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!
