Hi all,

I've been wanting to buy a Gretsch for a long time and i will be in New York in a month and i would like to bring a Gretsch home with me.

Now i really like the G6120-1959LTV Chet Atkins and the G6120DSW Chet Atkins, I was going to go for the G6120DSW because it's more affordable and it has pretty much everything im looking for. HOWEVER, a huge turn off for me is the fact that it has polyurethane coating instead of lacquer.

The G6120-1959LTV is really nice, however it is much more expensive and does not have some of the western features i like so much, like the block engraved inlays. It does have lacquer finish but it also costs a good buck more.

I could live with the inlays but i probably couldn't live with the lacquer, so i'm leaning towards the G6120-1959LTV

So ideally i would want
Western Maple Stain, Lacquer finished.
Western Block Inlays.
Gold hardware
I like both the Dynasonic and the TV classics.


On the G6120-1959LTV:

Is the finish 100% lacquer and not lacquer on poly like i have read before?

Is it possible to change the thumbprints to block inlays or would this require too much modification to the fretboard?



A second hand Gretsch would be more affordable to me so i was wondering if anyone knows Gretsch guitar stores other than Guitarcenter, in New York. Or some reputable places i could find second hands (or new ones!) ?


I will be in manhattan area so ideally looking for shops in that area.


Thanks alot!

Jeff

In Manhattan, you *might* find a used Gretsch or two at Umanov Guitars, Rivington Guitars or Ludlow Guitars, but odds are slim, and the odds of finding the specific guitar you're looking for are slimmer still. Others on here might have different thoughts, but I would suggest calling Rocky at Street Sounds in Brooklyn. He claims to be the largest Gretsch dealer in the US, and he has some used guitars. His storefront is only open on the weekends, but you can get there by subway from Manhattan.

The polyurethane vs. lacquer debate continues. Both are great. Unless you want to do the relicing thing to a new lacquer finished Gretsch, like checking the finish, etc., the poly has no desernable tone difference whatsoever. The poly finished Gretsch will last a lifetime and is much more durable. I have both finished in poly and lacquer, old vintage a new Terada built guitars. I can't hear the difference. It's the same thing with my Fender collection. The poly finishes are so thin these days that tone effects are not in the equation.

But in any event, to each his own. Good luck in finding that Gretsch. I'll 2nd talking to Rocky in Brooklyn.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I know it does not affect the tone to a large degree.

To me it is just for the look, if i am correct in saying so the lacquer will slowly age nicely. The urethane to me makes the guitar look a bit like plastic, and does not age at all (as far as i read).

What do you think about that?

The urethane will age somewhat with the guitars use, but not to the degree of Nitro Lacquer, The lacquer cures for years and years till it flakes off. The poly is a resin/catalyst and cures solid within a few days. This why you see so many older vintage quitars finished in nitro have so many areas of the guitars finish chip and flake off. It's quite brittle and hard after so many years and with physical wear, hits, temperature and humidity changes over a period of time cause this.

The urethane will age somewhat with the guitars use, but not to the degree of Nitro Lacquer, The lacquer cures for years and years till it flakes off. The poly is a resin/catalyst and cures solid within a few days. This why you see so many older vintage quitars finished in nitro have so many areas of the guitars finish chip and flake off. It's quite brittle and hard after so many years and with physical wear, hits, temperature and humidity changes over a period of time cause this.

Hmmm. I wonder with which, nitro or poly, my '09 Korean 5120 is finished...?

Hmmm. I wonder with which, nitro or poly, my '09 Korean 5120 is finished...?

Poly most likely

+3 with Rocky at Streetsounds.

Looked in the window at Matt Uminov's (Bleeker St) a few weeks ago and they had some Gretschs in there.

WElcome aboard Jeff9! good luck on your Gretschy quest! :D