Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr

first play
GRETSCH PLAYERS EDITION BROADKASTERS
14
GUiTAriST AUGUST 2017
note from the neck, and a Duane Eddy-ish
clunk in the middle (very DeArmond-like).
On an undistorted setting, both guitars sound
very similar, but pile on some drive and the
Jr’s greater wood-to-body-size ratio begins
to add more middle honk compared with the
bigger guitar’s slightly more open sound. The
Bigsby could be adding to or subtracting from
the sonic soup, but without otherwise identical
instruments side by side it’s hard to tell. ‘No-
load’ tone pots mean that, when set wide open,
the signal bypasses both pot and capacitor for
the clearest possible tone, but knock it back
from the notched ‘open’ position and it works
like a normal control. Suffice it to say, both
guitars leave a very pleasing impression on the
ears as well as the eyes.
Verdict
“Who doesn’t love the look of a Gretsch?” this
review began. Well, we think even more will be
seduced by these updated and uprated models,
enticing a whole new flush of members to the
Gretsch gang with their vastly improved player
comfort and a range of tones that can cover
anything other than the highest-gain metal.
Japanese build quality is beyond reproach, and
the range of options available means there’s
something for everyone, whether you prefer
the diminutive Broadkaster Jr or feel more at
home with a classic thinline semi round your
neck. And if a Bigsby is one Gretsch-y step too
far, you can forego that, too.
Gretsch is determined to shake the ‘for
rockabilly only’ vibe of its instruments, and we
think the Players Edition Centre Block series is
set to do just that. Only one question remains:
Cadillac Green or Bourbon Stain?
GRETSCH G6609
PLAYERS EDITION
BROADKASTER
PRICE: £2,299 (inc case)
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Double-cutaway, thinline
f-hole electric
BODY: Laminated maple with
spruce centre block
NECK: Maple
SCALE LENGTH: 624.84mm (24.6”)
NUT/WIDTH: Graph Tech Tusq, 43mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony with aged
thumbnail inlays; 305mm (12”) radius
FRETS: 22, medium-jumbo
HARDWARE: Gold Gretsch ‘V’
Stoptail, Adjusto-Matic bridge, Gotoh
locking tuners, Schaller strap locks,
gold ‘arrow’ control knobs
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 51mm
ELECTRICS: 2x Gretsch Full’Tron
pickups, master volume, 2x pickup
volumes, tone, 3-way selector
WEIGHT (kg/lbs): 7/ 3.175
RANGE OPTIONS: G6609TFM
Broadkaster (Bigsby, flame maple
top, back and sides, w/ nickel
hardware) and G6609TG
Broadkaster (Bigsby gold-plated
hardware), both £2,399
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Black, Dark Cherry Stain,
Bourbon Stain, Vintage White
Fender EMEA
01342 331700
www.gretsch.com
GRETSCH G6659TG
PLAYERS EDITION
BROADKASTER JR
PRICE: £2,399 (inc case)
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Single-cutaway, thinline
f-hole electric
BODY: Laminated maple with spruce
centre block
NECK: Maple
SCALE LENGTH: 624.84mm (24.6”)
NUT/WIDTH: Graph Tech Tusq, 43mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony with aged
thumbnail inlays, 305mm (12”) radius
FRETS: 22, medium-jumbo
HARDWARE: Gold-plated ‘string-
through’ Bigsby, Adjusto-Matic bridge,
Gotoh locking tuners, Schaller strap
locks, gold ‘arrow’ control knobs
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 51mm
ELECTRICS: 2x Gretsch Full’Tron
pickups, master volume, 2x pickup
volumes, tone, 3-way selector
WEIGHT (kg/lbs): 7/3.175
RANGE OPTIONS: G6659TFM
Broadkaster Jr, Dark Cherry Stain
over flame maple w/ nickel hardware,
£2,399
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Cadillac Green Metallic,
Dark Cherry Stain
PROS Amazing looks; beautifully
built; vintage and modern sounds;
uprated playability; fair value
CONS As with the G6609 we could
lose the master volume control
PROS Great looker; lovely build;
cool, versatile sounds; very slick
for a ‘large’ guitar; fair value
CONS Is the horn-mounted master
volume an anachronism too far?
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GIT422.rev_gretsch.indd 14 15/06/2017 15:33