Gretsch 6120 Duane Eddy Model

Features have already been listed above except that mine is the less common Ebony Burst finish

I use this guitar for lots of different applications. Right now it's strung with flat-wound strings and works great in my Jazz combo. Earlier I had it strung with round-wounds going through a 1964 Fender Bassman. The sound is versatile, strong and it ain't bad lookin' either.

I LOVE how this guitar feels, I love the neck, I love the body, if it were a woman I'd marry it. I gotta' say though, I originally bought this instrument because of the finish. Everyone and their brother seemed to have a 6120 in Texas Orange but the look of the black/gray ebony burst just knocked me out. It helped that I was a pretty big fan of Duane Eddy's sound, it was a perfect fit. Of course, there are some issues with the gold plating but I bought this knowing that it would happen. I'm actually looking forward to the time when most of it has worn away. It's already completely gone from where my palm contacts the bridge.

More durable and reliable than my car... although I guess that's not saying much.

I bought this used on eBay, I think it was probably one of the last ones to come up because I haven't seen another on eBay in that time. I bought it "two Thanksgivings ago, that's, two years ago on Thanksgiving" and haven't had a problem with it.

I've been playing since the 8th grade, that's about 20 years. I've owned many crappy guitars (my first I pulled from a dumpster) but when my band started becoming more successful I finally started putting money into some guitars. I may not be the best judge of this guitar as I'm just as happy with it as I probably would be a vintage '57. That being said, my main guitars in my other band are a pair of Ibanez Talmans, one with single coils and one with humbuckers. I didn't pay more than $400 for the two of them (combined) and I prefer them over any strat any day. Maybe once a cheapskate, always a cheapskate but I don't skimp on amps and I could probably play a First Act guitar through my '64 Bassman and be happy (except that the First Act guitars really are as cheap and crappy as the price).

It helps that I only paid $1500 rather than the out-of-store price of $2500 - $2800.

- Rock maple neck
- Ebony fingerboard
- Humped-block pearl inlays
- Adjustable truss rod
- 24.6" scale, joined at 14th fret
- Curly maple bound headpiece

* BODY:
- 15.5" wide, 2.8" deep
- Laminated maple construction
- Open-bound oversized F holes
- Multiple binding
- Single cutaway

* ELECTRONICS:
- DynaSonic single coil pickups
- Pickup selector switch
- Tone control
- Volume control for each pickup
- Master volume control

* FEATURES:
- 24K gold-plated hardware
- Solid brass control knobs, 24K gold-plated
- Gotoh machines
- Spacer control adjustable bridge
- Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
- Duane Eddy signature on pickguard

* COLORS:

Twangy lows,sparkling highs.This is where the guitar really shines.Onlt drawback is there is not much of a jazz sound out of the neck pu.

The knobs seem to wobble when you turn them.Other than that,perfect,beautiful.

Seems to be built like a tank.

N/A

It is a Gretsch.It has quirky features that you either love or hate.I love it.

Made in Japan in 2000. The guitar is as described in the first review of this model.

I absolutely would not change a thing about this instrument. The tone is beautiful and the tone controls do a great job of varying the mix between the pickups. The size is perfect for me - it's incredibly comfortable to lean over the guitar and fingerpick. The overall experience is a perfect balance between the intimacy of playing an acoustic and the extroversion of playing an electric.

I fingerpick Chet Atkins and Doc Watson style tunes, play some country blues and every once in a while play some rock and roll. This guitar is perfect for those styles. I use a Fender Hot Rod Deville most of the time, mostly without effects. The combination produces a deep, highly saturated tone that is very pleasing to me. I am considering adjusting the pickups a little to get more treble than the factory settings provide, but I'm thrilled with the sound as it is. After all, Duane Eddy got famous mostly for playing in the lower ranges...

I had the store set the guitar up before I took it home. As displayed in the store, the tone switch was a little loose (so way I, actually). This problem was addressed before I took the guitar home.

All the parts are properly machined and fit together well.

The hardware all looks and feels durable, the finish looks like it will be with me for a while, and I have the general impression that if I treat this guitar right, it will return the favor. The only thing I'm worried about is the gold plating - I'll write again in twenty years to let you know.

never called them. Wouldn't if I needed to. They have a worse reputation than I do.

I've been playing for thirty years, and own a very new '52 reissue telecaster, an eight year old Martin M36, an ancient Ovation, an old Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II, assorted fretted and fretless banjos and mandolins, and a venerable old Hamer fretless bass. The Gretsch is the sweetest guitar I've got - the Martin has wonderful acoustic tone, but the Gretsch sounds like a organ when the knobs are set right. The Gretsch and Martin necks lay in my hand more easily than the tele neck does, and fingering accurately seems just a little easier with the Gretsch than with any of the other instruments. The Gretsch just fits the style of music that I play better than the tele ("Maple Leaf Rag" just doesn't work on the tele, but it flows off the Gretsch) - it's the physical experience of playing the Gretsch (which is similar to playing an acoustic guitar) and the incomparable tone that make the Gretsch so appealling to me. With all that said, it should be noted that the Joe Pass Epiphone is a fine instrument, and at a quarter or less of the Gretsch price may deliver more dollar for dollar than the Gretsch - but faced with the same decision again, the only thing I would do is buy the Gretsch more quickly.

Manufactured in Japan 1n 1997, this 20 fret, laminated maple hollowbody is a recreation of Duane Eddy's 1957 6120. It comes finished in polyurethane (as opposed to the nitrocellulose used originally) in blackburst and the more common orange see thru finish (as used on vintage models). All hardware is gold plated including the Schaller styled tuners (which feel stable), the usual Gretsch screwed-on strap buttons, metal "G" knobs (like the originals), pickup selector switch tip, Melita style bridge and DeArmond Dynasonic pickup replicas. The ebony fingerboard sports an aluminum nut (a real nice touch) and small vintage styled frets; the neck is slim and comfortable. The guitar comes equipped with an aluminum Bigsby vibrato unit, which isn't gold plated (like on Duane's original '57). The pickguard is a beautiful gold backed clear unit with Eddy's signature instead of Chet Atkins' (as on the originals). The electronics are exactly like '57 and earlier 6120 and Country Club models: Two single coil passive Alnico DeArmond Dynasonic pickups (in this case DeArmond replicas) controlled by a 3 way pickup selector switch, a master volume control located in the cutaway and a volume for each pickup and a master tone control, all located near the lower f-hole. The purple lined black Gretsch case is of really good quality (like the original ones) and has the Gretsch logo silkscreened in gold. It includes the case keys, Gretsch warranty certificate and warranty card and adjustment tools. It doesn't have an owner's manual; I think it would be a good idea to supply one with the guitar.

I bought this guitar because I wanted to have one just like Eddie Cochran's and Duane Eddy's, not because I plan to gig with it that much, though I might. It certainly adds to my arsenal of classic guitar sounds and I have already used it in the studio. It does exactly what I was expecting it to do; you can play along with any Duane Eddy and Eddie Cochran record and it nails the sound. It's rich but clear and trebly, yet by using the neck pickup and turning down the tone knob, you can get a great jazz tone.

Everything was perfect with the guitar except for a loose ground wire on the output jack. When we checked the jack, it turned out to be an imported one; I immediately replaced it with a Switchcraft. I guess for a guitar in this price range the electronic components could be better.

This guitar will last a long time if taken care of; it's not made to take Pete Townshend Who era style playing.

Haven't dealt with the company yet.

I've been playing for 20 years and have one of almost every classic guitar there is. This one certainly delivers but I guess it could be improved in the electronic component department. If I lost it I would certainly replace it with a real vintage model maybe. For the price you have to pay for this model, you can find yourself a '57 or earlier Country Club in good condition.