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Gretsch 6128
Gretsch G6128T DSV with Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
ManufacturerGretsch
Period1953–present
Construction
Body typeChambered
Neck jointSet neck
Woods
BodyMahogany (often with a maple top)
Swamp ash (rare)
NeckUsually mahogany
Maple
FretboardUsually Rosewood
Ebony
Maple
Richlite
Hardware
BridgeUsually Tune-O-Matic
Pickup(s)Usually 2 humbuckers
Colors available
Various, often sunburst-type finishes
Goldtop
Ebony
Alpine White
Wine Red
Silver
Emerald

The Gretsch 6128 (Duo Jet) is a chambered solid body electric guitar manufactured by Gretsch since 1953.

Origins

The Duo Jet was first introduced in 1953,[1] after the success of the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. A key difference between the two was that the Duo Jet was a semi-solid body with routed channels and internal pockets instead of a solid body.[1][2]

It is believed that the name Duo Jet was inspired by the fact that the guitar has two pickups (Duo) and by the advanced aircraft of the time (Jet). This was the first Gretsch guitar to feature a truss rod accessible through the headstock, a pickup selection switch on the body, and a master volume on the cutaway.[1]

Construction

As is common with electric guitars, the body of the 6128 Duo Jet is made of wood,[3][4] in this case chambered mahogany. The guitar shares its dual pickup, single cutaway design with the Gibson Les Paul, but the Duo Jet takes differing approaches to shaping the instrument’s tonality and has been made available in various configurations.[5][6]

The tone switch versions of the Duo Jet come equipped with Gretsch's own Filtertron humbucker pickup made popular by country music guitarist Chet Atkins, and are still in demand to this day. Notable players of this version include Pete Townsend who used it on early Quadrophenia era gigs in the UK,[7] and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden.[8] Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd owned a 1950s Duo Jet which he described as quite hard to play but he did use it on some of his early work and then again later in his career[9]

Variations

Other versions

"Silver Jet"

"Round Up"

"Jet Firebird"

Rock Band controller

A replica of George Harrison's Duo Jet is the basis for a guitar controller for The Beatles: Rock Band.

References

  1. ^ a b c Gretsch, Fred (21 November 2013). "Fred Gretsch Reflects on the Gretsch Duo Jet: Still Rockin' at 60". Guitar World. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  2. ^ Bacon, Tony (2000). Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia. San Diego, California, USA: Thunder Bay Press. pp. 163–165.
  3. ^ Bacon, Tony (1991). The Ultimate Guitar Book. Dorling Kindersley Publishers. ISBN 0863186408.
  4. ^ Evans, Tom (1977). Guitars: Music, history, construction and players from the Renaissance to rock. Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 044822240X.
  5. ^ "Gretsch 'Jet' family".
  6. ^ Bacon, Tony (2015). The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book: 60 Years of White Falcons, 6120s, Jets, Gents, and More. Backbeat Books. ISBN 1480399248.
  7. ^ "Pete's Gear - the 1959/60 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet".
  8. ^ "Chris Cornell of Soundgarden".
  9. ^ "David Gilmour's 1950s Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet".
  10. ^ Dregni, Michael. "Gretsch's G6128T-CLFG Cliff Gallup Signature Duo Jet". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 2019-12-22.

External links

Gretsch
Categories