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May 3rd, 2012, 10:02 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Age: 42
Posts: 58
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Black vs White
Those of you who have read my other recent posts know that I've been hunting for my first pro Gretsch, and I've been struggling. Long story short, I have a Black Phoenix on layaway. I've been chipping away at the balance owing and next big cheque I get in the mail is going to pay off the guitar so I can bring it home. Now my fear of commitment is flaring up, and I find myself wondering if I should in fact take home the White Falcon that is hanging on the wall in the same shop.
Part of the reason I'm reconsidering the WF is this: my bandmate has come with me on my guitar shopping trips and in the process he has fallen in love with the Black Falcon. He's going to buy one within the next month or so and frankly I'm now thinking about how the both of us will be playing very similar looking black Gretsches on stage. As my friend says, "nobody cares when there are 2 black strats on the stage, why should it matter if there are 2 black gretsches?". Fair enough, but still....
Here are my pros and cons for each guitar:
Black Phoenix:
- the 1 guitar I played that really grabbed me.
- great neck
- tv jones pickups
- I don't need/use the extra switches and knobs
- silver sparkle looks good, but not as good as the gold sparkle
- black finish looks great but shows every blemish and tough to keep clean lookign
White Falcon
- absolutely classic looking
- the model that is closest to what I'm looking for - the 6136T which has the necessary filtertrons and bigsby, does NOT have the verticle Gretsch logo on the headstock (instead features horizontal logo).
- even if I don't use the extra switches/knobs, they look great.
I know there is no right answer here, and I think I answer my own question when I start listing the pros of the Phoenix. I love the look of the WF but love everything else about the Phoenix, more. And, if I bought the WF I'd insist on upgrading the pickups to TV Jones anyway. But if I don't buy a WF now I feel like I'll need to get one eventually because it is iconic.
I'd love to hear people's thoughts. I know, life is rough when your problems center around which of these 2 beautiful guitars to buy.
Liam
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May 3rd, 2012, 11:20 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Not here.
Posts: 206
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Personally I love the Phoenix. I think the silver binding looks way classier than the gold. Your band will actually have a cool thing going if your buddy gets a black falcon: two big ol' black Gretsches, one bound in silver, the other gold... Love it!
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May 3rd, 2012, 11:32 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 161
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You answered your own question with this statement.
"- the 1 guitar I played that really grabbed me."
For me that's what it's really about. I'm a huge fan of white all white gretsches but I too prefer the Phoenix to any Falcon. But either way your one lucky dude. Enjoy.
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May 3rd, 2012, 11:34 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mississippi
Age: 65
Posts: 1,654
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I have all the PROS but the Phoenix and the WF 6136DS (I have it in black) I would definitely buy the WF, the cost of them have gone up quite a bit and it IS THE WE.
There is nothing wrong with the whole group playing the same guitar and amp.
Since I can't stop collecting' that is what we usually do, I provide everything.
I think it looks cool.
__________________
Everything is not enough
nothing is too much to bear
where you been is good and gone
all you keep's the getting there
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May 3rd, 2012, 11:40 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LA-ish
Posts: 1,238
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There is another discussion thread going on here that might be of help. Seems there is this sticker involving a pair of dice that will help make your guitar different... forever.
Unless your band has a "look" ala Queen or Kiss, the two black Gs might present an unintentional visual balance or imbalance. So does the white and the black option for that matter. How the band sounds probably matters more. If X guitar feels like "the 1", in my book, that tends to have a lot more impact on what your audience experiences and what you enjoy. Heck, either one of you could quit next week. How happy would you be then?
Also, if you have matching guitars, the pressure to buy matching pumps would be horrendous!
mj
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May 4th, 2012, 12:10 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Age: 52
Posts: 2,082
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1. You cannot go wrong here. They're both great guitars. 2. If one bird "speaks" at ya more than the other, then go with that one. Regardless of what your other bandmate purchases, you'll be the one playing the one you buy, right? Having more than one Gretsch in a band -- no matter which two -- is by definition cool. Let us know how the commitmentphobia goes!
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--"Res ipsa loquitur, sed quid in infernos dicit" (The thing speaks for itself, but what the hell is it saying?)
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May 4th, 2012, 01:13 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Age: 64
Posts: 1,272
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I own a WF, but I agree with the others here who say, "Buy the one that grabs you."
It's going to be your guitar probably long after your current band is a fond memory.
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May 4th, 2012, 07:52 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London...ish
Posts: 3,540
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fretbuzzard
Personally I love the Phoenix. I think the silver binding looks way classier than the gold. Your band will actually have a cool thing going if your buddy gets a black falcon: two big ol' black Gretsches, one bound in silver, the other gold... Love it!
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+1
Marlin
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The Marlin
The love of money is the root of all evil.....damn, I could use some really rather naughty right now.....
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May 4th, 2012, 09:39 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wi
Age: 61
Posts: 1,012
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I've got both, had the same problem.......
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May 4th, 2012, 10:02 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ann Arbor, Mi
Age: 34
Posts: 1,220
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go with the one that makes you happiest.
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May 4th, 2012, 11:46 AM
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#11 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Fresno, CA
Age: 38
Posts: 70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barosborough
You answered your own question with this statement.
"- the 1 guitar I played that really grabbed me."
For me that's what it's really about. I'm a huge fan of white all white gretsches but I too prefer the Phoenix to any Falcon. But either way your one lucky dude. Enjoy.
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+1
It all comes down to playing it. I had what some consider to be the best USA production strat for years. Once I bought a Gretsch that "grabbed me" the strat stayed in it's case for a year. It finally came out of it's case so I could take some pics of it and sell it.
Once you get grabbed nothing else will satisfy. |
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May 4th, 2012, 01:19 PM
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#12 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Age: 42
Posts: 58
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Amen folks. I gotta go with the one that grabbed me by the cajones. I just need my money to arrive so I can commit to one guitar and be done with the hand-wringing. I do private consulting on the side and I sent out 2 big fat invoices last month. Now I'm just waiting for people to pay their bills. I check the mail every day like I'm awaiting a kidney for transplant!
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May 4th, 2012, 05:26 PM
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#13 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Toowoomba, Australia
Age: 48
Posts: 3,540
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I agree with the majority here...go with the one that speaks to you the most...any guitar in the Falcon family are exceptional...love my WF...love to see some pics when you get her...enjoy!!
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May 5th, 2012, 11:29 AM
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#14 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Age: 42
Posts: 58
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Oh there will be pics, I promise.
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May 5th, 2012, 04:53 PM
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#15 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Age: 60
Posts: 2,723
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fretbuzzard
Personally I love the Phoenix. I think the silver binding looks way classier than the gold. Your band will actually have a cool thing going if your buddy gets a black falcon: two big ol' black Gretsches, one bound in silver, the other gold... Love it!
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+1
After that post, it was all 'variations on a theme' y'know? 
__________________
This "Rock Music" you speak of, is it music about rocks? Music from rocks? Singing fossils, perhaps?
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May 5th, 2012, 05:03 PM
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#16 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Valparaiso Indiana
Age: 53
Posts: 4,653
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I like this un! Cause it's mines!!! LOL!! No really I am a dyna convert! love de tone!
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When it all comes true, Man, WOW, that's somethin else! 
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May 6th, 2012, 11:16 AM
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#17 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Age: 42
Posts: 58
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When I first put money down on the Phoenix I was actually walking in to put $ down on a dyna-equipped Club. I was looking at dynas specifically but the sound of the tv jones filters was just too good.
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May 6th, 2012, 11:44 AM
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#18 (permalink)
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Gretschie
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Age: 60
Posts: 427
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"Part of the reason I'm reconsidering the WF is this: my bandmate has come with me on my guitar shopping trips and in the process he has fallen in love with the Black Falcon. He's going to buy one within the next month or so and frankly I'm now thinking about how the both of us will be playing very similar looking black Gretsches on stage. "
Bands come & go, but you'll have this Gretsch for a long time. Get the one that you fell in love with, & don't worry about the look of 2 black incredibly amazing looking Gretsch's in the same band. As I recall there were 2 White Falcons in CSN&Y & nobody said anything about that. Nor would it have mattered if they did. Go with your gut & forget about what other people think, or what you think other people may think.
Scott Fraser
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May 7th, 2012, 05:49 PM
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#19 (permalink)
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Electromatic
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Age: 42
Posts: 58
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Here she is, Friends.... Just made the final payment. I'll post better picks later. I love it but am still contemplating the WhiteFalcon. 7 day exchange policy and I have a rehearsal tomorrow night so I'll have a chance to put it through the paces. The problem is that I want 1/2 dozen different Gretsches, and can only afford one!
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May 7th, 2012, 06:05 PM
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#20 (permalink)
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Country Gent
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Age: 60
Posts: 2,723
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ennisphd
Here she is, Friends.... Just made the final payment. I'll post better picks later. I love it but am still contemplating the WhiteFalcon. 7 day exchange policy and I have a rehearsal tomorrow night so I'll have a chance to put it through the paces.
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Sweet!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ennisphd
The problem is that I want 1/2 dozen different Gretsches, and can only afford one!
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I feel that! 
__________________
This "Rock Music" you speak of, is it music about rocks? Music from rocks? Singing fossils, perhaps?
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