George Harrison!
That is the only time I will mention George Harrison for the remainder of this review.
The Gretsch G6122-1962 is an accurate reissue of an early sixties Country Gentleman model delivering all the charm, knobs, switches, painted f-holes, zero fret, standby switch, back pad, bigsby tremolo and mutes of the original.
The guitar presents beautifully straight out of the supplied Gretsch case, the finish is first class and the setup from the Gretsch factory borderline perfect. All the knobs and switches could be viewed as needless overkill however if you invest the time into understanding their purpose, can be very useful tone shaping tools.
For those of you in the dark as to the Gretsch controls layouts I will know do my best to explain…
The two switches at the top left are your 3 way pickup selector and 3 way tone switch (no tone knob on Gretsch) Middle position being no tone circuit with the upper and lower positions giving you various tone roll-off. The switch on the bottom right is a standby switch which basically switches the entire electronics circuit in and out (kill switch type scenario).
The two knobs next to the standby switch are your separate pickup volume controls for neck and bridge, giving you a blend facility when selected on middle position on the pickup selector.
The lonesome knob dwelling below the pick guard on the lower left wing of the guitar is your master volume. This gives you direct volume control over any pickup selection and individual volume knob settings.
Confused? Back shortly I need to go fix myself a yerba mate to see if it made any sense?
So what does it sound like you ask? A Gretsch I say? And what does a Gretsch sound like? The newer model Japanese made Filtertron pickups are loud and clear delivering high fidelity chime with a semi-hollow character.With the higher output of these pickups compared to vintage Filtertron offerings you can drive your amp more aggressively which results in a very rewarding sound useable across quite a variety of styles. Combine this with the painted f-holes, which assist in avoiding any potential feedback problems often associated with hollow body guitars, and you have a unique sounding guitar that can hold its own not just in its stereotyped “rockabilly” genre.
Most people I speak to before they pick up a Gretsch guitar often have the idea that it will be a hard instrument to play but then are pleasantly surprised when they feel the slim neck profile, comfortable scale and string tension and light weight body. The back pad is also a nice touch, if not comforting certainly a visual delight not to mention giving allowing much easier access to electronics which for the most part with hollow designs is a nightmare.
In comparison to other brand hollow body equivalents this guitar represents extremely good value for money. If you consider what features you are getting along with the fact that hollow body guitars for the most part are more dollars than solid designs this guitar deserves serious consideration.
Review by Danny Yoghurt.
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