Duo Jet 6128 TCG
The Mouse that Roars
Looks can be deceiving. The Gretsch Duo Jet looks like a Les Paul with a Bigsby but in reality it is a very different guitar. There is little doubt in my mind that the design of the Duo Jet was informed to some extent by the Les Paul but the people at Gretsch saw fit to give the Duo Jet a hollowed out body and an archtop-like floating bridge.
The resulting guitar is considerably lighter than a Les Paul and much more acoustically resonant. Even though they appear similar at first they are indeed best suited for different purposes. While a Les Paul delivers incredible sustain and power the Duo Jet delivers strong clear high notes with less sustain.
The Duo Jet I prefer (and own) is equipped with single coil DynaSonic pickups and a small Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. In 2005 Gretsch reissued such an instrument with a Cadillac green top, a natural mahogany body and a Synchrosonic (AKA Melita) bridge under the model number 6128 TCG.
The effect of this guitar is striking to say the least. I can only describe it by saying that it looks like something you would see in the home of a very wealthy person. It just seems to exude quality and craftsmanship but it doesn't stop with appearances.
The Duo Jet plays comfortably and sounds as good as it looks. The sound splits the difference between a Telecaster and a P-90 Les Paul. It can get pretty beefy but it always has strong, clear highs. Perhaps its greatest strength is for playing ultra twangy low notes. Brian Setzer uses a Dyna equipped Jet for his rendering of Spies in the Night (James Bond Theme) and the strength of its bass register. This guitar can be used for Surf music, Country music, early Rock and pretty much anything else. It should be pointed out that Cliff Gallup used a similarly equipped guitar when he accompanied Gene Vincent way back in the earliest days of Rock 'n' Roll.
I had never really seriously considered this model until I heard a few clips and tried one for myself. Now it's an essential part of my guitar collection.
