Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod

16" laminated maple archtop electric guitar, 2 hot rod filtertron pickups, master volume and pickup selector, '59 trestle bracing
made in japan
no features - but thats what this guitar is all about, just plug in and go

brilliant - i play horror punk, rockabilly and country and this can handle it all, sounds nice and full but not muddy when overdriven and sweet and clear when clean. After playing numerous les paul juniors, customs and standards, strats, teles, mosrites and assorted hollowbodies i have finally found the guitar for me.
A slight buzz, i think its an earthing problem.

i have no experience with the factory setup as it was set up and restrung by the shop i bought it from.
finish is almost perfectly applied, a blemish about the size of a pinhead but other than that, brilliant.
inside glue job is very tidy but there is a bit of overspray inside the bass side cutaway.
cheap looking plastic nut.
binding - perfect.

very light, but feels solid. I cant see it falling apart if treated with proper care, it IS a hollowbody so it wont take a steelcapped boot too well....
all hardware is great, very solid, nicely finished and the locking tuners are a godsend.

i have dealt with fender (who manufacture gretsch) before with an issue on a bass.
they were great, problem was fixed in no time and was done extremely well.
one year warranty is a bit of a worry though.

all in all, its a great guitar. it has instantly became my main guitar and replaced my les paul custom.
the lack of controls is great, no screwing around, i just plug her in and give her some gas, awesome idea.
if it were stolen or destroyed i would go and get a new one ASAP

PU selector and volume is all I need.
I bought it new a couple of weeks ago but it was built in 1999.

I use 3 different Fender amps and the sound is great. Even through my little 50$-Danelectro amp the guitar sounds decent.

Good:
Color finish, action, PUs, tuning pegs, saddle, volume knob
Bad:
Sloppy glue job inside, poorly filed fretwire ends, strap buttons awkward

I replaced the strap buttons. Otherwise, I can't see a reason not to take this guitar on the road. I guess it all depends on how you treat your instrument.

There's a nice forum about Gretsch guitars with a lot of info: www.gretschpages.com

I've been playing for nearly 40 years. I have/had many hollow/archtop guitars and did not intend to buy a new Gretsch. When I saw it hanging at the wall I gave it a try ... and couldn't put it down. This guitar has a sound I've been looking for for quite some time.
The poor fret job is the only thing that really bothers me. But that can be fixed.

Beautiful gator ade lemon lime. This is from the first season they introduced the traditional truss bracing and the TV Jones Filtertrons, back in 2004. It has a single volume knob and a bigsby, short scale neck that I love. I give it a ten for the meticulous recreation of the classic '59 6120.

It's good. It sounds like a '59 6120. No shit. If you like that sound, then, it's the bees knees. I never cared for the modern versions of Gretsch vs the original classic instruments. But this is the real deal. So it's great for rock n roll, rockabilly, Duane Eddy type stuff.

I take my hat off to Brian Setzer and the Gretsche product manager for paying attention to detail. The guitar looks like it came out of a time machine, with the exception of the color, which is clearly an innovation. This is a very high quality instrument. I had no problem with the fret dressings, the nut, or the intonation. I bought it from the Music Zoo(those are good guys to deal with) and maybe they set it up before shipping. I set up my own guitars, personally, and this one required very little attention.

Well, it's a hollow body, so don't beat someone over the head with it. Any its a work of art, so take it easy. Other than that, it seems pretty dependable. I trust it.

No experience

I've been trying to play since 1964. Right after I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, I HAD to get a guitar, like millions of my cohort. It is exactly what I expected. I got interested in the guitar after I saw an ad that Samash was blowing them out and I ordered one. Then, while I was waiting, I did a little research, like the Caveman says, and discovered the whole history of the evolution of the thing, and realized that I HAD to have the version that came out of Brian Setzer taking his favorite '59 6120 to the magnetic resonance imaging machine to recreate the orignal specs. So its kind of Jurassic Park, in its origins. Man, its been resurected from the grave! Hard to compare it to others outside of the Gretsch domain. I had a Jag, Jazzmaster, Ric, and a Gibson SG, but no hollow body Gretsch. Once I found out about Setzer's efforts to revive the original specifications, I had to get one!

Gets a pile of sounds for having a selector switch and a volume knob. Mine is a 99', got it locally from a shop near my hometown.

Rips for everything. Does country, rock, blues, anything. Rocks. Just saw Brian in K.C. doing his 'Christmas Extravaganza' tour and saw the Gretch display in the hall lobby. Decided I had to have one. Saw this one hanging in a shop for quite a while before and kind of hedged on buying it. He took my $1100 offer and I never looked back. Sounds good through Fenders, Marshalls, Mesas, even an old Tube Works solid state thing I have in a stereo rack thing.

My only bitch is the fret ends aren't very well finished. Probably will have them tended to by my tech. That and will most likely get the bridge pinned. I have really bad arthritis from working crappy manual labor jobs all my life and need to use super light strings. Most gibson scale guitars just won't stay in tune with .09-.42 string guages, and when I bought this it was strung with a set of heavy flatwounds. I switched it over to a .10 set and the fatigue started so I took a shot at .09's. Couldn't believe it, stays in tune pretty good and still sounds great. Tone suffers a bit but I have a few tricks that help remedy that, and if Billy Gibbons and Shawn Lane can sound like they do with .08's I'm not going to ruin what's left of my hands with a .12 set. Sorry SRV fans, some of us have our limitations and learn to deal with them. I think I might get a roller bridge for it as well, the bigsby works o.k. but the light strings need all the help they can get.

Don't really know yet, this one is a 99' and it still looks good.

Never dealt with them, don't even know who owns them this week. Don't you love corporate takeovers.

I have played for years and played them all. If you can get one of these for what I payed for it($1100) I would say you did well. They are pretty pricey new and the older ones show on ebay for around 1300-1500 and I am not sure I would pay that. Then again I just put the thing away after playing it for 3 hours and it's been a long time since I was inspired by an instrument like that. It just feels good, sounds good and looks really really cool. I've seen Brian many times and admired his tone every single show I saw him play. I saw him with the orchestra in a small club in KC right when 'Dirty Boogie' started hitting, and he was playing one of these same guitars. Stood right in front of him, playing two of his bassman amps cranked and within 4 feet of them and the guitar didn't feed back. It did cut out at the end of the show though, looked like his jack went bad and he just finished the show without his guitar!! Great sounding guitar for all styles, shop around and see about adding one to your arsenal. I'm glad I did.

I bought this off eBay. I think it is a 1999 model, in metallic orange. A beautiful guitar! The two pickups are the FilterTrons, I think, although I'm not abolutely sure. One volume control and one pickup selector. Plus the wild Bigsby, of course. It came with no case. It was bought used, but it is MINT - perhaps the 'mintiest' thing I own!

I like it. I like it a lot! Crank this baby up or even play it at a moderate volume, and you will like it, too! The sound is inspiring and makes you want to play it more. Really, this more like three guitars wrapped up in one. The neck P.U. gives you fat, full tone that can catch the Jazz vibe. Nice! Also good for Memphis or James Brown style funk. Using both pickups together gives a nice, full, well-rounded sound with more of a ring to it. A very versatile combination. Using just the bridge pickup gives a nice growl, however the volume seems less than the other two pickup settings. I have the pole pieces in the pickups raised as high as possible (without touching the strings as they are played), but I can't seem to even out the volume differences between the pickups. It's a small matter compared to the problem of which pickup/combination to use on this guitar. They all sound great, and it's hard to choose! The only effect I use with this guitar is a wah-wah pedal; otherwise it is plugged straight into one of my old Fender tube amps: a Vibro Champ, a Vibrolux, or a Bassman bass amp. This guitar sound FABULOUS no matter which amp I choose. It'll probably sound great through any amp you might have, too! I have only had this guitar for maybe 3-4 months, and I'm still experimenting with different string brands/types/gauges. I've tried heavy flatwound 13s, which sounded great but were a bit too heavy for me. I'm currently trying D'addario ribbonwound 12's; they sound good, too, but I may even go a bit lighter - still undecided on those strings since I just put them on today.

I bought it used, but it was set up perfectly, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not much into the 'techie' side of things, but everything seems to be set up and working super fine on this guitar. And I'm not changin' a thing! This is very well-made and solid guitar. Pick it up and go - no worries. Of course, it's a hollowbody, so you need to take care not to bang it around. I do agree that the pickup selector switch and the strap buttons are of dubious design and need to be checked often. Other than that complaint, I love it.
Now let's discuss the color - bright, metallic orange (tangerine).
I originally wanted the purple one (another wild color), but this one just happened to turn up on eBay at the right time and price. I'm glad it did, because this color has really grown on me. I really, really, really, really, really like it! HA! A stunnigly beautiful and outrageous guitar! It looks wild and makes me want to play wild!

It gets a 9, due only to the switch and strap button issues mentioned above. I don't gig with it (I play drums), but I certainly would if the need arose. I would not hesitate to gig with this even without a backup. It stays in tune well, even with use of the Bigsby. It feels solid, and it IS solid. It will WHOMP on most other guitars!

n/a

I've been playing guitar for 25+ years. Mostly as a Tele guy, then as a Gibson ES-175 man also. The ES-175 has some issues I'm working to resolve. In the meantime, I wanted something versatile to cover lots of ground and sounds, and the Hot Rod works great. It has it's own character and 'specialness,' too, which makes it ever-interesting to own and play. It's my first Gretsch and first Bigsby guitar, but if the house caught on fire, I'd probably grab this one if I could, and let the others burn! Go try one out if you can, and shove it through a tube amp - I think you'll like it!

I dont know what the finish on the gretsch is made of, it looks nice and tidy and can be cleaned and maintained easily, It is a hollowbody arch top with a tune-o-matic bridge that i like. I bought the guitar second hand and had to find a case that fits it which took me awhile, i was gonna buy a gretsch case but it was $300 i didnt have at the time and the one i got fits fine. I believe that my bad boy is a USA model, i also believe that they changed the specs the year after it was released, so that it gives a slightly more rare guitar to behold. To be honest i dont know much else about the thing . I couldnt even tell you how many frets it has. I know that it has model 59 reissue pick ups and thats about it. Besides when you are in love, you dont need worry about the small things.

I recently went a transformation.I needed to grow up, and so did my sound. I went on an internet auction site, typed gretsch and low and behold this thing pops up. I took one look at it and ran to the bank and organised a loan. I bought the thing on a whim and do not regret it. It was exactly what i needed. It took me a while to get the sound right with my amp, i always just plugged in my les paul into a mesa nomad 55 and just go! It took me a couple of go's to get the sound right but now i cant get enough of it. I have a 1998 hotrod, it doesn't have the t.v jones pickups, i dont know what they sound like, then again, i dont care. I play in a rock band and it has just the perfect amount of bite on dirty and a smooth clean sound in the neck position and a crisp bite in the bridge. The only down side i suppose is that the pickups are pretty low gain, You have to turn your amp up just a little more than you would with my other guitars.

I bought this second hand, so this probably doesnt fully apply to me,everything was set up perfect for me. The only thing i had to do is file in the low "E" saddle in the bridge as it kept popping out.

I have only taken this thing out on a gig 2 or 3 time since i owned it. After i first restrung it, it would go out of tune every couple of songs but found out i hadnt strung it properly on the bigsby (stringing a bigsby is the worst thing about this guitar)after i got that sorted, it was fine. I always take a spare guitar to a gig but have yet to use one, i imagine this tradition would continue. The finish on my gretsch is far better than the finish on my gibson which is in a similar price bracket, and with the exception of the "E" saddle as mentioned above , i have never had a problem with it.

Never needed to yet, i am freindly with local suppliers so i wouldnt think i would have any problems

I have been playing for about 15 years, and this guitar is my all time fave electric. It "fits" me. I would be in a wreck should it go missing. I dont think i would replace it as i dont have the finance too. It is insured but the thought is just to much. I can feel the tears welling as i speak. I have owned about 30 electric guitars, and currently own about ten guitars at the moment, I have a 1998 Les Paul DC, a mid 90's jap strat, a bc rich mockingbird, a 1956 Maton premier 45a (which is my favourite guitar outright) a wawrick proline corvette 5 string bass, a yamaha cg-150cca, a 80's takamine 12 string and a couple of other "kids" laying around the house and this completes me and my collection. My poor work horse les paul is relegated to case under the baed. I love the colour, it is rather, ummm, it is kinda... it looks quite ahhh. Purple. The kinda purple that if you owned a shirt that colour, you wouldnt wear it. Unless your wife makes you. Luckily i dont have a wife. But it looks really cool, and shimmers under lights, and i also have a couch in the same colour. The only thing this guitar is missing in my opinion is someone to really play the thing. I mean i play it daily but i know i am no virtuoso. I love playing guitar and collecting guitars but i need brian setzer or chris cheney to come play it like it deserves to be. The worst thing about owning a gretsch (apart from the bigsby thing) is now all i ever look at are gretsch's. I would love a white falcon one day.

If you are reading this you know what the features are so I will not go into them. Except the T V Jones Pup's are great. Love that sound!

Gretsch has its own sound. Personally I love it. It does not resemble any other guitar, it is a great sound!

Set up was lousy. Pickups, since you can't adjust anything except the pole pieces, were screwed in tight.

The frets were NOT dressed, even thou it has binding on the neck the binding does not cover the frets like a gibson does. The frets were not level, they had several dead spots on the neck. Tuners are great, body and finish were great also.

The problem with Gretsch is that they have not come up to speed with what musicians want in a guitar. They are still stuck in the 50's with their impossible to reach upper neck and that stupid floating bridge. This guitar does have a pinned bridge but most of the other Gretsch guitar do not.

The guitar seems strong enough if taken care of. Hardware seems ok too. The finish was very nice but you must consider that it is not nitro and nitro will let the wood breath the sealer on this guitar looks good but it is not good for a guitar sound. Strap screw on button were tight and ok. I think if the neck was in good shape I could have depended on it. I always use several guitars so the backup think is a non issue.

Dont know, sent the guitar back to the company that I bought it from.

Gretsch has a beautiful sound and I love it. The main problem with any gretsch is that as I said they need to come up to speed with what musicians since the 60's have needed, which is, access to the upper frets, a bridge that will stay in fret, a neck that has binding on the frets not just up to them.

Bottom line>>>>... Beautiful sound if you can redo the neck and live without playing above the 12th fret! And remember, this guitar was made in Japan, it should, as all gretsch guitars made in mass quanity in Japan have a much lower price tag. Do a search on Ebay and you will see that Gretsch does not hold its value with todays models!

Its all been said before; however, this is the first axe I have owned that had no tone knobs. I love the simplicity. Mine is purple and the colour is sick and the punters love it as well. They always comment on how sweet she looks

I play blues, jazz, rockabilly and country rock through a Randall 40w. I now have a guitar that can give me the desired sound I require. The neck pickup is warm, great for blues and jazz. The bridge pickup bites meaner than a junk yard dog and is excellent for playin' rockabilly and 50s rock 'n' roll.

The action is higher than my previous guitars and I dont mind that. The bigsby is cool and I use it a lot when I am into my lead breaks. I would be nitpickin if I said there were any flaws. It is a very well made guitar. No problems with intonation, even with a workout on the temelo bar it still stays in tune.

I am very hard on my solid bodies and I bang them round a lot. Very careful with this baby, so I'm not too sure how durable she is. I have done plenty of gigs and this axe has never let me down.

N/A

I have been playin for over 30 years and have had a heap of guitars. I love this axe. I always wanted a Gretsch and am now thinking of purchasing another one. The look and the sound is fantastic. It is the only guitar I use live now. I love the simplicity of it. Just a bit of reverb thru the amp and thats it. No effects pedals needed. The guitar does the rest.

"Keep it simple stupid" Everyone knows the specifications of this guitar, just go to the website, I really wanna just point out some of the issues I overcame in playing this guitar.At first I was alittle put off by the simplicity of the tone and volume controls for this, baby,but it had a very short leaning curve for getting the sounds I wanted.{This is my first gretsch & hollowbody}The finish looks gourgeous it's quite a dramatic looking axe. It's a 1999 model with the Gretsch tuners, no problems there. Floating bridge & Bigsby required a little adjustment in playing to get used to, I actually almost cried when i tried to change the strings for the first time.
The playablity is fantastic....oh did I mention it just one of the sweetest coolest looking guitars out there,{all gretsches are}. but that is just the cherries on top.

Ok here's where this baby makes her statement. I play everything, r/b,blues, soul, heavy rock, Americanna,country, noise, ect.I play thru a Fender '65 re-issue Deluxe (these amps are the Cat's A$$, truly}, I use a mid 80's Rat for overdrive, and Boss DD6 for delay. I was very concerned, being a Tele & Strat player, about the guitar getting sufficient tone with just a volume knob and 3-way pick up selector. But man there's some magic in this axe that after a few gigs I can't figure out.I do a cover gig that does Zeppelin to Aretha, U2 to Neil Young, Jackson 5 to SRV..and this thing covers it all. My singer, with no guitar insight, just stared at it when she heard me play my first guitar lead with the band. I was suprised too. The sound is nothing like a paul or tele or strat, it brings a unique richness that I've never experienced. The hollowbody allows a resonance & sustain that I had never experienced playing guitar. (I'm 42 been playing 30+ years) Now I understand why truly incredible guitarists such as Steve Howe, Larry Carlton, ect, play hollowbodies. The lack of tone control I over come with the pickup selector,volume knob{dialing up or down really makes a difference in how it cuts thru the mix},and playing with or without a pick{which I do anyways with me other guitars anyways }. This guitar responds to my attack like nothing I ever played. It very unique in its responses and just lays out these ribbons of fudge overdriven and has warm sparkling tones clean, without being harsh. There's a perception that this is a rockabilly guitar but it just covers any base ya want. Hey, the dudes from the Cult & AC/DC play White Falcons.

I always have my guitars set-up by a pro once a year, then maintain 'em myself in between. I'm not sure how this came from the factory, got it used. I wouldn't trust factory set-ups anyway, what with shipping and all.
Thera are a lot of little things you've got to keep in mind with these guitars. There're not like a solidbody. Things loosen up on every guitar and one must be mindfull of tightening all of the screws, especially on the pick guard,to avoid buzzing. The bigsby can be a bitch to re-string and I heven't used it much, it's no a floyd rose. The action and finish is superb...I'm telling ya,chicks dig it.

I always use back ups, I play hard and break strings constantly. The hardware seems fine but after 7 years there is some slight oxidation on the volume knobs. The finish is like a Chevy truck, so I can't imagine problems, a couple of slight temperature cracks, but ya really gotta look for 'em, and that's gonna happen with any guitar. The fact that its a hollowbody makes me nervous, I dropped my strats and teles with no ill effect, so I try to be very careful this, hey beer happens. Although it seems a lot of rockabilly, punk players use these {6120's really} and I bet they're beating the F*#* out of 'em so, they can't be that delicate. I just baby everything I've got. hey every guitar I own {Gibson,Fender,Martin,ect} something loosens up and needs attention

What's cutsomer support? Just find a good shop/tech and stick with 'em. I don't have time for shipping things to Kalamazo.

Like I said, there's a little learning curve with this guitar if you've never owned a hollowbody with a floating bridge, bigsby tremelo. But it's easily overcome. The sounds are just, sublime. I really can't attribute them to just one thing, the fact that its hollowbody, the fillertrons the workmanship, the wood it's really been a great & suprised addition to my arsenal. The Style and Look of the guitar are just heads and heels above anything I ever seen. I'm not so naive to think a good looking guitar is where it's at but this guitar plays and sounds so well, that it's look really makes a statement in it's self. The sound & looks will really set ya apart from all the larger lout, frat boy, bad hair band players out there. It'll make you approach your playing in a differenr way.(what guitar doesn't}. Hey I wanna get another gretsch, I'm that impressed!

Pickup selector switch, volume control and that's it, simple.

I have a bunch of high end guitars, Morgaine's, Gibson's, Fender masterbuilts, Suhr, Grosh and I won't get into my acoustics.

I play Americana, blues and classic rock. I use a Bassman 59' reissue. guitar> volume pedal> Blues Driver> chorus> reverb> delay.

No noise very quiet.

When I first got this guitar off of ebay I thought "ehhh", but when I plugged it in I fell in love, this guitar gets the sound, vibe and mojo. It is a blast to play and doesn't sound like anything I have. It made me think I've been closed minded to a world of great guitars. I ran this through the drills and I must say I was very impressed. The sound is warm, articulate, sweet, big, full and just plain beautiful. The sound of this guitar also tickled my insides at times when I would do the rock-a-billy thing, but don't pigeon hole this as just a r-a-b guitar, it excells at jazz and blues.

Just a beautifully voiced instrument

The guitar was set up with higher action which is good by me. It gives you somewhere to go with it I have my GTech set it up. There was some dead spots up around the 15th fret on the E string when bending up a couple of steps. other than that it is fine for this kind of money.

To early to tell

I've dealt with Fender custom shop, and I think Fender who owns Gretsch will do a wonderful job, they are doing a great job with Fender these days.

I have been playing over 35 years!!!! I own to many guitars to list, but I bought this because my first guitar was a Gretsch Country Club that had many issues but there was a sentimental attachment.

I love the simplicity of this guitar, no tone knobs, no single pickup volumes, just one volume and a pickup selector. Plug in and Kick some butt.

If it were stolen I would buy another, I'm going to buy another Gretsch, probably a 6120 Nashville custom shop.

I Love It.

2002 MIJ. New old stock. Unplayed and pristine and yet 3 years old! Dealer said Gretsch found 20 of these guitars and they got 10 of them. I bought the last 3! :D

Cool purple, Bigsby, ebonized rosewood fretboard, TV Jones designed (not branded and made by TV Jones like the newer ones) hot rodded filtertrons. The Hot Rod filtertrons is enough reason to give this a 10!

Hardshell case, Gretsch tuners, neck seems to have a slight V to it. I don't totally dig the floating bridge and would rather have a pinned bridge but oh well. Double-sided wall-safe tape seems to work alright....:)

Holy crap. Unbelievable tone. I play pretty much everything but country. I can get pretty brutal tones which I was a little surprised. This probably wasn't made for metal....ha....but it can do a damn good job at it! Beats my 20 other guitars, including my LP Standard LE!!!

Near flawless. Minor paint issue under the very end of the fretboard underneath. Action was kinda low when I got it but I've got it WAY low and it is perfect. No buzz. Very well put together.

Its pretty sturdy for a hollowbody so I have to compare it to other hollowbodies. Obviously not as sturdy as a Strat! The screw on strap buttons function well as strap locks.

I've never dealt with Gretsch but will rate the dealer. EM Shorts is where I bought it, based in Wichita, KS. I dealt with Nathan. Extremely helpful and answered all my questions. A+

I've been playing for 10 years. My main amps are a Mesa Mark IV, Peavey XXX, and a Roland Cube 60. Never owned a Bigsby until I got this one. I kinda like them now. Bought 2 more Gretsch's after this, an Elliot Easton and a G3166. Own 2 Les Pauls, several LP copies, teles and strats. 21 guitars currently.

I got such an amazing deal I bought 3 of these. Sold one on the HC forums, passed another to a close family member, and kept one for myself. I couldn't pick the best one....they were all perfect and identical.

I don't think I'd shell out the $2700 MF is asking for it (nor would I for ANY guitar) but it would be at the top of my list of favorite guitars.

I have a 99' Hot Rod. Master volume knob and a 3-way switch. Totally bare bones. Just like a perfect Hot Rod, nothing more than you need.

Hot Roddin' action! This guitar can obviously rockabilly. I'm usually very critical of guitars, but this one can honestly do it all.
The simplicity of it's set-up is it's strength here. It makes you play as opposed to twiddling knobs. Jazz, country, and pop sounds for sure. But here's what I love. Punk rock. It is a Gretsch punk rock guitar. It's a little more shallow, so it's less prone to feedback. What I'm getting at is if you turn up an amp, this guitar simply roars.

Everything is pretty good. The finish has depth and the small amount of chrome hardware is a perfect compliment.

Everything's fine. These guitars aren't as finicky as the old hollowbodies were. They're made to be played.

Haven't had to deal with them ever.

It is a total blast to play. It looks hot, plays hotter, and the fact that you can get em for $1300 used makes em a huge bang for the buck. Get one of these when you want to stand up, be different that all of your friends, and rock the f**K out.

This is actually a double review of two Setzer Hot Rods (built in Japan - as are most of Gretsch's line) - one 2003 SHT (tangerine finish), and one of the redesigned, early 2004 production SHLTV's (lime gold finish, w/TV Jones pickups). The features have been pretty much covered in other reviews, and they are minimal - 1 volume, no tone, 2 TV Jones designed/produced Filtertron pickups (more on these later) and a Bigsby trem (which I've found works very well, AND stays in tune - it's not a Floyd Rose, but it's not supposed to be). Also, my SHT came stock with Grover tuners (not Gretsch designed by Grover, or Grover-made-for-Gretsch-with-the-Gretsch-name-on-them, but real Grovers), and the SHLTV came with Sperzel locking tuners (which I LOVE). I give these guitars an "8" in this category - not for the number of features, but because the ones they have, work really well together!

I play what I'd characterize as medium tempo pop/rock in a praise and worhsip band at the church I attend. And at home or jamming with others, my personal taste runs to blues and classic rock - with a little jazz and rockabilly/country-punk thrown in. These guitars cover all bases - they are AMAZINGLY versitile! I play through a collection of combo tube amps - Top Hat (Club Royales), Orange (AD30-TC), Trace Elliot (Speed Twin), and Fender (Pro Junior), and a variety of boutique pedals (Menatone, Fulltone, Barber, et al). These guitars sound aweet and clear regardless of the amp/pedal combination I'm running through. The tone is amazingly articulate with well defined lows and sweet highs, and a slightly scooped midrange. Most of the credit for these guitars fantastic tone, has to go to the pickups. TV Jones originally designed the pickups (which were manufactured by Gretsch) for these instruments, and is now selling his own pickups directly to Gretch, who is installing them in the new "TV" model Hot Rods, and Setzer "Signiture" model guitars. They are almost completely noiseless, and are not "hot" by most standards, yet have plenty of output. They have a sound which is unique, and totally all their own - completely different from my Fenders and Gibsons, with a sweet clarity in the entire tonal spectrum, that I've never heard in another pickup - yet retaining that sweetness and definition, whether played pristinely clean, or heavily overdriven. I have found it difficult to get a bad sound out of these guitars - either one. The TV's in the newer instrument seem to have a little more sparkle and definition than the ones that were just "designed" by him in the '03 guitar. But don't get me wrong - the older ones are not bad sounding pickups by any means! Also, the newer lime-gold guitar seems a little more resonant then the '03 model, and sounds beeter acoustically - which translates to a more dynamic amplified tone. The difference is subtle, but it is definitely there. Some of this may be do to the 1959 (6120) style tressel bracing used in the newer model, and in the fact that it has 3 ply laminated maple sides, instead of the 7 ply sides used in the '03 model. It also has a pinned bridge, which may add slightly to the sustain, but is more of a convenience feature. I do find that at higher volumes (especially overdriven) the older '03 model wants to feedback MUCH quicker than the newer guitar, and is much more difficult to control, and I do attribute this to the design differences between the two insruments (although being what they are, either guitar will leap into feedback mode with little provcation, so be on guard). Both these guitars are capable of huge tones, and seem to retain their crispness and clarity, reagardless of volume or overdrive level (within reason). I have ordered a set of TV Jones Power'tron filtertrons (beefed up, hot filtertrons, with PAF type output) for the '03 guitar, and I am anxious to hear what they sound like. TV says that the resonant peak of the two sets of pickups (the "designed by" pickups, and the Power'trons) is significantly different, and the new pickups may also help with the feedback issue. We'll see. Either way, these are both amazing sounding instruments!

Troy at GC set up both my guitars before shipping, and they were set up perectly. They are both currently strung with 10's but I'm thinking of putting a set of 11's on one to see how it sounds/feels. Both guitars hve smallish vintage style frets, and medium/thin necks. I initially was worried about the playability of these guitars, because my taste leans toward very fat necks and big frets (think '58 Les Paul), however I found the neck profile (a 50's Fenderish v-shape - almost a boatneck) and fret combination to be VERY comfortable. Not fat, but not too thin. Very fast and very playable. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't believe the "V" neck carve on the newer guitar is quite as pronounced as on the '03, but they are very close. I have been able to find no flaws with the fit or finish on either instrument (as you'd expect of a guitar in this price range), and have not experienced the problems with the strap buttons that others have detailed here. No compalints so far.

As with any arch-top hollowbody instrument, this guitar will be more succeptable to changes in temperature, humidity, and the rigors of the road, than a solidbody guitar. It is just more fragile by the nature of it's construction. That being said, these appear to be very sturdy and well constructed instruments. I have found that both of mine seem to stay in tune very nicely, and be less affected by heat/cold and other factors than I would have expected. The finish seems to be tough, and not prone to chipping or peeling - but then I am really anal about my insruments and tend to baby them, so I haven't really had any occasion to find out how tough they really are (and hopefully I won't). They seem solid enough, though. I'd definitely gig with one, wihtout a backup.

No dealings as of yet - HOWEVER, I have one complaint about the manual that comes with each instrument. It appears to be a copy of a Gretsch manual that was printed in the 50's, and I'm sure they (Gretsch) do this to maintain that cool "retro" vibe. However this manual is VERY generic (pretty much covers all Gretsch hollobody electrics), and I (for one) would welcome a manual with more up to date infomation and specs on the specific instrument that I purchased (Setzer Hot Rod).

Before purchasing these instruments, I had never been a "Gretsch head". I pretty much gravitate to classic designs, and own a number of high-end solidbodies from PRS, the Gibson Historic Custom Shop, and Fender. I've never really liked the way most Gretsch guitars sounded or played, and had never craved owning one, UNTIL... a friend of mine got me backstage on the last stop of ZZ Tops 2003 tour - which was closing down the old Summit (arena) here in Houston. And seeing Billy G's custom built Gretsch guitars up close, and hearing the kind of tone he was getting from those instruments, got me to casually thinking about maybe adding a Gretsch to my collection. When I mentioned it to my wife, she said, "Oh yeah, those guitars just look so COOL (referring to a 6120 she'd seen pictures of - which is her criteria for whether a guitar is worth owning, or not)! Anyway, long story short, I ended up buying a new one - through a circuitous route that strted with Ebay, and ended up going through the Hollywood Ca. Guitar Center (and here I am going to put in a blatant plug for Troy Richardson, who made me INCEDIBLE deals on both guitars - if you are planning on buying one, you need to talk to him first) - and then liked it so much, I bought another! These are just incedible instruments, with wonderful playability, and a unique tone like no other. I don't know if they are a "fantastic value" at their current "list price", but if you can pick up one of the newly redesigned models for under 2k, or one of the older models (new) for in the $1400-$1600 range, I'd say they're definitely worth the money! If anything happened to either one of mine, I would immediately replace it without a second thought! I'm addicted!

Features -Are no nonsense playing addictive dream come true!!!
There are so many postives with this axe- Wish it where introduced
a few years ago when i owned a 1620 1960 gretsch. If your looking
for that rockability sound without the old vintage headaches look
no further. Pick-ups are sweet and rich fat low ends and highs are
sweet- I am not sure which pick ups i have on my model TV??? If anyone can tell me email me peelarat@aol.com. Flip switch and again you still get rich tones with a bit diffrence in Low and highs. I really think sounds out of gretsch are really determined by on your playing style.
You have to dig in to the strings for diffrent tone your looking for.
ANy comments by anyone feel free to email me.

Not only is this 6120 a attention grabber with its slick metalic
colors (mine candy apple red ) But the sound through diffrent amps
will make you smile. Rich colorful tones with cords. ADD some echo and distortion you can play any style. The possibiilties are so much fun
to discover.

Action i only have when i change strings. Just use that bigsby to stretch it and after some hours of playing time i notice tune stays
pretty well. I can't say any more about finish and feel of this axe. Just a work of art!!! Watch for any one eyeing this too long.
The price could be better for this though but after paying $2K It's
well worth it ....Oh the bigsby is just super!!!!

Someone said here built like a tank!! YEAH it is .
really solid finish and nice feel around the neck. The fretboard
has a great feeling to it that my old vintage didn't. The thinner
neck instead of the broader beefy elder just makes this Hot ROD the
perfect 6120 in my world. Setzer and gretsch really get good kudos for this.

DOn't need them

Playing about 13 years on and off- Other gears are Fender bassman 135
peavey 60 - Space echo re 301 - Space echo 201 - MXR distortion vintage
Morely wah pedal. IF stolen ??????? Either I find the guy and kill him for it- OR i sell my other items to replace it....

Everyone has covered all of the features, so I won't go into that. I bought my Setzer about 8 weeks ago and no gripes save a small crack in the finish on the end of the neck right where it would fit into the cradle of a wall guitar holder (i.e. the wall bracket that guitars are hung on in music stores). I bought this guitar because I've wanted a Gretsch since the early sixties but it never worked into the plans until recently. I bought this model on the strength of the reviews of this forum. Mine is a purple finish which seems to change colors under different lighting. This guitar has squarely grabbed me by the seat of the pants and has already worked its way into my heart. It's a bare-boned Gretsch with everything it needs to twang the night away....for what it's built to do I give it a 10 for its straight forward, no nonsense approach to tone. No, it doesn't have tons of features, but what it does have is just right.

I've played many styles of music over the last 30 odd years and have been gravitating towards jazzy riffing ( think Hank Garland, Setzer, Little Charlie) and the Gretsch delivers the tone and attitude. I did notice that the neck is narrower than what I'm used to ( or it seems like closer string spacing) and that's taken a little to get used to. I've only had three amps since I started bar gigging in the early 70's...Super Reverb, Music Man 65 top and homemade Celestian bottoms, and a '91 reissue Bassman. Yesterday I traded in the Bassman for the tweed limited edition Hot Rod Deluxe ( so that makes 4 for all who are counting). The Setzer sounds absolutely great through it. I'm still getting used to the new amp and tried it out today with my elaborate display of cheesey effects. An Ibanez TS10, Rocktron delay ( I know..I know..), and Ibanez stereo chorus. It all seemed to jell quite nicely together. Can't wait to deploy it all at a gig. I should add that the fact that the Setzer has no tone control is no deterent to tone itself. It sounds absolutely rich through every amp I've played it through. It actually seems to want to do more than what one is pushing it to do...there are odd little ( I mean, how can I describe this..?) added harmonic, chimey swells, cool frequencies that seem to attach themselves to whatever chords and open string voicings you are playing. It's clean sound is killer...with a little reverb and slap you are entering Setzer country. It holds its own with distortion also. I just love the long ringing clean sustain that I get from this guitar. New strings are a must...clopped up old dirty strings kill the tone and potential of this guitar.

My Setzer had hung on the wall of a guitar store for close to two years before I grabbed it. A lot of tire kickers have had their hands on this beauty before I rescued it. So I can't claim to have grabbed it fresh from the factory....that in mind, it actually was set up nicely. The neck is straight, nothing rattles, and I just raised the strings and pickups to my liking once I had it home.
No flaws, save the aforementioned crack in the paint.

I believe that guitars are meant to be used...to be played, to absorb the sweat, to acquire the vibe so to speak. I don't abuse them, but they exist in the same environment as me and sometimes, even with the best intentions, a knock or two can occur. I've already got a small dent in the back of the old Gretsch (very small) but I think it will hold up easily. No problems with the strap buttons like other folks or anything else. Given decent care I don't see why this fellow can't join the list of bar veterans. I usually carry a back up guitar but I would certainly have no qualms of using the Gretsch all night without a net.

Haven't dealt with the company...can't comment on that.

I took up guitar in 1965...before that my brother and I built replicas of George and John's Gretsch and Rickenbacker (out of plywood with magic marker pickups)...which we "played" to our little 45 rpm player. From that time on I wanted a Gretsch and I've finally realized that dream after 50 years of being on this planet. As far as other equipment, I still own my '76 Les Paul Deluxe (bought new, with wide humbuckers, and more buckle rash than any good guitar deserves...but it's a good'un) that I just had refretted and set up by Dan Erlewine ( name dropping...name dropping), a '79 Strat I bought it in '80. I replaced the neck with a rosewood, jumbo fretted, early headstock item. It has an old Fat Strat pickup and left handed vibrato. My arm has wore the finish off the upper bout and it has lots of finish scarring. But it's a veteran of tons of gigs and sounds great. The last in the collection is a 1995 Epiphone Emperior Regent....wonderful guitar and has not suffered like my other two warhorses. As far as if someone ripped the Gretsch off....heaven forbid...but yes, I would get another. The TV Jones pickups in the Hot Rod are sweet and the Bigsby just brings it all home. Guitar selection is a personal thing...it's a gut attraction. a viseral thing...You should be acting like you've just been stunned by the love of your life...you know? My Gretsch did that to me...had to have her at all costs...just knew that we would get along. Great guitar...you won't be sorry if you get one.

mine is red----its beautiful--same features as all other reviews--i couldn't handle a purple one....although i think they look pretty---orange ones are hard to find on used market..

simply beautiful sounding pickups..quiet, breathy, biting---tv jones made them special for this model only-----the pickups are amazing--the guitar has no tone knob and with a decent amp, you won't need a tone knob---just play it...the sound is so beautiful that i can not stop playing it...sounds better than most old gretsch guitars--i love it--i play with echo or reverb thru a fender amp--i have several---this guitar can scorch h some rockabilly or purr some cool jazz...chet atkins picking is a blast on it---and it nails the Beatle sound, as well..i might try mine with flatwounds one day---i'm too lazy to change strings now--i just want to play it all the time..

very well made--solid and yet, lightweight...-i bought it used---i have one small issue with the third string..its either buzzing slightly in the saddle or the nut is a litle low on that string--but --the guitar sounds so beautiful that i really dont care--i work around it-----i will maybe replace the metal bridge saddles with graphite or vintage plastic ones--might get a new bone nut for it too---but...not a pressing issue for me---i cant put this guitar down--its that good--finish is gorgeous---frets are very nice---not too small like a lot of gretschs...guitar is very light weight too--feels good just to hold it--or look at---its a work of art----i use a 10-46 gauge with an 18 wound 3rd string---it think brian setzer uses 10-46 with an unwound 3rd----not that i care---could stand heavier gauge strings but with these it holds tune great and you can play it for days with out getting finger fatigue---the neck is not what you would call fat but its very pleasing---and the fretboard radius is not as "concave" as a lot of gretsch guitars---its super easy to play--more flat i guess is what i mean..-you can bend notes really well..its just a joyous experience----i have wasted money on many old gretsch anniversary and tennessean models that just werent as fun to play--they all have that "dip" in the center of the fretboard that makes it harder to dig in to the strings--i started off on my brian setzer with extremely low action and gradually raised it to more normal---the more i raised it , the better the sound, although it still would be considered 'low action' by a lot of people..the bigsby on this guitar is simply divine...

srtap buttons--everyone is bitching about loose strap buttons--when i first got mine, i unscrewed the strap button to put on my leather vintage strap...the screw came out of the body, so i put some wood glue on both screws, put the strap on and screwed the strap buttons down tight---i never remove the strap and they now feel 'tighter than dick's hatband'.....i forsee no trouble---elmers wood glue--get some--its cheap

i got mine slightly used at such a great price that, i dont really care about customer service...i personally , dont think the guitar is worth the 2300 dollars it cost from musicians friend, unless you are stinking rich---however--if you can get one used---at a lot less price--do not hesitate---i think that since fdender just bought gretsch, that they might not even make these guitars anymore----this is definitely, for the player, the best gretsch reissue ever made---i read all these reviews about guys paying 1600 dollars for a new gretsch and then spending hundreds more for tv jones pickups and wiring---thats what makes this guitar so great----the pickups are un beatable and there really is hardly any wiring--just a switch and a knob---beautiful simplicity--hats off to setzer..!!!

i have had many many gretschs in my time--i would rate this one right at the top..my all time favorite was a real 1957 6120 but i sold it eons ago when prices were cheaper--i would say that this is the best guitar gretsch will ever build, from now on...i love the action, the sound, the looks,,everything..this guitar is just plain....L O V E......face it boys..the vast majority of vintage 60's gretsch guitars have too many playability issues for the huge prices people ask for them--they are headaches waiting to happen----if this guitar lasts only 20 years, i would be dead by then anyway..so...i'm grooving hard on this while i can..

Bought used from E-bay. Mint condition tangerine color. While "tones of features" wouldn't seem appropriate at first blush, since the guitar was built to be purposely stripped down, I knew what it was when I bought it, wanted the guitar because of that, and so, it delivers what it promises in terms of features, thus a 10

This is where it shines! The pickups are amazing. I've read about TV Jones Pick-ups, but I can't imagine how the sound could be any better than what these Filter-Trons deliver! You want dimensional? Look no further. I love crystal clear, ringing guitar, and this delivers. And, when I add a little dirt, the classic Gretsch tone still comes through.

Well, okay, here's where one must be cautious. This is the third Gretsch that I've owned, and in every case, hardware does not eqaul the quality of the rest of the guitar. The neck, the body, the construction overall is magnificent, but the switches, the bridge, the stap end-pins? Stink! I'm forever checking the Pup selector to make sure the outer ring is screwed tight. Unscrewing the end-pin caps many times results in the whole pin becoming unscrewed. And the bridge is too likely to move around with Bigsby use. I had Tim at Superior Guitar (the best guitar tech anywhere) in Manayunk, PA, replace the original bridge with a roller design and insert pins into the base of the bridge to plant it in one spot. Since then, it has been greatperfect, but really, Gretsch could have done the same thing! Maybe Fender will help address these seemingly easy-to-overcome issues that have plagued Gretsch guiatrs forever.

Now that it's all fixed up, it's reliable, durable and dependable

No idea

I'm an old-timer. I play a Haggard Tele with Bardens, Gary Moore LP, Barden-equipped Strat. This gives me a whole other sound that can't be had any other way! I highly recommend keeing an eye out for Hot Rods on E-Bay. Mine was much cheaper than a new one even with the cost of the improved bridge. That makes it a fantastic value!

This guitar was made in 2000. Bought it brand new. It has a metallic purple finish (which IMHO is the best color of the four available finishes). Stripped down, back to basics, Rock&Roll guitar. I'll try not to repeat too much of the other reviews. Main features are the Gretsch Filtertron pick-ups, Bigsby tremolo and incredible looks.
Gets a 9 just for being the sexiest guitar, I've ever laid my hands on.

Perfect! Not only does it have exactly the sound that fits my music style, 50's and 60's R&R. It's much more versatile then I thought. I'm able to produce great thick blues and (roots) rock sounds with this baby. It's not for heavy metal or grunge or anything like that, but I hate that kind of music anyway.

Comes straight from the factory with a great setup. I didn't change a thing about that. I can use a .11 or .12 set of strings, were I would normally use .009.
Only one hardly noticable flaw in the finish.

This is were it gets tricky. I've been playing this guitar for about two years now. It never fails me and I hardly ever take a backup with me. I know it will make the right sounds when I plug it in, and electronically there are no problems whatsoever. But... there are hardware problems:
Strap buttons are screwed in with a crappy wood screw. They started coming loose after one or two weeks. I am no technician, but any fool should know that that's not gonna hold.
Last week the upper part of the volume knob came off.
Screw on the scratch plate came loose during a gig.
Not really a flaw but sometimes a problem can be the floating bridge, which can move around a little. This is not too big a problem though.
All in all I don't think it should be possible that one pays this much money for a guitar and then see all these screws and stuff falling off. I can't imagine that there's no better way to attach these things. I know I'm not the only one with these problems (so it's not the "abuse" the guitar has to take from me). I've checked with some Gretsch-owning friends and they all had one or more of these problems.

I've been playing guitar for about 9 years. I own an Epiphone Les Paul Special and a Fender Jaguar. I play through either a 70's Twin or a 70's Vox AC30. The hotrod sounds amazing through both of them.
If it were stolen I would probably need therapy and Prozac, but I would definitely buy another Gretsch 6120 model.
Apart from the "hardware problems" (which in a very strange and twisted way contribute to the charm of this guitar), I can't find anything bad about it. On the contrary, after two years of almost daily playing this guitar, I still fall in love with it every time I open the case and look at that beautiful purple color. I repeat, this is by far the sexiest guitar I've ever seen, and it has the tone to go with that. This makes me take the hardware flaws for granted.

Not much in features but that's the beauty of this guitar. Stripped down to the basics for rock and roll. Just a volume control, no tone controls. How many of us actually touch the tone controls anyhow? I love it's simplicity! The pickups are outstanding for that classic Gretsch sound and they are loud. The bridge is floating, but I haven't had problems yet with it moving on me. There are plenty of solutions to remedy a bridge gone wild. The Bigsby tremelo is awsome, and the guitar stays in tune pretty well, but could require some tweaking.

The best. I play rock, blues, and rockabilly through a Fender Cyber Twin amp. My Strat was very noisy on various setting, however, the Hot Rod is silent. I haven't heard any noise from the pickups yet. The sound is rich and full, yet twangy. I use the neck pup for blues, the middle pup for rock and rockabilly and the bridge pup for rockabilly and a lot of leads. The bridge pup is loud and really cuts through. Sounds totally different than my Strat.

The action was set perfectly from the factory. Low with no buzzing. The finish is outstanding. Purple metallic color is stunning and appears to change colors in various lighting. No flaws. All chrome hardware looks great against the purple color. "Gretsch" on head stock is pearl in-lay. Neo-classic fret markers also pearl in-lay give the guitar a classy vintage look.

So far no problems, despite Gretsch's reputation for problems. The guitar is solid and has a quality feel to it. No noise in the pick up switch. My only complaint so far is the strap buttons. They are a vintage screw type, which look cool but sometimes the screw post unscrews ou of the wood with the button. I wioll probably apply some wood glue to hold the post in because I like the look of the vintage buttons so much.

Gretsch had a rep for poor customer service. Although I haven't dealt with them regarding the guitar (no need to as of this writing), I requested a catalog from Dinah Gretsch on the Gretsch Pages forum and received it within two weeks along with stickers and other information. Now that Fender has taken over manufacturing and distribution, only time will tell as to their support.

16 years playing guitar and after playing Strats I have now put my Strat on second string. I would definitly replace this guitar if lost or stolen. I love everything about the Hot Rod. It's a little more expensinve than a Guild but probably comparable in price to some Gibson hollow bodies. I had a connection to get a reasonable price, however, EM Shorts Guitars, also has excellent prices and a good reputation for service.

Gretsch Setzer Hot Rod Model. Manufactured in 2001. From Japan.
22 jumbo frets. Laminated maple. One three-way switch, one volume control. Filtertron TV-Jones Hot-Rod pickups. Maple neck and body.
Finish: metallic purple. Arch-top single cut-away 16" wide, 2 3/4 deep. Oversized F-holes. Tune-O-matic bridge. Gretsch Bigsby V vibrato. Chrome-plated hardware. Rosewood fingerboard. With Gretsch hardshell case.

I play country/blues/rockabilly. I use a Fender '65 Twin Reverb reissue (featuring tremolo) and a Dan-Echo delay effect.
Bridge position of the Hot Rod: great twang sound which remembers the tele sound but with much more "meat" and much fatter.
Neck position: sweet round jazzy sounds.
Bridge + neck: best of both. Full sound with perfect definition. The output of each pickup is the same in any position so perfect. The air moved inside the hollowbody gives this axe the sensation to be alive and gives some natural crunchy sound. I was really fond of the twang of the Tele but the twang of the Hot Rod is beefier and even better for country/rockabilly sounds because even more authentic than the tele. These pickups make my amp smoke like the motor of a hot-rod !!! Acoustically, sounds loud. Allows me to play unplugged too. Perfect acoustic and electric sound for country, blues and rockabilly. Gives a "southern" feel.

Perfect set-up. Perfect finish. But it shouldn't be worse than perfect for a guitar with such a listed price !!! Looks really like a hot rod car !!!

The main problem with arch-tops equipped with the Bigsby piece is probably the Bigsby itself. After using it like a monster on the Hot Rod, the tuning still sounds OK. I'll see what's going on with the time if I can still rely on it. The guitar itself seems built like a tank and it should last over the years and overlast me :)). Tuners OK.
Playing this guitar live impresses people both with sound and look. You just have to be careful that noone steals this jewel...

I've never dealt with them and hope I'll never have to do. I wonder how long it should last if I needed their help in so far as I live in Europe...

I've been playing for 10 years. I definitely took the direction of country/blues/rockabilly. I own a Telecaster with Texas Special pickups, which was my main instrument. Before purchasing this wonderful hot rod axe through E-bay, I wanted a guitar that sounds both twangy and beefy with some natural crunch to give a southern feel. I got a lot of fun with the tele until now but it sounds to thin to me, compared to the Hot Rod. Moreover the Hot Rod looks really gorgeous and like a Hot Rod car with that 50's style (the f holes !!!). And this axe sounds as it looks: this Gretsch is a Hot Rod !!! Although one thing makes this guitar just a dream: the very high price. But I don't have to complain because I got it brand new and for a price which has nothing to do with the listed price. The look of this guitar kills !! The sound too, obviously !!! This hot rod model is an original guitar that takes the characteristics of classic Gretsch hollowbodies to customize them in a modern way. If it would be stolen, I would buy the same one. Thanks Brian Setzer for your involvement in this model which is unique and opened me new spaces of inspiration...

I have a 2000 candy apple red model, made in Japan. I've had it for about 3-4 months and I still can't get over how gorgeous this guitar is. As for features, it has everything I wanted. I've been playing on & off for 25 years and the truth is I rarely ever touched my tone knobs. It's got the volume knob, the selector switch, The Bigsby!!, and I play it through the new Fender Twin (The evil Twin) which I can have 3 distinct channels set up...I'm in heaven!

I'm in a 50's, 60's, and a few new Rock & roll dance music, Beatles, chuck berry, Swing stuff, even a little blues.

I changed the strings to flat wound, and had to put some double sided tape on the bridge or it will slide, otherwise no complaints

I spoke with Gretsch before I bought it, didn't like their answer, but were helpful. I live in New Hampshire and there are really only 4 dealers where you can find them.

I also have a Strat, Gibson Explorer, Gibson SG, Guild & Gibson acoustics. I have never really used a whammy bar of any kind evn on my strat, but I have fallen in Love with the bigsby!

Brian Setzer version of his faithful old 6120. Very simple straight forward guitar. Pick Up selector & master volume. 2 AlNiCo Filter Tron's (designed by TV Jones). Chrome hardware, Bigsby, Rosewood Fretboard (Ebonized-not ebony), 22 med frets, Gretsch tuners. Mine is Candy Apple Red Metallic. Gorgeous. Made in Japan. 1999.

When I play my Gretsches, it's rockabilly, fingerpickin', rock n' roll. I play it thru a '67 Blackface Fender Super Reverb. Wonderful. Volume at about 5, treble-7 or 8, mid-7, bass-4. Nice midrange growl. Even unplugged, this is very LOUD guitar. Very present. It gets that great Gretsch Sound!

Neck was perfectly straight. I adjusted just a hair of relief (.015) when I got it home. I put D'Addario roundwound 10's & rough set the intonation & bridge. Pickups also were set up right once I got it home (I'm a tweaker). No flaws to speak of. There is some glue or some kind of goop on the back side near the bottom strap button. I thought I could get it off with Goo Gone. It's obviously not Goo, cuz it would of come off... Everything else was perfect.

I've played my other Gretches live for quite a while & never had any reliability problems. Only caution is the bridge-If it floats, it WILL float at the most inappropriate time (during your best solo) and pop the guitar hopelessly out of tune (throwing your singing off) and promise yourself to get some double sided tape in the morning...

No need. I've heard horror stories about Gretsch, but I've heard good stories too.

Been playing for 25 years...where has the time gone? It's my third Gretsch & currently the 2nd Gretsch in my current aresenal of guitars. Hope to add another in a few years.

How does it compare? The closest thing I can compare it to is my Setzer Signature model. I'll list the differences from the Hot Rods perspective: Slightly thinner body (1/4"), Solid Color Finish vs. Tiger/Flamed Maple, Normal Nut vs. Graphite Nut, Single Volume vs. Master & 2 P/U Volume Knobs, No Tone Switch vs. Tone (Mud) Switch, Gretsch Tuner's vs. Sperzel Locking Tuners, Regular Screw On strap buttons vs Strap Locks, louder acoustic output, ebonized rosewood vs. real ebony fretboard, larger frets. The Signature has a more mellow, even acoustic sound vs. the Hot Rods more in your face acoustic sound. Both guitars were built in 99, so there shouldn't be any sound difference due to age. The thickness of the actual wood in the top is the same for both guitars. The Hot Rods standard pick ups have a better defined sound than the original Signature p/u's. They both have AlNiCo magnet poles, however, there was some updating done to the pick ups by Brian Setzer-He employed the expertise of TV Jones (who sells his own version of the Filter Tron pick ups) in getting the Hot Rods to sound more like the vintage Filter Trons in his old Gretsches. They do have more growl & bite than the Signature pick ups. My Signature now has TV Jones Filter Tron's in them & it SMOKES!

Mine is a brand new 2000 model. Metallic purple finish. Maple neck and body. 2 f holes. chrome hardware. Ebony fretboard. 2 vintage filtertron pickups. 1 toggle switch and in volume control. Simple. That's it. Bigsby trem. Not a whole lot there. That's why it gets a 6.

I play mostly rock and blues so this suits me fine. I play through 3 amps. A Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 head, VHT Pittbull UL head, and Yamaha T100 (SOldano designed) with a vintage style Marshall cab with Celestion 30s. It has a warm rich sound with a little bark and bite. Beautiful clean sounds. Crank the gain and you can venture into AC/DC, George Thorogood territory. I love the way it sounds cranked. I also own a 67 Duo Jet and Malcolm Young sig model. THe Hot Rod does not bark quite as much. A little softer tone. I love it. One of the best guitars I have ever owned. Nothing else sounds like it.

Beautuful metallic purple finish. Kinda like an old Hot Rod car. No flaws. Really well put together. What I have come to expect from the newer Gretsch stuff. Plays like butter. Super smooth. Action is perfect for me. Not to low/not to high. Just right. Some people say that the pickup selector is noisy but mine is not.

I would definatly play out with it. Everything seems really well put together. Finish is great. SHould not wear off. Strap buttons are good as well as the tuners.

Never dealt with Gretsch. Wish that you could email them but all you can do is mail them. Oh well. For that I give em a 7.

I love it. I have been playing for 12 years or so and own about 18 guitars and 3 amps. It is one of the best guitars I own. ( Gibsons, Gretschs, Fenders, Yamahas, Charvel) No other hollowbody compares. I almost got a Gibson ES-135 instead ( and will someday) but I'm glad I got this one. If it were lost or stolen I would get another in a heartbeat. Good job Gretsch.

New release - 1999 22 frets Laminated top 3 position switch, mater volume, NO TONE KNOB 2 Gretsch humbuckers 6120 style double cutaway semi-hollow ebony fret board bigsby trem

I have been playing guitars for 20 years. I have worked in music retail for 10 years. I have played every guitar I can think of, from silvertones to Dangelico's. Believe me when I tell you that this new brian Setzer model is the absoulte best guitar I have ever played when it comes to guitars that can cross genres. Oh sure, there are better jazz axes out their, and ones that go to 11, but none has the personality and good humor as this guitar. It inspired me to play new things, which is the mark for me. I usually play a guitar from 30 seconds to 2 minutes before I make a decision. I played this guitar for a full hour, not believing my hands. Please give this guy a try and email me your thoughts.