A New Lefty From Gretsch!

      At winter NAMM this year, Gretsch delivered a new version of the Jet. It's lefty, and it's in a cool color - Cadillac Green Metallic. Officially named the Gretsch G6228LH and from the Gretsch Professional Collection, this model contains many features that are standard on many Gretsch models: A Master Volume and Tone knob, along with two volume knobs for each pickup. They've incorporated a no-load volume circuit that prevents losing treble frequencies when you turn the volume down, similar (probably more like exactly alike) to Fenders Greasebucket circuit. For those of you not in the know - these guitars are made in Japan, in the Terada Factory.

Aesthetics Abound! Gretsch opted for their older logo on this model, along with cream binding, a gold-colored pickguard and pickup surrounds, and a v-shaped tailpiece, and those gigantic block inlays. Add a U-shaped neck, 22 medium jumbo frets, and a 24.6 inch scale length, and you can probaby boogie-woogie and rock n' roll with scores of other dead musicians.

This year, Tim Shaw, the guy known for designing various pickups for Fender has designed the new Broad'Tron Pickups. These have been described as having more output, while still maintaining the clarity of a lower-output pickup. Now - don't get excited and think that you can plug this bad boy into a Randall Satan and get distorted tones where you can hear every note.  Most descriptions of these pickups, when pushing an amp into overdrive have been described as Splatty. Think of how the bass frequencies tend to sag on a cranked fender amp - it's something like that. My personal experience with this guitar agrees with how they describe the sound of these humbuckers. But hey, if splatty is your thing, go for it! I'm certainly not gonna get in anyones way, I just write blog posts about guitars.

Here's a quick spec list for those of you who identify in the Guitarrus Nerdicus Maximus species:

• Series: Gretsch® Professional Collection
• Body Material: Mahogany with Maple Top
• Body Finish: Gloss
• Upper Bout: 10.5” (267mm)
• Lower Bout: 13.5” (343 mm)
• Waist: 8.625” (219mm)
• Neck: Mahogany, Standard “U”
• Neck Finish: Gloss
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12” (305 mm)
• Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo Position Inlays: Aged Pearloid Big Block
• Nut (Material/Width): Graph Tech® TUSQ XL, 1.6875” (42.86 mm)
• Tuning Machines: Gotoh® Locking
• Scale Length: 24.6” (625 mm)
• Bridge: Anchored Adjusto-Matic™
• Tailpiece: Gretsch® V-Stoptail
• Pickups: Broad’Tron™ BT65
• Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge And Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
• Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Volume, Master Tone
• Control Knobs: Arrow
• Hardware: Nickel
• Strings: Nickel Plated Steel .010-.046

The Gretsch G6228LH has an MSRP of $3,024 USD. Sweetwater and other major brands are selling it for around $2,500.  Enjoy!

Lefty Retailer Review - Adirondack Guitars of Hudson Falls, NY

     Many of us who have desperately tried to find something different, something beyond the same basic three-pickup, double cutaway design have often thrown our hands up out of frustration that there's not much out there for us beyond a black Fender Stratocaster. Luckily, with the decisions of a few guitar companies we've been able to see a few guitars in white, sunburst, or maybe even red or blue.
     We could always visit a custom shop or a special luthier and have them make whatever we want, the downside being a price that many of us cant afford. So, injured but not defeated, we surf our way through as many web sites as possibly, trying to find that new or different guitar.


Introduce Adirondack Guitars.

     Founded by Dennis Monahan and located in Hudson Falls, New York, Adirondack Guitars may carry one of the largest selections of left handed guitars in the nation - of course, there are others that carry lefty guitars, but that's not the point here.  At last count, Adirondack Guitars website had 32 Different Brands of electric, left handed guitars. Big name retailers don't even touch that number.
On top of that, they have 21 brands of left handed Electric Bass Guitars. They even carry left handed Banjos, Mandolins and Ukuleles!
     Their new website, ADKguitar.com, is well laid out and easy to follow. Just hover your cursor over the "Guitar" button and you'll see Lefty as one of the options. From there, you can customize your search.

From funky to traditional, they've got it. Danelectro Longhorn Bass? Got one! Late 70's Fender P-bass? They've got one of those, too.

     While they may not carry major label brands such as Fender or Gibson(Though they may have some in the used section, they have unique choices, such as Italia, Heritage, Airline, and Airline's parent company, Eastwood. Also of possible interest are brands such as Dean, Dillion, Crafter, D'angelico, and Teye. And with 32 brands of left handed guitar, they also have a wide range of guitars for various budgets, from the $149 Indiana S-style guitar to the mid-priced D'angelico, Airline, Schecter and Reverend Guitars to high-end G&L models, GJ2, Angry Angus, Heritage and Teye Brands. 

     In regards to shipping, they offer free shipping on orders over $287 (excluding large amplifiers) and they also claim to work with a variety of different shipping companies to find you the best shipping for any sort of special case that you may have. Finally, Adirondack Guitars sells Amps as well,  a wide variety at that. Most every amp is used, which, when considered, is fine.

Why not take a look at ADKGuitar.com and see what you find? Something unique, maybe!
   

   

Fender's American Original Series

The American Original Series


     For 2018, Fender guitars have opted to rename and retool the American Vintage Series into the American Original Series. Featuring 11 total instruments in this new series, we'll be focusing on the three left-handed models: the 50's Stratocaster, the 60's Stratocaster, and the 50's Telecaster.

The 50's Stratocaster

     The 50's Stratocaster is still just a Stratocaster, but with unique features not currently found in other series of guitars, unless you want to visit Fender's Mod Shop, or perhaps the Custom Shop. It features a thick maple soft-v shaped neck sprayed with clear gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, which should provide comfort for those who like chunkier necks. It has 21 frets, described as "vintage tall" on Fender's website, but no further description was given. These frets are probably narrow, around .078" with a height between .046" and .052" to make for easier bends and overall playability. The fretboard radius is 9.5", which is a spec found on modern Fenders, but then again, these aren't instruments spec'd to the originals, they are simply nods to the instruments of that era. The headstock features the classic spaghetti logo, a string tree for the E and B strings, a bone nut, Kluson style tuners and a 'vintage style' truss rod.

     The body is made from Ash and painted with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, the only color being available for lefties is 'white blonde'. More traditional features include a single-ply pick guard, standard strap buttons, a vintage style 6-point tremolo, and typical pickup wiring. The pickups are Fender's Pure Vintage '59 pickups that come with 5-way switching instead of the vintage correct 3-way. Add in one volume knob and two tone knobs, and you've got yourself a vintage-style Strat with some modern improvements. Includes a hardshell case. Price: $1,949.

The 60's Stratocaster


     The main differences from the 50's Strat to the 60's Strat is the addition of a round-laminated Rosewood fretboard, (which means that a thin veneer of rosewood is placed over the maple neck) a full, rounded 60's C shape neck profile with no skunk stripe, a slotted truss rod nut that adjusts at the heel of the neck (Hope you don't mind removing the neck to adjust the truss rod!), a slightly thicker 60's logo on the headstock, an Alder body, a trio of Pure Vintage "grey bottom" '65 Stratocaster pickups, and it comes in Olympic White with a mint green pick guard! Like the other two models, Fender's website notes that this guitar has "Vintage-Accurate Body and Neck Radii", assuring you that you'll get the sound as well as the feel of a vintage instrument, without the high price.

Includes a Vintage-Style hardshell case. Price: $1,949.

The 50's Telecaster


      The 50's Telecaster isn't too different from Fender's '52 Tele that were made in left handed for some time. With a butterscotch blonde stained Ash body, Black pick guard, and dual pickups, it's a Tele, all right.

The neck on this guitar is chunky, almost Gibson style chunky. The fretboard is a 9.5' radius with narrow tall frets, so you can assume similar feel in the fretboard department from all three guitars, not including neck shape. The frets - narrow tall - are probably welcomed in the presence of the thick neck. the truss rod adjusts at the headstock.  Fender's website notes that all guitars in this series have "Vintage-accurate body and neck radii". The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice things like the router bump located on the inside of the lower horn of the 50's tele. Similar features include a three way switch and a vintage correct bridge with brass barrel saddles. The pickups - Fender's Pure Vintage '52 single coils - are based on the early 50's pups and use Alnico III magnets. Kluson style tuners, classic electronics, and standard strap buttons complete the package. Includes a hardshell case. Price: $1,799.

Overall


     Mixing vintage tone and modern playability has always been a wise tactic for guitar companies such as Fender. These are an excellent choice for anyone who loves vintage tone but doesn't love the price tag usually associated with vintage instruments. These guitars can be found on Reverb.com, Amazon, and other online instrument dealers.

Welcome to Bryan's Lefty Guitar News!

Welcome to Bryan's Lefty Guitar News! Here I will be discussing any news about Left Handed Guitars, as well as instrument statistics, hardware, history and general how-to advice for anything Guitar related. I'll be posting once per week, so stay tuned!