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What Albums Typify the Gretsch Sound?

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- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:51 a.m. cat mensch:
Sorry if this has ever been discussed but I haven't seen it in one place.

I'd like if folks would mention a few albums that really show off the sound of Gretsch guitars, and maybe even a mention of the particular guitar or configuration. Those albums should be somewhat accessible to obtain/hear... (the reel to reel of your uncle Fred's band from 1962 wouldn't be a good example.)

Sort of like:
- Chet Atkins "Picks on the Beatles" - Filtertrons
- CSNY "4-Way Street" (long jams on second CD/LP) - 6120 & White Falcon
...to get started.

Obvious stuff (Setzer, Beatles) is welcome too, because perhaps it isn't obvious to everyone.
- Rated: 8 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:11 a.m. Space Jase:
- Who's Next
- the reel to reel of my uncle Fred's band from 1962
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:16 a.m. Walter Broes:

Anything by Duane Eddy, and Bo Diddley.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:20 a.m. Proteus:

Of course, those already listed.

Don't know about an album, but don't forget "House of the Rising Sun" by yon Aminals. (Hilotrons.)

Cliff Gallup with Gene Vincent. (Dynasonic Jet.)

Billy Zoom with X (Dynasonic Jet.)

Mid-50s Chet (Dynasonic 6120), though it doesn't get any credit...
- Rated: 13 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:34 a.m. Vince:

"Beatles for Sale" Album.... Tenny w/Hilo's
- Rated: 52 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:47 a.m. Bear:

Walter Broes said: Anything by Duane Eddy, and Bo Diddley.

I couldn't agree more, and I'd like to add any early Chet Atkins' stuff.
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 11:57 a.m. Walter Broes:

Proteus said: Mid-50s Chet (Dynasonic 6120), though it doesn't get any credit...
You raise an interesting question IMO : did Chet record much with his dynasonic equipped guitars? My favorite Chet tone is definitely the D'Angelico, I think. (no way to be sure what he used, I might be hearing some of his Gibson too)
He did get those proto Butts pickups fairly early on, I wonder if anyone really knows for sure what if anything was recorded with the DeArmond pickups.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 12:00 p.m. Gigatron:

Well, AC/DC and The Cult spring to mind if you want louder Gretsch tones. One of my all-time favorite Gretsch tones comes from Joe Walsh on "Midnight Man" (James Gang, Thirds).
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 12:11 p.m. The Norm:

For the CGP at its finest: Finger Style Guitar For the 6122-59 Chet's albums from 1960-1980

Mr Sandman was recorded with dynas. I'll look into it unless someone else has the answer.

The D'Angelico was arguably his best sounding guitar but as you say it takes practice to sort out which one he's using early on in his RCA tour.
- Rated: 7 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 12:13 p.m. beatlebum:

How about 'The Smiths' . Guitarist Johnny Marr had a fab Gretsch sound especially on the single 'Heaven Knows Im Miserable Now'. May have been a Falcon ?
- Rated: 28 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 12:17 p.m. Wishinfora(nother)Falcon:

The Cult-Love

RHH-Anything

The Cure used Gretsches a lot too but not sure which albums.

Hoodoo Gurus and some of The Smiths
- Rated: 25 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 12:52 p.m. Dawg:

The one and only reason I bought a Gretsch was because of the guy in my Avatar - and on these 2 fine LPs - Cliff Gallup
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 1:13 p.m. The Norm:

This is a quote from Paul Yandell in my archive:

‘…Chet played that solid top 6120 with the prototype Butts pickups from 1956 until 1959 or thereabouts. I think what happened is that Gretsch saw he liked that (sealed top) model so the 6122 1958 Country Gentleman was made. It was just about the same guitar only a different color, solid top, short scale, large peg head much like the orange solid top. He didn’t care for it (the first Gent released in ’58) as will be described later. (this model is the one supreimposed over Hollywood in that famous cover) It was in 1959 where the Country Gentleman took its most well known single cutaway form. And it was in 1959 that his most famous recording and performing Gretsch came into his hands….”

As I understand it he signed on with Gretsch around 1955. June Carter had accidently knocked over his D’Angelico and he was using a Gibson or two in the interim. The early albums had some of his D’Angelico mixed in the tracks with the Gretsch so it’s hard to say. Then of course there is the Main Street Breakdown using the L-10 Gibson. One should be able to find a discography of Chet’s to narrow it down some and figure anything released prior to 1956 will likely be dynas or the D’Angelico.
- Rated: 4 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 2:26 p.m. wildrat666:

anything with the Cramps.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 2:46 p.m. tidalwave_sideburns:

Reverend Horton Heat - Lucky 7, Revival
- Rated: 11 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 2:54 p.m. g6120:

hi Dawg

ive got both of those capitol lps as well and also the cds - great music

chet atkins my vote for recordings and duane eddy

g6120
- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 3:39 p.m. garageink:

don't forget Adam and the Ants, Adam Ant, and Bow wow wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNHcaIJETZo
- Rated: 43 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 3:48 p.m. Tsar Nicholas :

The Beatles- Help! has that great Hi-Lo-Tone.

When I was waiting for my Gretsch, I listened to Chet Atkins - The Nashville Jump to satisfy my tone-deprived soul.
- Rated: 0 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 4:25 p.m. silverjetstaff:

shadowy men on a shadowy plant. "Having an average weekend" is that great Gretsch sound through and through.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 5:20 p.m. garageink:

ohh yeah the theme from "kids in the hall" was probably what originally got me into the surf/rockabilly/idunno type of sound.
- Rated: 13 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 5:52 p.m. riz:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 5 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 6:39 p.m. gusto:

any brian connelly cd
- Rated: 41 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 7:16 p.m. dubkitty:

n.b. there was to my knowledge no 6120 on the 4 Way Street album. the electric guitars used on the 1970 tour, as far as i can tell from available photos/footage, were:

Neil: stereo White Falcon, FilterTrons. this was the period when Old Black had gone missing when the shop which had her for repairs closed down. he MAY have used the 6120 as a backup, but i've never seen anything to verify this. he was playing the 6120 with CSNY in 1969, as shown in the Celebration at Big Sur footage (shot 9/69), but i have never seen a 1970 photo of Neil with CSNY playing the 6120. i have seen photos of him playing the 6120 with Crazy Horse on the 1970 NY/CH tour.

Stills: 50's White Falcon, FilterTrons, a la his current signature model; he can also be seen playing an ES355 on "Southern Man" in the Journey Through The Past film, and the album version also sounds like the 355 rather than a Gretsch.

given the tendency of everybody in CSNY to carry as many guitars on the road as the truck would hold, it's odd to think that they'd have stuck so much to one or two guitars. but that's all that i can definitely verify.
- Rated: 41 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 7:20 p.m. dubkitty:

and if you want the nastiest sound ever emitted by a Gretsch, go to the early Jesus and Mary Chain records.
- Rated: 40 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 8:06 p.m. Diggey:

How about anything with Setzer? Rant & Rave being my favorite, and I agree with Dawg, on Cliff.

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