Gretsch Synchromatic 1626 Silver Sparkle Jet

I didn't want my teenage boys beating up my Rickenbacker, so I looked for something cool but much cheaper for them to play. I ended up purchasing this Gretsch G1626T guitar on Ebay for $275.00. This particular guitar is a bit of a cunundrum in that it reads "Synchromatic" across the headstock, though I thought Gretsch only used this label for their higher-end guitars, which this is not. Come to find out (see http://gretschpages.com/guitars/synchromatic-silver-sparkle-jet-f-holes/)it it was made in Korea for only one year (2003), then discontinued. It has what looks like a Les Paul body style, silver sparkle top w/ F-hole, two larger Gretsch-logo humbucking pickups, a volume knob, three tone knobs, and the three-way toggle switch. My particular guitar came with a v-shaped Bigsby which is a sweet $100.00 addition... For the price, the guitars features are quite adequate.

This guitar doesn't have the brightest "bright" sound in the world, but perhaps that's because I'm comparing it to my Ric and paisley tele... However, it will give you a decent clean sound along with a considerable range of more warm tones. Good for Jazz, Rockabilly, and 60's retro stuff, but distortion gets pretty dirty right away, and it's hard to clean it up.

When I received the guitar, it had a slight "bump" in the neck and a bit of a bow. However, my local guitar wizard cleaned that up (though it cost me $100.00 for the full set-up). Now the action is way low and the neck is arrow-straight, but I don't know how well the factory sets these up since I bought it used. Overall, I haven't noticed any problems with the construction of the guitar. The look and finish of this guitar are perhaps its best attribute - great classic looks; lots of chrome, lots of sparkle, and a classic shape. The F-hole makes it look all the more "vintage."

My impression is that this guitar's finish and construction make it durable. The top seems to be scratch-proof, though I would love to find a Gretsch pick-guard which would fit on this particular model, just for the looks... It's kind of heavy which likely speaks to its rugged construction.

Neck work went well; the guitar repair guy said it was easy to deal with. That's a good thing... I've attempted to contact Gretsch to get info on this guitar, but they haven't bothered to get back to me.

Overall, this guitar is a really cool axe for the money. Okay, it isn't one of Gretsch's best products, but to get such a cool looking and decent playing guitar with a Gretsch logo on it for >$300.00 is really cool. If you find one in this price range, pick it up, as I assume they're becoming rarer and rarer.

The Sparkle Jet is finished in stunning Red Sparkle, semi-hollow body with f-hole, two chrome humbucker pickups, a maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, a chrome plated wraparound bridge, one volume and two tone control, a 3 way pickup selector, and die cast tuners.

It can be strange, but this suond is very "brit style" with its duoble tones control can be obteined different suond, but everything are very warm.
It must be played only like a vintage guitar with single vintage pedal & valve amp.
NO RACK PROCESSOR!:)

ALL finish are very good except the rear panel of the body.
I think that it can be made in true wood!!...however....

The silver in this body will light up your bordeline in platform... you'll be notice!
The hardware is very strong except the body(hollow with "F" hole)
... never leave without a backup.

All gretsch have a great support, in this guitar the neck & the body are separeted so you have more possibility to repair; but in one year i haven't trouble.

Be carefull! Before you buy this guitar make sure to playing "never" heavy metal music.
However this guitar is very good for all kind of music.