The Gretsch Pages: Gretsch Guitars: G1413 Synchromatic Jet Club

Gretsch guitars: G1413 Synchromatic Jet Club

The mere existence Synchromatic line may be one of the more baffling Gretsch mysteries of recent years — maybe decades. The revered Synchromatic name, traditionally reserved for high-end acoustic archtops, was plastered across a dizzying array of Korean-made guitars which were themselves near-clones of the Electromatic line offered at the same time. Like the Electromatics and Historics, the Gretsch Synchromatic line of guitars debuted in 1999. Nobody could keep track of all the models, not even Gretsch, and all three lines of budget guitars were merged into a single (and much-improved) Electromatic line-up in 2003. The tobacco-sunburst finished G1413 Jet Club was a bit nicer than the various Junior Jets, but placed below the G15xx and G16XX Synchromatic Jets and was sold from 1999 through 2003. Like the Junior Jets, the G1413 used a maple bolt-on neck with a rosewood fretboard. In an obvious nod to the Les Paul, the Jet Club used a two-volume/two-tone control scheme. It can also be identified by its suspended pickguard and block fret markers.

Comments

jdwo wrote:

I own one of these and it plays excellent, the neck is solid, it stays in tune well, and the pickups are close facsimiles of real filtertrons. You can feel the body reverberate when you play it and there may be some chambering on it. Maybe not, it is a laminate body. Switches and pots are the weak point of this guitar. Collectability is a gamble, you never know what may happen in the future. All I know is that I've done small gigs with this guitar and it sounded great.

— Apr 12, 2007 9:26 a.m.
mraja03ttr wrote:

I too bought a Synchromatic in about 2004 . I couldn't believe anything with the Gretsch name on it could be brand new at £199! The label called it a 'Silver Jet' but I don't know if this is accurate. There is no Trem and no pickguard and the finish is similar to a Sparkle Jet, but less 'sparkly'. The sound of it is terrific and the neck is wonderful to play. BUT the finishing on the frets was nearly non-existant and the paintjob is bit sloppy on closer inspection. After spending about £30 - £40 on a set-up and getting the frets stoned and profiled the Synchromatic suddenly felt like a £900 guitar. I use it live as a 2nd guitar and because I liked the tone and the playability so much I bought a brand new Gold Sparkle Jet to use instead of my Les Paul. a LOVELY guitar :) Jez

— Jul 26, 2007 7:19 a.m.

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Gretsch guitars: G1413 Synchromatic Jet Club

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Basic Synchromatic Jet Club specs:

1999:

2003: