A Minimalist Archtop
Stripped Down and Ready to Rock
If you stop to think about it, the basic design of guitars has changed very little since the '50s. There have been refinements along the way but a player from 50 years ago could pick up the average electric guitar manufactured today and not be surprised by most of the features.
After the initial Brian Setzer 6120s had been produced there was a new model added that eliminated all but the essentials. The Brian Setzer Hot Rod is a 6120 with a 2.5" deep body, trestle bracing and a simplified control set. The only controls are the pickup selector and the master volume. There are some upgrades that it holds in common with the other Setzer models, namely locking tuners and optional TV Jones Classic pickups.
The surprise is in how versatile this guitar can be. On the bridge pickup alone it's pretty rowdy with clear highs and twangy lows. The neck pickup is bright but never harsh and both pickups together produces the clear but warm sound that is great for Rockabilly or the occasional Chet Atkins piece. Like most Gretsches I've played both pickups together is a great default setting for almost any situation.
Even though the TV Jones Classics are an upgrade over the stock Filtertron they are not so hot that they are incapable of a good, clean sound. The overall sensation I had was that of balance. The pickups are powerful and responsive but never overwhelming. They are definitely worth the cost in my opinion.
Colors Right Out of Rod & Custom Magazine
Most Gretsch guitars show at least some wood-grain but the Setzer Hot Rods all come with solid finishes that completely mask the grain of the wood. The colors are from the same palette that Hot Rodders have used for decades, Candy Apple Red, Tangerine, Lime Gold, Metallic Blue and even a Flat Black finish designed to match a Rat Rod painted in primer. The effect works well and the guitars are attractive without being too flashy. If you really want to stand out try the Green one, it's like no other guitar I've ever played.
Thin, But Not Too Thin
The 2.5" body depth is not unique to the Hot Rod line, some other 6120 models have this as well, but it is quite fitting on a Hot Rod guitar. This body depth is thin enough to look distinct from the average 16" archtop and if your mind is really into the Hot Rod theme you could think of it as being similar to a chopped top.
This, coupled with the trestle bracing all Setzer models use makes for a guitar with a fairly tight sound but not entirely void of acoustic resonance. The feedback resistance of these guitars is about as good as it gets for a hollow body. If you need more feedback resistance you will have to find a thin body with a solid center block or get a solid-body but for most uses this guitar will be more than up to the challenge.
