Brian Setzer with a 6120 Hot Rod in Red Sparkle
The mid 1990's saw Gretsch back in the marketplace as a guitar company again and lost little time in engaging Brian Setzer as an artist to host a signature model guitar. At the time, Chet Atkins was involved in an arrangement with Gibson so was unable to be a product endorsee.
Besides the introduction of the 6120 Brian Setzer model a new idea was put forward, to produce a stripped down version of a 6120 in the type of colours seen on custom cars and hot rods.
The later Mk2 guitar as seen in this review packed the features of the Mk1 but with the addition of 59 trestle bracing as on the Mk2 Brian Setzer 6120. Also a set of locking Sperzl machines replaced the Gretsch G branded Grover style sealed machines on the Mk1.
Powerplants for the guitar were Gretsch Filtertrons in Chrome Plated finish and also available as fitted to this guitar are a set of Hot Rod Filtrertons, looking very similar but packing higher output.
The Bridge was a pinned tunamatic which sat atop a rosewood base.
The guitar featured a slim neck which had a slight V shape and this was topped by an Ebony fingerboard, changed from the rosewood of the Mk1.
The Scratchplate has an understated Gretsch and Hot Rod below a flame motif, the pickguard is finished in silver on the reverse and looks great, the Mk1 only had Gretsch on the back and was silver reverse side finished.
The body has no F hole binding, on the black this almost makes it look like a solid top from a distance. The flat black isn't a very attractive colour option, it doesn't really work that well, if they had used the Blue Sparkle or a Silver Sparkle that would have been good, or used the 6118 Anniversary Mint green colour.
The single volume control and pickup selector switch simplified matters, the three way pickup switch was neck, neck and bridge and bridge only options, there was a master volume and nothing else to influence the sound or suck any 'life' or gain out of the wiring harness.
Playing wise the guitar is a very nice and easy player, made in Japan as these professional series are of a consistent quality with no sloppy finishes or glue residue showing. These guitars are so well made that I don't think you can top them.
New prices on the MK2 would be about £2650, a new Mk3 has come to the market at £2850, prices for a second hand one range from around £1350 for a nice one up to £1650 or slightly higher for a guitar with TV Jones pickups.
The Brian Setzer 6120 Hot Rod is a no nonsense guitar available in the MK2 era with a Candy Apple red, Lime Gold, Flat Black, Purple and Regal Blue finishes. I currently have a Flat Black one which may get a blue sparkle upgrade! I also own a Mk1 in Candy Tangerine which has no trestle bracing.
For those liking the 6120 but not sold on the orange colour, why not try a Hot Rod, the slightly lower price may also be attractive.
No comments:
Post a Comment