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fretbuzzard · May 7th, 2009, 01:28 PM

Ok guys and gals, I need your help making a decision-

I recently acquired a G6121W Roundup (read about it HERE) and it’s fantastic. Great look, great sounds, all around a real winner. I bought it in the hope that it would compliment my other guitar, a Godin 5th Ave. Kingpin (a laminate archtop with a single P90 in the neck position). The Godin does warm, jazzy stuff (but not much else), the Gretsch does twang.

But I’ve been thinking—up until now I’ve pretty much been a one-guitar kind of guy. I know a lot of folks here end up owning lots of guitars, and that’s great, but it’s not really a feasible or desirable option for me. So instead I’m a horse trader. I’ve gone through lots of great guitars looking for one that will cover all the turf I like (rock, jazz, rockabilly, blues, and country, in that order). I’m not sure the roundup fills the bill.

Again, don’t get me wrong, I love it and it really can cover a lot of territory. I’m wondering, though, whether a filtertron-equipped hollowbody might not do a better job of covering the bases. Fortunately I live pretty close to some great shops where I’ll be able to try both out, but I thought I’d get some opinions from the aficionados! Jet-style with dynas, or hollowbody with filters? Which would you get if you could only get one (keeping in mind the musical preferences noted above)? Why? Could a filtertron-loaded hollowbody effectively replace BOTH the roundup and the Godin? Can filtertrons cop a convincing jazz tone (albeit a bright jazz tone)?

Thanks for any comments or advice!

Jukebox · May 7th, 2009, 01:45 PM

I think they both can do the Jazz, blues style. It's just the tones that you would like to here,then only you can decide. The filtertrons will get you a more cooler sound than the dyna's. but only you can play them both and decide if it's what you want to hear. That 6120W sure is purty though. I wouldn't mind having it if I had the cash!

dan P · May 7th, 2009, 05:29 PM

almost sounds like you need a vette...!

fretbuzzard · May 7th, 2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukebox

That 6120W sure is purty though. I wouldn't mind having it if I had the cash!

You may have the opportunity depending on how my head-to-head goes!

I spent a good chunk of today playing with my newly set-up roundup and I do like it a lot. Then I rode my bike on over to my local purveyor of all things Gretsch and tried out a few models--a 6120-1959LTV to give me the TV classic vibe, a Hot Rod (non TV Jones) to try out the HSFs, and, pinch-hitting for my roundup (which was not going to make the trip by bike...) a knotty pine roundup.

They really are entirely different beasts! All three sets of pickups sounded great, though the HSFs were a bit brash-sounding for my tastes. Not bad, just a little "KERAAANNNGGG"-y! I spent a lot of time fiddling around with the tone switch on the 6120-1959LTV, trying to figure out how I would get along without a tone pot.

Anyone else here trying to cover all the bases with one Gretsch?

PS: as a side note, today really reinforced how damn lucky I am to be able to ride my bike to a shop where I can try these things out side by side! As a former resident of Eastern Iowa (I believe the nearest Gretsch was in Chicago at the time...) trust me, I am not taking it for granted!

fretbuzzard · May 7th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan P

almost sounds like you need a vette...!

Interestingly enough a 'vette was one of the flavors of Gretsches NOT on offer at this shop! How do they do for jazzier tones? I guess I had the 'vette pegged as a straight out rocker...

dan P · May 7th, 2009, 05:39 PM

these guitars seem to cover a heck of a lot of ground, you just might try one somewhere before you pull the trigger...

dan P · May 7th, 2009, 05:40 PM

Sorry, Im just not up to the jazz thing, but Im sure someone can comment...

Scott · May 7th, 2009, 06:18 PM

I pretty much cover all the bases(country, rock, jazz, blues, you name it) with a Dyna-equipped Duo-Jet, which under the hood is just like your Roundup.
I have several Jets, but my main choice is a 2005 6128TSP(pictured in my photo album). I can pretty much do anything and everything with it. If you wanna do jazz or Freddie Green-style rhythm, just roll off the treble...it's that simple. Turn the treble back up if you wanna burn.

If I were you I'd stick with what I have. Just my 2 cents....

araT · May 7th, 2009, 06:23 PM

Would it be considered biased if I were to suggest a Jet

In all seriousness, I get all the sounds I want & need out of my f'tron Duo Jet, but I'll still be picking up a dyna one to compliment it just as soon as my wallet lets me

nedray · May 7th, 2009, 06:28 PM

The best Gretsch I've had for twang and Chet-style was a Tennessee Rose with Dynasonics (6119-1962 I believe). The neck pup was smooth as a summer breeze and the bridge honked with the best of them. So there's nothing wrong with the Dynas. Besides, when the drummer comes in, it all sounds the same anyway.
I suspect you're like me and several others here--meaning you've got persistent GAS that will always have you finding something to like better about another instrument. Nothing wrong with that--it's good for the economy--and if you buy used, you don't lose too much, so it's a cheaper vice than smoking. Sorry--I'll shut up now...

S. Rock · May 7th, 2009, 06:34 PM

if you want to try a Corvette, Groth Music in Bloomington has one. ask for Todd. he just might talk price with you. did Willie's have any Annies with FilterTrons ? the last time that I was there, I know that he had plenty of White Falcons. I haven't been to Willie's for several months.

stole_life · May 7th, 2009, 06:37 PM

The Gretsch from which I get the widest range of tones is my Country Club. It's a Dyna-equipped hollow, but it really covers the spectrum if you play with the tone knobs and pups.

Poppatwang · May 7th, 2009, 07:34 PM

I think you own what you need. Doesn't hurt to look though.

fretbuzzard · May 7th, 2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S. Rock

if you want to try a Corvette, Groth Music in Bloomington has one. ask for Todd. he just might talk price with you. did Willie's have any Annies with FilterTrons ? the last time that I was there, I know that he had plenty of White Falcons. I haven't been to Willie's for several months.

I may have to check out one of those 'vettes, thanks for the recommendation. Willies had the 6120s I mentioned, a few jets of various types, even a couple of 6122s, but no anniversaries.

Thanks for all of your comments, folks! I'm glad to hear that so many of you seem to have found the dynas to work so well for what you want to do. I may just need to fiddle a bit more with my amp to make it all come together. I'm sure GAS is playing a pretty big part in all of this--aided and abetted by the fact that I have never owned a humbucker-equipped guitar of any kind! I've played and enjoyed single coils of all varieties, but now the filtertrons are definitely tempting me. Interestingly enough, the 6120-LTV with the humbuckers that I played today sounded considerably brighter to my ear than the roundup with the single coils. Maybe that's what's giving me my doubts...

S. Rock · May 7th, 2009, 09:11 PM

as I said, it's been a while since I've been in Willie's. Groth just got in a few of the double cut Pro Jets and a couple of others. they've had a Setzer 6120 for a while. it plays pretty nice. yeah, definitely go by and see what they have.

dafreeze · May 8th, 2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stole_life

The Gretsch from which I get the widest range of tones is my Country Club. It's a Dyna-equipped hollow, but it really covers the spectrum if you play with the tone knobs and pups.

phenominal guitar

fretbuzzard · May 8th, 2009, 12:27 PM

So I've decided that the only way to settle this for myself will be an extended head-to-head comparison. I've played everything I could get my hands on in local shops, and I've settled on two guitars to represent the sounds I like the best:
1) My current guitar, the G6121W Roundup
2) A G6118T-120 that I won on the 'bay--should be arriving next week.

This way I can try them out one after the other with my amp, at my leisure. I bought both used, so hopefully I won't take too much of a bath when the time comes to sell one of the two. Stay tuned for the play-by-play, I think this should be fun!

PS Thanks again for all the recommendations. I found a falcon to try out, but couldn't get comfortable with it. I think the body size and scale length were both a bit too much for me (not to mention the glitz!). The corvette was incredibly comfortable and fun to play, but a bit too brash to my ears. One day, though, when my funds and my state of mind allow for a more sizable guitar collection, I'll have to revisit both!

S. Rock · May 8th, 2009, 05:56 PM

[quote=fretbuzzard;53877--- The corvette was incredibly comfortable and fun to play, but a bit too brash to my ears. ---[/QUOTE]

did Todd happen to be there ?

congratulations on getting you Annie.

roadjunkie · May 8th, 2009, 06:51 PM

The one factor you left unsaid is what amp are you using? Everybit as important as your guitar choices. Maybe I missed that but yes everybit!

You did good with the Anni 120. It will be a bit more woody sounding with the soundposts rather then the trestle you were looking into.

fretbuzzard · May 8th, 2009, 10:17 PM

S.Rock: I actually stopped by AGB--I was in the neighborhood and they had a falcon to try as well.

roadjunkie: I didn't mention it in my post here, but in the thread that I link to I mention that I'm using a '63 Vibroverb clone. I absolutely agree that the amp is a major player here, and I'm wondering whether the roundup just isn't jiving with this particular amp.

I'm excited to try the annie out with this amp--we'll see how the chemistry works!