Gretsch 6119-62HT

I have a brand new 2002 Grestch 6119-62HT with HiLoTron pickups! I just got it today so sorry about the extra excitement. It was made in Japan. Included a nice hardshell case with a key, a cool little tool (I have yet to find out what to use it for), and some other fancy paperwork that tells ya all about it. The neck is ebony stained rosewood and is very nice (not too thin, not too thick, not too wide, and not too narrow). I have no complaints with the bar style bridge. The tuners aren't great but they do the job.

I play lots of stuff, mostly classics like the Beatles, Dylan, Eric Clapton kind of stuff. Ocasionally I hang out with my metal head friends we play some Slipknot, Nirvana, Metallica, but I don't really care for that stuff (it gives me a headache). So, let's stick with the classics. All I can say really is that it's perfect for it! On one pickup it's got that strat twang on the low notes, but when you get up high it sounds even twangier! Only thing it lacks is the sustain of a les paul or a strat. When you use the neck pickup it has a nice mellow sound. Can you say, "'Til There Was You"? I know that was the Country Gent but this is why I love the guitar to death. It sounds like the Gent, it sounds like a strat, it sounds like anything you can imagine except for maybe a les paul or ES 335. It just doesn't have that beef. It's not only good for oldies though, I've played a few of my own songs, a few Phish, OAR, etc. songs on it and it sounds wonderful.
The sound out of these HiLo trons is just amazing! I adivse you to go a store and try one of these out, I don't think you'll be dissapointed unless you wanna play metal. (oh yeah, it sounds pretty good distorted too, just don't crank the distortion too much or you'll get a little weird ring in the notes).

The guitar was set up pretty well. The action was great minus a little buzz, bur it plays so well I wouldn't give a rats ass if it buzzed like a bumble bee (well I guess that's overdoing it). It was intonated perfectly, the finish was flawless, the pickups were great, the controls were great. The only bummer is the tone selector. It makes a lot of noise when you switch it. My solution in a gig would be to hit the standy switch then switch the tone then just turn off stanby.

Everything looks good to me so far. I'll give ya more on this when it's a few months old.

Haven't dealt with 'em yet.

It's a great guitar! I don't know what else to say. I also own an Epiphone Union Jack Supernova and I play my guitar through a Vox AD120. I absolutely LOVE the Vox amp. The Supernova is great, but not as beautiful or as toneful (I think I just made that word up) as the gretsch. If it were stolen or lost I'd probably sit down and cry and cry and cry after I shit my pants. Then I'd make a lot of money and get another one. I love the finish. It is absolutely gorgeous!!! It's like burgondy but a bit translucent. Absolutely beautiful!!! If ur a Beatles fan or you like the sound of a guitar that can do a strat, a gent, or it's own beautiful unique sound TRY ONE!!!

Reissue of the 1962 Gretsch Tennessean with HiLo-trons. Made in Japan in 2002. Laminated maple body, solid maple neck with ebony (maybe rosewood, can't remember) fingerboard. Standby switch, pickup selector, tone switch, one volume control for each pickup, master volume. Bridge is the bar bridge like they put on in the late 50's/early 60's. Not sure what brand the tuners are, maybe Grovers. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...a big, beautiful chrome BIGSBY!!!

I like the typical Gretsch Filtertron sound, but the extra twang of the Hilotron is something you just can't beat. Listen to the whole Beatles For Sale album (especially "Words of Love") and you'll get a good idea of what this guitar sounds like. I think these pickups reproduce the sound of the originals very well. TV Jones makes Hilotrons, but I don't know what they sound like. It's worth noting, though, that these pickups are, in fact, made with alnico magnets, instead of the ceramic ones used in the stock Filtertrons, these days. I played a regular Tennessee Rose with the stock ceramic Filtertrons, and these Hilotrons just blew it away. Actually, you can get some Setzer-like tones out of these Hilotrons if you really crank it. Hilotrons are simply single-coil versions of the Filtertron, so it kinda makes sense. Overall, an absolutely killer country-rock tone that no other guitar could ever match.

This is one beautiful guitar. I wasn't prepared when I opened the case; I knew the finish was darker on this one, but man, what a beautiful guitar! If you want to get noticed, this (or any Gretsch, for that matter) is the guitar for you! Gary at North Coast Music set this guitar up for me, and it plays like a dream. Nice low action, fast neck, and stays in tune very well, provided you don't wail on the Bigsby too much. The only flaw I can see is the tone switch. It makes a not-so-subtle pop when you move it. The other two positions make the guitar sound like mud, so I don't used it much, anyway. Everything else seems rock-solid

I think this guitar will stand the test of time. It's a hollowbody, so you do have to be careful. As long as you don't bash it against something, or drop it, I think it'll be ok. I think this would be an awesome guitar to play live and you wouldn't need a backup. I would take one along in case a string broke, just because I've never changed a string on a guitar with a Bigsby.

I've heard horror stories about Gretsch customer service, but haven't had to deal with them, myself. I say just give 'em a chance, if you have a problem with the guitar. I think the warranty is for 1 year, but I'm not sure. I'd have to go look at the certificate of authenticity that came with it.

I've always wanted a Gretsch and now I've got one. I could not be happier. Rickenbackers and Gretschs are my absolute favorite guitars, not only because I'm a huge fan of the Beatles, but because they are really quality guitars. I admit I was kind of leary about buying a Gretsch, because they're made in Japan, but they really out-did themselves with this one. Besides, who really cares where it was made, it's a Gretsch! If this one was stolen, I would be crestfallen. Death and sorrow would surround the unfortunate soul who dared steal this guitar from me. I can't think of anything I don't like about this guitar. If you like Gretsches, but aren't crazy about the way most of them sound with the ceramic Filtertrons, check this one out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.