Gretsch/ Gretsch copies

TheMoon

I've always beean a Chet Atkins man, and I know half of those amazing Motown tones were big jazz boxes .

Where can I find a good gretsch (the electromatics seems good for modding but gammy otherwise, and I've played them, they arent up to what they could be) or, more importantly, who makes good copies or rip-offs? any old Japanese guitars out there? I know the vintage vsa850, peavey rockingham, dearmond- but they're all impossible to find here!

Ravelleman

How much do you want to spend? Also, how Gretsch-y do you want to get? Any particular model that you have in mind - they're all different!

A lot of companies are putting out guitars with Gretsch-style features but also with their own thing going on.

TheMoon

The sound is the main thing for me, and any advice I hear is about getting TV jones in a hollow body. tried an Epiphone Swingster and it just didn't have that sparkly bell going on, though it was really nice. Just wondering if there's some cast-iron alternatives, really. Looks , age and brand of guitar don't bother me in the slightest. Sound, tuning and reliability do.

Ash.J.Williams

http://www.thomann.de/ie/vintage_vsa555_bk.htm

Ravelleman

That's nothing like a Gretsch though...

Squidgy Black

That Vintage is a Gibson ES335, absolutely nothing near a Gretsch.

Gretsch guitars aren't really commonly copied like Gibsons and Fenders as they're not really the usual kind of semi-hollow, ala Gibson style with humbuckers.

wild turkey

I wish they would release an electromatic version of the jupiter thunderbird

Ravelleman

The Dearmond Jetstar is kind of similar.

But, yes, an Electromatic version would be excellent.

TheMoon

thanks a lot for your help guys.

There's a Vintage VSA 850 that looks pretty snazzy, as does the Peavey Rockingham, but of course, they're not stocked anymore and are impossible to find. No-one's selling good archtops, second hand or new in shops.

The gretsch 5422 is really lovely, but I hear bad things about the electromatics, definitely the ones around the 600 mark. Im trying to trade a handmade Tele for one but no-one's biting. Once I had an arch top in my hands, that was it. I want to keep my Silver Series strat for an option and just get a Gretsch and forget about any other guitars.

Ravelleman

I have a Gretsch Annie. Was just playing it today for the first time in a couple of weeks. It's a wonderful instrument. I'd highly recommend a Pro Series model if you can muster the cash.

WerethoBike

Re: Gretsch guitars, Hollow Body


The pro series 6118 models 75th anniversary are an option,
Secondly the Tennesse Rose models also

Prices of Gretsch?
75th and 125th anniversary

The Gretsch co. continue to sell new/old stock models of 75th models,
The new current models are now 125th anniversary,

Research the European Gretsch dealer market,


The UK vintage guitar market is worth researching too.

Re: Peavey Rockingham.
It is is interesting that the rockingham model is dis continued?

If price is a factor, regards purchasing a Hollow Body Guitar,

Epiphone Guitars
Another model Epiphone "Broadway" ,electric hollowbody,
This may well be also dis-continued?
It is worth researching