I can describe that great Gretsch sound. I can’t put sound into words. But I put away a Stratocaster this morning. The Ultra noiseless pickups always sound great to me. I can always find a pickup or combination that works but I wasn’t finding perfect. I brought up my 6118T Anniversary, plugged it in, selected equalizer memory 1 and there was my sound. THAT GREAT GRETSCH SOUND. There’s nothing else like it. I blend pickups, a little more neck finger style, a little more bridge with a pick. No delay with finger style. It’s there. THAT GREAT GRETSCH SOUND. It’s not about words anyway. It’s all about THAT GREAT GRETSCH SOUND.
What is the Great Gretsch Sound to you?
- Thread starter RatRod Gentleman
- Start date
Bertotti
Friend of Fred
this does a great job of illustrating what I expect from my Penguin even if my talent isn’t quite up to all of it!
That mirrors an experience I had. I like to play Surf, and I tried a Jaguar. Jaguars have a great, natural Surf sound, there’s no denying it. One day, I was Surfing out on my Jag’ and having a grand time of it, then I put my Jaguar away, but before I shut down the amp, I just happened to grab my Tennessean, and plugged it into the same rig. The sound was just so good, that I was taken aback. No, it wasn’t the classic 1962 sound, it was richer, but still plenty bright. It’s just such an amazing sound.
RatRod Gentleman
Electromatic
Some very cool vids from so many different genres, ages and gain settings. The Great Gretsch Sound has a much broader definition than I knew of yet you kinda know it when you hear it. Thanks for sharing.
Lucky Jim
Gretschie
For me, first there was this guy
Then there was this guy
I was hooked. But I’ve also really enjoyed all the clips posted in this thread which show just how incredibly versatile Gretsch guitars are while retaining their characteristic sound.
Then there was this guy
I was hooked. But I’ve also really enjoyed all the clips posted in this thread which show just how incredibly versatile Gretsch guitars are while retaining their characteristic sound.
juks
Country Gent
It's the chime, chime, chime.
RatRod Gentleman
Electromatic
This stuff is super cool. Been listening to them all day! I hope there’s a Gretsch in here because this is pretty much Amy Winehouse fronting Cake!
Jalexander
Electromatic
Coming from a Tele into a Super Reverb, I thought the Gretsch sound was this big, woody, boomy sound that I’d get through a 6120. Turns out I was wrong. Any Filtertron guitar I bought sounded great, but was so much brighter than the sound I had in my head.
Then I bought a Dr Z Maz Jr, and I was instantly so much closer. Later, I pounced on a local deal for a 6117HT and there it was. Hilotrons through an EL-84 amp. That hollow, woody sound with a bit of snap around it.
As a reference point, see Greg Keelor’s work on Blue Rodeo’s Diamond Mine album.
Then I bought a Dr Z Maz Jr, and I was instantly so much closer. Later, I pounced on a local deal for a 6117HT and there it was. Hilotrons through an EL-84 amp. That hollow, woody sound with a bit of snap around it.
As a reference point, see Greg Keelor’s work on Blue Rodeo’s Diamond Mine album.
audept
Senior Gretsch-Talker
"Won't Get Fooled Again" was my Gretsch tone revelation.
drmilktruck
I Bleed Orange
ForTheLoveOfIvy
Gretschie
I love how Gretsch can have two distinctly different pickups back in the day and both have "that great Gretsch sound" !
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calebaaron666
Friend of Fred
TsarNicholas
Electromatic
For me it’s George’s sound on Please Please Me and Cliff Gallup.
Horse Nation
Gretschie
One of my all-time favorite guitar tones is Billy Duffy's White Falcon. His best moment is this tune "Christians." What makes it so great is that it is live. I've seen the band live and, no studio tricks, this is his sound:
Just give the first 25 seconds a listen. I've been listening to this for over thirty years and it still blows me away.
The Cult at the peak of their mighty powers...and Duffy's Gretsch never sounded better:
Just give the first 25 seconds a listen. I've been listening to this for over thirty years and it still blows me away.
The Cult at the peak of their mighty powers...and Duffy's Gretsch never sounded better:
Chmason85
Synchromatic
Rev has the best sound!! And he’s also a really nice guy
Chmason85
Synchromatic
The great Gretsch sound to me is versatility, there are so many great Gretsch sounds. I love X, Rev, cramps, Setzer and countless others that play Gretsch guitars. I’d say they all have different tones but they’re also uniquely Gretsch.
BohemianLikeMe
Synchromatic
It
It never ceases to amaze me how much of that 80s postpunk sound was Gretsches into a Roland Jazz Chorus. Theatre of Hate, The Cult, Bow Wow Wow, Aztec Camera, Orange Juice, the list goes on and on.
Speaking of Aztec Camera, I think this is a very underrated track from Roddy's disappointing middle career:
Edit: Autocorrect strikes again.
It never ceases to amaze me how much of that 80s postpunk sound was Gretsches into a Roland Jazz Chorus. Theatre of Hate, The Cult, Bow Wow Wow, Aztec Camera, Orange Juice, the list goes on and on.
Speaking of Aztec Camera, I think this is a very underrated track from Roddy's disappointing middle career:
Edit: Autocorrect strikes again.
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Stefan87
Country Gent
To me it's the below,
With gain:
The Living End
(Yes I know AC/DC plays with gain too but they didn't bring me to the brand)
With not so much gain:
Brian Setzer with Smoke
Clean:
Chet Atkins
With gain:
The Living End
(Yes I know AC/DC plays with gain too but they didn't bring me to the brand)
With not so much gain:
Brian Setzer with Smoke
Clean:
Chet Atkins
