[Urban]

Hi.

I'm interested in buying Gretsch Tennessee rose (the one with actual f-holes) but I haven't played one. I played 6120 Chet Atkins (not sure what was the model, but it had tune-o-matic bridge) which blew me away - what a guitar!! But little pricey for me right now, so I found the T-rose which you can find for 1500 dollars or so (used).
But there I have some questions...is Tennessee rose as good as 6120? Are the pickups very different (rose have got high sensitife filter'trons and 6120 has TV Jones)? Is the neck same profile?

I play mostly generes like rockabilly, rock&roll, surf, country and blues, but I haven't seen much blues players with Gretsches...why does blues players don't like them?

Plus the most important questions: Should I sell my 1997 Gibson Firebird V and buy Gretsch? Is it worth? What would you do?

Thanks.

PS: I posted the same on TDPRI but there was no response (yet?), so I posted here too.

[bluenote23]

The G6119 Tennessee Rose is a long scale as opposed to the shorter scale of a G6120. Not a big deal but the strings will be a bit tighter.

I can't really comment on the pickups because I only have experience with Filtertrons from Gretsch.

If you liked the G6120 because of it's responsiveness, the zing you get even lightly brushing the strings, then the G6119 should deliver that too. Depending on which factory made the guitar (Terada with a JT serial number or Fuji gen Gakki with a JF serial number) the neck might be wider than the G6120. My old JD serial number Tennessee Rose had a 1/16 inch wider at the nut neck and I could never bond with it.

I would never sell a guitar that I thought was good to buy a guitar that I have never played. I have purchased four Gretschs online. Two were exactly what I expected them to be but the other two were not. Be patient. Look around on used sites and stores in your area and try to play before you buy.

[ed5263]

Hi Urban
I have a 2004 G6119TR with the open f holes now for a few weeks. Since getting the TR I only played my Fenders a few minutes. The Gretsch sound is full and sweet with the stock FilterTrons. It's not an issue for me but upper fret access is more difficult. I play all kinds of music but the only kind the Gretsch does not work with is.....Rockabilly! <-----.

You will be happy with the Gretsch.

[ed5263]

[quote=Urban;380012]Hi.



...why does blues players don't like them?



QUOTE]

Answer...there is no possible way you can have the blues playing a Gretsch.

[freddyfingers]

[quote=ed5263;380063]

Originally Posted by Urban

Hi.



...why does blues players don't like them?



QUOTE]

Answer...there is no possible way you can have the blues playing a Gretsch.

Everyday I get the blues, and every day I play them on my gretsch G6120shbtv. You can play blues on anything, including a kazoo. The gretsch just looks and sounds better.

[DimeStoreRiot]

I also play blues on my Gretsch Power Jet, from warm and soulful to garage-scream, and it handles them all beautifully.

[Gotone]

I'm there too...play the blues with both the 6120DSW And 6120TM. But the other half of the equation are the amps I use. As an aside I played a Hot Rod Setzer thru a Marshall JVM205C set on the clean side of the Crunch channel and it just smokes. I think Gretches, hollowbody or solid, are fantastic guitars for playing the blues or getting phenomenal blues tones out of them. Rockabilly=Gretsch too, of course.

[stevo]

Gretsch = never look back. I just got a Tennessee Rose last week as my first Gretsch and I'm seriously considering moving to the point where I own nothing else. As much as I love my wonderful Strat and other guitars, I can't see a need for them any more.

[DimeStoreRiot]

That's right. All you need is one good Gretsch.

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by Urban

is Tennessee rose as good as 6120?

Yes. Please note, I own both.

Are the pickups very different (rose have got high sensitife filter'trons and 6120 has TV Jones)?

No. VERY similar.

Is the neck same profile?

Similar.

why does blues players don't like them?

Beats me.

Should I sell my 1997 Gibson Firebird V and buy Gretsch? Is it worth? What would you do?

I wouldn't want to sell my Firebird, but -- how do YOU feel about YOURS? If the only way you can get a Gretsch is to sell the Gibson, I'd think a really, really long time about it.

[Urban]

Thanks for responses.
I found some Gretsch blues

You Tube

You Tube

The problem is that in local shops around me they have only cheaper Gretches, you have to order if you want to, so I can't try anything...as I said I tried the 6120 but that was in London few weeks ago (Wunjo guitars at Denmark street).
I'll try to find sombody who owns the T-rose and ask if I can try it, but I think it's going to be hard to find.
Firebird is cool guitar but I think Gretsch is much closer to my music style. I'll realy have to think about it...

[freddyfingers]

There have been a few Roses here on Craigs list, from 1100 to 1450. I will try to find the links.

[DaddyDog]

Ditto comments by beep.click

[guitarosaur]

I've got a post-FMIC 6119 TR with the holes and Filters, and it definitely can play the blues. Despite my Les Pauls, Strat and Tele, when I get together and play rock and blues with my friends, they all comment that nothing sounds like, or better, than my Gretsch. I'm playing it through a Victoria tweed deluxe.

[ed5263]

Regarding the tone out of a 6119 Tennessee Rose.
In the short time I've owned it I've been completely blown away with the sound and that's only using my Vox Pathfinder 15r solid state amp. I can't wait to try my tube amps once they're repaired.

I too am seriously considering liquidating most of my Fender and Gibson guitars to make room for additional GreTsch guitars.

[Urban]

Originally Posted by guitarosaur

I'm playing it through a Victoria tweed deluxe

Sounds like good combination. I played ne Gretsch with EC Champ. That's nice combination too.
I checked Musicians friend and the Tennessee rose is around 2000 dollars. Pretty low price - T-rose is about 2500€ in Slovenia (around 3300 dollars).