Guitar reviews for you Gretsch 6120 Hot Rod Brian Setzer MK1 in Candy Tangerine

Gretsch 6120 Brian Setzer Mk1 in Candy Tangerine finish Japan 1999

Vibramate Bigsby attachment

The 6120 Hot Rod Mk2 in Flat Black

The good old 6120 Gretsch, is the mount of choice for Brian Setzer and no doubt to thank him for his ambassadorship of the trusty guitar, Gretsch chose to honour him with not only his signature and custom shop models, but first off, with the Hot Rod model.

This late 90's example is typically the stripped down version of the Nashville 6120, to a volume pot only, 1 pickup selector switch only guitar, although this example has had the hop up of an added tone pot. It also features this unusual Vibramate attachment to the Bigsby B6C.

This is an example of the Mk1 Hot Rod model, the pickup switch is set further forward as on a conventional early 6120 and it does not feature the fabled later 59 Trestle Bracing. The attractive colour, the Candy Tangerine finish has that slightly metallic sparkle effect which looks good. The pickguard was a plain silver type with Gretsch name.

The next incarnation, the Mk2 had added 59 Trestle Bracing between the top and back of the guitar (the Mk1 had just a 'sound post' piece of maple block to unite front and back woods.) and also Sperzl machines, plus an option of a 'Standard' Hot Rod pickup or a TV Jones Filtertron. The pickguard gained the Hot Rod and a flames logo at this upgrade.

The Mk3 has a different choice of finishes plus TV Jones newly designed Brian Setzer Filtertrons which have Brian's signature stamped in the cover and the pick guard is not fitted to this model.

The guitar is fitted out with chrome hardware and has the 1959 style V Bigsby B6C, with the flat swing out handle. The bridge is a modern tunamatic type, although this one has been modified to mount a Space Control which I prefer as the strings don't hang up on the saddles.

At the headstock end, we have the Gretsch T roof logo and the nameplate stating it is a Brian Setzer model, which I think is deleted on the Mk3 just out and the truss rod cover has the 'Brian Setzer model' legend engraved, as found on his 6120 signature model.

Pickups are High Sensitive Filtertrons which are standard output and give a great sound, the tone is derived from the pickup position only originally, although this one has the tone control option, however, I just use it set to the max and modify the amplifier patches.

Machine heads are those nice 18:1 style Grover sealed units in chrome plate and have a Gretsch G arrow logo on the back, later these were changed to Sperzel locking tuners as standard equipment.

Build quality and finish are superb, faultless in fact. The Japanese makers - Dyna Gakki, Fuji-Gen and Terada are all top line manufacturers and there is not a stray glue blob anywhere inside this guitar as with any of the Professional series guitars these producers make.

Playing wise, the guitar is superb and gives a great spectrum of sound from jazz and country through to hard driving playing. Of course the open f-holes and hollow body does preclude it from high gain distortion playing! The lack of trestle bracing allows the top more freedom to move.

The guitar comes with a hard case, which is a plastic shell type with a Gretsch logo and not the old style TKL made case, which the Mk2 and the rest of the professional models have as standard.

So what about price? The standard Mk2 6120 Hot Rod is about £2250 new, the most recent ones topping out at £2650, as a guide with a secondhand Mk1 one from around £1300 - £1650 depending on age and condition, a Mk2 around £1650.

A new Mk3 was recently on sale secondhand at around £1650 which was a bargain as someone took a big hit on an essentially brand new guitar costing £2650. 

The 6120 Hot Rod is a great guitar and you would find it a very versatile guitar that is also striking looking. Buy one before they get out of reach.