OK, we don’t have much to go on here, since Gretsch hasn’t yet posted the full specs on their new G6122-12 Country Classic Twelve String (it was just introduced at NAMM 2006,) but like most of Gretsch’s guitars it looks like a beauty.
What we do know is that it’s a 12-string version of the venerable Country Classic, a hollowbody guitar made popular by George Harrison – of Beatles fame – and while I’m not sure how popular psychedelic music is these days, this new Country Classic Twelve String is bound to be just that… a classic!
The Gretsch Country Classic Twelve String Is Expected To Feature (don’t hold me to this!)–
- Laminated Maple Top, Back & Sides
- Ebony Fretboard
- An Electrotone™ Body
- Adjusto-Matic™ Bridge
- Gretsch “G”-Cutout Tailpiece
- A Pair Of High Sensitive Filter’Tron™ Pickups
- 3-Way Pickup Switching
- Grover® Rotomatic® Tuners
- Gold Plated Hardware
As usual, Gretsch continues to innovate while managing to stick to their classic electric guitar roots.
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March 7th, 2006 at 10:54 am
Wow! That’s a beauty! I was never interested in getting a 12-string, but this one is something else. Gretsch guitar are cool.
March 7th, 2006 at 11:36 am
Yeah, when I was younger I always dreamed of owning a Rickenbacker 12-string (I was in a retro-’60s garage band for a while there,) but nowadays I would take one of these Country Classics over the Rickenbacker any day :)
The George Harrison model Country Classic is a realy beauty, too!
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:08 am
David Crosby played a guitar like this at one time, although I think it was a custom job. This is probably a pretty nice axe. It’s sure to have a sound all its own.
I’ve never been thrilled with Gretsch’s system of fixed tone settings via the two-switch set-up. One switch is for pickup selection (bridge, both, neck), and the other switches between various RC values, which basically accomplishes high-pass or low-pass filtering. In most applications, I rely on my preamp for tone control when I’m playing a Gretsch. It’s still a unique sound and feel.
There’s one thing about this Country Classic that’s really annoying, but it’s a failure that every other 12-string maker (except Rickenbacker) shares: the bridge is just plain stupid. I have never—count it…NEVER—played a twelve string that had perfect intonation all the way up the neck on the octave paired strings. The only way to get the octave pairs in tune is with a 12-saddle adjustable bridge. Last time I checked, it was available from Rickenbacker as an option (although I think it was standard on the McGuinn signature model, and maybe on some other signature models). But as far as I know, no other guitar manufacturer has an adjustable 12-saddle bridge. The only one I’ve ever found is the UltraTone bridge sold by Ed Roman Guitars in Las Vegas : EDIT: Dead Link Deleted
Still, I’d consider the Gretsch Country Classic as my next 12-string. With an UltraTone bridge and set up correctly, it’ll probably play like a dream.