The Gretsch 6128 is a semi-hollow

Semi-acoustic guitar

A semi-acoustic guitar or hollow-body electric is a type of electric guitar with both a sound box and one or more electric pickups. This is not the same as an electric acoustic guitar, which is an acoustic guitar with the addition of pickups or other means of amplification, either added by the...

 body electric guitar

Electric guitar

An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...

 manufactured by Gretsch

Gretsch

The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...

 since the mid 1950s.

Construction

Made of a chambered mahogany body, the Duo Jet model 6128 is one of Gretsch's most sought after guitars. One of the most notable differences between the Duo Jet and comparable guitars is in its configuration variations. While it shares their dual pickup, single cutaway style with the more popular Gibson Les Paul

Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...

, the 6128 Duo Jet models take various unique approaches for shaping the tonality of the instrument.

While a master volume is standard on this model, some variations will have either independent neck/bridge pickup volume knobs with a master tone knob, or the same independent neck/bridge volume knobs, with a tone switch next to the pickup selector switch rather than the master tone knob.

The versions with a master tone knob are equipped with Dynasonic (aka DeArmond) pickups, which are extremely popular for a classic full-bodied, low frequency tone. Most associated with the sound of guitarist Duane Eddy, Dynasonics are single coil

Single coil

A single coil pickup is a type of magnetic transducer, or pickup, for the electric guitar and the electric bass. It electromagnetically converts the vibration of the strings to an electric signal...

 pickups, and have been used on certain Gretsch models since the 1950s. Most models of the guitar come equipped with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece in conjunction with a rocker bridge.

The most famous example of this Duo Jet was played by George Harrison

George Harrison

George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...

 during The Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

' early days in Hamburg

The Beatles in Hamburg

The Beatles members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best regularly performed at different clubs in Hamburg, Germany, during the period from August 1960 to December 1962; a chapter in the group's history which honed their performance skills, widened their...

, and on their first few albums. Harrison also posed with the guitar for the cover of his 1987 solo album, Cloud Nine

Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)

-Personnel:The following personnel was credited in the liner notes.*George Harrison – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sitar*Jeff Lynne – guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards*Eric Clapton – guitar*Elton John – piano*Gary Wright – piano*Ringo Starr – drums...

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The tone switch versions of the Duo Jet come equipped with Gretsch's own Filtertron humbucker

Humbucker

A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...

 pickup made popular by country music guitarist Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins

Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...

, and is still in demand to this day. Notable players of this version include David Gilmour

David Gilmour

David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...

 of Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

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Variations

G6128 - Filtertron pickups, no Bigsby tailpiece

G6128T - Bigsby and Filtertron pickups

G6128TDS - Bigsby and Dynasonic pickups, Rosewood fingerboard, originally based on 1957 version, currently based on 1955 version

G6128DS - Dynasonic pickups, no bigsby, Rosewood fingerboard

G6128-1962 - Double cutaway version of the Duo Jet, equipped with Bigsby and Filtertron pickups

G6128TCG - Bigsby and Filtertron pickups, in a Cadillac Green finish with Gold hardware

G6128TVP - aka the "Power Jet" Pickups are upgraded to TV Jones Power'Trons

G6128T-TVP - Bigsby equipped version of the Power Jet

G6128GH-T - Custom shop and standard versions of George Harrison's Duo Jet. The custom shop version is designed and built to appear like George Harrison's original appears today. Standard version has the color scheme of Harrison's guitar and features his signature on truss-rod cover. Both versions include all black body and moved bottom strap pin.

Other versions

"Silver Jet"

G6129 - topped with silver sparkle drum material. Same features as the standard G6128 Duo Jet

G6129T - equipped with Bigsby

G6129-1957 - Rosewood finger board, Dynasonic pickups, and no Bigsby

G6219T-1957 - Rosewood finger board, Dyansonic pickups, with Bigsby

G6219T-1962 - Double cutaway version, with Bigsby and Filtertrons

"Round Up"

G6130 - Orange stain, leather bound with western motif carved into the leather, G Branded body, Dynasonic pickups, gold hardware, Rosewood fretboard, no Bigsby

"Jet Firebird"

G6131 - Duo Jet in Fire Red finish, with Filtertrons, no Bigsby

G6131T - Fire Red, with Bigsby and Filtertron pickups

G6131TVP - "Power Jet" version with TV Jones Power'Tron pickups, pinned bridge, Schaller strap locks

G6131T-TVP - "Power Jet" version with TV Jones Power'Tron pickups, pinned bridge, Sperzel locking tuners, Schaller strap locks, and a Bigsby tailpiece

Rock Band controller

A replica of George Harrison's Duo Jet is the basis for a guitar controller for The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles: Rock Band is a 2009 music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series, in which players can simulate the playing of rock music by using...

.

External links

• G6128T Duo Jet at Zuitar Guitar DataBase