Gretsch

review
GRETSCH G6120T-BSSMK & G6120T-HR
108
GUITARIST APRIL 2020
morph into the neck heel. There’s not much
in it, but the Hot Rod neck is ever so slightly
plumper than the Nashville’s, according to
our vernier calipers – possibly due to the
Hot Rod’s thicker poly finish?
The shared V neck profile reminds
us of mid-50s Strats and Teles. The V is
conspicuous as hell over the first few frets
then gently develops into a C shape as you
make your way to the 12th fret. Combined
with the compound radius, subtly rounded
fingerboard edges and the beautifully
finished frets, you’re talking about the
most playable G6120 setup yet. The low
action helps a lot, too. If the neck depth
measurements intimidate you, fear not. The
sloping shoulders of the V carve make it
easy to handle.
Whenever we review a Gretsch with
Filter’Tron pups we always reel off a list
of non-rockabilly legends to prove these
guitars aren’t the one-trick ponies you
might assume they are. Names like Steve
Marriott, Pete Townshend and, of course,
Malcolm Young. There, we just did it again.
Psychobilly rockers like Jim Heath of
Reverend Horton Heat and Tiger Army’s
Nick 13 (you know, Mrs 13’s boy) push their
THE RIVALS
If you’re looking for a big Gretsch thing but
can’t stretch to one of these Setzer articles,
consider the more affordable Electromatic
G5420 model. It has the looks and sound
of a 50s classic – there’s a Bigsby, too,
natch – and it streets around £650.
You should also take a look at the highly
regarded Epiphone Emperor Swingster.
Okay, the name is a bit cheesy, but this
Bigsby-equipped beauty has become the
grand fromage of the affordable semi
set. Series/parallel switching adds to the
illustrious spec sheet. Expect to pay around
£450 to bring one home.
Filter’Trons into distortion on occasion. For
this review, however, in honour of the man
whose name is on the headstocks of the
Nashville and Hot Rod, we’re going to stick
to the classic rockabilly and country stuff.
The Hot Rod comes with Brian’s
Signature TV Jones pickups. The man
himself was a fan of the TV Jones Classic
for many years. We can hear that ancestry
in these coils. There’s just a bit more clarity
and bite to our ears. Adding a merest
smidgen of overdrive allows the bridge
pickup to bare its teeth a little. It’s still the
timeless Gretsch sound across all three
positions on the selector switch, only
this time it’s more Stray Cat Strut than
Summertime Blues.
Brian could’ve insisted on his signature
TV Jones for the Nashville ’59. Instead, he
3. The new Hot Rod comes
loaded with a set of
the Stray Cat icons
signature TV Jones
Filter’Tron humbuckers.
These are routed
through a wiring loom
that consists of a three-
way pickup selector
toggle switch and a
master volume knob
4. Like all modern G6120s
these new Setzer guitars
feature a 2.5-inch deep
laminate maple hollow
body. Other old-school
appointments include
the big f-holes and set
maple neck. Here the
neck profi le is an ultra-
comfortable vintage
V shape
It’s still the timeless
Gretsch sound…
only it’s more Stray
Cat Strut than
Summertime Blues
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GIT457.rev_gretsch.indd 108 20/02/2020 10:50