As the owner of a '57 Chet, a few comments. First, these guitars really come alive with a set of heavier flatwound strings and slightly higher than normal action. Not too high, just enough to let the strings-especially the bottom three-vibrate freely & ring clear. I use Thomastik George Bensons, 12-53. They sound killer and last for ages. Second, using both pickups along with the volume controls to get different blends yields the most interesting, complex tones. This is where you'll find the hollow twang on the wound strings, bright & deep at the same time. Note that these comments apply to various Gretsch models based on the same basic platform as the 6120. Last, glad I got mine many years ago when they were reasonably affordable. Yikes!
yes on price its terrible I just. found out the other day the old amp my dad gave me that he bought was worth between 11500 to 14000$ go figure it would be number 3 of the most expensive amps acc to premier guitar mag.
Oh thanks, I thought the sound on this video was kinda flat, like more of a jazz tone. I have a Gretsch mystery guitar I got from a flea mkt in the 80s, missing the electronics & pickguard. I want to restore it if possible, and this one looks pretty close, but am hoping i can get more of a twangy surfy sound.
Try Optima Gold Roundwound 012 s on this or on any other guitar ( 011 s on some) and you ll probably wish you ve been playing them all along :)) (From the player of a 6120 DC for the past 52 years) :))Last, any old Gretsch made before 1965 is a steal at any price, remember you dont spend the money when you buy a quality instrument. You just allocate money in something that usually gains value over inflation. Joy of playing is the extra bonus... :))
Hey...Speaking of Gretsch can you please do a review (if you haven't already) of the Gretsch Guitars G5420T Electromatic Hollowbody Electric Guitar???? PLEASE?
One of the main advantages of having a zero fret is that it balances the tone between open strings and fretted strings, because the strings are always connected to the bridge at one end and a fret (rather than the nut) at the other. This was also the reason for experimenting with metal nuts (here aluminium, later brass - particularly on Japanese high end electrics in the late 70s and early 80s). As a picker, using lots of open strings, the zero fret was seen as an improvement by Chet.
Lloyd sounds quite knowledgeable about Gretsch guitars but the guru of vintage Gretsches is Ed Ball who wrote two books on vintage Gretsches, one on just the 6120. HE is the ultimate authority on these Gretsches and in his research for his books, demystified the confusion surrounding the S/N issues that plagues the vintage Gretsches, the result of two fires at the factory in Arkansas that destroyed all records.
Man, that is one beautiful axe. Was hoping you'd get passed the twelfth fret with the neck pickup on for some of those classic Gretsch blue tones. Great video!
+1 on the earlier comment re: use of Thomastik, heavier gauges (0.11 or higher) and higher action. I have two ‘50s Gretsch hollowbodies, both based on a 6120 (one’s an ani) and this is really essential to get the right tone out of them. Anyone struggling to get the correct sound out of their Gretsches should address these factors first NB these were around $450 in 1957 (I used to have a book with all the contemporary prices)
I wonder if that 15" speaker is a JBL? I have one in a 64 Vibroverb and havent played my new used 6120 thru it yet. I have 4 cats with sensiive ears..Im trying for Duane Eddy tone or Cochran.
+John Bohlinger Another truism is that people who are dedicated to practice and talented (people like you), can make cheap equipment sound stellar compared to the rest of us...but we buy it anyway because it inspires us to play and to dream.
John's playing it well, but it sounded muffled, more mellow than what you expect to hear from a Gretsch. I thought at first it had old strings on it, or the amp needed new tubes, but then I realised it had Dynasonics on it which weren't as twangy as the Filtertrons & later Gretsch pickups.
I don't remember what it was but a friend of my dad's. dads 86 had an awesome ld 6120 that the trek armdidnt have a swivel on it.he traded it in on a new 6120. the fretts I remember just be he sold it or what ever the first 3-4 frets were so worn down they were. nothing butt wire half way up still played good lol.
I seriously doubt an aluminum nut makes it brighter. I don't buy into "tone nuts". That's like saying a maple fretboard sounds brighter than a rosewood. Why stop there... The bigger inlays make the guitar sound brighter than dot inlays. That aside i like the sound of this guitar.
+HouseofChains81 It would apply to the player's ears rather than the ears of the audience. The guitar player and the audience are never hearing the same thing.
As the owner of a '57 Chet, a few comments. First, these guitars really come alive with a set of heavier flatwound strings and slightly higher than normal action. Not too high, just enough to let the strings-especially the bottom three-vibrate freely & ring clear. I use Thomastik George Bensons, 12-53. They sound killer and last for ages. Second, using both pickups along with the volume controls to get different blends yields the most interesting, complex tones. This is where you'll find the hollow twang on the wound strings, bright & deep at the same time. Note that these comments apply to various Gretsch models based on the same basic platform as the 6120. Last, glad I got mine many years ago when they were reasonably affordable. Yikes!
yes on price its terrible I just. found out the other day the old amp my dad gave me that he bought was worth between 11500 to 14000$ go figure it would be number 3 of the most expensive amps acc to premier guitar mag.
Oh thanks, I thought the sound on this video was kinda flat, like more of a jazz tone. I have a Gretsch mystery guitar I got from a flea mkt in the 80s, missing the electronics & pickguard. I want to restore it if possible, and this one looks pretty close, but am hoping i can get more of a twangy surfy sound.
They sound best with loads of distortion!
Try Optima Gold Roundwound 012 s on this or on any other guitar ( 011 s on some) and you ll probably wish you ve been playing them all along :)) (From the player of a 6120 DC for the past 52 years) :))Last, any old Gretsch made before 1965 is a steal at any price, remember you dont spend the money when you buy a quality instrument. You just allocate money in something that usually gains value over inflation. Joy of playing is the extra bonus... :))
Man... Nick Cave rocks that Gretsch! ;-D
Exquisite playing, enjoyed it!
I always dig John's playing! Super tasteful!
hopefully they'll carry on the series with different guitar set ups . great video and lovely guitar .
John you killed it ! Awesome, this guy is just AWESOME !
Very cool! I'm really liking this series.
great playing at the end!
Hey...Speaking of Gretsch can you please do a review (if you haven't already) of the Gretsch Guitars G5420T Electromatic Hollowbody Electric Guitar????
PLEASE?
One of the main advantages of having a zero fret is that it balances the tone between open strings and fretted strings, because the strings are always connected to the bridge at one end and a fret (rather than the nut) at the other. This was also the reason for experimenting with metal nuts (here aluminium, later brass - particularly on Japanese high end electrics in the late 70s and early 80s). As a picker, using lots of open strings, the zero fret was seen as an improvement by Chet.
Lloyd sounds quite knowledgeable about Gretsch guitars but the guru of vintage Gretsches is Ed Ball who wrote two books on vintage Gretsches, one on just the 6120. HE is the ultimate authority on these Gretsches and in his research for his books, demystified the confusion surrounding the S/N issues that plagues the vintage Gretsches, the result of two fires at the factory in Arkansas that destroyed all records.
Man, that is one beautiful axe. Was hoping you'd get passed the twelfth fret with the neck pickup on for some of those classic Gretsch blue tones. Great video!
+1 on the earlier comment re: use of Thomastik, heavier gauges (0.11 or higher) and higher action. I have two ‘50s Gretsch hollowbodies, both based on a 6120 (one’s an ani) and this is really essential to get the right tone out of them. Anyone struggling to get the correct sound out of their Gretsches should address these factors first
NB these were around $450 in 1957 (I used to have a book with all the contemporary prices)
I wonder if that 15" speaker is a JBL? I have one in a 64 Vibroverb
and havent played my new used 6120 thru it yet. I have 4 cats with sensiive ears..Im trying for Duane Eddy tone or Cochran.
$75 in 1957 had the same buying power as $634.80 in 2015 dollars. That was not an inexpensive piece of equipment.
+harlon57 Amazing right. Great gear has never been cheap.
+John Bohlinger Another truism is that people who are dedicated to practice and talented (people like you), can make cheap equipment sound stellar compared to the rest of us...but we buy it anyway because it inspires us to play and to dream.
+John Bohlinger by the way, "unlisted" videos don't get as much traffic....might want to change that.
+harlon57 Thanks Harlon... you are too kind. And thanks for watching the new series. Play on, my friend.
+John Bohlinger This is a great deal. You keep making them, I'll keep watching/favoriting/liking and sharing...every bit helps. Ha ha!
John's playing it well, but it sounded muffled, more mellow than what you expect to hear from a Gretsch. I thought at first it had old strings on it, or the amp needed new tubes, but then I realised it had Dynasonics on it which weren't as twangy as the Filtertrons & later Gretsch pickups.
Strange, Gretsch built this with Chet Atkins endorsement, but it could also be known as the Duane Eddy model, as he loved this model 6120.
Oh man that BASSMAN!
John is a monster, hands down....... debate over. Class Dismissed !
Fine playing!
Looks like John drove to work that day with his head out the window ! :)
David Motisko ace Ventura!
No, no. He did an earlier video that day showing off the only known dumble Marshall in existence. And he let it rip.
What was the tune that John played at the beginning?
Jiffy Jam - Jerry Reed
I don't remember what it was but a friend of my dad's. dads 86 had an awesome ld 6120 that the trek armdidnt have a swivel on it.he traded it in on a new 6120. the fretts I remember just be he sold it or what ever the first 3-4 frets were so worn down they were. nothing butt wire half way up still played good lol.
I still remember trying to play 8t myself my arm was so short my elbow was as low in the. waist you mite call it I could barely reacch the strings ha.
I think this is the same model Eddie Cochran played...and also Stephen Stills back in the Buffalo Springfield days.
What is aluminim?
Nice playin on the intro
Awesome rig!!! :D
Edgar Beja
I can't tune my guitars very good either
Can someone tell me what's the little call at 2:33?
1957 Gretsch 6120 hangtag says $400. Might be a little off there Lloyd.
Did you say guitars shrink?
Yeah, wood shrinks with age
What was the song played at the beginning?
Alexander R Jerry reed blue finger or jiffy jam, I should have looked it up before answering but check those out! Jerry was the sweetest player!
Is the first tune BLUE FINGER?
JJ JJ I think it might be!! Jerry reed! Another similar one is jiffy jam!
LLoyds in an awesome band called opossum holler, go check them out if you have the time!
ruclips.net/video/dPJdrn45y3c/видео.html
What isn't seen in this video is the 8 inch thick cushy mat on the floor so the artifact won't go splat! :-)
I got shocked and drlpped my 56 Strat on the concrete floor once.
damage? nada zip
frets so worn shes unplayable so I got A newer 6120
Zero nut gives lower action.
I seriously doubt an aluminum nut makes it brighter. I don't buy into "tone nuts". That's like saying a maple fretboard sounds brighter than a rosewood.
Why stop there... The bigger inlays make the guitar sound brighter than dot inlays.
That aside i like the sound of this guitar.
+HouseofChains81 It would apply to the player's ears rather than the ears of the audience. The guitar player and the audience are never hearing the same thing.
This guy is a thief! Not John, the other one.
I cringe when I see people wearing shirts with buttons while playing vintage guitars!
Fred Clark wjy
Fred Clark why*