Gretsch 6119 Tennessee Rose

Gretsch G6119 Tennessee Rose Electric Guitar Features:

Single cutaway hollowbody with arched top
Laminated maple body construction
3-piece maple neck
25.5" scale length
1-11/16" nut width
Ebony-stained rosewood fretboard
Neoclassical thumbnail position markers
22 frets
Deluxe chromeplated die-cast tuners
2 FilterTron pickups
Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
Black headstock overlay
Bound fingerboard and headstock
Multiple body bindings with bound F-holes
Silver Plexi pickguard with embossed "Tennessee Rose"
2 volume, master volume, and master tone controls
3-way switching
Adjustable truss rod

Case included. Deep Cherry finish. 2005 model.

I've been playing "Americana" rock and folk in an acoustic duo and sometimes band. I've been using it through a Fender Concert, a Traynor Guitarmate, and a Fender Cyber Twin. This guitar shimmers.

I was looking for an electric guitar that would blend well with the acoustic that would pick up less buzz than my P-90 equipped Yamaha. And I've always wanted a Gretsch... The Filtertron pickups are dead quiet (no hums/buzzes) and it sounds excellent - nice and chimey and full-bodied. It will also do a great country twang. Sounds like a Gretsch; reference Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy, the Byrds, Beatles, REM, BoDeans. Sounds great with effects. Capable of filling the sonic space usually occupied by keyboards.

It is somewhat difficult to get a great biting lead sound with the tone already dialed in for rhythm - without a boost pedal. Knobs and switches are farther away than smaller guitars - doesn't facilitate easy, quick tone changes. Access beyond the 18th fret verges on the impossible.

The hollowbody guitar and filtertrons are ideally suited for each other. The middle pickup switch position using both pickups is the best combined sound of any guitar I've ever tried - incredibly balanced and versatile. You won't find better rhythm/accompaniment tone anywhere.

Excellent fit and finish. I haven't found any flaws yet. Sure is pretty. The action was fine out of the box. No intonation problems. Pickups are adjusted fine.

Appears to be built like a tank. Hard core metal knobs. Others have registered concern about the strap buttons...I've never had a problem with a strap button on a guitar. Then again, I don't do much leaping about.

I honestly don't know. I have a positive impression of Gretsch and of Fender, but I've never had a service issue.

I've been playing off and on for about 25 years. I own a couple of Telecasters, a Yamaha AEX-502, a Les Paul, a few acoustics, a bunch of amps. I love the sound and feel of this guitar. It shimmers and twangs. And it feels beefy. My favorite feature is the tone of the Filtertrons. My least favorite aspect is the relatively difficult access to master volume and pickup switch for changing from rhythm to lead tone and volume.

Gretsch G6119 Tennessee Rose Electric Guitar Features:

Single cutaway hollowbody with arched top
Laminated maple body construction
3-piece maple neck
25.5" scale length
1-11/16" nut width
Ebony-stained rosewood fretboard
Neoclassical thumbnail position markers
22 frets
Deluxe chromeplated die-cast tuners
2 FilterTron pickups
Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
Black headstock overlay
Bound fingerboard and headstock
Multiple body bindings with bound F-holes
Silver Plexi pickguard with embossed "Tennessee Rose"
2 volume, master volume, and master tone controls
3-way switching
Adjustable truss rod

The types of music that I play are blues and classic rock with a hidden folkey side....I played this particular guitar through several different amps including a Fender Supersonic, Fender Princeton Reverb (1975), Fender G-Dec, Marshall DSL half stack, Rivera R55-12, Vox AD50VT as well as some other solid state amps. To my ear it sounded great through the tube amps especially the Fender Supersonic, Rivera, and the Marshall. The crunch was wonderful. I also played it on clean channels and it, too, sounded great. This guitar has a warm sound that appeals to my ear. I particularly liked it with reverb and chorus added. The other thing I like is that it is a beefy guitar - that is to say that is feels substantial and not like it is made out of a cheap piece of balsa. Some people may not like that it has a tendency to feedback, but I kind of like that.

No problems at all. The set up and action were to my liking. The guitar is beautifully finished. It is an attention getter when I pull it out of the case. No flaws that I can see.

I will have to get back to you in a couple of years to answer this accurately. Right now it seems like it is built like a tank.

I own 9 Fender products and have never had to call.

I have been playing for 8 or so years, I am hopelessly addicted. Gear that I have includes: Martin HD 28, 2 Fender Strats, 1 Fender Tele, Guild Acoustic, Ibanez hollowbody, National Delphi, and a '62 Gibson Les Paul (SG) reissue. I have always wanted a Gretsch hollowbody and this one sang to me. I went in GC to look at a Martin 12 string and ended up coming home with this Rose.

Check the Gretsch website. It's got Filtertron PU's.

I play rock w/ a little country twisted in there for good measure. But mostly bluesy stoner rock. The Tennie fits it really well. Especially on the countryesque tunes. I play through a Twin Reverb>Tube Screamer>DanEcho>Small Stone>Fish n' Chips. Very Quiet. The fullest, richest sound of any guitar I've ever played. With flatwound string the sound is not as bright as I'm used to, but there is a smooth element that makes up for any loss in highs. Also just flip the bright button on the Twin and I'm good to go. There's not one thing I dislike about this guitar, however it's still pretty new to me. Oh and I gotta say these big box hollowbodys can feedback on you pretty fierce as I am finding out, but you gotta harness the energy and use it to your advantage. I'm still learning how to do that.

Pretty good, but the strings were roundwounds so I changed them to flats. The guitar stays intonated really well after setting it up. PU's sound good to me and the distance looks pretty good too. If there is a flaw in this guitar, I have not seen it yet. If you don't misuse the Bigsby, you can keep it in tune with the right string setup.

It's a hearty, hardy guitardy. Hardware seems fine, but some say the Japanese mad Gretsch's electronics can be an issue. The finish is beautiful, the strap buttons are twist off's and have a bad rap. I've yet to have a problem with them. I would not use it without a backup because hollows have a mind of their own.

One year warranty.

Playing 25 years, own strats, pauls, epi chets, martin and now Gretsch.
I will try to never buy another guitar.

G6119 1962FT Tennessee Rose
Simulated F holes
Zero fret
2 Filtertron pickups
Chrome Bigsby
Stan-by switch
Neo Classical fretboard
Ebony-based rocking bridge

Overall, I could do without the zero fret (caused tuning problems until I switched to flatwounds). I could also dispense with the stand-by switch. I have a volume pedal that does the trick. They are staying accurate to the original, however, except for the Filtertrons. The original Tennessean of this vintage came equipped with Hilo-Trons, a much inferior pickup to the FT, in my opinion.

I play mostly fingerstyle rockabilly and honky tonk. The Filtertrons are perfect for my style. They are warm and clear, almost reminiscent of the P-90 sound, not dense like PAF's. I play through a silver-faced Fender Princeton and an Ampeg SJT, all-tube. I play through all analog effects: Ibanez Analog Delay, MXR Dyna-Comp, MXR Phase 90, and an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. The analog delay is the one that's always on. The others I use ocassionally, mostly in the studio. Overall, it is a very quiet guitar. I usually keep the pickup switch in the middle position and will use the tone switch to use the bright tones when I want to cut through. With the flatwounds, a mellower tone is basically what you're limited to, which is OK for me since I have an old Tele and a Strat with which to get a brighter sound. The tone is pretty heavenly, with just enough twang and jangle to emote a country sound, but enough mellowness to delve into Chet-land when desired.

I'm NEVER satisfied with the way a guitar is set up, unil I do it, so for me to critique the set-up the way it came would not be fair. By and large, it's a real looker, with no visible flaws. It was well-maintained by the previous owner, so it came to me almost brand-new. I must say that the truss-rod had some issues, but I did a little chiropractic work and now it's fine.

I've only owned this guitar for about 8 months, but I've gigged with it a few times and it holds up extremely well. I'm not a very aggressive player, so for a guitar to go way out of tune or have string breakage almost never happens. We'll see how this one holds up over the course of time.

I have not had any encounter with Gretsch Customer Support.

I've been playing for over 20 years. I've toured, performed, produced, arranged and done studio gigs for much of that time. I've wanted a Gretsch for quite some time, but have been a Tele player for most of my life (still am). If my Gretsch was lost or stolen, I would replace it with another Gretsch, but I'm not sure which model. I love the tone, and it adds something different to my arsenal. This guitar is a beauty, but if I were to replace it, I would want something with steer heads and horseshoes on it. I love Country Kitsch!

A 2001 Japan made second hand, bought from a friend.
The Tennessee Rose is a well made guitar, it has everything on board what a good guitar needs. No fancy inlays, but who needs that ?

Do not expect a Strat or a Les Paul sound from the Tennessee Rose : it simply produces the well known Gretsch sound, and that's exactly what we want from this guitar, don't we.

Strangely enough : the Japan made Gretsches sound better than the earlier USA ones (sorry guys, but I own USA Gretsches as well as Japanese ones, so I am able to compare : the USA's have a somewhat more mellow sound ; if it's that what you're after, go for a vintage USA Tennessean or Nashville)

Factory setting is all systems go : no problems. Of course, any professional will set up his guitar to his personal liking, so whatever the factory setting is, one can change it.
The finish is tops ; could not be better for a guitar in that price range.
I just had a small problem with the setting of the Bigsby, but fixed it in a blink of an eye (the spring was not well set in its socket).

I've had no problems whatsoever regarding reliability and durability with the several Gretsches I've owned and still own. My Tennessee Rose is only 4 years old, so I could not tell about that one, but I do not expect any problems.
The finish is certainly good enough to last, and the guitar will withstand any stagework or live playing (but take care of the instrument, as you would with any good guitar : this is not a cheap thingy, so if your image requires to play tennis with it during gigs, give it to a more caring friend first, and use a Korean 100 dollar guitar that will be just as good at tennis)

Never needed any support directly from Gretsch, so I would not know, but friends tell me that the Gretsch service is OK.

At 57 years of age, I have some 40 years of guitar playing (both professional and just for the pleasure of it) behind me. Played and own or owned many Fender, Gibson, Guild, Gretsch etc... electric guitars (+ some acoustics of course). There is - in my humble opinion - not such a thing as "the best" guitar : all depends on the sound one wants. If you want the Fender sound, go for a USA Strat or Tele : even the most expensive Gretsch or Gibson will not do the job. If you rather like the Gibson or Gretsch sound, go for those guitars, a Fender will not suit you then. But in any case : go for the real thing ! No Korean or Chinese imitation brands please. (Unless you are a beginner and/or your budget is less than say 500 bucks ; no harm done then : use your imitation till the time has come to go for the genuine thing). And remember : it's the player that makes the biggest difference : a good guitarist will still do fine on any 300 dollar guitar, whereas a lousy player or a beginner will not suddenly do wonders on a first class instrument.
As far as the Tennessee Rose is concerned, I feel that there is not so much difference with the more expensive Nashville : the TR plays just as well. Do not go for the much less expensive Gretsches however : they do not produce the same Gretsch sound in my opinion.

1999/2000 Fred Gretsch Enterprises (pre-Fender), made in Japan, Tennessee Rose archtop. Filtertron pups, maple all over, rosewood neck, etc. Full specs can be found elsewhere.

This guitar was a demonstrator at the 2000 NAAM show. So it was pretty much hand-picked from the lot in the Gretsch Enterprises warehouse.

I've had it for almost 4 and 1/2 years. I wanted to get to know it before I reviewed it. I've got to say - trying a guitar at "g-center" for an hour and then reviewing it is worthless. It's like deciding to move in with a woman you've only had one lunch with. Trust me, I know this guitar. I haven't found any real warts yet. I own a bunch of guitars and this one is one of my all-time favorites.

Pretty much full of the typical Gretsch features and authentic Gretsch sound. I gave it a 9 because I only give 10's to high-end custom guitars that somebody gives me for free! Now that would be a 10.

Excellent - Sounds like a Gretsch should. Mellow, smooth, rich. I play jazz and it's perfect. The bridge pickup isn't quite as hot as I would like but that's a personal taste thing. Plus, I rarely ever use it so I don't mind it at all. It can also be easily fixed by several TVJones pickups.
Since I'm into jazz and not rock-a-billy, I removed the bigsby and put on a straight-up Gretsch tailpiece that I ordered. Wow, it really opened it up. I had no idea the bigsby damped the top out so much.

Okay, I gave this category a 10 even if I did have to pay for the guitar. It really sounds like only a Gretsch can.

Excellent. This is one of the best playing guitars I've ever had. Like I said earlier, I come back to this one over and over. I keep it out on a stand all the time. You can lower the action a lot and it won't buzz. It's fast. It's very sure-footed and forgiving if your technique is a bit sloppy when you go fast. I've got other guitars that won't stand for anything less than perfect precision or the outer strings slide right off the fretboard and the note dies. Very embarrasing. The Gretsch has NEVER done that to me.

Wish it had an ebony fingerboard, but the Rosewood plays and still looks fine. I really like the smaller frets (I hate jumbos). I dumped all my Fenders over the years because I don't like jumbo frets. The Gretsch is a perfect example of why smaller frets work just fine. Very fast, no buzzing, etc.

Finish is very nice, no problems, no cracks, no blems developing. Fit is excellent too. I would exchange the strap locks with real strap locks if I used a strap. I don't. The Japanese are now the high-end of the Asian manufacturing food chain. (I've got a Korean, telecaster clone that is a darned good little guitar, too. No jumbo frets so I keep it around) I'm getting more impressed by Asian workmanship every day.

Anyway, the Gretsch has held together for almost five years with absolutely NO problems. I play it almost every day and haul it around all over town.

No problems in five years. Sure you can play it live. Don't bang it into a piano or a bus and it will last a long time. The switches aren't even noisy yet. About the only routine maintenance I have to do is polish the chrome knobs once or twice a year. Otherwise, they appear to want to start tarnishing. A little guitar polish and the guitar shines like a ruby. I get lots of comments on its appearance.

Never dealt with them. I would think that now that Fender owns Gretsch, their customer service should be fairly good. But maybe the Fendor reviews would reveal more about it.

I've been playing for 47 years - semi-pro and amateur. I play pretty much jazz these days, but enjoy a good blues jam too. This Gretsch is great for jazz and not bad for blues either. It's a very versatile guitar.

I do think they are a little over priced. There are better values out there. But if you gotta have a Gretsch, the quality of the guitar and its sound are worth the price. Find a good used one like I did and you'll definately be a happy picker.

If it were to vanish, I would probably get another one. I haven't said that about many other guitars I've ever reviewed except my Epiphone Elitist 335 (an Epi can you believe it? I love this thing best of all of 'em), my Gibson Les Paul, and my Lowden Acoustic. I own eleven guitars in all - most of them highend Gibsons (72 Byrdland, 94 Les Paul), Heritage 555, Yamaha Nylon acoustic/elec, Fender Strat & Tele (used to own - got rid of them), a Martin OM-28 Custom Shop, etc., etc....

Gretsch Tennesee Rose....no need to go through the features they are listed enough

This guitar suits my tastes to a tee ! Play everything from Tom Petty to the Beatles to Setzer and this guitar fits the bill in every way. Play through a new Fender Cyber Twin SE with added Stereo extension Cab. This guitar stays in tune even whaling on the Bigsby and is as quiet as quiet can be. No prblems with feedback even at higher volumes. Pickups do the job perfectly in any position, I see almsot everyone wants to change them out for TV Jones but I believe thats what they are reading so they think it is the thing to do, my opinion no need at all.

I bought this used on Ebay for a great price and it came perfectly set up. Changed the strings from 9's to 10's and this thing just sings. The finish is flawless and when you pick this up you know you have a guitar in your hand. Not to weighty, just right for the style it is.

Only had it for about 2 weeks but I see no problems gigging with this guitar and it holding up. The only flaw (if it's a flaw) is the pickup selector switch is a bit wobbly, but still works without any problems. Don't know if from previous owner or Gretsch.

Havent dealt with Gretsch or the Fender people (same i know) I have 2 Tele's and a Strat and I have never had a problem with any Fender product I've owned.

Been playing about 20 years, all my other stuff is Fender products. Someone compared this guitar to the Ibanez Hollow Bodies saying they are just as good or better....went that route before I bought this one and NO WAY can the Ibanez guitars compare to this....not even close. had my Ibanez like 3 weeks and off to Ebay it went....I would soooooooooooo replace this guitar if lost or stolen.....Can you tell I'm loving this thing!

Chrome parts ,great finish,Neck feels right.Great sound for almost anything but heavy rock...I like it through a fender reverb amp best...

I love the tone of Filtertrons.They sound much clearer then most other pickups and break up smooth.You have to raise them and there is a small pronlem with the bottom brass plate not allowing for height.Take em out and round the corners with a file (I used a belt sander)and put them back in.they now can go higher and sound louder and fuller.

set up fine.no probs....Selector switch is intermitent so I might replace it..Cheap JAP Controls...

I finally solved the bridge problem on all of these models.Buy a Schaller and get your guitar repair guy to mount it on the wood base.Its the one with the little rollers.You can get it from Stewart MacDonald online if you can't find it anywhere else.Intonate it and frame it with green painters tape.then use white paper glue and set it back down with the strings on it.in the frame.let it dry for a night and there ya go!No more moving bridge and the strings won't pop off when you bend.The whote glue can rub off and won't hurt the finish.Who cares if you can't play the thing anyway.I can kill on this thing now.Don't use the Bigsby up only down.

none.I called all the guru guys and they said i was nuts when i told them I kept knocking the strings off the bridge and the bridge moved around when i tried to bend a chord.No body had a clue ,They said to change my playing style.I have never had a problem on Fenders or Gibsons like this.The bridges on thses guitars suck and so does the design of them.Go with my suggestions and you can even play Tele licks....

I have been playing full time since I was 17 in 1972.Thats over 30 years .Owned everything too.I always like the look of these guitars so I finally bought one,Great sound and now i can play it too without it fighting me back.Use 11s or heavier,They don't sound good with anything lighter.No Boing on the lower strings on lighter ones.

I tried this at g center,and to try and balance out most these people on this forum who havent a clue on what quality is,Ill set a warning here for those of you thinking of buying this online-DONT!-

it really is a plastic sounding,preety looking peice of crap-it has the same feel and sound as the 300$ ibanez archtops that are popping up-those are a good deal-these are not-1800,and an epiphone joe pass I owned once blows this away-Made in japan and sounds it-actually,most the japanese import guitars do better than this,pickups suck as well

looks beautiful,and its a great guitar as long as its hangin up as decoration

Really is crap,you can do a whole lot better for an archtop for a whole lot of less $-this is a sad sad imposter of the old gretch guitars,pure garbage-

1998 Japanese Gretsch 6119 Tennessee Rose, 22 frets, 25.5 in. scale, all laminate maple.
Gretsch electronics (master volume, master tone, individual pickup volumes, 3way switch), filtertrons.
It's a shiny red single cutaway 16 inch archtop with a roller saddle ebony base archtop bridge, stock Gretsch tuners, case inc.

I play in a fingerstyle jazz rock countrifunk and sometimes rockabilly band, and have sat in with jazz, rock, swing, and rockabilly outfits using this particular guitar. I also use it for standard tuning slide and recording.
I run it through a Deluxe Reverb reissue amp, eq'd flat, with an occasional DOD Classic Tube pedal set to a Creedence-type subtle distortion clip.
It is unpredictable noisy, even clean, with an on-again off-again ground hum that appears in certain venues with no regard to stage lights/external switches/power lines/etc.
Full bottom end, very bright high end, but rather scooped in the mid; single note lines could always use more punch in middle octaves (okay down low, okay up high, nuthin' in between).
It is serviceable for all sounds listed above without any amp tweaking (the master tone control is great), but does not really excel or shine on any one in particular. It's pretty feedback resistant, and distorting the middle position (both p/us) is quite beautiful.
The scooped sound I referred to makes it's clean tone rather anemic for recording purposes, and it had the tone and punch of a twist tie when played through my old Ampeg VT-60.

The set up was gorgeous, action was swell, pickups fine and dandy. Nothing wrong when I first got it.

...then after two years of weekly gigging, the p/u switch corroded, the neck strap button stripped out of the wood, the fets developed significant string wear above the 12th fret (deep bite marks!), the pickups and bigsby tarnished up, the roller saddle started buzzing, and the E saddle goes dead if I try a new gauge of strings (I'm using D'Addario chrome flatwound 12's).
Now that I've fixed the switch, strap button, and keep extra Chrome 12's on me at all times, it's still my steady, mostly due to impeccable intonation, a sturdy neck joint, firm tuners (almost never goes out of tune, regardless of weather or climate change).
Not what I'd expected from a Gretsch though.

Customer what?

(Never approached them, as all the problems have been do-it-yourselfers).

I've been playing for 15 years or so, and gigging for 5. I also own a 96 Martin HD28-2R, a '59 Guild CE-100, a Dorado resonator guitar, a Cordoba classical, a lovely handmade O-size acoustic, a Deering banjo, a Danelectro nifty fifty, and a Fender Deluxe Reverb. In the past I've also owned an Epiphone Sheraton, '70's Gibson The Paul and a Washburn dreadnaught.
As far as my electrics go, this is the most versatile and reliable I've had, but it won't be the last I ever own either.
If it unexpectedly went bye-bye, I'd probably go Gibson or Guild.
It is a looker with a fancy name, but that's really not enough. I do love the electronics configuration and placement of all the knobs and switches.
The close out price made it accessible as far as pro gear goes, though my preference would have been a Guild Manhattan.
I wish the hardware was more reliable, though several high-end Gretsches I compared it too had worse electronics right off the rack, or buzzing frets, or more brittle tone.

2002, same as all the others only nicer. Dark-cherry finish.

I am 16 years old, but have played for many years all the same, and I've been saving money for the 'perfect' guitar since the fourth grade, and this was the one. No one guitar should be expected to cover everything, but as far as pure tone goes, Gretsch is the best. If you put the mids up and play rhythm it sounds simmilar to the 'bell' sound of a rickenbacker. This also has the best lead sound i've ever heard. The treble notes always ring clearly.

When i first played this guitar at GC, it wasn't great. I asked them when they were getting another in, and they said after they sold this one. So, they amused me by resetting the neck angle which made it less stiff, but not perfect. they did this a couple more times, but ultimately they had to change it all again when they put my lighter (.10's) strings on. After all of that it was the best guitar i've ever played. I highly recomend .10's to anyone that plays in a live group and plays both lead and rhythm. Seems like a lot of people here use heavy flatwound strings, which i'm sure would sound very full, but the .10's sound full and are much more comfortable. The dark cherry finish is much nicer than the medium red, although i did like that too. The binding, frets, hardware, and finish were all flawless, I checked them in the store and at home.

This guitar is reliable and solid, however I always treat mine like a lady. Like i said before, I'm 16, there won't be another waiting for me. I was a bit unsure of the strap buttons at first, but they've actually been really good. It shows no sign of breaking down if you don't abuse it. I would gig with this guitar without a backup.

Cost me my life savings, but it really was worth it. This is the exact guitar I've always wanted. The best sound, and the best playing guitar i've found. This isn't for most people, its a lot bigger than the most commonly played guitars. The best advice I can offer is that if you like the gretsch tone, play all the different models you can find, and once you've found one you like, play a few of that model and you'll have a guitar you can play for the rest of your life.

GRETSCH TENNESSEE ROSE
Japan /22 Frets/ mahagoni finish/ (Master,pu1,pu2,stndby,tone,puselec)
Filtertrons
inkl. case

fender TWIN
much sound varieties...
even hardcore ... heavy sounds experimental metal etc.

strapbottons broke out of the woud ...
bridge wasted ...
frets are to weak ... have to change it all

fragile but rock'n'roll

I live i austria...
no support

but there arent much things that could have to be repaired

I'm playing for 7 years
very cool guitar ... but sometimes i wish it would be an old one ...
even if the new one has an better durabillity...

If you own an gretsch than enoy it ! IDIOT!

Built in 2000. It is the standard Tennessee Rose. Two Filter-Tron pickups, Bigsby Trem, chrome hardware, cherry finish.

Sound great to me!

I play the Gretsch through a Peavey Classic 50 2X12 combo and even without effects it sounds just superb. It's the first Gretsch I've owned and I love it. I even prefer to keep this on during a gig whn I'm supposed to have swapped to my Strat. One day I'll expect to play it for an entire gig!

Plenty of top and some growling bass from this baby. I usually use the both pickups and occasionally switch over to the bridge pu for some real twang.

I actually had to return the first one I bought. The neck was seriously warped!!! How on earth did that get through QA???

Still never mind, the second one issued to me was just perfect. Switches are fine and the finish is flawless.

Lasted for nearly 2 years now. No sign of fading. Strap buttons work fine and the finish is great.

Went through the dealer and distributor to get my new replacement. No problems with them but I do hear that Gretsch themselves are a touch arrogant and reclusive.

Been playing 30 years. I've owned Les Pauls, 335's, Firebirds, Strats, etc but no guitar before can beat the 110% pose value offered by this baby. Just leaving it on a guitar stand by my amp attracts many admirers, hardly need to play it to impress people.

I also love my Fender Strat Plus Deluxe for its pure versatility and playability, but that Gretsch is one hell of a looker!

1998 #6119 Tennessee Rose.

Made in Japan just like Sony, Nikon, Hitachi, NSX, Lexus, etc.

This guitar really ROCKS! Our band specializes in playing Classic 50/60's Rock & Roll where clean tone is premium. But we also slip into later Stones stuff and the like where overdrive is added to the signal. No matter becuase whatever you feed this guitar sounds GREAT!
I plug into either a '72 Deluxe Reverb, '68 Bassman or 2001 Roland JC-90. Again, this guitar just sounds incredibly good.

Not a single flaw that I can see. Just like a Nikon.

We gig about 20 times per year and stay around the San Francisco Bay Area, so I've never had to ship the guitar anywhere. So far I have not had a single problem. I never take a backup guitar to a gig and have never had a problem since I started gigging in 1964. This 6119 will keep my record intact! No problems with the strap buttons because I immediately installed strap locks on it when I bought it (I do that with all of my guitars).

No problems have come up yet, so I've never had to call the factory.

In my current stash are some Fender Custom Shop Strats and Teles, a great '67 ES-335, '61 Jazzmaster and a '66 Ricky 360-12. All of these guitars are currently sitting unused at gig time because I just really prefer the tone of this Gretsch! I bought mine used and whomever owned it before me had it set up just perfectly. Not a buzz despite low action. The Bigsby works great (I use it alot in my playing).

Of all my electrics, this one would be the toughest to ever lose for any reason. I would definitely buy another one as soon as possible.

If you're getting the idea I LOVE this guitar, you are correct! If you try one, you're missing out.

YEAR:
2000
MADE IN:
Japan
NECK:
- Laminated rock maple
- Rosewood ebony-stained fingerboard
- Adjustable truss rod
- 25-1/2" scale, joined at 14th fret
- Bound fingerboard
- Neo-classic position markers
- Black headpiece, pearl inlaid

* BODY:
- 16" side, 2-1/2" deep
- Laminated maple construction
- Open-bound, thin-style f-holes
- Multiple binding
- Single cutaway

* ELECTRONICS:
- Dual high sensitive FiltertronTM adjustable pickups
- Pickup selector switch
- Tone control
- Volume control for each pickup
- Master volume control

* FEATURES:
- Chrome-plated metal parts
- Solid brass control knobs, chrome-plated
- Deluxe high gear ratio enclosed machines
- Adjustamatic roller bridge with individual string adjustments
- Gretsch Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
- Dark cherry-red stain finish, hand polished
**** Would have been 10 if it had the standy switch!

I have always liked Gretsch Guitars. The general rule of thumb is that Gretches do one thing and do it well. I have to disagree. Gretsch players range from Chet Atkins to George Harrison to Neil Young to Malcom Young to Brian Setzer to etc.... I bought this guitar to bring on a summer "radio station" tour that featured 10 or 12 acts that had had hits. I was hired to play guitar. During rehersals, I intended to use a Tele (a 72 Keith Richards Model) and a Bigsby-equiped Les paul Standard. I brought in my other Gretsch (1959 6120) one day just for fun and it sounded great for the music. I was now faced with taking a $4000+ vintage guitar out on a tour or finding something similar.

I had heard alot aboput new Gretches, but was skeptical. I thought that they were too expensive for guitars made in Japan. I went into a store just to check them out. I had originally wanted a RI 6120, but started playing an Anniversary. It was great! Clear, ballanced, great sounding! The problem? No Bigsby. I figured I could get one installed. I went back a few hours later and tried the 6119. It was great and had the bigsby so I got it.

Is this guitar as cool as my 59? No way.

Is this guitar an easily replaceable, great sounding, sexy looking guitar? Absolutly!

This is the first new guitar that I have bought from a store in years. Most of my guitars are old. This feels great. It sounds very Gretsch. I can nail Chet Atkins, Neil Young, George Harrison, & more with it. It worked great on the tour and I have used it to record with a bunch more since then. I used it on a duo jazz gig that I do once a month and it had a killer jazz sound (think round, not muddy).
I really like this guitar alot. It isn't noisy, it's not notoriosly quiet like alot of the Baldwin stuff either. It has some bite and breaks up nice if you want it to. I like the 6119 because it is less money than the 6120 and the F holes are smaller. It doesn't feedback, so that makes it good too! When they make a 6120 that is more reddish like my 59 I will probably buy one. I really like this color.

At home I play through an old Vibrolux, Blonde Bassman, or AC-30. I play unplugged alot too. On tours (if I carry a backline) it's an old reworked Twin (master volume model rewired to BF specs) or a BF Dual Showman through a Fender 2 X 12 with Altecs. I played in Italy with a Marshall JCM-800 and got it to sound like a giant Deluxe:-)

I guess you all figured that Ir eally like this guitar. Here is what I don't like:
* The rosewood base on the bridge cracked after 3 dates. I replaced it with a Gibson ABR-1, which is what I hear Setzer uses on his. The ABR-1 greatly increased tone and sustain. Well worth it but a shame Gretsch doesn't make a better quality bridge.($70.00)
* Straplocks - I am extra carefull with these, but I am planning on ahving problems.
* The spring in the Bigsby was a little too squishy. I replaced it with a stiffer string ($1.25)

The guitar was set up decent. I have heard horor stories about Gretsches setups. I think it had 9's when I got it, so I took them off and put 11's. I use 11 Nickel Wound Fenders or Thomastick flats. I want to try Pyramids which are supposed to be great, but I have not gotten around to ordering a set yet.

I am not really fussy about setups. If the guitar plays in tune it's fine with me. I like my action a little on the high side as well. I set the intonation with my Boss TU-2 and that was that. I reset it a little when I switch from rounds to flats. You would probably want the action lower and I think you could do it, but I like it this way. I really like the neck and feel of this guitar.

The grain is really pretty and the finish is flawless. The binding is great and everything looks gorgeous!

The only flaw was the afforementioned bridge crack. The squishy feeling Bigsby spring was replaced due to personal preference. I have heard bad things about Gretches switches, but I have not had any problems. I clean them often with Lectra Clean (avail. @ Home epot)

I have flown this guitar from East Coast to West Coast at least 9 times since I have owned it. I also have taken it on a tour of Europe (bus, plane, train, etc...) and it's great. I like the fact that it looks stylish and retains the Gretsch style and sound. It's not as durable as an old Tele, but I wouldn't expect it to be. I find it to be extremely versitile which makes it ideal for tours (this, a tele, and a LP)

Never dealt with them. Basicly, if you buy a guitar and it's a lemmon you return it. If it's quirky you work it out. I don't ever see the need to call the factory.

I really am happy with this guitar. I also have a new Gretsch Elliot Easton which I love & will probably be using live alot. If it were stolen I would deffinitly buy it again. If you want a Gretsch, but need to travel or can't afford an old one you will probably be happy with this.
If you need certain brand batteries in your stompbox or if you need to have your guitar setup every month, you may not like this guitar. I don't say this to sound like a jerk, but it seems that players in general are becoming fussier and fussier. Good thing Chet, Jimi, Buddy, Cliff, and all the others could deal with old strings, off the rack guitars ("what, no custom shop???), and a few uneven frets here and there. If you like to put on strings, tune it up, and play music instead of complaining about it not being "vintage" you should be happy!

The neck is Laminated rock maple, it has a Rosewood ebony-stained fingerboard, 25-1/2" scale, joined at 14th fret, bound fingerboard, Neo-classic position markers, Black headpiece, pearl inlaid. The body is 16" side, 2-1/2" deep, it has Laminated maple construction, Open-bound, thin-style f-holes, Multiple binding, and a Single cutaway. The electronics are Dual high sensitive FiltertronTM adjustable pickups, it has a Pickup selector switch, tone control, volume control for each pickup, and a Master volume control. Some of the extra features are Chrome-plated metal parts, solid brass control knobs, chrome-plated, Deluxe high gear ratio enclosed machines, Adjustamatic roller bridge with individual string adjustments, Gretsch Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, and a dark cherry-red stain finish, which is hand polished.

The sound is nice, but not quite the vintage sound that Gretsch is known for. I've read that Tv Jones pu's are the closest things to NOS Filtertrons, and once i can scrap together $200, i'm gonna get them. Even with the stock pu's though, the guitar sounds great. Exellent for Rockabilly. My chain goes 6119->Mesa/Boogie V-Twin->Boss DD-3->Fender Blues Jr. The combo of a Gretsch hallow body, with a Fender all tube amp is perfect for getting that famous twang. I give it an 8 because the pu's are ceramic, so to nail the vintage sound, you've gotta get some alinco pu's. The 6120-SH has alinco pu's, which are an improvement form the ceramic ones, but not as good as the orginials.

I bought the guitar used off of ebay, i got it from a guitar shop, so it came set up the way the guys sent it to me. It had very low action, with no fret buzz (my preferance), the Neck pu is quite louder than the bridge, but i want to keep it that way, so when i go for solo's, i just flip the pu switch for added volume.

The gripes of the guitar...
As stated above, Japanese made gretsches are known for bad strap knobs and faulty switches. I thought i had a bad switch, but read that i should try electronic component cleaner, found at radio shack, before i changed out the switch. The Cleaner worked like a charm. Before i cleaned it out, it was a VERY noisy switch, and there was about a 1:10 ratio of when i switched over to the neck pu, it wouldnt work. Couple shots of the cleaner in there, and the problem went away.

I had a problem with the strap button, and easily fixed it with toothpicks and elmers glue.

I've read that people have had problems with the bigsby, but i'm yet to find a problem with it, other that it constantly putting the strings out of tune (when used, otherwise tuning is VERY stable), but thats actuly a problem wiht the tuners, and i'll most likly put in sprezels, and the problem will be solved.

Once again, the only fear of this guitar i have is the switch, i know that adventuly i will have to change the switch, and might just change out the entire wiring harness, just to aviod the scratchy pots that i've read have haunted many people.

It is a strong guitar, but you cannot treat it exactly like a solid body electric. I tend to baby it like an acustic, seeing how technicly it kinda is one. I've never droped it, but i know that if it falls on the input jack, it will put a hole in the guitar. I would call this a dependable guitar, but i wouldnt gig without a backup (thats just me)

I've been playing for 3 years. I also own a Fender MIM Deluxe Fat Strat, MIM Std. Strat, Taylor 810, Laravee Paralor (sp?) acustic. If this guitar was stolen, i might look into a 6120, or some vintage gretschs, but i'd defenatly want to always have a gretsch hallow body on hand. I play Living End, Brian Setzer, Green Day, James Brown, Smashing Pumpkins, ect. I really play a little of everything. When i went to buy this guitar, i looked into DeArmmonds, thinking i could get a cheep subsutute of a Gretsch, but only the gretsch could get the "Tele Twang on Steroids".

2000 Gretsch Tennesee Rose
Made in Japan
Laminated Top
2 Pickup Volume Pots, Master Tone, Master Volume, 3 way selector
Two Filtertron Humbuckers
Transparant red finish
Gretsch Body Style
Bigsby
Gretsch Tuners
Case, 10 sets of strings, 2 18' cables, stand, humidifier, wrentches, reprinted "vintage" gretsch pickup flyer, Gretsch Book and T Shirt

Guitar sounds great! I play alot of different styles. From Rock to Blues to Jazz to Folk. I really like the 6119. It breaks up nice but remains clear. It doesn't muddy up. You can still hear you're playing through some distortion, not just a bunch of mud.

It isn't noisy. For humbuckers the output is lower than a Gibson, but hey, it's a Gretsch and that's the way it's supposed to be!

Great full sound. Sounds full and round with both pickups on. Roll off the treble for a great jazz sound. Bridge pickup sounds trebly and thin but in a good way! (Think Eddie Cochran) Nails Harrison through my AC-30!

I really like this guitar a ton. It's good for many different things, but always sounds like a Gretsch. It sounds great! It's not a 10 sound kinda guitar. It does the Gretsch thing great and that's why I bought it!

Finish is drop dead perfect. I see tons of posts with people complaining about setups, I got this one at Guitar Center and it played really nice. I took it home and set it up with some heavier strings and it plays awsome now!

The one problem I had was that the rosewood base on the bottom of the floating bridge cracked after I had it for a week. I think this was more GC's fault becasue it had not been oiled and had been in GC for a long time. I brought it back and they gave me a new bridge. I ended up putting a Gibson ABR-1 on it anyway. This bridge is way better and really opened up the sound of the guitar! The rest of the work was perfect!

I have taken this guitar to 46 states, through Canada, all over Europe, and even to Asia and have never had any problems. It's not as durable as my old Tele, but it's a hollowbody so that's to be expected. The case is really nice as well. I wouldn't use anything without a backup, but I have used this all night and not needed a backup!
The strap buttons on Gretches are questionable. I have never had a problem, but there are alot who have. If I did I would put on some dunlop straplocks and chalk it up to experience!
The hardware (except for the floating bridge) is great. No problems with the tuners orr anything else. The Bigsby was a little loose for my tastes (I have a 59 6120 and a 60 LP Standard both with bigsbys) so I got a replacement spring and took out the nylon washer. Cost .75
Not a flaw, just my preference!

Gretsch doesn't have good support, but this is a guitar not a computer! I know it's going to last and if it doesn't I'll fix it. Read Gibson or Fender's lifetime warrenty and youll see nothing is covered anyway

I play full time and have done one tour with a major label artist with this guitar and have also used it on some recording sessions. It's great. Looks killer, sounds good, and plays really nice. Gretches are alot of money, but unlike fender or gibson, noone else does what they do as well. This was my first RI Gretsch and I have also gotten a EE Jet & Black Falcon. I have a 1959 6120 and an older Tenn. and the RI is a cost effective alternative for touring!

Model 6119 Tennessee Rose 25 1/2 scale. Made in Japan. I thought it should include the case so I asked for one and the store included it. I played a 6120 and chose the 6119 over it. The sound was sharper.

I was looking for that Stray Cats sound. I looked at the Setzer model and the Hot Rod series. I liked the sound of the Hot Rod series but was turned off by the inability to make any individual adjustments to the pickup volume and tone. I'm using a fairly inexpensive Gibson amp with built in reverb and Gain. I've read about oyher people complaining about fret buzz. I haven't experienced this with mine.

I'm not sure if the set-up was done at the store or the factory but it is great. It is easy to play. The action is great! My guitar came with a solid 3rd string rather than a wound one. I can't really complain about any of the quality issues of the guitar. The case is tight! You almost have to shoe horn the guitar in and out.

I believe the 6119 will hold up well. I think you should treat an instrument with a certain amount of care, play it hard, but treat it well. The strap buttons are just fine. I raed of someone who was concerned because the strap button loosened out of the body near the neck. I looked for this before I bought and didn't find any of the Gretsch guitars I looked at to be flawed in this area. I'm a little concerned about the electronics over time, but the only way to know if they'll hold up is in time.

the store I bought from offers lifetime services as a perk for buying through them. Quality flaws of course would have to be handled under warranty. So far, so good!

I've been playing off and on for about 15 years. I own a Schecter Collector Edition Strat and an Ovation Celebrity electric acoustic. The Gretsch Tennessee Rose is a great addition and a pleasure to play. I compared the Gretsch with a Washburn and it came down to how it sounded and felt. I could have saved a few bucks but I think I made the right decision. I think this re-issue of the 6119 will be a sought after instrument in the future. The only thing I really wish it had was a label that said "Made in the USA"

This is a Japanese made Gretsch 6119. It has a Bigsby Tremelo, roller adjustable bridge, 2 filtertron pickups, 3 way toggle selector, bridge and neck volume controls, tone controls, and master volume control. My only complaint about this setup is that I think the neck volume control is placed in an awkward spot right under the Bigsby.

This this is all about tone! I played it for about a half an hour before I decided to take it. It absolutely sings!! The neck pickup is where all the tone is at. The tone is so round and full. It actually over powers the bridge pickup in the middle selection. I plug amp it through a Line 6 Spider which is a little too modern for such a guitar. But it sounds just great with the right settings. I usually keep it pretty clean because the tones are so great. However, I play my Gretsch unplugged about 75% of the time while I'm at home. It sounds so full and punchy unamplified that I have a great time with it like that.

I don't know about everyone else but mine was setup just fine. Action is awesome with no rattles or buzzes. Intonation was right on. I'd heard that there are intonation problems so I was a little concerned. The Bigsby isn't too responsive though. It's nice and smooth but doesn't bend the strings as much as it should. There were two 6119 to choose from when I decided to buy one. The other ones action wasn't as easy to play and the neck pick up didn't work for some reason. That made my decision much easier. The pick guard was a little loose but tightened right up with a screw driver. The finish was beautiful. The wood grain is highly visible through the finish. The stap pegs were a bit of a hassle. Everytime I unscrewed it to put on a strap it would unscrew from the wood rather than the post. It took a little bit of work but I fixed it. Another thing that bothers me is the bridge. My hand sits either on the bridge or pretty close to when I play. I've noticed that the little bolt on the bridge scrapes my hand a lot making it a little uncomfortable for me. No big deal.

I don't play live with it but I think it'll be just fine for that. If anything I would swap the strap pegs for some clip ons for easier strapping. Hardware seems fine with me. I don't foresee any problems.

I haven't dealt with customer service but I've heard that it sucks. It doesn't bother me that much since I'll most likely take it to a local guitar tech if any problems come up.

I've been playing for about 11 years and this is my second hollowbody guitar. I have been drawn to Gretsch ever since I got into playing guitar. Thanks to bands like Stray Cats, The Cure, and Jesus and Marychain. I just love hollowbody guitars. Purchasing this guitar has fulfilled a long time dream of owning a Gretsch. I'm not disappointed in the least. It's a true life long investment that I'll cherish for years to come. A truly underated guitar.

1999 Model Gretsch Tennesee Rose; made in Japan by Terada Company, with whom Gretsch has contracted to build their higher-end hollowbodies. Laminated maple neck, with a Rosewood board; thumbnail inlay. Very similar to the Nashville body, only not quite as deep which I like, cause I'm not a real big guy. Two Filtertrons, each with it's own volume control, plus a master volume knob & tone control. Adjustamatic roller bridge & Bigsby; all hardware is chrome; Single cutaway body is dark red with white binding. Plenty of gadgets to play around with.

Mine is strung with Pyramid Flats; 11-49 guage. It flat-out nails that old 'roots' music sound. I'm from the Waylon & Willie style of country, plus I do a lot of old classics. With this guitar & these strings it is easy to get that 50's twang I want. It's run thru a Peavey Classic 30 all-tube combo, made in '95. Not even any pedals, although I may add an MXR Dyna-Comp. Sometimes I get a slight rattle -- I think it's coming from where the pickguard is mounted. I can gently press down on the pickguard, and the rattle disappears. This guitar used to have an annoying harmonic ring on the 3rd string (G), but that problem disappeard when I switched to the Pyramid flats, which feature a wound 3rd -- something the round Gibsons did not have. If I ever switch back to rounds, I'll have to deal with that.

Factory setup was OK. Not great, but not horrible either. I took it to a tech for a professional setup. He put a bit more relief on the neck, and that was about it. If you're considering a new Gretsch hollowbody, plan to spend another few bucks on a real setup or have it worked into the price. Chances are, your guitar will need it.

The workmanship is simply magnificent. It is the most stiking red you've ever seen and I personally think it matches well with the chrome hardware. The wood grain pattern is very pronounced in this guitar - I think a bit more than most TRoses. The finish just gleams at you. I lead the music at an outdoor Cowboy church, once a week in the South Texas heat, and sweat doesn't seem to phase it a bit. I just wipe it down before it goes back in the case. Once in a while I'll use a little polish on it.

The hardware seems fine to me as far as I can tell. I was an acoustic player before, this is my first real electric guitar. The Bigsby is very smooth and doesn't pull the guitar out of tune. Although I don't use the Bigsby much in country music, I do mess around with it while practicing at home. Gretsch hardware is said to rattle sometimes, (probably because there is so much there) but other than the minor rattle noted above, I've had no problems.

This thing is solid as a rock. Although it's only a year old, the hardware and finish seem like they'll last longer than I will, if properly cared for. I am amazed at the tuning stability.

This new generation of Terada made Gretsches are famous for strap-button failures and less than reliable switches. The electronics are made in Europe somewhere and sent to Japan for assembly. Mine are not acting up thus far, but I watch it closely. The suspect electronics are a bit of a concern. Switchcraft is said to make dead-reliable replacements at a reasonable cost. At the first sign of trouble, I will replace the switches. I don't worry too much about backup, if it fails on a job, I can use my Alvarez acoustic.

Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with them. Every story I've heard is that they are horrible. The warranty is only for a year anyway, which I think is cowardly on Gretsch's part.

I absolutely love this guitar. If it were lost or stolen, I'd would promptly replace it. I've been playing guitar about 10 years, and country / blues harp for 28 years. Always been an acoustic rythym player -- I do all my lead work on the harmonica. I was in the market for a Taylor or Larrivee, when I discovered the Gretsch sound and was hooked. That twang is just perfect for the music I'm doing. This is a tourist area of Texas, near Luckenbach, and there are great players everywhere with acoustic guitars. I wanted something different and this does the job, and is magnificent to look at.

For those interested in the Gretsch world, see the excellent web site at WWW.GRETSCHPAGES.COM. It's an independent page with much info on the products and history of Gretsch guitars. The discussion link, will put you in touch with an army of Gretsch experts who know far more than I. Recommended!

This is a 1999 Japanese-made 6119 reissue. It has 22 frets on a 25 1/2" scale neck, but it is jointed at the 14th fret so there is limited fret access above that (even with the cutaway). It has a master volume, volume for each fret, and a tone control. I'd prefer to have tone control for each pickup, but the Setzer hot rod models don't have any tone control at all, so I'll be happy with what I have. :-) The chrome plated hardware and bigsby are striking against the deep, red background. This is a beautiful guitar.

The only changes I've made are replacing the stock roundwound strings with D'Addario flatwound 12s and adjusting the bridge a little bit to stop some minor buzzing; I probably won't make any hardware changs any time soon.

I was a little annoyed that the hard shell case wasn't included, but it is beautiful and tank like. I highly recommend it.

yum. With the flatwound strings the sound is delicious. It is exactly that fat, Gretsch sound you're probably thinking of. I play through a 1983, Rivera designed Fender Concert (great reverb) and occasionally use a danelectro "tuna melt" tremolo pedal , rocktek chorus pedal, and a DOD FX96 Echo F/X pedal. The laminated maple top isn't exactly hand-carved spruce, but I really like it. I play pop (red house painters, belle and sebastien, the smiths, etc), rockabilly, and am an aspiring jazz player. This guitar is sufficiently versatile for all my tonal needs.

I was worried about the fit and finish of this guitar because of other made-in-Japan Gretsch reviews in the database, so I spent nearly an hour in the store going over every inch of this beast before plopping down my money. This guitar is really, really nice. The tuning pegs give terrific fine control and feel firm to the touch. The finish is impeccable. The frets seem well formed (no visible file marks or anything) and well seated. The binding on the body and f-holes seems perfect. The translucent/irridescent pickguard is, in addition to looking incredibly cool, secure and firm; it does not buzz or rattle at all. As I mentioned above, I had to adjust the bridge a little bit, but I was also replacing thin roundwound strings with thicker flatwounds; bit of bridge tuning seems reasonable to me. All of the controls are firm, and the pickup selector is silent.

I have only had the guitar a week, but I can't find anything wrong with it at all. There were some Gretsch guitars (one older Brian Setzer signature/dice for volume nobs model, and another whose designation escapes me) in the store that were rather flawed (badly filed frets, *noisy* pickup selector, loose tuning pegs, etc.), but this particular instrument seems very well made. I'm just glad I was able to buy the guitar in person and check it first. The salesman went to lunch and came back in the time I spent playing and then checking this beautiful, wonderful, fantastic guitar.

This is a hollowbody so one needs to be more gentle than with, say, a Tele, but I believe this guitar will withstand live playing (it better!). The hardware all seems good and solid. I expect it to last. The finish is beautiful. I don't know how to judge whether or not it will wear off.

The only thing I don't like about this guitar is the top strap button. It screws directly into the wood and seems like it will strip eventually. Does anyone know if this fear is reasonable?

I would never play any guitar without a backup (much less a hollowbody with a bigsby tremolo), but that's more a statement about my paranoia than the quality of this guitar. As I say, I haven't owned it very long so I can't judge durability. Things feel solid, though, so I expect this guitar to be both durable and reliable under my scrupulous, diligent care.

I have not had the pleasure, but the guitar comes with a lifetime warranty.

I have been playing for 11 years. I own an American Standard Telecaster, a 1983 Rivera designed Fender Concert amp, and a bunch of pedals (I already listed the ones I actually use). I would certainly replace this guitar if it were stolen. If I had the money I might upgrade to a Heritage 535, but I'd most likely just by another 6119 if I could. I love nearly everything about this guitar, I don't trust the top strap button, but the tone from this guitar is really stunning and is my favorite feature. I compared this guitar against the Guild HB35, Guild X170, a bunch of Epiphone crap, and a few other Gretsch models. I wish I'd had a chance to try the Guild X160, but no one within an hour drive had one in stock. Actually, that's a lie... elderly (which is only an hour away from me) has a blue X160 in stock right now, but I was too lazy to drive up there and too impatient to wait. :-)

This is a 1999 6119 Tennessee Rose Single cutaway Jazzbox. It features 2 Filtertron pickups, polished aluminum "V" style Bigsby, and a roller bridge that my 6120 Setzer model does not have. It is very impressive to look at.

As with most Gretsch guitars, I has a rich "Fat" sound, but as most hollow bodies feedback can be a problem at higher volume levels.

OK, here the bad stuff. This guitar came poorly set up and with jagged
shap fret edges. According to a recent article in Guitar Player magazine, this is a common problem with Gretsch. The rosewood used in making the fretboards, is entirely too green when the guitar is built. As the wood begins to dry, it shrinks causing the frets to hang off the fingerboard. There is a slight misalignment of the neck where it meets the body on the cutaway side. The neck hangs over about one sixty forth of an inch. That may not sound like much, but my guess is the paint will eventually peel at this spot. For what Gretsch charges for these guitars, is it unreasonable to expect total perfection? If Fred Gretsch could see the shoddy craftsmanship with his name on it, He'd roll over in his grave. This guitar was purchased on an online auction. It was advertised as new, and it appears to be new. Because the person who sold it is not an authorized Gretsch dealer, My guess is the warranty is worthless.
Based on the problems I had with my 6120 Setzer Signature madel, I e-mailed the seller about the shap fret edges before I even bid on it. He lied! This guitar is not currently in playable condition. It needs the action adjusted to eliminate major fret buzz. This is my second Gretsch, and it's worse than my first. It's a piece of junk, but a pretty piece of junk.

This is a stay at home guitar.

Never dealt with Gretsch directly. I've read bad reports.

Overall I am disappointed with this guitar, and disappointed with Gretsch all together. I got it at a great price, I saved about $450.00 off the current retail price, but will have to sink money into it to get it right. Based on my personal experience with two Gretsch guitars, and what I have read, I think the Gretsch company needs to re-evaluate the Japanese factory that builds them. They are defineately "Not all that" The crap they are putting out would be an embarrassment to Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy, Brian Setzer, or anyone else who has their name on one. If this guitar was lost or stolen, I'd replace it with something other than Gretsch. Most likely I'd go with Guild which is a far superior guitar. I have wanted a Gretsch ever since I was a kid, and now that I have two, I realize everything that glitters, is not gold. I would love to have a vintage USA Gretsch. There is no comparison to the imports.