What's the difference between a Gretsch Silver Jet, and a Duo Jet with a silver sparkle finish? From what I can find they stopped making the Silver Jet in 1963, however the Duo Jet was also being produced that year with sparkle colors. I just bought this 1964 and so I assume it falls into the category of Duo Jet with a silver sparkle top, but am not sure how it's different than a Silver Jet? Any help for a Gretsch noob?

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10081/1964_silverjet2.jpg

Welcome aboard nuclearfishin! :D gorgeous Jet you've got there!

The only difference between a Duo Jet & a Silver Jet is the finishing, I would be calling this a Silver Jet... I've never heard anyone refer to them as a "silver sparkle Duo Jet" :)

Id call it a cool jet.

Thanks guys, I have a couple more quick questions. First, where can I find the serial number? I didn't see it in the control cavities. The back pickup ring is cracked so I didn't want to remove it unless I have to. Also, the pick guard is the only non-original part (I believe) because shouldn't they all say Gretsch from this era? Any ideas where I can get a good replacement? Also, is black the correct color? Thanks again guys!

VERY good looking Jet you have there :D Burns trem too, that probably has to make it a bit rarer. Most of the jets that I have seen have a bigsby.

1) This is a Silver Jet model 6129, the Duo Jet is the black finished verison (model 6128)... otherwise the features are the same.

2) The label with the serial number should be inside the largest control cavity in the back, however, Jet solidbody's are the only Gretsch model with the serial number in a second location, typically hand-scribed in to the edge of the large control cavity plate (so the retailers wouldn't have to unscrew the plate every time they needed the number).

3) Those black pickups surrounds are not original to the guitar.

4) the Burns vibrato is standard equipment if this is indeed a '64 model year example.

5) black is probably the corret color for the pickguard, but the 6129 was the least produced of the Jets by the mid-60s, so I can't say for sure.

Cool looking guitar! You didn't buy this from Chris Deitzel did you?

Thanks for the info. Now I have more questions :-) The vintage guide I have says they quit making Silver Jets in 1963 and models after that are actually Duo Jets with a custom order silver sparkle finish. Does that sound correct?

There is no label in the control cavity so I'm guessing it's long gone (or possibly loose somewhere inside the guitar).

Should the pickup rings be clear on this guitar (even if it was a custom order Duo Jet)?

I don't know Chris Deitzel, however I believe the gentleman I bought the guitar from is a member on this forum (John Elwood). Thanks again for all the info, the learning curve is steep for Gretsch's and me. Cheers!



1) This is a Silver Jet model 6129, the Duo Jet is the black finished verison (model 6128)... otherwise the features are the same.

2) The label with the serial number should be inside the largest control cavity in the back, however, Jet solidbody's are the only Gretsch model with the serial number in a second location, typically hand-scribed in to the edge of the large control cavity plate (so the retailers wouldn't have to unscrew the plate every time they needed the number).

3) Those black pickups surrounds are not original to the guitar.

4) the Burns vibrato is standard equipment if this is indeed a '64 model year example.

5) black is probably the corret color for the pickguard, but the 6129 was the least produced of the Jets by the mid-60s, so I can't say for sure.

Cool looking guitar! You didn't buy this from Chris Deitzel did you?

Without a serial number, you really don't know what model year the guitars is from. The '62 - '65 examples are pretty much the same if I recall correctly.

Both the '63 and '65 Gretsch catalogs fail to list the 6129 as a model, and (as you say) do suggest that the Duo Jet model (6128) could be ordered in a sparkle-top finish of several choices (champagne, tangerine, etc.), but it's hard to say "when" the factory actually stopped producing the 6129 model.

Jets (6128, 6129, and 6131) were produced in batches of 100 typically, and all three finishes were produced in these batches in varying ratios. Without official factory production records (which were reportedly lost to fire) we'll never know all the details on shipping totals and when certain models were discontinued.

If the label is not in the control cavity, it is gone. Check that plate, right on the outside edge... hard to see sometimes.

Pickup rings on the Silver Jet 6129 were silver originally. The alternate colors (champagne etc.) seemed to get gold rings.

The other thing you can do, is check (or have someone check) the pots for date codes. This won't be definitive, but might help to place the vintage. For instance, if the pots are from Nov. of '65, the guitar had to be made after that date, assuming those pots are original to the guitar.

Mine is a 58 Gretsch Duo-jet (6128). I think in that year that black was the only color available for that model.........

You're right, the plate covering the control cavity has a number, I don't know how I missed it. I guess I just wasn't paying attention to the plate and wasn't expecting Gretsch to have written it by hand. The number is 72854 which puts it as a 1964 model. I have some pics of the pots and controls which look original, however I'm guessing the wiring was redone at some point.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O3IbcygWGAE/TxO3oxBcGqI/AAAAAAAADTI/W2jTNzGrels/s800/IMG_0676.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SSHFZmDL4S8/TxO3pf2JG2I/AAAAAAAADTM/hTv7k1W2Fx0/s800/IMG_0677.JPG

Actually... we find that anything much over the serial number of 70000 is 1965 model year, reinforced by pot codes.

Billy C... let's hear more about your Jet. Does it have a zero fret? Filters or Dyna pickups? BTW... they made 6131 Jet Firebirds and 6129 Silver Jets in the '58 model year also. I owned a 6131 a few years back.

I just read that Chris Deitzel would like to buy this guitar back if possible. Here is his post:

"I see someone just bought my old 1964 Gretsch Silver Jet. I would love to get this guitar back. It is the only one I ever regret selling. I am not a member of the forum that it was posted on, but if anyone is, can you have the buyer contact me at deitzel at hotmail.com I really would love to get this guitar back."

For the record, I do not know Chris personally but thought I'd help out a fellow Gretsch player if possible.

This is my old guitar and I would really like to buy it back. Perhaps we can work out a deal?

Welcome to the forum deitzel..hope it works out for you

so, what happened?

Man I love these zombie threads... I'd love to know what happened too :-)

No kidding... an oldie but a goodie pops up outa nowhere. How did the story end?

Sure is a purdy Jet.

Now I'm curious, too.

Silver Jet, Silver Jet who's got the Silver Jet?

Now I'm curious, too.

Silver Jet, Silver Jet who's got the Silver Jet?

No kidding.

It was a pic of a vintage Silver Jet just like the one at the start of this thread that inspired me to the put the black guard on my 6129-1962.