The Chetboard

I know that one of the things that Chet wanted from Gretsch over the years was a guitar with a solid center block. This was theoretically for more sustain. Gretsch never would do it (The Axe doesn't really count).

Anyway, at the 2013 Winter NAMM show, Gretsch has finally unveiled one. I don't really like the white color, or the cat, but the rest of the appointments look pretty good.

I wonder what Chet would have thought?

http://www.themusiczoo.com/blog/2013/gr ... 013content

Hard to say what he would have thought.

He wasn't a fan of the double cutaway but if it truly added sustain he certainly would have at least had a couple of samples in his basement storeroom.

It was good to be Chet. Lotsa free guitars

Haha. Yep, you are right on, Norm. MOMG would definitely be a few pages longer!

I do want to try one of these, though.

I think there trying to hit a rock and roll type player with these guitars.
Overdrive and loud amp stacks don't work with these kind of guitars.The feedback is a major issue.
Nice looking guitar though!
Mark

Nice looking guitar,reminds me a lot of a GIBSON country gent! Looks like Chet and Gibson were correct with the center block. Nice.

Chet was actually disappointed by the original Gibson CG. He had asked for a maple block and the resulting guitar was way too heavy to be comfortable for him so they ended up using compressed balsa for a center block. It'll be interesting to see how sales are in this item.

People are driven to buy guitars, not so much by how they sound as by which popular artist is playing a given model. The Les Paul as we know it was a moderate seller when Les was active with Gibson but it was phased out due to weight complaint until it got picked up by British blues and rock players. Chet's basic 6120 and single cut Gents did well but Harrison using a CG for a year or so caused a spike in sales. Brian Setzer's models sell fairly well but the new Gretsch model actual marketability will be interesting. Particularly if no iconic guitarist doesn't use one.

And "iconic guitarists", those who can influence sales, are getting rare.

Looks like Gretsch is taking on Gibson pretty well.

If they can keep their prices competitive and still have good customer service
they will win that battle.

Eddie

I had Gretsch pickups on a Gibson CG. They sound different but not like a Gretsch.
It has to do with the construction.

Gibson sounds and plays better!

Not in my experience. I have not seen one bad new Gretsch. The old ones even made in Brooklyn could be hit and miss.

In my humble or not so humble opinion Martin and Taylor are the two best factory guitar makers in the US. If Gibson got new leadership and better customer service they have a chance to join that.

I'll stack my 2008 CGP up against anything Gibson makes as far as workmanship and playability and for that matter sound.