The Gibson Les Paul and Fender Esquire/Telecaster and Stratocaster solidbodies, and the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow electrical, rightfully rank as a few of the most renowned guitars of the early days of rock ‘n’ roll. Another frequently ignored guitar that should have an area right next to them is the Gretsch 6120. Initially established by Gretsch as a signature guitar for Chet Atkins in 1954 (together with the chambered “strong” body 6121 Chet Atkins signature “roundup” design), the G6120 was more warmly accepted by rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll guitar players than the country music gamers Gretsch at first targeted. Atkins himself wasn’t too delighted with the 6120’s western-inspired decors and brilliant orange surface, and he played the design for just a short duration before Gretsch established his preferred Country Gentleman guitar. Rockers enjoyed the attention-getting orange radiance, which stayed on the design even after the western qualities vanished. Eddie Cochran was the most significant early rock ‘n’ roller to play a 6120, harming the minds of numerous impressionable youths when he carried out Twenty Flight Rock in the 1956 movie The Girl Can’t Help It. Duane Eddy’s 6120 later on specified the noise referred to as “twang” on a number of hit instrumentals throughout the late ’50s. Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body/ Nashville (Image credit: Future)The 6120 initially was geared up with a set of DeArmond single-coil pickups, however in late 1957 Gretsch switched the pickups for a set of its brand-new Filter’Tron humbuckers. For the majority of 6120 enthusiasts, the 1958-61 single-cutaway design is the supreme variation of the 6120 with its Filter’Tron humbuckers, ebony fretboard with Neoclassic/Thumbprint inlays, bar-style bridge, master/neck/bridge pickup volume knobs, three-way pickup selector switch and hardly ever utilized master tone switch. The 6120 continued to make rock history throughout the ’60s in the hands of gamers like Neil Young and Steve Miller. The mid-’60s double-cutaway 6120 design experienced extremely short however essential encounters with Eric Clapton (Yardbirds) and John Lennon (Paperback Writer sessions). In the ’70s, Randy Bachman utilized his 6120 to compose and tape-record with the Guess Who in addition to numerous BTO hits like Takin’ Care of Business, and Pete Townshend played a 1959 6120 offered to him by Joe Walsh to tape-record guitar tracks on the Who’s famous Who’s Next and Quadrophenia albums. The 6120 had actually ended up being a forgotten relic relegated to dirty pawn stores throughout the late ’70s, however when Brian Setzer struck the scene with the Stray Cats in the early ’80s, the design ended up being a contemporary rockabilly icon, later on embraced by gamers like the Cramps’ Poison Ivy, Reverend Horton Heat and Chris Cheney of the Living End. Setzer exclusively motivated the 6120’s resurrection in 1989, quickly after Fred Gretsch restored his household’s name business, and it might be argued that both Setzer and the 6120 conserved Gretsch from oblivion. Today Gretsch uses a wide range of 6120 designs, consisting of Chet Atkins and Brian Setzer signature designs in addition to basic Nashville designs. There’s even a signature design for Atkins acolyte Steve Wariner, which brings the 6120 cycle back to its c and w roots. Thanks to the design’s unbelievable adaptability that includes whatever from obscene rhythms to rich jazzy leads, today you’re as most likely to see a 6120 in the hands of acid rock and punk gamers as you are to hear one producing rockabilly, hillbilly jazz or a twangy important. Recommended rigsA Filter’Tron-equipped Gretsch 6120 and a Fender Bassman– either a late-Fifties 4×10 tweed design as utilized by Eddie Cochran or an early Sixties piggyback head/2×12 cabinet rig that’s Brian Setzer’s favored setup– is a match made in paradise. Include some tape-style or analog slapback echo (90-100ms) and you’re all set to rock. Or choose the throat and bang out some much heavier, raunchier tones with a plexi-style Marshall amp; simply keep an eye out for feedback. Thank you for checking out 5 short articles this month ** Join now for endless gain access to United States pricing $3.99 each month or $39.00 each year UK prices ₤ 2.99 monthly or ₤ 29.00 each year Europe prices EUR3.49 each month or EUR34.00 annually * Read 5 totally free short articles each month without a membership All the current guitar news, interviews, lessons, evaluations, offers and more, direct to your inbox!
How the Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins ended up being a rock ‘n’ roll icon, played by Pete Townshend, Randy Bachman and more– before delighting in a victorious 2nd act in the hands of Brian Setzer
