I Tried the George Harrison Duo Jet! | 2023 Gretsch G6128T-GH Review

Some extra details about George's original guitar (as a Beatles gear nerd): - The offset strap button wasn't done at the factory. The guitar originally did not have a vibrato, and whoever installed the Bigsby didn't drill it out properly for the button. - Duo Jets normally have a natural mahogany back, George spray painted his guitar black at the same time John Lennon spray painted his 1958 Rickenbacker 325 black. - This was George's primary guitar, alongside his Gibson J-160E, that was used on the band's first album, Please Please Me. The album was recorded in one day on February 11, 1963.

"If you're not familiar with who George Harrison is...."

The staple pickup was gibson’s attempt at a dynasonic type pickup. Les fitted a dynasonic in the neck position of one of his early goldtops. In true Les fashion, it was hidden under a diy hacked up p90 style cream cover. The story goes that Les preferred the dynasonic over a p90 in the neck position. Gibson saw this and ordered Seth lover to come up with their own version, as they couldn’t have their biggest artist playing a rival’s pickups. Therefore, the staple pickup was born. But it was so expensive to produce, it was reserved for the most expensive guitars before ultimately being replaced by the paf pickups.

The originals were made in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY! When Baldwin took over, they shut the factory down in mid-1969 and moved production to Arkansas. To this day if you’re on the Williamsburg bridge going into Brooklyn, look to the right and there’s a tall gray building with “Gretsch building no. 4” painted just below the roof. It’s now very expensive condos. 😭

In the 1970's you could hardly give that guitar away. From 1976-1979 I was assistant mgr. at Hilton Music in Utica N.Y. We had that exact guitar, used of course but in very good condition, and it took over a year to sell it, with Hard Shell case for $75.00. Of course that was before there was such a thing as a Vintage Guitar Market. If I only knew then what I know now........

One of my all time favorite guitarist, artist and one of my all time favorite guitars. That great Gretsch sound!

Congrats David, what a beautiful Gretsch, George Harrison's music is amazing. Those Dynasonic Pickups were favored by Les Paul the man, and he actually installed a set in the early '54 Les Pauls he played. Gibson used the Dynasonic design to design/create the AlNiCo V Staple pickups. The Dynasonic and Staple pickups have an expanded range of tonal profiles. You can adjust the pickup close to the strings with the pole magnets adjusted flush for a thick full tone, or, you can lower the pickup body away from the strings and raise the individual pole magnets closer to the strings for a more single coil/acoustic tone. These pickups (Dynasonic and AlNiCo V Staple) are among my favorite types of pickups.

Gretsch are incredible guitars. It’s like a step up in classyness.

George was my first major guitar hero when I first started playing as a kid and the first guy that I heavily looked up to, his playing was always what the song needed and he's still one of my favourite guitarists and biggest influences

I've got this, the rosewood telecaster AND the rocky stratocaster.

I have 3 Gretsch guitars and i love everyone of them and can't wait to get more. Goes well with my Rickenbacker when playing live. The Gretsch/Rickenbacker combo forces my Les Paul into 'retirement' lol

A lot of really usable distinct sounds. Regarding the uneven taper on the tone control: A lot of the old Gretch models had only Volume knobs and a switch to engage the tone capacitor.

Thanks for doing a Gretsch!

Man I just love Gretsch. Every one I've touched I have really enjoyed. Next to my Les Paul I think Jets are my 2nd favorite guitars.

10 years gone sounded damn good.

Wowsers that's just dripping cool tones

That was the Space Control bridge with rolling saddles. The other poular adjustable style: Melita

Nice to see you branching out Trogly!

also that's not a master tone on the DuoJet - it's a master volume. You set the volume of the individual pickups with their separate controls, set the pickup selector to both, and then you can raise and lower the combined volume of the two pickups with the master volume. I like to dial back the neck a little so i still get some of that bite from the bridge.

I'm right there with you on the rosewood Telecaster.