Gretsch 6120 JR2

Made in Japan Gretsch 6120 JR2. A mini 6120. Classic Gretsch styling--double bound hollow maple body with a transparent Orange finish, two Filtertron pick-ups each with a Volume control, a Master Tone control and a Master Volume control, gold hardware, Bigsby tailpiece and an "ebonized" Rosewood fretboard--in a smaller (14") body.

Dead on big Gretsch sound. It sounds like a full sized 6120. If you like Gretsch, you'll love this guitar. Absolute 10 Gretsch tone.

Extremely well made. As good as anything I've ever owned or played.

The only issue this guitar, and most Gretsch guitars have, are the strap buttons. The knurled knobs that Gretsch uses look cool, but they have a tendency to strip and become unscrewed. Otherwise, a very solid guitar.

No experience.

I've been playing for over 20 years and have owned and played a lot of guitars. This is an amazing guitar. It has all the Gretsch vibe in a more playable version of a 6120. Other than the strap button issue, this is a TEN (and I don't believe in 10s). If you want some Gretsch, this is the model to get. Gretsch (of course) no longer makes this guitar, but track one down. You will be happy that you did.

AS SAID

NOW FABULOUS WITH Tv.JONES CLASSIC'S AND THE CORRECT TONE CAPS.

My reason for second review is to question the earlier guy with the bad tuning. How can a good? repair man not fix it.It is only a wood box with strings on,not a bit of space hardware.I fitted mine with a guitar-fetish roller-bridge,strung it,tuned it,and away we go.Spot-on and never drifts,trem-arm no problem. get it sorted by a man who can pal and keep it, these are too good to waste.

2004 jap model,as prev. description,except the dimensions are some 2inches smaller than the 6120 model.Second owner but unable to find a single wear mark on it's sublime body.The p/ups are a bit microphonic' on o/d settings and the tone-switch idea is a bit limiting for me,as preference I would like seperate tone pots for both p/ups.But oh how I love this guitar!

As a part of my act is RnR' based this is my Holy_Grail' guitar,the 6120 full-size was a bit out of my comfort zone.This is the dogs!!.Variety of sounds is fantastic, used through a valve tonelab S.E. pedal it is great,also with the new L6 live x3 pedal it rock's. Just the tone-switch a bit of a ummm? idea.

Came to me from an auction seller who had only played at home, and then only rarely, strings were dead' and heavy.I put on a set of Elixers,and set up to my liking(all of 15 mins). The moment I held this guitar I knew we were meant to be together.It is one of the nicest instruments I have ever played,superbly built,finished to pefection.Why-Oh-Why have they dropped it from production,yet keep making the Anniversary jr.which is the color most normally sighted people loath!

As all my guitars cherished like spoiled pets, of course it will last,so maybe the gold will tarnish a bit,who cares? This is true-love.
always have another guitar on stand to split duty's, as most of my work requires a variety that one guitar cannot provide.

N/A

I am reducing my collection now and will keep this one and a couple of custom built Variaxe models that are essential.If it were stolen,I would pay a hit man whatever he asked to eliminate the perp. and bring my baby back. They are like HENS-TEETH' to find now ,and apart from the t/switch there is nothing I would change. If I can find another I will grab it.

It has an orange finish and it looks beautiful. It has a Bigsby Tremolo which looks cool but
doesn't help to keep the guitar in tune at all. It even makes it worse. I think the tuners are standard Gretsch. It has an overall volume control, one control for the neck and one for the bridge pickup and one tone control. I don't know where it has been made.

The sound is very good. I really like it. I played it with a Fender Twin, Fender Pro Junior and
a Vox AC15 and it works with every amp. I used it for pop songs as well as Rock'n'Roll. Of course it depends on the songs.

The Action was a little too high for me, so lowered it a bit. Now it's ok.
The tuning pegs are a little loose and the saddle is another reason that the guitar
doesn't stay in tune.

I played it at home for months and I couldn't keep it in tune. I'm 40 years old and I play guitar since I was eleven and so I know my job. It doesn't even matter if you bend a string or not on this guitar, it doesn't stay in tune. I once took it to a gig and played a few songs
with it but then I took my old relieable Schecter Strat again, because the Gretsch just didn't stay in tune. I would never take it to a gig again and I'm going to sell it.

I did not get in contact with the company people because I don't live in the states
and that makes it difficult to really get help from there.
But I took the Gretsch to a very good repairman and he and I tried everything we could. Different bridge, different tuning pegs. We finally put Sperzel on it. Nothing helped.

I was blinded by the look and the sound of this guitar. But you can't use a guitar when it doesn't stay in tune. It's not worth the money. I have to say that this is really a bad instrument. I wished I would have played the guitar longer before buying. Of course I heard that it didn't stay in tune very well but I thought that maybe the strings were new, bla bla bla. As I mentioned before, I was blinded by the look and the sound which are really good. But if I can't use it, I have to sell it.

GRETSCH 6120 JNR,made in Japan, year 2005
Orange stain laminated top with slight figuring and beautifully finished. Maple 2-piece glued-in neck,medium figuring with well matched "wings" added to make up the width of the head.The construction is first class with no blemishes whatsoever, unlike the old Gretsches I have played in the past. The hardware on this model is gold with Grover machine heads and a Gretsch branded Bigsby vibrato along with the beautifully made Gretsch control knobs and screw-thread strap buttons (something you either like or find slightly irritating). The pickups are the legendary Filtertrons which sound fantastic with whichever amp you use. The fingerboard looks like Ebony but could be a very tight grained Rosewood stained black, either way it is superb along with the perfectly fitted medium frets which must have been fitted by machine as no human could fit them so evenly! The body of the guitar is about one inch smaller all round than the regular 6120 Nashville giving the appearance in size of a well-fed Les Paul but with none of the back- breaking weight!

I have always wanted to play like Chet Atkins but the next best thing is to own a Gretsch 6120 but the full sized model always seemed too bulky to play unless you are sitting down so when the Junior model came to my attention I jumped at the chance to own one and I am not disappointed! I am in a band that plays the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd and if you'd said that the 6120 Jnr would fit into that category of playing, I would have laughed my socks off but much to my surprise it sounds absolutely right even through my JMP Mk2 Marshall with the amp straight for rythm and through a Marshall Guvnor MK2 pedal set with the gain low just to give a boost to the volume, so much so that my Les Paul gets left at home most times now as I use an American Strat as backup. I get the best tone for the style of music I play by just using the pickup selector in all three positions but the tone selector in just the middle position. I find the position of the master volume very good and for scorching leads it is best in the full on position and slightly rolled off it gives a thicker heavier sound.

When I tried the guitar before I bought it I just played it acoustically and it was really full and rich with an action to match the sound, however when I got home and tried it through an amp I felt the action was just a whisker too high so I gave it a thorough set-up and got the string height and intonation spot on to my liking but when I tried to take the pole pieces of the pickups down a bit, to compensate for lowering the strings, they would not go any lower than what they were as supplied and I couldn't find any way of lowering the pickups in the body of the guitar but the sound was OK so I am not concerned. I took the 6120 to a gig within days of buying with the intention of using it at the end of the set but in the very first number I broke a string on the Strat and had to pick up the Gretsch mid-song and carried on using it from then to the end of the gig! The action was absolutely perfect and I just can't put the guitar down as it puts every guitar I own (apart from the Strat) in the shade and is admired by everyone who lays eyes on it. Gretsch now make a fantastic product unlike those few years in the past when they were unreliable and downright flimsy but the only problem now is that they are perceived as just a Country music or Rockabilly guitar but they are so versatile and would come up to scratch for anything from Jazz to out and out Rock (with the exception of Death-Metal perhaps)

I have only had the guitar for a couple of months but it is every bit as well-made and robust as all my other guitars (Les Paul,Strat,Ibanez,Epiphone) so I see no reason to doubt it's reliability but time will tell and I never gig without a backup. All I can say is that in the past there has been a slight reluctance on the part of guitar players to admit to preferring made in Japan products but I think they have been the saviour of Fender as a company as many people start off with a well made Japanese copy of their favourite Fender guitar and when they eventually progress to the USA made version many will be surprised to find that the MIJ version can, in most cases, be as good if not better and as Gretsch comes under the Fender banner now I think they have done the best thing by having them made in Japan as they are more affordable to most people even 'though they are quite expensive but are worth every penny.

I have not had any dealings with the company as yet but I have not had a reason to contact the makers of any of my guitars so far either only ever having had a re-fret on an old and much loved MIJ Strat by a trusted guitar tech

I have been playing for 45 years and although I am 60 years old now I am as enthusiastic about guitars and gigging as I have ever been and I have my dream collection completed now with the purchase of this Gretsch 6120 Jnr

Price Paid: $1100.00 New
Features: This one is new, Left over stock from 2003/2004. Made in Japan, "Jr" model. I purchased the guitar about 1 month ago.
It has a beautful orange stain high gloss finish." The body is laminated maple. Lots of great bindings on the body & neck.

The guitar has 2 hi-filtertrons pickups, bigsby vibrato, 3 controls knobs 1 master volume and each pickup volume, a pickup switch and a tone swith. The hardware is all gold plated. It came complete with a Gretsch hard shell case.
Sound:

Action, Fit, & Finish: 9
The Japanese Craftmenship is wonderful with the finish gleaming,the gold hardware perfect. The neck is on the thin side, low action for a Gretsch which makes it very easy to play for hours. Having the smaller body also is a great benefit for comfort, both sitting and playing while standing.


Customer Support: N/A


Overall Rating: 10

I was amazed at how many different sounds you can get out of this guitar once you start experimenting and how versatile it is in playing different kinds of music. It can go from very warm..."jazzy" to very bright from country rock. It is wonderful for chords and with the right tone/volume settings, gives a great 'country twang" for leads. It did exceed my expectation for range.

I play through a Fender Deluxed Reverb with a Digitech RP1 processor. Its a quiet guitar with not much in the way of feedback unless my amp is turned up high.

The guitar was set up fine at the factory, with only some minor tweaking.The pickups pre-set at the factory. I couldnt find any flaws in the manufacture of this guitar with the finish, woodwork , neck, or electronics.

I'm a sit at home player so i wont be gigging but it seems to me, the guiater will hold up if not abused. Years ago, I had a Gretsch Tennesean and i think this guitar is every bit as good as the one I had made in Brooklyn.

I havent asked for customer supportsince i ave it only about 1 month.. The guitar came with a 1 year warranty.

I have been playing on and off for 40 yrs. (more off) I have a Jazzmaster, Stratocaster,Gibson ES 335 TD and an Epiphone G 400 SG. I really love playing all of them, but there is something about this one, perhaps it brings me back to my youth..or is it because it's so beautiful to look at...

Mine is an post-Fender Made in Japan serie, I bought it brand new in february this year (2005).
A transparent orange "stain" color.
2 hi-filtertrons pickups, bigsby vibrato/trem, 3 controls knobs 1 master volume and each pickup volume, a pickup switch and a tone swith, all of that golden plated of course...
an original gigbag, perfect for the price

It perfectly suits my music style (french rock) like "noir desir/telephone" as I'm the rythm-guitar player, it perfectly makes its job.

The sound : waaaaaaaaaaaouwh, a warm-deep-bright sound behond any expectation.
the tone switch allows you a rich variety of sound perfect in jazz as well as a crunchy blues or rock colour without spending hours.

I use it with a FENDER THE TWIN AMP, it's dead silent without any feedback (exepted when cranked up to 7 of course but you don't need it)

Christal sound, it's all I can say

Plugged in your amp you just have to set-up....the volume.
The Japanese quality of Craftmenship is perfect, nothing to say about that

've been playing some gigs with it and, guys, it rules, christal sound, good sustain, but a little hassle when changing strings.
Don't forget that you can't go under 11 depth of string or the set up will change radically.
I just changed the (thick) straps with straplocks.

If I had it stolen or lost, I would buy ... another one

Didn't deal with the company.
I hope I'll never have to

It looks good, sounds great, what else can I say ?

Japan made, 2 HB, Bigsby, looks like a too hot washed 6120, Gretsch Orange with original case.

I use it for Rockabilly/Rock`n`Roll and Country Style music and it sounds great. I do have an original 1959 Gretsch Country Gentleman and I didn`t want to take it to every gig I play, so I bought the 6120 JR and I`m very happy with the guitar (although I sounds different to the old one, but the basic sound is typical Gretsch and in 46 year it will sound much better than now ;-)). I mainly play a Bad Cat Wild Cat Combo or Blackface Fender Amps like Twin, Super Reverb or Showman and it is exactly the sound I wanted to have. If I need other sound I would take one of my Strats, Teles or Paulas.

Nice factory setup with low action - only the frets could be polished.
Everything was ok - there are always little changes to be done for the personal taste.

This guitar seems to last as long as my 1959er.

I`m playing now for more than 30 Years and this guitar with the little body plays and sounds extremely well. It can "only" sound like a Gretsch, but this is all I expected and it will sound better by playing it everyday.

2003 model, Made in Japan
Classic Gretsch Orange
Bigsby Tremolo
Gretsch FilterTron humbucking pickups
Gretsch/Gotoh tuners
Hollowbody w/ single-cutaway body
Laminated top with glossy finish

This guitar has a wonderful tone. I play both types of music (country & western), and it's a wonderful switch from Fender Telecasters, which is what I play most of the time (I've got about 5 of them).

This guitar fits the bill very nicely for some of our more Merle Travis/Chet Atkins or rockabilly-sounding numbers. It also gets real nice jazz sound for those Hank Garland numbers. Though suprisingly all of my chicken-pickin' sounds great on it as well.

It's got a great bright, punchy sound, but with a nice bit of warmth. It's also dead silent, no 60-cycle hum.

I generally play this through a variety of vintage Fender amps, also a Peavey Classic 30, and a Dr. Z Maserati.

It was setup just right. The intonation was right on, and the craftsmanship from the factory in Japan is really top-notch. These new Gretsches are built alot more solid then some of the one's from yesteryear. Fender has really brough Gretsch back from the dead. I can't find a single thing to fault this instrument on as far a workmanship.

Well, since it's a really lightweight hollwbody, you've got to be more careful with it then a Tele or strat.

This is certainly a dependable guitar, though I never gig without a backup.

This guitar is wonderful and well worth the money. I recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter-weight version of the 6120.

2000 pre-Fender (used)
Translucent Gretsch Orange. . . Gretsch Bigsby (of course). . . Gretsch RI FilterTrons. . . (non-original) ABM Tunematic roller bridge . . . Gretsch/Gotoh Grover-style tuners.

I haven't weighed the guitar, but it's probably over 7.5 lbs which is not inconsiderable considering that it's completely hollow except for the internal bridge posts. It's very comfortable to play.

My only quibble is the very small vintage-size fretwire. I prefer beefier wire as it makes for easier string bending, but it doesn't bother me enough to want to have it refretted -- at least not yet.

The ABM roller bridge is outstanding. The guitar intonates wonderfully. The super smooth Bigsby and roller bridge function beautifully together without creating any tuning issues. Aaahh!!

The smaller size is extremely comfortable.

I play an array of styles, but I bought this guitar because I wanted an early- mid-era Beatles-style Gretsch guitar. These (ceramic magnet?) FilterTrons are surprisingly warm sounding, and not as twangy sounding as I had imagined. I'm enjoying them just the same. The guitar is very full-body-sounding producing beatiful jazz tones. I once owned a '64 Gibson L-5C and this guitar satisfies me just as much, except the Gretsh is even cooler, more versatile, and a fraction of the price.

This is a Japanese made instrument which in my book is a big PLUS. I've owned many nice MIJ guitars (Fenders and Ibanez) and without exception they've been among the nicest most expertly constructed instruments I've owned and still own. This guitar is no excpetion. It's beautifully made. Zero complaints.

I'm a living room player these days, but this guitar is every bit as sturdy as 335 (I own a few) and were I gigging musician I wouldn't hesitate to travel with it.

The quality of the electronics, which I've heard some players grouse about, are dead quiet and smooth. The guitar's only a few years old, but at present I see no point in swapping them out for (presumably) better made components. If it ain't broke. . .

NA

I've been playing for 30 years and have been fortunate to own many high-end guitars. However, I never had a Bigsby-equipped guitar and was eager to try one out. WOW!! I love the thing. I'm enjoying this style of vibrato/trem much more than any of the Strat varieties I've used. It's smooth, you can pull up and down, and when not in use doesn't cause de-tuning problems when bending strings. It's a bit of a hassle to restring the beast, but that's a small price to pay for all the cool it offers.

I bought a near-mint condition 2000 pre-Fender for a little over $1000. Originally, I was considering a Hamer Newport which is a wonderfully made instrument, and even the new obscenely priced Gibson CS-356 (with the Bigsby) but in the end I couldn't resist the Gretsch vibe. Hands down it's the most fun guitar I've purchased in years. No regrets with this one. If you're tempted to buy one, give in to the temptation. Life's short. This is a great guitar!

This is basicaaly a nashville with a 13 1/2" body instead of the normal 16", thus making it ( for me anyway ) more comfortable to play standing or sitting. All the features of this guitar are the same as the 6120 nashville, full hollowbody, see-thru orange finish, gold hardware, bigsby, filter-tron pick-ups, half-moon fret markers, 24 3/4 scale, master volume on lower bout, master tone and individual volumes for each pick-up.

this guitar is Great for twang to jazz, I play jazz mostly and the filter-tron neck pick-up is very well balanced from low to high. the bridge pick-up is bright but not biting, they both are dead quiet. you can get a very wide varity of clean tones and a suprising amount of great overdrive tones. I've used it with everything from a fender blues deluxe, mashell plexi, a line 6 pod, jazz chorus 77 and the roland cosm effects in a VS 880, and I have yet to find a weakness in the sound, I guess the only one would be at high volumes the overdriven sounds feedback easily, but this isn't what I use this guitar for anyway.

the set-up was was great medium - low action 12's with an unwound 3rd string, I love that and I think the gauge on the 3rd string was a .22. the pick-ups were set-up great for me, some people might have to lower the neck pick-up to even it out with the bridge. the finish is very well done, and the binding is very clean.

I do use this guitar live all the time, and I would gig without a back-up but I always bring a strat for songs that call for that sound this IS a hollowbody! This guitar is built very well the finish is thick but not like the new gibsons, so thick it hampers the response of the hollowbody. the strap buttons are great!!!

it has a limited one year warrenty, but they state IF you need repairs it will bet a least 100 day turn around that just sucks, if gretsch wants to stay in the gane this MUST change!

I've been play 16 years and currently own 12 other guitars ( strats, tele's, les paul, ES 175, a syth axe, guild and ovation acoustics, and a fender jazz bass ( I know this sounds like overkill but I make half my income gigging and doing sessions ) and the Gretsch really stands up to all of them. The 175 has been in it's case since I bought this, the smaller body and great neck pick-up sounds makes it my #1 jazz axe, all things concidered this has a perfect combination of freatures for my tastes, although I am going to take the bigsby off and put a regular trapize tailpiece on it.