GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria 2017 Gretsch 6128T-53VS Duo Jet

All images and text copyrighted and property of Greg Gagliano.

FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

The Duo Jet was introduced in 1953 to compete with the Gibson Les Paul without be a direct copy despite its appearance. The basic recipe for the Jet series is a chambered mahogany body with a thin laminated maple top and a 1-piece mahogany neck. From this base sprang various Jet models based on cosmetics - Duo Jet (black or Cadillac Green), Silver Jet (silver glitter Nitron drum wrap), Jet Firebird (red) and Roundup (orange stain with tooled leather). The 6128T-VS is based on the 1953 Duo Jet where the "T" denotes a Bigsby tailpiece and "VS" denotes Vintage Select. Unlike previous Duo Jet reissues, the VS models use vintage correct body depth and chamber design. The vintage style chambering has more air and less wood making the guitar lighter and more resonant. As with most reissues, though, the 6128T-VS not entirely accurate. The truss rod cover is too large, the pickguard is 1-ply instead of 3-ply, and the bridge and tailpiece are wrong. To increase the vintage vibe, the incorrect Bigsby bridge was replaced with a Melita style bridge that would have been fitted to a '53 6128. Also, the stainless steel Bigsby handle (correct for post-1957 models) was replaced with a wide aluminum handle. For those with sharp eyes, you are correct, the handle should be the "fixed" rather than the "swing away" type, but the "swing away" makes it easier to play. The early Duo Jets are coveted by rockabilly players and were famously used by Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps and George Harrison of some English band that I can't recall at the moment.

GRETSCH 6128-53VS DUO JET (July 2017)

Body: Semi-hollow; mahogany back, double bound laminated maple top