For sure it's got to be "Blue Jean Bop" with Cliff Gallup and his duo jet.
Why on earth Gretsch has not issued a Cliff Gallup duo jet is beyond me. Someone over there needs to wake up. This guy single handedly influenced COUNTLESS guitarists that went on to become famous. You can issue a David Lee model, and forget Cliff????
Jesus and mary chain, u2, depeche mode, the cult, the cramps, the smiths,bow wow wow, tones on tail, The revrend jim heath, orgy, new york dolls, early metallica, areosmith,duane eddy, Just to name a few on my IPOD
Very good point JBJ.
Beatles - DuoJet up to She Loves You She Loves You and on - Country Gent HiLoTron beginning ? - up to Rubber Soul (hard to sort out what/when)
The Who - Who's Next/Quadraphenia - 6120
Bachman Turner Overdrive - 6120
Jeff Beck - Duo Jet on his Cliff Gallup/Gene Vincent tribute album (forget the name)
Eddie Cochran - everything
CSNY - Deja Vu
Gore Gore Girls - White Falcon
Luke Doucet - White Falcon
Gin Blossoms
Monkees
Gretsch can't just issue a sig or tribute model using an artist's name out of thin air; they have to have authorization from the artist, relatives, or the estate...
Stray Cats - Built For Speed
Depeche Mode (think: 'Enjoy The Silence')
Reddog, did Jesus and Mary Chain use Gretsch? It sure sounds like it... I always wondered if it was a 355 too. Hard to tell with all that fuzz distortion though.
The Jeff Beck album was Crazy Legs.
Regarding the signature models, I was talking to the youth working in the Gretsch store in Savannah and she didn't know who Brian Setzer was and if she is a good example of the general youth of today, she probably wouldn't know who Cliff Gallup was. Not that recognition with the youth is an important thing, but David Lee is out there right now, playing (or was and will).
And I'm not entirely convinced that putting a name on it wasn't a way to help push sales of an odd Falcon that might not have done so well if it was just called the Snow Owl or something like that. Of course, that's TOUGH to prove since only 30 was made. I'm pretty sure it would have sold either way.
But anyway, wouldn't the jet relic be in line with what Gallup played?
As far as a great Gretsch album, check out:
It's a great CD, with tons of cool licks and songs you can sing along to. It's in competition with Flight of the Conchords as far as most played on my iPod (FOTC is my wife's new favorite band).
One of my favorite "big" Gretsch solos is in "Those Words We Said" by Trisha Yearwood, played by Brent Mason. Here's the solo excerpt:
Proteus said
"Gretsch can't just issue a sig or tribute model using an artist's name out of thin air; they have to have authorization from the artist, relatives, or the estate"
I'm pretty sure I wasn't implying deals come out of thin air, I think I was inquiring WHY the deal hasn't been done, or if it has even been attempted. And, as long as were are talking sig's, how cool would it be to get the Billy Zoom built amp deal put together.
It has already been mentioned, but my all time favorite Gretsch tone is early Duane Eddy; i.e. "Rebel Rouser" et al. Chet's "Fingerstyle Guitar" album was his best tone ever, IMO. That was, as Norm mentioned, the red sealed top 6120 with the Ray Butts pickups, of which the CGP is the reissue. Later Gretsch recordings by Chet were almost exclusively the 59 Gent.
Walter mentioned Bo Diddley also; and I sho nuff agree with that too. I'm just a copy cat I guess. I'll come up with something original one of these days.
JBJ, I don't know if the Gallup family has been approached about a sig model. I do know efforts are being made in other directions.
As important as Gallup is as an influence, and as crazy good a player, I don't know that he would be seen as someone who could draw buyers. His name recognition among the general guitar public is all but nil, and it would take a sustained program of education to explain him.
Those who know him and his work already know what guitar he played, and as Pappy suggests, that guitar is already available in the line.
The DL Falcon is an attempt to mine the present rather than the past – and, more importantly, is a different guitar than anything else in the line. The combination of factors justified it. I don't think that by releasing it FMIC/Gretsch was taking a position on the relative worthiness of the two players, as your original post suggested.
My post was just intended to make the point that it's not as easy as just "putting out a model," which I know you understand.
I should have added that it's a lot easier to make a deal with a current living artist who's enthusiastic about the concept than with the estate of a guy who stopped playing publicly at a fairly young age, who finished out his years as Director of Maintenance for a school system – and whose widow wanted no mention of his 30-years-past music career in his obit.
I'm in no way denigrating Gallup – he was an amazing player, easily my favorite early "rockabilly" Gretschslinger, an innovator, and a guy who brought the Dynasonic Jet front and center in rock & roll.
But for all practical purposes, his model is already available.
The acid test for me when I wish Gretsch would build something is: if they made this guitar, would I actually buy one?
Proteus said: As important as Gallup is as an influence, and as crazy good a player, I don't know that he would be seen as someone who could draw buyers. His name recognition among the general guitar public is all but nil, and it would take a sustained program of education to explain him.I think you're underestimating to what extent the Gretsch buying public is "rockabilly" - I play an awful lot of Rockabilly festivals and multiple bills (more than I'd really like, but that's a different topic..), and you'd be amazed how many new Gretsches you see, expensive guitars that they are after all.
And almost any self-respecting rockabilly player knows who Cliff Gallup is - probably more people in absolute numbers than people who buy a guitar because of.......Keith Scott!
And the block inlayed/fixed handle jet is Gretsch's "Gallup Jet", isn't it? The "cat man" in the little blurb on the Gretsch website is pretty obvious...
Well said Walter, the catman jet is pretty close, the relic jet is exactly like Cliff's, except for the fingerboard and inlays, headstock overlay, truss rod cover, bridge, Bigsby, and pickguard.......I understand kinda what Pro is saying, but cmon man, it's CLIFF
JBJ, I meant this one :
"Cat Man! Reminiscent of the original Duo Jet of the mid 1950's, the G6128T-DSV features twin DynaSonic™ single-coil pickups, Bigsby® B3CBST vibrato tailpiece with stationary handle, nickel plated Gretsch Synchro-Sonic™ bridge, and vintage wide-block fretboard markers. Finished in nitrocellulose lacquer mahogany stain with black top."
I think Cliff had a Bigsby bridge on his, but otherwise, the inspiration and target audience are clear, don't you think?
The relic is an obvious nod at George Harisson, no?
I think Gretsch did a good job with the DL Falcon, especially if they're after a different audience than the traditional white falcon, orange 6120 crowd.
I think the flaw though is releasing it in so few numbers. I'm pretty sure 30 Falcons of any serious sort would sell quickly and what does that say in any definite way? You can't say the normal Falcon outsells the DL and think it's a fair comparison. I mean, only 30 people bought DLs!
I say open it up and release a few more, maybe make it a production model. It would be one that would be on my short list, personally.
Apparently I couldn't have been more wrong about the relic jet being comparible to Gallup's. Sorry about that.
Walter him say I think you're underestimating to what extent the Gretsch buying public is "rockabilly"
I'm with you there, Walter – but Gretsch doesn't really need to do more to attract those people. Obviously they don't need to insult or ignore them, but the investment in things like the Rockabilly Revival weekend and their sustained presence in that market are proof of Gretsch's commitment. Surely virtually anyone interested in rockabilly already either wants a Gretsch or can explain why not.
Unless Gretsch takes it as their sole mission to make sure rockabilly grows and lasts forever, one of their ongoing challenges is to sell into other markets as well. (In practical terms, obviously they do both.) Some models support "the base," others reach out.
A dedicated Gallup model would clearly support and reward the base – as the recent CGP has done with the Chet constituency. Nothing wrong with that, I'm all for it.
The 'cat man' reference on the model page is as far as Gretsch can legally go to associate that model with Gallup withOUT a formal endorsement relationship – same situation with the "Cochran model." Seems like they're doing their best to pay homage to the forbears.
I think we're all on the same page – I'm just emphasizing that bringing out new endorser models with modern guitarists shouldn't be seen as an insult to the greats of the past!
Room for both, I reckon.
Walter him say I think you're underestimating to what extent the Gretsch buying public is "rockabilly"
I'm with you there, Walter – but Gretsch doesn't really need to do more to attract those people. Obviously they don't need to insult or ignore them, but the investment in things like the Rockabilly Revival weekend and their sustained presence in that market are proof of Gretsch's commitment. Surely virtually anyone interested in rockabilly already either wants a Gretsch or can explain why not.
Unless Gretsch takes it as their sole mission to make sure rockabilly grows and lasts forever, one of their ongoing challenges is to sell into other markets as well. (In practical terms, obviously they do both.) Some models support "the base," others reach out.
A dedicated Gallup model would clearly support and reward the base – as the recent CGP has done with the Chet constituency. Nothing wrong with that, I'm all for it. It's good that knowledgable rockabilly cats can find a pretty correct Gallup Jet in the line as is.
The 'cat man' reference on the model page is as far as Gretsch can legally go to associate that model with Gallup withOUT a formal endorsement relationship – same situation with the "Cochran model." Seems like they're doing their best to pay homage to the forbears.
I think we're all on the same page – I'm just emphasizing that bringing out new endorser models with modern guitarists shouldn't be seen as an insult to the greats of the past!
Room for both, I reckon.
Oh, we're absolutely on the same page, I was only reacting to your "As important as Gallup is as an influence, and as crazy good a player, I don't know that he would be seen as someone who could draw buyers"
Gretsch really already has a Gallup model, and even before that Gallup was attracting buyers for Gretsch.
I just took a tour of the FMIC offices in Scottsdale with Joe on Tuesday night. (I was in Az in Glendale on business, and Joe was gracious enough to give me a tour, but I digress, sort of...)
I saw some R&D stuff, and a new Gretsch that's coming out. I'm under strict orders to not say anything about it. They are definitely chasing a different market from Rockabilly as well.
That makes sense, it's not like they really have to try to get that market any more.
My second CD ("Guitar Bizarre Vol.2") which I recorded with GDP member Regis Damasceno is 90% Gretsch. My Country Club (with dynas) and his Country Classic (with filters). You can listen samples at the iTunes Store or at: http://guitarbizarre.com/listen.html
I know that the JAMC used Gretsches from their early days, but i can't find any photos. most of the available photos show him playing the ES330 (the 2xP90 full-hollow guitar Gibson equivalent of the Epiphone Casino), but those are all from the recent reunion tour, on which William Reid played the 330 and an orange single-cut which looks to be a 6120.
Stray Cats first album (1959 6120) Live in Brixton (probably a Black Phoenix) of course anything by Brian Setzer will do the trick!!!
The Brixton CD (if it's like the DVD) was mostly his 6120 but the Phoenix was used for a few songs as was a white falcon.
Paperback, 84 pages. Smithsonian Collection Of Recordings.
