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Daddy_O · September 17th, 2009, 04:35 PM

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

Nigehay · September 17th, 2009, 04:55 PM

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

Pappy · September 17th, 2009, 05:07 PM

It's a 1959 6120. It was modded beore it was given to him as a gift.
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Daddy_O · September 17th, 2009, 05:58 PM

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

Daddy_O · September 17th, 2009, 06:01 PM

Nigehay,

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

Daddy_O

Jeff O · September 17th, 2009, 06:29 PM

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).

Tele295 · September 17th, 2009, 06:47 PM

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

Daddy_O · September 17th, 2009, 07:00 PM

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

Pappy · September 17th, 2009, 07:29 PM

Yup. Early '59's have 2.75" depth, where the last half was 2.5".
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Jeff O · September 17th, 2009, 07:59 PM

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.

Pappy · September 17th, 2009, 08:22 PM

I'm pretty sure both '59's had trestle bracing.
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fauves · September 17th, 2009, 08:32 PM

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.

Bonedaddy · September 17th, 2009, 09:24 PM

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

Synchro · September 17th, 2009, 10:18 PM

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

Nigehay · September 18th, 2009, 05:55 PM

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.