Gretsch PX 6128 Duo Jet Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1955), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 18058, black nitron, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original two-tone grey tolex hard shell case.
This lovely gleaming black Gretsch Duo Jet from late 1955 has features specific to this exact period. As Gretsch specifications were pretty much constantly evolving that is the story for most of their instruments! The Gretsch Jet series were introduced on the heels of Gibson's Les Paul in late 1953, officially described as solidbodies but are actually chambered semi-solids. A plywood top is mounted over the hollowed-out mahogany lower body, usually with some extra blocking installed but plenty of open space inside. This Duo Jet carries a black Nitron plastic-covered top on a natural-finished mahogany body, with a bound, pearloid block inlaid rosewood fingerboard on the mahogany neck.
The twin pickups are the DeArmond Dynasonic units that Gretsch used from the early 1950s; in 1958-9 they would be replaced by the company's new Filter 'Tron humbuckers. The sound on the DeArmond equipped Jets falls in between the typical '50s Gretsch hollowbody and a true solid guitar, with a lot of bite but more airy quality than a Les Paul. Other 1955-6 fittings include the early adjustable Melita bridge, a "G" logo trapeze tailpiece, silver back-painted clear Lucite pickguard and the earlier "arrow" chrome knobs. The hardware is chrome plated, giving the guitar a sort of badass automotive look.
The Duo Jet was a fairly popular guitar in the 1950's, one of Gretsch's success stories. The single best regarded user was Cliff Gallup in Gene Vincent's band but a number of early Rock'n'roll and "hillbilly" performers made use of this or other Jet variations: the red-and-black Jet Fire Bird and flashy Silver Jet with a Nitron sparkle top. Over the years the Jets have proved to be one of Gretsch's classic designs, and after being somewhat forgotten in the 1960s and '70s have returned to favor as one of the Brooklyn company's best regarded and most enduringly popular models.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a really superb example of this early-style Jet with all original finish and hardware, completely unaltered and in fine playing condition. Overall there is fairly minor wear to the finish, with no major loss. The lacquer shows some minor scratches and dings, and a decent size area of belt buckle scratching into but not through the finish on the back. The plastic top is less affected as one might expect and shows only very light marks except for one deeper impact mark above and behind the bridge.
This Duo Jet has no binding distress and the neck angle is excellent -- both often sore points on older Gretsch guitars. The binding is shrinking slightly in the lower waist but there is no celluloid deterioration. It also does not appear to have ever had or needed the neck to be reset, quite unusual on one of these. The frets are original with hardly any wear and still play well; several, of the pearloid fingerboard inlays have shrunken a bit but do not affect playability. It is fairly rare to find a 1950's Gretsch in this sort of playing condition without major surgery!
This beautiful Jet still resides in its original textured vinyl hardshell case with the Gretsch banner under the lid, and there is an old Gretsch branded strap in the pocket which is quite collectible in itself. This is as nice a mid '50s Duo Jet as we have had and is just a wicked cool guitar by any standard. Excellent Condition.
