Gretsch 6128

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Gretsch 6128
Gretsch DuoJet G6128T DSV(with Bigsby).jpg
Gretsch G6128T DSV with Bigsby vibrato tailpiece
Manufacturer Gretsch
Period1953–present
Construction
Body typeChambered
Neck joint Set neck
Woods
Body Mahogany (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 which has been manufactured by Gretsch since 1953.

Contents

Origins

The Duo Jet was first introduced in 1953, [1] after the success of the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. A difference between the two is that the Duo Jet has 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.

Notable users

George Harrison played a 1957 Duo Jet during The Beatles' early days in Hamburg, and on their first album. Harrison also posed with the guitar for the cover of his 1987 solo album, Cloud Nine .

Other notable players of the Duo Jet include Pete Townshend of The Who, who used one on early Quadrophenia era gigs in the UK, [7] and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. [8] David Gilmour of Pink Floyd owned a 1950s Duo Jet which he used 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 .

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References

  1. 1 2 3 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.