Hey Guys,

I was wondering if you could identify the Gretsch Model that Setzer's playing in this image.
It's got:

4 Control Knobs (guessing... Bridge Vol/Tone, Neck Vol/Tone)

Master Volume knob

Pick-up Selector Switch

Tone Switch.

Also if you have a wiring diagram, or know of a link that does, please let me know. I know it's similar to a Les Paul wiring, but I'm really looking for the Capacitor Values, the lug wiring, and if it has a treble bleed circuit. Thanks for all your help guys!

Daddy_O

It could be my eyesight but I think the tone switch is missing Daddy O.

It's a 1959 6120. It was modded beore it was given to him as a gift.
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Thanks Pappy,

I Scoured my Gretsch books for this 6120 configuration and couldn't find it anywhere. I figured it was modded, but sometimes they make "Limited Edition" of a guitar, an thought perhaps he had a really rare Gretsch. I figured a "Gretsch Guru" would have the answer if it was a Limited Edition Guitar.

Thanks!

Daddy_O

Nigehay,

The Tone Switch really is there, I double checked. Sorry for the bad picture.

Daddy_O

So that's not his STRAY CATS '59 6120, but another one? Sounds plausible.

I think it's on his web site. Believe I read just that, someone made the same mode (put the pickup selector in the tone switch hole, dropped the tone switch into the body).

He played it for a lot of years in the later days of the Stray Cats and the earlier days of the BSO. It's very flame-y maple top and back, and a rather faded orange color. I think Steve Miller gave it to him

Jeff O,

The Gretsch Setzer played with the Stray Cats was more of a Very Late 59' or probably a 1960 gretsch because it is only 2 1/2 inches wide. In late 59' and 60', Gretsch was slimming the guitars down to 2 1/2" wide and in 61' it was slimmed down to 2 1/4".

The signature Setzer gretsch models are nothing like the ones he played with the Stray Cats, the signature guitars are based on a guitar that was given to him later (I think by Joe Walsh). The Joe Walsh guitar is 2 3/4 inches wide and has the "Trestle Bracing" and I believe the ones he played with the Stray Cats were "Sound-Post Braced",.... which is what he prefers.

If you check out Setzers Hot Licks Video, he actually says in it ... Quote "A lot of sound comes out of the guitar" Unquote, this is not so with "Trestle-Braced" Guitars, they are silent as mice compared to "Sound-Post Braced" guitars. This why so many people who try to get his Stray Cat sound can't, they have got the wrong width guitar, with the wrong bracing... oh yeah ... lets not forget it helps to be super talented!


Daddy_O

Yup. Early '59's have 2.75" depth, where the last half was 2.5".
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WAIT

Didn't they XRAY his guitar when they made the $20,000 reproduction? And it had trestle bracing, etc.????

That's why all of his signature models have Trestle bracing.

I'm pretty sure both '59's had trestle bracing.
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Yeah I read that part of the trestle thing making a comeback was due to the x-rays taken of his vintage stuff.

I think they did the same thing with B Zooms to get a handle on his reissue also.

Whoever said it was given to him by Steve Miller is correct. Miller moded it - adding the extra control knobs.

I think that the amber color is just very faded orange.

Jeff is right about the $20,000 model. The marketing VP of FMIC called a doctor friend who is into his geetars and arranged for some doctors who work in a medical imaging facility to do cat scans of two of Brian's guitars so they could reproduce the trestle bracing. The revised signature models went into production in 2004 with the trestle bracing reproduced as per Brian's '59 and '60 models. This info came from Guitarist magazine who interviewed a Gretsch executive to get the lowdown on the 2004 revised models. It's still fresh in my mind because I used the article in part of my research before buying the SSL.

Hey that was my 100th post! I just got promoted to a Gretschie.

Hey that was my 100th post! I just got promoted to a Gretschie.

Congrats Nige! :D only 4900 to go till you're a "Friend of Fred" :p

Congrats Nige! :D only 4900 to go till you're a "Friend of Fred" :p

I can prove that I am. :)

http://images.msorensen.net/misc/Fred%20Gretsch%20III%20&%20I%20W.jpg

I can prove that I am. :)

http://images.msorensen.net/misc/Fred%20Gretsch%20III%20&%20I%20W.jpg

Show-off :p

Show-off :p
I can't help it that the influential and famous are drawn to meet me. :)

I'm sure that Fred thought it was his lucky day Mark.

Show-off :p

Which one is Fred ;) Thinks quietly:rolleyes:

Here's me helping Fred get his trivia questions right. Sometimes he calls me at home in the middle of the night to correct his work or verify his info.

Note the authentic Rockmount Ranch Wear Gretsch Shirt. Numbered, one of the original run of 50.

Amazingly, I was the only one there wearing the shirt. In fact, Joe Carducci bought one that day at WW&BW when he saw me wearing mine.

I'm sure that Fred thought it was his lucky day Mark.
And it was. :)

JeffO(hands in the pocket), every picture I see of you, you have your hands in your pocket! :)

With the BS that JeffO and Synchro are throwing, It makes me glad that I'm wearing boots!

:DYou guys keep me smiling.:D