Product: Gretsch 6121 Chet Atkins
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
05/08/2008
at
01:39pm
by
Gtardood
Features
:
10
This guitar is 2007 custom made for Sam Ash. It has aspects of the 1955 and 1959 models rolled into one guitar.
The top is a solid carved maple top with a mahogany body. The body is chambered. The finish is Vintage Maple Orange nitrocellulose lacquer.
It has the leather binding like the '55 with the studs and the Cowboy fretboard inlays. It has the bridge of the '59 with the TV Jones Patent applied for Filtertrons.
The tuners are the open back imperials.
The case is this off white almost cream with a leather binding with studs similar to the guitar. The handle could be the best handle on a case I have ever seen. It is a nice sized leather handle and more comfortable than a Lazy Boy recliner. I have about 5 guitars that have to cost less than this case does alone.
The pickup configuration is just like a 6120.
Sound
:
10
It is similar to my modded Setzer SSL tiger striped 610 except it is missing that full breathiness of a hollow body. The sound is definitely Gretsch and it is nice and twangy.
I pulled this off the wall at Sam Ash because I had been looking at a Les Paul custom shop with a Bigsby that had been sold before I could come up with the cash. I walked in a a big sale and saw this guitar. I plugged it into an AC30 and it was great in all pickup settings.
Amazingly the brightness in the bridge is a little less harsh than my 6120 and must be from the mahogany body. This thing can rock and sounded good doing some Last Dance with Mary Jane (Tom Petty).
It sounded great doing some Creedence too. This thing of beauty sounds so great it makes me never want to set it down.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Frets seem to be a nice medium size.
The top is great. I did not see any issues with it.
I got this on sale because it sat on the wall for awhile and hadn't moved, so I was expecting some issues but none found.
It came with 10's on it it and it feels like the guitar would work better with 11's for this scale. This about the only knock I can give. This may be part of the problem it sat so long at Sam Ash.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
Good question. I expect it to do well since my 6120 Setzer Gretsch prior to Fender takeover is great. Fender has actually improved the quality.
The 1 issue I have and that is with the this guitar and all of the Jets with Bigby, the case is expensive. It does not fit in a regular solid body case. This guitar has one other disadvantage, I do not want to jack up this sweeeet case. It is the bomb!
I have to knock off half a point for that although the case is more than worthy.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Haven't dealt with Gretsch but would assume now that it is under Fender's wing, they are a bit more responsive (refering to Brian Setzer's beefs on 6120 top thickness)
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing 35 years and have 4 other Gretsches. An old old pre-fender Electromatic (trash but looks cool), the new Pro Jet Electromatic with Bigsby (great value well made), this guitar (WOW!) and my customized Brian Setzer SSL flamed maple 6120. As I said before I had walked in to buy a Bigsby equipped Les Paul custom shop but it had been sold, so I was pointed to this. Being a Gretsch fan and seeing the unbelievable price, it didn't take much for me to bite. This is an expensive guitar but can be had at a decent fair price. I would have paid twice the price I paid for it. I also have some great strats (Ultra, pre-CBS, and a Italia Modulo 3). I also have a recording Les Paul '70, '69 Les Paul custom and Les Paul Studio. I also have a Line 6 from the first year. I sometimes use that when I need Gretsch sound but not expose my Gretsch's to possible bad conditions (sic, drunks & small stages). I have almsot 30 guitars and this one is up there with the 6120, the '69 custom and the pre-CBS strat. It is top shelf!
I'm probably going to buy the cheaper hard shell case so that I can take it out more often. I usually take out 5 guitars since the band I play covers all styles. I am also planning on the TV Jones pup upgrade to my Pro Jet so that this guitar is not always out. Currently it is a show off guitar and is used mostly for recording.
The cowboy feaures are not my thing but they are cool and definitely add to the vibe. Wish I was in a psychobilly band!
If it was stolen, hopefully I would find it again. I would buy another but it would not be the same and would wish the absolute worse karma in the world for the bozo who stole it.
