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A lightly tweaked Pro Jet packing some tasty new pickups
Ed Mitchell (Guitarist), Tue 31 Jan 2012, 8:10 pm GMT
Electromatic Series guitars aren't just a good way of getting your hands on an affordable Gretsch, they've actually developed a bit of a cult following in their own right.
For example, owners of the Pro Jet and 5120 semi-acoustic often rip out the existing pickups to replace them with higher spec TV Jones models. Type in 'Electromatic modification' into YouTube and you'll see what we mean.
These guys want to convert their Electromatic Pro Jets into Duo Jets and Electromatic 5120s into G6120 rockabilly machines; just like Eddie Cochran and Brian Setzer's big orange guitars.
"The Jet's complement of hardware includes a set of vintage-style tuners, classic screw-on strap buttons and beautiful chrome 'G Arrow' control knobs"
Now Gretsch has got in on the Electromatic pimping fad. The freshly scrubbed Pro Jet and Double Jet models now feature pickup upgrades and new fingerboard inlays.
The Pro Jet is based around a chambered basswood body with a laminated arched maple top. You can own a Pro Jet in a black or gold finish with a deep brown back and neck.
The set maple neck is topped with a slice of rosewood, 22 medium jumbo frets and again has a 305mm (12-inch) radius, the same as a Les Paul, which might give you an idea of the great playability on offer here. By the way, the fingerboard comes studded with similar, '57-era 'hump block' inlays to those featured on the recent Gretsch George Harrison Signature and Custom Shop Tribute model guitars: fab indeed.
The Jet's complement of hardware includes a set of vintage-style tuners, classic screw-on strap buttons and beautiful chrome 'G Arrow' control knobs. You also get a horseshoe Bigsby Licensed B50 vibrato although this isn't period correct: '50s-era Jets would have been retrofitted with the longer-bodied B3 Bigsby. Just like the one on Beatle George's original guitar in fact.
The previous Pro Jet - and Double Jet - were loaded with the same mini-humbuckers that now come fitted to the CVT III Corvette. As such, as mentioned before, both Jets have been duly upgraded with sexy-looking Blacktop Filter'Tron humbuckers that claim to offer a more authentic Gretsch tone.
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Looks enough like George's Duo Jet to make us happy; the upgraded Filter'Tron pickups are a real improvement.
Hard to fault. This is a whole lot of very cool guitar for the money.
While the previous Pro Jet was a great guitar, this tweaked version leaves it in the dust thanks to its fresh pickups.
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