Gretsch 6122-1969 versus 6120-1959 LTV

[LesD]

I am considering trading a banjo for either a 6122-1959 or 6120-1959 LTV. I am located in northeast Missouri and our small music stores (and larger ones in KC & St.Louis) stock Electromatics. I have not played either one of these guitars which concerns me!!! Can anyone give me their opinion on tonal differences? I am retired, enjoy working on learning "Chet/Paul/Jerry" tunes, and currently play a Taylor T5 through a Fender Super Champ XD. Thank You:

[Roger Pratt]

In my humble opinion, the 6122-1959 is by far the best choice for Chet style music. It was designed by Paul Yandell, Chet's band leader for 25 years and has the greatest sound imaginable.

[RandeDager]

I agree with Roger, but then I know nothing about the 6120-1959 LTV and the question was about the difference in tone. I could go on and on about the physical dimensions and playability, but then again none of that was the question.

[Tom Workman]

I have a 6122-59 and the way I tell it is that if I was a millionaire and could go out and buy any guitar I wanted for playing Chet-style, this would still be it. -Tom W.

[LesD]

Really appreciate the feedback! I have been favoring the 6122-1959 but in the Electromatic series I like the sound of the 5120's (thicker top to back dimension) than the 5122's. This was one of the reasons I was considering the 6120-1959 LTV and of course the TV Jones pickups. Thanks so much for the replies. It does help.

[Joeb]

Hi Joe here. I to have a Nashville Classic G-6122-1959. I can say it sounds great and plays like a dream. It has a mellow sound and it sounds smooth too boot with the TV Jones on it. Now if you have small hands don't even think about getting this guitar. The neck is 1 3/4 wide and takes some effort to play if you have small hands . Another thing is it is quite heavy weight wise. I'm now 62 going on 63 and can say it gets harder to stand the weight when playing it as I get older.The old' body and bones ain't what they used to be. I think the main reason I keep on playing this guitar is because it's as close to having the real deal guitar that Mr. Guitar used on most of his recordings. My friend Roger has one and man he get's that Chet sound. He's a great picker. I have 5 Gretsch's these days. Two Country Gentlemans. They are G 6122-1959 and a G 6122-1962 double cut < like George Harrison used on the Sullivan show>. That one has a beautiful ! 11/16 neck which is a joy to play on for me. I also have Two Tenn Rose's. G 6119 HT and G6119 Tenn Rose with the real F holes and wide body and a close to 1 3/4 neck. This one plays and sounds as well as my Nashville Classic 59. Big difference is in the prices though. If you can't afford the 59' Classic check out the G6119 Tenn Rose with the FilterTrons on it. It's really the same guitar as the 59 IMHO. I also have a G5120 Electromatic which after remodeling it with a change of pickups sounds great for a low end model of the Gretsch line. It's in the big bad Orange color. It plays as well as any on my othe 4 Gretschs . Well good luck on your new guitar venture I hope it all works out for you. The G 6122-1959 is One of a kind. Take care. Joe

[LesD]

Once again, thanks for all the input! Will post one more time on this subject as I don't want to wear my welcome out! I drove to Fazio's Frets & Friends today (St. Louis, MO music store) to have my T5 worked on
(setup/fret dressing). Was able to play a new 6122-1962 through a Fender Super Reverb. Very nice guitar!!! Regarding hand size, I could just barely palm a basketball in high school/college and generally need a large glove size, sometimes XL. Not for sure if that is big enough for the 1 3/4" nut as some of the more challenging chords I played on the 6122-1962 today seemed to stretch my hand pretty good. I have also considered hopping up an Electromatic with roller bridge, TV Jones pickups, and Groover Stay-Tite tuners. Joeb, what kind of pickups did you use on your Electromatic project?

[Joeb]

Hi Les. Joe here. Welcome aboard again. You will find a bunch of good guys on this Chet Board. I used a set of Gold Filtertrons that I got off Ebay forget this a $100.00 for the pair on my Electromaic G 5120 guitar. They sound great. The first set that I replaced the Gretsch humbuckers that come stock on the G5120 Electromatic guitar where with a set of GFS < Guitar Fetish> Nashville Retrons which sounded a whole lot better than the original humbuckers.Best part they are only $80.00 a set. They just didn't have the high jingle sound that I like and that you get with the FilterTrons. Check out the Electromatic G5120. The neck is really nice and fast and after changing out the pickups it sounds great. I also painted the clear pick guard that comes on the guitar Gold and I also put on a Chet Atkins signpost reverse vinyl decal which looks like the real deal pick guard. Hope this helps you out. All the best. JoeB

[thenorm]

Personal opinion here...

'roller bridges' and tun o matics subtract something from the tone on gretsch guitars IMO. I bought my '61 Gent used about thirty years ago. The original owner had installed a tune o matic bridge on it. Over the years I tried a newer version of TOM and one day decided to pop for a Gretsch 'bar bridge'
Immediate improvement in tone. Then, about a year ago I got a Tru-Arc which is a bar bridge radiused to the fingerboard. Guitar played better and had much better sustain.

In all his years with Gretsch Chet could easily have asked for an adjustable bridge or even just put one on his workhorse '59. He did not do this. That speaks volumes.

True, he had a TOM on his gibson electric but the difference in tone between a 6122-59 and Gibson Gent, even in Chet's hands, is different.

[Joeb]

Right on the money there Norm. All my 5 Gretsch's have Bar bridges on them. The G5120 came with a tune o matic which I replaced right away with a Gretsch bar bridge. Sounds a million times better. Someday I will spring for a Tru Arc bridge. I've heard nothing but good things about them. I just ain't gonna spring a $100.00 right now anyway. Joe