Product: Teisco Gretsch copy
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
06/04/2009
at
11:25pm
by
Michael Rodgers
Email: penguinguitars at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:
9
Made between the years of 68-73 or so, part of that wonderful Lawsuit period of Japanese guitars. This is a semi copy of a Gretsch 6122. 22 fret, on a rosewood board, with the greatest invention known to guiars--- a ZERO fret!. The position markers are unique also. Instead of the famous "thumbprint" markers of the Gretsch, it has something like long fingernails! really cool, done in "brother of pearl". A bolt on neck to a completely hollow guitar with real "f" holes. A double cut with double binding.
2 single coils that look a bit like the famous filtertron pickups, but not quite. One vol, on tone, a 3 way switch, and 2 bass cut switches on the upper bout. A bigsby clone tailpiece, with the typical roller bridge of the period.
The really typical tuners on a really Gretsch looking headstock. The tuners have these really cool tuner backs on them, with flowers no less. And, of course, the cheesey white pickguard. Did I mention it's cadallic green?
Sound
:
10
Amazingly, it sounds like a Gretsch! the lows are pronounced, and the high just sparkle. Think Chet, and you know the sound! A country twang, with a warmth of jazz.
With gain, it just gets better! Think Stray Cats, and you know the sound. Of course, if you go into the metal distortion, it will hum. And feedback wildly. (Which can be stpidly cool if you know how to control it.)
I love the bass cut switches! From a jazzy tone, to a thinner version of that. from that country twang, to something, well, thinner. really wonderful. The tone knob actually works at around 8, and with each turn downwards, just gets more pronounced.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
It's around 40 or so, but it's still together and in one piece. The chrome till sparkles, and the finish has retained that wonderful green color and shine. Minus the repair on the electronics, I had nothing to do to it.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
See above.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
HAH!
Overall Rating
:
9
It's a great guitar, pure and simple. I have a lot of guitars and basses, 28 as we speak, and know what makes a great guitar. This is one of the reasons that there was a law suit in the first place! Plays as well as the original american guitar it was copied from.
