did my own set-up and it now plays great. As good as my PRS custom and Gibson 335. Everything lines up well and there are no flaws except for two or three fret ends as mentioned before.No big deal.

The hardware is all high quality ( Gotoh bridge and machine heads )
Modern polyurethane finish is as good as I've seen on any guitar,even at five times the price. The screw- on strap buttons are...well...Gretsch. Just enjoy the experience of going back to 1956 every time you put your strap on. They certainly work, but all that screwing will leave you breathless...

The model is discontinued and may one day be a collector's item ,although I bought it on a hunch, sight unseen. I'm glad I did. There are still a few out there. Be quick. I've heard Gretsch are not reknown for their customer service, but Fender IS so maybe things have changed.

I've owned some great guitars over the years,some of which I wish I'd never sold. I've lived and learnt and I'm not selling this one...

This is a new, made in Korea(japan?) Gretsch New Jet/Flame maple natural finish. Great looking guitar! 2-TV Jones dual filterTron pickups which sound awesome, great tone, better than I expected. Chambered hollowed Mahogany body, back and sides, also done in the natural finish.
It has a small Les Paul style body. Tuners seem fine, guitar stays in tune. Neck is nice, reminds me of a Bluesbird neck, but not as wide.I don't quite understand why you need 3 volume knobs, but looks cool.

The tone of this guitar is it's best feature, alot like a Guild Bluesbird, because of the chambered hollow body.PU's are quiet ,no noise that I can tell.Sounds like a cross between a Reverend Slingshot with P90's and a Bluesbird.

I put 10's on it and lowered the action, and it plays wonderfully. I would be nice to be able to access the higher frets easier, but feels and plays great. One buzz in one of the bridge screws(which all I had to do is move 1/4 turn to get it to stop), other than that, no flaws.
I'm not sure if the PU height is adjustable, but the height seems fine.

This guitar will be great to gig with, especially if you have a good quality amp! I think it will hold up very well. Would definately gig with no back up.

Don't know, just got the guitar.

I have been playing for 10 years+ now, and own 5 other guitars, 2-Strat's, a Guild Bluesbird AAA, Reverend Slingshot Custom, Schecter C-1e/a,and absolutely love this guitar, it is a keeper! I would replace immediately if stolen....

Unlike some reviewers here, I not only exist, but I'm a grown-up.

This 2001 model year G6114 New Jet is a Japanese-made modern Gretsch, with a beautiful blonde flame maple veneer top over a maple cap on a mahogany body. The medium-fat neck has a 24.6" scale, with unusually good fretwork and dead-low set-up straight off the GC wall.

The Tune-O-Matic style bridge ends with a G-style trapeze tailpiece. Trapezes, in my experience, add a layer of ringing harmonics to a guitar's tone, so decide if you dig this or not (I really do).

Two volume knobs (one for each pickup) and one - repeat one - tone control, plus a master volume control. Why? It's a Gretsch - why ask why? It's the way it is. Free advice: Just tweak the master volume knob ... the pot's taper will roll off some highs, saving you a trip to the tone knob.

That Great Gretsch Sound (trademark) means different things to different people. In general, there's a ringing twang to the guitars, and a bit of a country-esque flavor to the tone. Chet Atkins, of course, and Duane Eddy and George Harrison too. It's less well-known that Pete Townshend was playing a Gretsch 6120 for the crunching, crashing power chords of the classic "Who's Next" album.

I'm playing clean-toned pop and neo-surf, so clearly a Gretsch is in the ballpark. I also do slightly gritty blues, and the 24.6" scale makes bending a breeze.

Buyers of modern Gretsches should know that the Japanese-made guitars have, with some exceptions, ceramic-magnet "FilterTron" pickups. They are described by users as sometimes bright and harsh. The usual fix is to drop in a pair of TV Jones alnico pickups.

The 6114 New Jet has factory alnico (not ceramic) FilterTrons. They are not made by TVJones; he consulted with the factory on them. The factory alnico humbuckers are most of the reason I adore the 6114 New Jet. It's a sweet, sweet tone.

Brian Setzer described the alnico FilterTrons as having the meat of a humbucker and the clarity of single-coils. These are really unusual pickups ... I play humbuckers, P-90s, P-100s, and I've owned a good Strat, and the alnico FilterTrons have the best features of all of them.

On the bridge pickup and playing down low on the neck (or with open chords) you can get some truly twangy, highly compressed tones - that typical Gretsch sound. I prefer to play on the neck pickup, which is clear and balanced. The alnicos are fairly low-output.

Rating this a 10 because it's got That Sound. That's why you're here in the first place. Just be sure to get a Gretsch with alnicos!

I prefer to play a very low action, and I was frankly surprised that the set-up on this one was as good as it is: low, fast, but without buzzing or fretting-out even when I bend hard.

Modern Gretsch guitars are also the subject of some complaints about scratchy pots and noisy switches; this 6114 was silent in all regards.

The 24.6" scale makes it dead-easy to play, and bending notes is a dream. Fret height is perfect, and (unlike the dreaded square-topped Gibson frets) the round, medium-jumbo frets are easy to slide entire chords on.

From owning a number of good guitars, I've learned to feel and sense a certain quality of solidness, vibrancy, and response that separates the good ones from the cheap ones. The 6114 New Jet, made in Japan, is one of the good ones, and it sits right up there with the American-made high-end guitars. Rating this a 9 because I was genuinely impressed with its fit and finish and action ... against some serious competition.

Oh, the strap buttons. Classic 50s hardware. Unscrew the knurled knob, place strap over pins, screw the knob on again. Low-tech and part of the Gretsch experience.

I was pleased with the solid feel and slightly stiff resistance on the classic G-style tone and volume knobs. Tuners were solid and despite the trapeze bridge, I have not had tuning problems. Very solidly put together. Rating this only a 7 because I've heard stories about the hardware on modern Gretsches.

Go to www.gretschpages.com and hang out for a while. It's a collection of knowledgeable Gretsch fans who are in love with the instruments and their sound. That said, they are also capable of offering some very blunt critiques of Fred and Dina Gretsch's approach to customer service and care, especially when the little stuff (knobs, switches) start to fail on a pretty expensive guitar.

The 6114 New Jet has, in the 9 months I've owned it, NOT had any such problems ... but reading other folks' experience, it takes a while for Gretsch to respond. It may be better now; the company took such a pounding on the boards from its fans in 2001 that it responded. Maybe it will make a difference. Rating this a 6 because, again, I've heard some stories ... and those were from Gretsch owners who are hardcore fans of the brand!

I traded two very good American-made guitars toward this Japan-made reissue, not normally something I'd do. But the 6114's build quality, sound, and playability equalled or exceeded that of the guitars I traded against it, and the Gretsch sound is just right for my clean-toned pop and surf songs, and the slightly gritty blues stuff.

I also still own two rather expensive PRS guitars; the Gretsch build and finish quality is right up there, and the 6114 has won playing time from the two PRS guitars. Stone beautiful, too, with the blond flame-maple top (it's a very thin veneer over a maple cap, if you care).

Free advice to potential Gretsch owners: 1) Be aware that many modern Gretsches come with ceramic pickups (the 6114 New Jet has the alnicos) and 2) go hang at the gretschpages.com for a while. The good folks there can help you sort through the maze of models, and which pickups they come with.

I already have several other humbucker-equipped guitars, from high-end USA makers, and the Gretsch 6114 not only took playing time away from them, but carved out some sonic turf of its own.

Rating the 6114 an 8 because I thought it was fairly priced for what you get: great and unique sound, really good fit, finish, and action; offset just a tad by some minor QC problems reported by some other owners.

Mmmmm, I love this guitar. I've been saving for like two years, and I finally got it! Can't be in more love.... Anyways, here's the specifications. This is a red 2001 model. But to say the color is simply red isn't enough. It's streaked with black lines, and overall looks fabulous. Comfortable Rosewood neck that's joined at the 16th fret. The body is a laminated mahogany 13" wide and 1-3/4" deep. Master tone and volume controls, plus two volume controls for each pickup, I don't really get that, but oh well. Equipped with Dual Filtertron-TV Jones pickups that sound great and chrome hardware. I don't know the tuners, but I wanna say Grover. And a Tune-O-Matic bridge. OH yeah, I love this thing.

Lemme start by saying that besides this guitar, I have a pretty bad setup. I run through a Boss MT-2 and Morley Pro Wah into a Fender Super 112. But this thing outwhacks my other guitar, and I'm glad I got this. Sooooo much crunch! The pickups are nice and quiet, and pleasantly hot, but not too hot. Neck has a bright yet warm sound with a hint of twang, and the bridge is full on crunch, bite, twang and warmth. If I mix them, the sound is incredibly heavenly. I play punk music with some kinda softer distortion, but this will take on metal to country. Especially strong for like blues and older rock. I love everything about it.

The setup just needed to be tweaked a little bit till they were perfect. I moved the bridge a little for my .10 gauge strings and moved the pickups. It was brand-new and looked like it too. I'm almost afraid to touch it, its so beautiful. Not to sound sentimental, but if my guitar were human, she would be the most beautiful and sensitive thing in the world. Plus, she wouldn't cheat me, cuzz she'd be reliable. Hehe

Like I said, this is reliable. I recently gigged with it, and the strap buttons were excellent, but I think I still need strap holders. I bang it and jump around, and this is just comfortable. It's chrome hardware, so i expect it'll kinda wear down soon, but not yet. The finish should do good also. I would definently gig without a backup, that would be offending this beauty.

I dunno about Gretsch, but the guy that sold this to me said they'd answer my questions.

I'ver been playing for a few years, and I really needed a guitar to help shape my style. I record with this thing, and always will. If it were stolen, i;d have a heart-attack. What idiot could break me and my guitar apart? That piece of shit would die. I would definently buy a new one, although it would take quite some time to save up again. I love the sound, looks, and all of the features. This definently is a high-priced guitar, but personally, I think it's one of the best out there.

Nice looking guitar with good working parts! The case smells bit odd.
Bigsby and everything! That's all for you gearheads to know. Go play one yourself, stop playing with yourr dicks for a change.

Good overall sound, not for tonefukkers or gearfuckers

Plays great with right strings fro your style of playing. rest is up to you.

It's brand new so I haven't played it on gigs too much, 5 times only, but seems to work fine. I use various Fender amps.

No experience so far. I'm not those whining wussies who can't make a decent deal. Don't buy shit, that's my advice for all your gearfukkers!

I have a '64 Tennessean , a Strato, Tele , Guild starfire plus
some wierd shit from europe and japan, They're all good for some
purpose, just like the Jet 6114. The price is heavyish for it, but
if you shop around, try Danny's.

Gretsch 6114 - Made in Japan - 22 frets - Maple Laminate top on maple (more on this later) Chambered mahogany body. Newly designed pickups (by TV Jones, I hear) Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Master Volume, Master Tone, 3 way switch
This guitar is finished in a natural finish, very blond top, mahogany back.

Loved the sound of the guitar. Great Gretsch vibe with a bit more bite.
Also loved the fact that it didn't have a Bigsby (sorry Gretsch purists).
Controls allowed dialing in a lot of very cool tones

Here's where it gets tricky.
The top of the guitar is a very thin laminate of flame maple over a carved maple top.
I have only one question for Gretsch - Why? There are other similarly priced guitars with a full carved figured top, why didn't you go this way.
Beyond that, it still looked cool.
Second gripe - Why are you using such cheesy pots. Gretsch is using their standard metal knobs (with set screw) with knurled dime size pots.
How hard would it have been to use full size, smooth shaft pots?
I don't understand...
Finally, I couldn't get it set up well with 10's - I suspect that there was a slight misalignment of the neck - but I didn't push things to far (Checked the truss rod, but didn't tweak on it too much)

Due to my deep reservations mentioned above, the guitar went back to the dealer after two days.
While I feel that this is a guitar that could work for years and years.

As I said, I couldn't live with the construction issues mentioned above. This was entirely a personal thing. (I ended up getting a Guild AAA Bluesbird - more my cup of tea)
Even though I replaced it with a different guitar, there was something pretty magical about the sound of this guitar.
If you are after a great sounding guitar, with a different but quality sound - this is something that I recommend looking at.

Construction wise - you be the judge