What I like about your channel that other don’t quite do is the fact that you go straight to the point. Also other guitar channels seem to have forced humor that doesn’t quite fit, while you just stay relatively seriously while sti have fun. Keep up the great work!! Love the vids, you and samuraiguitarist are my favorite (both Canadians 🤔)
Sam Griffin He also has incredibly rich playing. Far too many guitar UA-camrs play high gain shredding. Nothing wrong with that - I like some Satriani style from time to time myself - but for sheer beauty shredding can’t compare to giving each note room to bloom.
So which Jet was your favourite? As a long time fan of the firebird, I've got to say that the CAR and gold Pro Jet is a BEAUTIFUL guitar! The Duo Jet is definitely a touch more understated in looks, but has a richer and more complex tone :) Guitars: PRO JET: imp.i114863.net/7PGr3 DUO JET: imp.i114863.net/rMzrG
I like the tilt on the neck where it meets the body. I've got a guitar with the same features. It allows a significant gap between the body and the strings (also you can see the side of the pickups sticking up) But it can still have a nice low action. It's pretty interesting.
I'm currently trying to decide between a 6128t 59 Vintage Select, 6131t Players Edition, and a 6118t SGR Players Edition Anniversary model. I really wish I could be happy with the Chinese model Pro Jet - but unfortunately I'm a registered cork sniffer and can't come around to thinking like a normal person.
I was quite pleasantly surprised by the pro jet. Yes, it is brighter, some might say thinner, but all in all it stood up very well to it’s big brother. I would love to see a comparison of the pro jet and an Epiphone les paul. Another awesome video Darrell, keep up the good work.
A set of TV Jones Classics and an upgraded wiring harness for the Pro Jet would transform that guitar into a huge tone monster for a fraction of the price of the Duo Jet. Both guitars sound great and are lovely instruments. Awesome video as usual!
TV Jones pickups are way overpriced & way overhyped pickups and he gets away with it because he basically has the monopoly on the after market filtertron market. I've had a set in my la cabronita for a few years and stupidly bought them for £250 a pair because I didn't know any better and there were hardly any other options at the time. Knowing what I know now, never again will I buy any more of his pickups. I found some other filtertron clones made by Roswell. They are almost identical specs, dc resistance & inductance are very close, and they're wound with the same gauge wire. The only discernable difference is that my TV Joneses have alnico 5 magnets and the Roswell FLT's have alnico 2 magnets. Even listening to them with different magnets, the Roswells are every bit as good as the Joneses and they sound very close tone-wise. So I've swapped my TV Jones Classics for the Roswells and they are up for sale now. The price of the Roswells? £29 for the bridge and £26 for the neck 😆 A quarter of the price of TV Joneses, it's madness.
Imo, the difference is like the difference between Epiphone and Gibson (sound and price wise, before theres any shots at either company) ones less expensive, one sounds a lil better, but end of the day, if you heard one and didnt know which it was, itd be hard to tell
Ashlynn Preston it’s true, I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special II with stock pickups and everything. I played a 1970’s Gibson a friend of mine had and yeah, there was a difference but the Epiphone wasn’t that far from the actual Gibson
@@cebrinpitts Umm.. No, just no. I do tone for a living and pay my NYC rent from it. You couldn't be more wrong, but I doubt you're working at at level where it matters. Come see me in five years when your ears have matured.
@@JeighNeither Actually, I spent the majority of my 20's, and 30's making a living off of it. Quite comfortably. If you can't get a good sound out of an Epiphone, the problem is not the guitar, it's the player. 80% of tone is in the hands.
Nice Work! If you have a Vox amp or two, try to pair both Gretsches up to them. Gretsch and Vox produces a unique clean sound as well as a nasty distortion sound. It’s pretty much your counter to Gibson and Marshall.
Great comparison! A couple of things to note... First off, the Pro Jet is now made with a mahogany body and maple cap, not basswood. I think they quit with basswood a few years ago in the newest iteration. Also, when talking about the tone controls, the lowest knob of the three is the master tone, not the center knob. Aside from that, great info! I think they both sound really good to my ears and it's as much a matter of preference and how much money you want to spend as it is anything else.
The electromatic guitars are all fantastic, tons of options and excellent build quality. Another great comparison with some beautiful guitars, keep it up Darrell!
Thank you DBG! No losers here. Both gits look and sound fantastic! While the Pro's brightness may be good to cut through a mix, I prefer the Duo's overall full dimensional tones - cheers!
Hey! I have that same backing track, "Joe Bonamassa Style backing track in G" - you started playing it and it was driving me crazy because I knew it but didn't know from where!!! BTW, I suck at lead guitar but I was kind of happy to see we started in the same area of the neck and our styles were similar, although you do a lot more bending than I do, something I want to learn how to do better. There's another one I really like I don't know who put it out but it's called "SLOW BLUES backing track in B" - The all caps is how the composer wrote it so it might help you find it, I love playing to that one.
I'm a little confused about the Pro Jet....are they still making it? Here in the UK I only see the G5230 T which seems to be the closest comparison but it has a mahogany body and neck with black walnut fingerboard. Which I assume is a better quality wood than the bass wood of the Pro Jet....The Duo jet referred to here is called the G6128 Pro players edition, again all very confusing and costs more than 4 times the price of the G5230
Nicely done, as usual, and it seemed a fair comparison. Not having played either one, they sound VERY similar - I noticed a tone difference only when both pickups were activated. That said, the solos (very nice) sounded almost identical. The Duo-Jet looks a little classier, but that might just be the black / chrome vs. the faux-gold / red on the Pro-Jet. It's a good red, but I loathe fake gold hardware. Even with the differences (neck joint, etc.), I could be happy with either one.
This is one of the consequences of the setting of the 3-way tone switch on the Pro-Series guitar. You never see Darrell use this switch, but the three settings choose between two treble-bleed capacitors or a clear, pass-thru circuit. The pass-thru setting would result in a much brighter tone for the Pro-Series guitar.
I played a pro jet China model in our band recently, very useable tones in the sonic landscapes between Strat and Les Paul. The nut slots needed work though so I avoided using the bigsby tremolo.
Makes me glad I sprung for the Duo Jet. Both sound great, but I really think the warmth and depth of the Duo Jet wins the day. Great playing, great vibes, great video!
The way the bridge strings, pickups and neck sit up so high on Japanese Gretsch was super surprising to me the first time I played them. Now I consider it one of the things that make it unique.
This video was very helpful. Accept for my starting on a Gretsch Corvette in high school ca '72, the Gretsch world has been a complete mystery for me. The Chinese Gretsch was really impressive. I'd rather have the ebony fret board Japanese guitar but the thousands ain't happening--especially after my recent purchase of a PRS S2 Studio--the Swiss Army knife of guitars. Great work as always Darrell.
The Duo Jet tone appeals to my preference. Gretsch guitars are brilliant! Love the new Made in Japan players edition models, especially the Broadkaster G6659TFM Jr. Gretsch has really knocked it out of the park with that model! Absolutely flawless from the tone variety to it's visual appreance.
I've been making a point to just listen blind to the side by side on these comparison videos and maybe if I was using headphones I'd notice but can't tell them apart with speakers and some real world ambient noise. Both sounded fantastic.
He uploads fantastic sound quality and I can’t really hear a difference with or without headphones. Does the duo sound $2k better? It may feel that way but doesn’t sound it.
Both are amazing, and the Pro Jet was definitely a big surprise. Shows how awesome some mid-range guitars can sound. Definitely wouldn't mind geting my hands on one of those!
I love blind tests and sound comparisons because they open our eyes (err, ears) to how good inexpensive instruments really sound compared to their expensive counterparts. The one thing they cannot tell the viewer is what the guitars feel like to play. That's the intangible that can only be derived in person, and it often justifies the price tag :)
Yes. Sometimes you can feel the difference in your hands. Plus there is the longevity quality as well. Many MIC guitars fall apart after a few years because of the cheap glue and materials. Not saying this is the case with MIC Gretsch, but an overall trend the guys at my local guitar shop talk about since they are the ones who repair them.
I got the Silver one not only did it make my LP standard seem like a lower range epiphone, it’s gorgeous and sings like a muse. Did I mention she was under $600
I love these vids. I'm not a guitar or gear nerd yet and im just getting into this stuff but you make learning a whole lot of fun. Thanks ks for makeing great videos
What a wonderful blessing to have these top notch Gretsches at any price point really. I never doubted if I got my money's worth with Gretsch. The factory setups, materials and quality control are outstanding. Such a relief.
Great comparison! Maybe my age is a factor but I always hear the highs better on the cheaper guitars. This time the highs were very bright on the Pro. I am with you though about the richer sound of the Duo Jet.
This guy has to be one of the best reviewers that I have seen in a very LONG time. Perfect comparison, using the same settings, which a lot of folks seem to miss, and his insight is concise and thorough. Well done mate, for providing such an excellent review. I actually own one of the G5435TG's in black, and I echo every sentiment that you proclaimed in your video. For the money, you will be hard pressed to find a more usable, well-built guitar, and it holds its' own against any higher end guitar, as you have seen in the excellent review above. Tonally, the blacktop filtertrons are a HUGE home run for Gretsch, and they would not be out of place in any of their higher end guitars. I love the articulation that you get from them, and, while they lack some of the fullness of the TV Jones pickups, they are comparable to pickups worth 3 times what they cost. Cheers Darrell, and thanks so much for your awesome work!!!
Darrell - I added a Tru-Arc serpentune compensated bar bridge to my G5435TG, and it made a huge difference with the sustain. It's a direct drop-in replacement for the tune-o-matic that is on it now, and is a very reasonably priced upgrade. If you look at all of the high end Gretsch guitars, they mostly all utilize a solid bar bridge, as part of their signature sound. Just thought I'd mention the option, in case it may be something that interests you. Also, from what I hear, those blacktop FilterTrons are an exact recreation of the Baldwin era filtertrons, that were used in the high end Gretsch guitars, after Baldwin bought the company. They are superbly voiced pickups, and a perfect accompaniment for the Electromatic line. Cheers!!
i have the G5434T-LTD Electromatic Pro Jet, it is a great guitar and i love it but, there are a couple of things that need to be said. The first is the break angle from the bridge to the break bar on the Bigsby, it is way too steep and leaves the strings pressing against the back of the bridge which causes problems with tuning after using the Bigsby, it will also wear grooves into the back of the bridge. Simple fix is to bypass the break bar ( you realy don't need it imho. now waiting for people to tell me i'm crazy ) The second is the pickups. I've heard a lot of people say the Blacktop Filtertrons have a weak sound. Simple fix, just raise them up as close to the strings as you can ( or desire )..... sounds great!
Ok, I'll take them. Seriously though, I love my Streamliner hollow body just as much as my Japan Players Duo Jet. The perfect factory setups and sweet frets are identical but the pots are more reactive on the Jet.
I've got an early (2010 I think) Electromatic Pro Jet that someone tricked out with TV Jones pickups and a proper Bigsby before selling it on. I think TV Jones Classics are my favourite pickups, so resonant and complex without ever getting muddy when you add gain.
I like both but I’d have to choose the Duo. Much more rounded and full tonal values. The Pro sounds very thin not nearly the depth. Nice brightness though. One suggestion for you Darrell if I may, when you talk about features you might mention the benefits of those features Great video. Thanks!
Darrell--I had to comment on your playing between 8:00 and 10:20--I was busy with other things and this stopped me in my tracks!! Wow-I listened to this area over and over again. Question --is it your composition? Have you any recordings similar that I can buy?
great video, I think the pro jet did a pretty good job considering the same duo jet beat a Gibson LP, in my opinion, in one of DB's other vids. That said, I have a 5655 center block ltd that is my first guitar at 51 Years old. I've been playing 3 months now and I'm really enjoying it. I'd love to see preview on the semi hollow center blocks from a master player like DB. The only problem I can identify is the strap connector screw keep coming out of the guitar body.
They both sound great, I thought. The both have the same sound, but sound like different ages: The Pro Jet sounds like a brash teenager, the Duo Jet a sophisticated mature adult.
I have to say, that the differences between the two up until the mix, was so subtle. But then I thought that the Pro one had a much crisper cleaner sound.
Wow. The pickup comparison produced some very interesting and, in parts, unexpected subjective preferences for me personally. Clean tone: I preferred the neck PU of the Pro and the bridge of the Duo. Bridge on the Pro was serious ice pickage on the top 3 strings. Blues tone: The bridge of the Duo had a more balanced, pleasing tone for me on this one. Again the Pro was a bit bright on top for this sound, but some EQ could remedy that. Mixed PU Clean: Here they kinda broke even for me. Neither were offensive and to me just offered different flavors variants but with a little EQ tweaking can be made to fit. Higher gain tone: The edginess of the Pro bridge paid dividends here imho, I prefer the crunchiness and string definition, the Duo was a bit dull and muddy for my taste. Solo: Neck PU went to to the Duo, bridge to the Pro (to be fair tho, the Duo bridge solo was at the end and short); The Duo's tone had more of a satin sheen, smooth and good sustain. What also surprised me that the fit and finish on the Pro looks much nicer with the binding meeting up at the neck joint and no towering block on top of the body. Is this possibly related to the tailpiece mounted on the Duo? Does it just have that much more "ground clearance" than the Bigsby? Would the neck fitting and height match the Pro had the Duo also been fitted with a Bigsby? That bridge with the rollers just looks really tall from here but that might just be how it looks on screen and I've not had one like that in my hands. Just a thought. I own a black G5439 Pro Jet with a LP style hard tail and my neck is set like the Pro you have there. The Pro Jets are really good value for money in my book, I've never regretted buying it and use it almost daily. Nice review/comparison duder! -Diem
You can't have that Surf Green Tele in plain view while I'm trying to pay attention to your video! All I keep thinking is..."I NEED a Surf Green Tele with a Bigsby"
@@adamski101 Oh no I'm going to offend, I decided to add a Chigsby-like B5 thingy to my Epiphone LP Special I P90 and see what it turns into ? I played one at GC the other day, was a Epi LP Special II with the humbucklers. It was actually quite an enjoyable experience. Obviously, I'm doing it to mine for the trem/vibrato feature, but the Epi I have is a very plain flat top slab in worn cherry and needs some bling appeal. Don't worry though I won't go GM and create fake F-holes like they do for the hood & fenders on a Buick.
Thanks for the comparison. But, if the 'Pro Jet' is the 'Electromatic Jet' g5230, note that it has a mahogany body, not basswood. If it were basswood, it would be much lighter than the Duo Jet. And, besides the mahogany body, they both have a maple top.
is the strat behind your head at 6:34 one of the new american performers? i may have missed it if youve already used it in a video but i grabbed one recently so it stood out
The TV Jones sound great on clean / crunchy sounds. but as you crank the gain the midrange of the filtertrons shine sounding more aggressive and closer to what I like to hear.
Interesting... thank you... I like the pickups in the Duo better (tend to not like the brightness too much), but I imagine a little tweaking of the tone knob on the Pro would do wonders...
Great review! Maybe I missed it, but any thoughts on the "very" different bridge designs? the Duo has the older style that can adjust the string width, but has no intonation, and the Pro is just the opposite. significant design differences not mentioned, but otherwise a great comparison of tonal differences.
Excellent way to do the back-to-back comparison. Too many other comparisons like this have too much talk in between but this made the two tones obvious & evident! Good work. And wow...I always loved Jets but now I'm thinking I want a Chinese-built Jet!
According t the above post, it was a year ago that I typed that! I'm just now awaiting delivery of my black Duo Jet Pro! I wanted to re-watch this video to get an idea what to expect and I'm sure I'll be delighted with it. I've picked it up for an obscenely low price, so even if I want to upgrade it, I'll still be way ahead!
So I have a gretsch 5220 coming within the week; it’s the new updated pro jet. They stopped making those pro jets. I’m either going to install tv classics or T-Armonds in it. It would be a really cool vid if you put tv classics in your pro jet; then compared the tone of your Pro jet and your Duo jet. That! Would be an amazing vid. You could do some proof on whether or not the woods play that much of a role in tone when using the exact same pickups in these two guitars. Another Great vid btw.
I looked it up on tv Jones and gretsch pro jets made after 2011 do not require routing out of the neck cavity. So some tv classics should drop right in your pro jet! Mine finally came in but it had some factory finish issues so I’m waiting now for a replacement. But I plan on changing the pups. But it would be cool to hear the difference between a duo jet and a pro jet with the tv classics installed.
I thought the pickups in the 5220 were really good not sure why you would want to change them out. The main thing I prefered about my G6128t 59 VS is the shape of the neck and the geometry of the body / neck / pickups making it a lot more comfortable for playing finger style. Given the different geometry I'm not sure you'd get the same sound as the Duo Jet by simply changing pickups - as pickup / string heights are going to be completely different.
@@wyattsdad8561 What amp are you using ? I played the 5220 through a Carr Rambler, Vox AC30HW, Super Reverb, and a 59 Bassman - they all sounded really good. The only thing I didn't like was the neck profile didn't suit me.
tdunster2011 oh I think the pickups are fine! I jus want it to be the Duo Jet that I will probably never own. 😁 Hey do you think the pups in the new 5220’s are the same as the old Gretschbuckers they put in the old 5120’s, but just put a different cover on them?
I just noticed you have Soli Deo GLoria! at the end of your description. Ever since I learned what that meant I have put it on everything I could. Props. SDG brother.
Thanks for the review and comparison. You say that the electromatic has a basswood body and rosewood fingerboard, but the Gretsch website says it’s a Mahogany body and walnut fingerboard. Have the specs changed? I have a 2018 model that I recently purchased used. Thanks.
@@mikewhitfield2994 I was going buy a Gibson ES 335. $3000 and no binding or block inlays or Broadtron pickups or tusk nut or special design interesting tail piece👎 My Streamliner has all that and imo sounds and looks better for alot less.
I just got a G5120. I was never a big Gretsch guy. Their necks were too thick and I associated them with a bygone era. However, I was very, very pleasantly surprised and have to reevaluate my original stance on Gretsch. The 5120's neck was just right, the pickups were very good and versatile, and the neck was just right for my hands. It's a great guitar and quite beautiful to look at too.
So, here's my question. When are you going to release an album of you playing blues like we hear on the channel? I'll be the first in line to buy. Hell, I'll buy a couple extra to give away as gifts.
They put a "hit" out on me, but that doesn't really count as reaching out! 😂😂😂 I'm sure, they didn't appreciate my honesty, but sometimes I'm just going to post videos on how I'm feeling, and I won't pull punches to spare the feelings of corporations :)
I have a Gretsch Duo Jet made in China, SN starts with CYG2010---- so probably made in Oct 2000. The position of the next at the top of the body is like the red Chinese model demoed by you but the back looks like varnished dark mahogany and the fretboard looks to be a lighter, inferior kind of rosewood or maybe another wood like meranti. I can't pick any other differences with the red Chinese model you demoed other than chrome hardware and sturdier looking machine heads. Is it possible that Chinese manufacture later reverted to using mahogany on the back of their later models? Thanks.
The Duo Jet is not 'full' mahogany, it's heavily chambered body, basically hollow inside. Also are you sure it's TV Jones? Unless you upgraded the pickups, it's a regular Gretsch filtertrons, or supposed to be anyway. I had that same Duo Jet model, very cool! Thanks for the video!.
I like the control layout on the Pro Jet and the color, I like the ebony fretboard on the Duo Jet and sound of the pickups seem a bit richer. Nice comparison thanks!
I know it's subjective but I really preferred the warmth of the Duo-Jet pickups on the clean stuff. The Pro-Jet was great for the crunchy stuff. For the higher gain, I liked both but give the edge to the Duo.
I thought they both had interesting tone qualities as well as they both shared qualities. I would have to vote for the Pro Jet (sounded a hair more twangy and had that clean country tone and plus im a sucker for red and gold, lol
Nice Vid Derrell! I have a Black Pro Jet from about 4 or 5 yes ago and I just love it! I perform Blues and Classic Rock and it sound Killer! Have a Great Day!!
Nice video. Difficult to compare without putting your hands on them. My biggest concern would be the quality of the hardware. A lot of Chinese guitars builds cheap out on metals and polymers. If Gretsch is controlling the quality of the components, and the quality of the factory, the basic construction should be just fine, while the playability and sound have more to do with good setup. I would be more curious to compare the 5435 and 5230, basswood vs mahogany.
I like how bright the Pro is but I have never really played a guitar with a trem or floating bridge before. Tried a PRS vintage a few weeks ago and I just couldn’t play it well. Is the pro with that type of trem different than a floating?
Thanks for the quick response. The hardest thing I had with the floating trem is palm muting. It’s hard to get used to because too hard and it changes the pitch. Messed me up when I first played one, thought the guitar just wouldn’t stay in tune
I find the Pro to be overly bright while the Duo is more refined and smooth. I'm not a fan of fingerboards high off the body. In fact, I hate them. It messes with my picking. I own a couple Gretches, a White Falcon Professional Series and a Penguin Special Edition. Both play and sound really good and I absolutely love them. I can't recall if the fingerboard is high on either of those, but it's gonna bug me now until I get home to look! I just can't see buying a Gretsch without a Bigsby, it just seems wrong. For the 'in the mix' section, the tone you had on the Duo was just drippingly sweet. The amp, the guitar... they just worked so well for a very magical tone. And it doesn't help that the guy playing has a really good emotive feel for expressive playing, either.
Hey Darrell, I have a gold top G5435T. Really wish I hadn't gotten the T model with the Bigsby. Would have probably gotten much more use out of it than I do. In fact I rarely ever play it at all. Always liked the look of a Bigsby, something about the old school classic looks. So this model has a chambered mahogany body. Not weight relief, actual chambered like a semi hollow LP, Maple cap, mahogany neck. Rosewood fretboard (which is why I'm either selling it or stripping the parts off it before I come back to the US, CITES ll) and the bump top block inlays with the Filtertron pups. I absolutely love the sound and clarity of a Filtertron. Much more even than the PAF's. It's a personal thing, and a hearing problem thing. They are brighter than a PAF. I want to stick one in the neck position of a Tele. Next project ;) But personally on these two guitars of yours, Duo Jet all the way. The Pro jet is a great guitar. It really is. But when in the mix with a bit of drive on it, the bridge kind of disappeared. I was surprised. Anyway, take care buddy, Bob in Germany (Pretty soon it's going to be Bob in Nevada....)
What I like about your channel that other don’t quite do is the fact that you go straight to the point. Also other guitar channels seem to have forced humor that doesn’t quite fit, while you just stay relatively seriously while sti have fun.
Keep up the great work!! Love the vids, you and samuraiguitarist are my favorite (both Canadians 🤔)
Sam Griffin He also has incredibly rich playing. Far too many guitar UA-camrs play high gain shredding. Nothing wrong with that - I like some Satriani style from time to time myself - but for sheer beauty shredding can’t compare to giving each note room to bloom.
Superb guy! One of the only guitar gurus on UA-cam that I trust! His voice is uncannily similar to the actor in 3 and a half men!
Your solos for the comparison spoke to my heart. Thanks for sharing your love for music!
So which Jet was your favourite?
As a long time fan of the firebird, I've got to say that the CAR and gold Pro Jet is a BEAUTIFUL guitar!
The Duo Jet is definitely a touch more understated in looks, but has a richer and more complex tone :)
Guitars:
PRO JET: imp.i114863.net/7PGr3
DUO JET: imp.i114863.net/rMzrG
Darrell Braun Guitar I like the duo
I like the tilt on the neck where it meets the body. I've got a guitar with the same features. It allows a significant gap between the body and the strings (also you can see the side of the pickups sticking up) But it can still have a nice low action. It's pretty interesting.
Was hoping the pro would hold its own but the duo has it. By a good bit.
I'm currently trying to decide between a 6128t 59 Vintage Select, 6131t Players Edition, and a 6118t SGR Players Edition Anniversary model. I really wish I could be happy with the Chinese model Pro Jet - but unfortunately I'm a registered cork sniffer and can't come around to thinking like a normal person.
I was quite pleasantly surprised by the pro jet. Yes, it is brighter, some might say thinner, but all in all it stood up very well to it’s big brother. I would love to see a comparison of the pro jet and an Epiphone les paul. Another awesome video Darrell, keep up the good work.
A set of TV Jones Classics and an upgraded wiring harness for the Pro Jet would transform that guitar into a huge tone monster for a fraction of the price of the Duo Jet. Both guitars sound great and are lovely instruments. Awesome video as usual!
TV Jones pickups are way overpriced & way overhyped pickups and he gets away with it because he basically has the monopoly on the after market filtertron market.
I've had a set in my la cabronita for a few years and stupidly bought them for £250 a pair because I didn't know any better and there were hardly any other options at the time.
Knowing what I know now, never again will I buy any more of his pickups.
I found some other filtertron clones made by Roswell. They are almost identical specs, dc resistance & inductance are very close, and they're wound with the same gauge wire.
The only discernable difference is that my TV Joneses have alnico 5 magnets and the Roswell FLT's have alnico 2 magnets. Even listening to them with different magnets, the Roswells are every bit as good as the Joneses and they sound very close tone-wise. So I've swapped my TV Jones Classics for the Roswells and they are up for sale now.
The price of the Roswells? £29 for the bridge and £26 for the neck 😆
A quarter of the price of TV Joneses, it's madness.
Did you buy a wiring harness or make it?
I buy my wiring harnesses from 920D Custom Shop. They’re well built, use top notch parts and reasonably priced.
Nah,it's not necessary for all that hassle making mids,the guitar is already great as how it is.
@@JammyGit
your pots are what 500 ? jump them to a 1000 what will that do ?
Imo, the difference is like the difference between Epiphone and Gibson (sound and price wise, before theres any shots at either company) ones less expensive, one sounds a lil better, but end of the day, if you heard one and didnt know which it was, itd be hard to tell
Ashlynn Preston it’s true, I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special II with stock pickups and everything. I played a 1970’s Gibson a friend of mine had and yeah, there was a difference but the Epiphone wasn’t that far from the actual Gibson
Not to mention if one is "brighter" that it can simply be EQed out 🤷♂️
Uh no. Pro players and industry jockey's can easily spot the cheap tone of the "Pro".
@@cebrinpitts Umm.. No, just no. I do tone for a living and pay my NYC rent from it. You couldn't be more wrong, but I doubt you're working at at level where it matters. Come see me in five years when your ears have matured.
@@JeighNeither Actually, I spent the majority of my 20's, and 30's making a living off of it. Quite comfortably. If you can't get a good sound out of an Epiphone, the problem is not the guitar, it's the player. 80% of tone is in the hands.
Much warmer, smoother tone with the Duo than the Pro.. Amazing how different the tone characteristics are.. Go Darrel!!!
Nice Work!
If you have a Vox amp or two, try to pair both Gretsches up to them. Gretsch and Vox produces a unique clean sound as well as a nasty distortion sound. It’s pretty much your counter to Gibson and Marshall.
Great comparison! A couple of things to note... First off, the Pro Jet is now made with a mahogany body and maple cap, not basswood. I think they quit with basswood a few years ago in the newest iteration. Also, when talking about the tone controls, the lowest knob of the three is the master tone, not the center knob. Aside from that, great info! I think they both sound really good to my ears and it's as much a matter of preference and how much money you want to spend as it is anything else.
Yes..mine is mahogany.
Duo Jet sounds better
The electromatic guitars are all fantastic, tons of options and excellent build quality. Another great comparison with some beautiful guitars, keep it up Darrell!
I’m really impressed how well the Pro stacked up against the Duo. Great vid, man.
OH MEN I WAS DYING TO SEE THIS VIDEO! LOVE U SO MUCH 😭👌🏼🙌🏼
😁🤘
Me too!! Thanks a lot Darrell!!
I was so in awe of your playing, I totally forgot you were doing a side by side review. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words Chris!
Thanks for the kind words Chris!
Finally!! The shoot out I’ve been waiting for!
Thank you DBG! No losers here. Both gits look and sound fantastic! While the Pro's brightness may be good to cut through a mix, I prefer the Duo's overall full dimensional tones - cheers!
Oh boi!!! 3 videos in one week. My man darrell is on fire
Hey! I have that same backing track, "Joe Bonamassa Style backing track in G" - you started playing it and it was driving me crazy because I knew it but didn't know from where!!! BTW, I suck at lead guitar but I was kind of happy to see we started in the same area of the neck and our styles were similar, although you do a lot more bending than I do, something I want to learn how to do better.
There's another one I really like I don't know who put it out but it's called "SLOW BLUES backing track in B" - The all caps is how the composer wrote it so it might help you find it, I love playing to that one.
I'm a little confused about the Pro Jet....are they still making it? Here in the UK I only see the G5230 T which seems to be the closest comparison but it has a mahogany body and neck with black walnut fingerboard. Which I assume is a better quality wood than the bass wood of the Pro Jet....The Duo jet referred to here is called the G6128 Pro players edition, again all very confusing and costs more than 4 times the price of the G5230
THANK YOU. I've been looking heavily into the Duo Jet, so I needed this.
Nicely done, as usual, and it seemed a fair comparison. Not having played either one, they sound VERY similar - I noticed a tone difference only when both pickups were activated. That said, the solos (very nice) sounded almost identical. The Duo-Jet looks a little classier, but that might just be the black / chrome vs. the faux-gold / red on the Pro-Jet. It's a good red, but I loathe fake gold hardware. Even with the differences (neck joint, etc.), I could be happy with either one.
Agree, 100%...... fake gold makes anything look cheesie. (IMO.....)
@@glenngardin3561 Eh, sometimes it looks good. Manufacturers do go overboard on it tho
I like the slightly brighter tone of the Pro Jet.
This is one of the consequences of the setting of the 3-way tone switch on the Pro-Series guitar. You never see Darrell use this switch, but the three settings choose between two treble-bleed capacitors or a clear, pass-thru circuit. The pass-thru setting would result in a much brighter tone for the Pro-Series guitar.
I don't know if the Pro Jet was brighter but it sounded much cleaner and well defined in the solo.
I like the Pro Jet.
I played a pro jet China model in our band recently, very useable tones in the sonic landscapes between Strat and Les Paul. The nut slots needed work though so I avoided using the bigsby tremolo.
I don't
So many people just don't have good ears. There is a serious difference in tone, and you're not hearing brightness, you're hearing cheapness.
Makes me glad I sprung for the Duo Jet. Both sound great, but I really think the warmth and depth of the Duo Jet wins the day. Great playing, great vibes, great video!
Gretsch makes some absolute eye candy! They are some beautiful guitars!
What are the model numbers....if you please.
Thank you.
🎸🎸🎸🎸
The way the bridge strings, pickups and neck sit up so high on Japanese Gretsch was super surprising to me the first time I played them. Now I consider it one of the things that make it unique.
Great comparison! I especially enjoyed your excellent Solos! Very beautifully done! Thank you Darrell!
Interesting comparison Darrell! I have been eyeballing a Pro Jet for awhile. I will need to take a closer look.
This video was very helpful. Accept for my starting on a Gretsch Corvette in high school ca '72, the Gretsch world has been a complete mystery for me. The Chinese Gretsch was really impressive. I'd rather have the ebony fret board Japanese guitar but the thousands ain't happening--especially after my recent purchase of a PRS S2 Studio--the Swiss Army knife of guitars. Great work as always Darrell.
Always really great videos Darrell. Thank you bonny lad
The Duo Jet tone appeals to my preference. Gretsch guitars are brilliant! Love the new Made in Japan players edition models, especially the Broadkaster G6659TFM Jr. Gretsch has really knocked it out of the park with that model! Absolutely flawless from the tone variety to it's visual appreance.
I've been making a point to just listen blind to the side by side on these comparison videos and maybe if I was using headphones I'd notice but can't tell them apart with speakers and some real world ambient noise. Both sounded fantastic.
He uploads fantastic sound quality and I can’t really hear a difference with or without headphones. Does the duo sound $2k better? It may feel that way but doesn’t sound it.
Really enjoyed this, you have a really nice natural way of getting the information over and your playing is beautiful. :)
Thanks for the kind words Rob!
Ever do vintage? Wonder what you would make of a microfrets guitar? Love the Japanese Gretsch - fuller, wider spectrum of sound.
Both are amazing, and the Pro Jet was definitely a big surprise. Shows how awesome some mid-range guitars can sound. Definitely wouldn't mind geting my hands on one of those!
Another excellent review Darrel...thank you so much!! Have a wonderful safe and prosperous 2020
I love blind tests and sound comparisons because they open our eyes (err, ears) to how good inexpensive instruments really sound compared to their expensive counterparts. The one thing they cannot tell the viewer is what the guitars feel like to play. That's the intangible that can only be derived in person, and it often justifies the price tag :)
Yes. Sometimes you can feel the difference in your hands. Plus there is the longevity quality as well. Many MIC guitars fall apart after a few years because of the cheap glue and materials. Not saying this is the case with MIC Gretsch, but an overall trend the guys at my local guitar shop talk about since they are the ones who repair them.
U need to get ahold of the newer Gretsch electromatic Jet Club. They're affordable and still feature gretsch pickups and chambered body.
Yeah, the prices are very reasonable 👍
@@DarrellBraunGuitar I got one on order from GC.
I got the Silver one not only did it make my LP standard seem like a lower range epiphone, it’s gorgeous and sings like a muse. Did I mention she was under $600
Congratulations!
I love these vids. I'm not a guitar or gear nerd yet and im just getting into this stuff but you make learning a whole lot of fun. Thanks ks for makeing great videos
What a wonderful blessing to have these top notch Gretsches at any price point really. I never doubted if I got my money's worth with Gretsch. The factory setups, materials and quality control are outstanding. Such a relief.
Great comparison, I have the older G5435T Pro Jet and it is a piece of art. Low action, tuners hold great and so joyful to play.
They both sounded great !!! Darrell you play really precise and on tempo !!! I love the looks of the ProJet red and gold looks amazing!!!!
Darrell, I hope YOU are having an excellent day. nice job with the single cut Gretsch coomparison. Any plans to do a Duesenberg?
Thanks!
Yes, I just need to get my hands on one!!
Yeah the Duesenberg would be great. I always wondered what the neck feels like on those.
@@DarrellBraunGuitar a paloma if you can
Want to borrow my StarPlayer TV?
@@DarrellBraunGuitar Say no more I can send you 3 of my Doozy if you like
I completely agree that the TV Jones are a better pickup, but man do those blacktop filtertrons sound good!
Great comparison! Maybe my age is a factor but I always hear the highs better on the cheaper guitars. This time the highs were very bright on the Pro. I am with you though about the richer sound of the Duo Jet.
This guy has to be one of the best reviewers that I have seen in a very LONG time. Perfect comparison, using the same settings, which a lot of folks seem to miss, and his insight is concise and thorough. Well done mate, for providing such an excellent review. I actually own one of the G5435TG's in black, and I echo every sentiment that you proclaimed in your video. For the money, you will be hard pressed to find a more usable, well-built guitar, and it holds its' own against any higher end guitar, as you have seen in the excellent review above. Tonally, the blacktop filtertrons are a HUGE home run for Gretsch, and they would not be out of place in any of their higher end guitars. I love the articulation that you get from them, and, while they lack some of the fullness of the TV Jones pickups, they are comparable to pickups worth 3 times what they cost. Cheers Darrell, and thanks so much for your awesome work!!!
Darrell - I added a Tru-Arc serpentune compensated bar bridge to my G5435TG, and it made a huge difference with the sustain. It's a direct drop-in replacement for the tune-o-matic that is on it now, and is a very reasonably priced upgrade. If you look at all of the high end Gretsch guitars, they mostly all utilize a solid bar bridge, as part of their signature sound. Just thought I'd mention the option, in case it may be something that interests you. Also, from what I hear, those blacktop FilterTrons are an exact recreation of the Baldwin era filtertrons, that were used in the high end Gretsch guitars, after Baldwin bought the company. They are superbly voiced pickups, and a perfect accompaniment for the Electromatic line. Cheers!!
i have the G5434T-LTD Electromatic Pro Jet, it is a great guitar and i love it but, there are a couple of things that need to be said. The first is the break angle from the bridge to the break bar on the Bigsby, it is way too steep and leaves the strings pressing against the back of the bridge which causes problems with tuning after using the Bigsby, it will also wear grooves into the back of the bridge. Simple fix is to bypass the break bar ( you realy don't need it imho. now waiting for people to tell me i'm crazy ) The second is the pickups. I've heard a lot of people say the Blacktop Filtertrons have a weak sound. Simple fix, just raise them up as close to the strings as you can ( or desire )..... sounds great!
streamliner vs electromatic vs duo jet?
Christopher Suarez electromatic, sir. Streamliner is... Fine
Ok, I'll take them. Seriously though, I love my Streamliner hollow body just as much as my Japan Players Duo Jet. The perfect factory setups and sweet frets are identical but the pots are more reactive on the Jet.
I've got an early (2010 I think) Electromatic Pro Jet that someone tricked out with TV Jones pickups and a proper Bigsby before selling it on. I think TV Jones Classics are my favourite pickups, so resonant and complex without ever getting muddy when you add gain.
I like your videos. You made me realize that I only need an affordable nice guitar not an expensive guitar for home use. THANKS DARRELL!!
I like both but I’d have to choose the Duo. Much more rounded and full tonal values. The Pro sounds very thin not nearly the depth. Nice brightness though. One suggestion for you Darrell if I may, when you talk about features you might mention the benefits of those features Great video. Thanks!
Darrell--I had to comment on your playing between 8:00 and 10:20--I was busy with other things and this stopped me in my tracks!! Wow-I listened to this area over and over again. Question --is it your composition? Have you any recordings similar that I can buy?
Thanks!
It's just me jamming over a backing track :)
I just have an acoustic album out at the moment, but I'd like to do an electric one soon too :)
great video, I think the pro jet did a pretty good job considering the same duo jet beat a Gibson LP, in my opinion, in one of DB's other vids. That said, I have a 5655 center block ltd that is my first guitar at 51 Years old. I've been playing 3 months now and I'm really enjoying it. I'd love to see preview on the semi hollow center blocks from a master player like DB. The only problem I can identify is the strap connector screw keep coming out of the guitar body.
Great work! This was really helpful. Thanks for taking the time.
They both sound great, I thought. The both have the same sound, but sound like different ages: The Pro Jet sounds like a brash teenager, the Duo Jet a sophisticated mature adult.
Awesome video man this is great. I’m making the decision between the two today and this really helped!
Great comparison Darrell! I like them both!
Really enjoyed the part where you had both guitars in a mix along side each other :)
I have to say, that the differences between the two up until the mix, was so subtle. But then I thought that the Pro one had a much crisper cleaner sound.
Wow. The pickup comparison produced some very interesting and, in parts, unexpected subjective preferences for me personally.
Clean tone: I preferred the neck PU of the Pro and the bridge of the Duo. Bridge on the Pro was serious ice pickage on the top 3 strings.
Blues tone: The bridge of the Duo had a more balanced, pleasing tone for me on this one. Again the Pro was a bit bright on top for this sound, but some EQ could remedy that.
Mixed PU Clean: Here they kinda broke even for me. Neither were offensive and to me just offered different flavors variants but with a little EQ tweaking can be made to fit.
Higher gain tone: The edginess of the Pro bridge paid dividends here imho, I prefer the crunchiness and string definition, the Duo was a bit dull and muddy for my taste.
Solo: Neck PU went to to the Duo, bridge to the Pro (to be fair tho, the Duo bridge solo was at the end and short); The Duo's tone had more of a satin sheen, smooth and good sustain.
What also surprised me that the fit and finish on the Pro looks much nicer with the binding meeting up at the neck joint and no towering block on top of the body. Is this possibly related to the tailpiece mounted on the Duo? Does it just have that much more "ground clearance" than the Bigsby? Would the neck fitting and height match the Pro had the Duo also been fitted with a Bigsby? That bridge with the rollers just looks really tall from here but that might just be how it looks on screen and I've not had one like that in my hands. Just a thought. I own a black G5439 Pro Jet with a LP style hard tail and my neck is set like the Pro you have there. The Pro Jets are really good value for money in my book, I've never regretted buying it and use it almost daily.
Nice review/comparison duder!
-Diem
Another brilliant video yet again. enjoyed, big fan of the Gretch line of guitars
I like the black one for the fuller sound when playing clean at the nut, but I really thought the red one had a better sound soloing in the end.
You can't have that Surf Green Tele in plain view while I'm trying to pay attention to your video! All I keep thinking is..."I NEED a Surf Green Tele with a Bigsby"
Yes!!!
Dude i was honestly thinking the same thing. That thing is absolutely perfect.
It’s true!
Ugh. Nobody needs a Thinline Tele with a Bigsby. File under 'Les Pauls with trems' and other guitar offences.
@@adamski101 Oh no I'm going to offend, I decided to add a Chigsby-like B5 thingy to my Epiphone LP Special I P90 and see what it turns into ? I played one at GC the other day, was a Epi LP Special II with the humbucklers. It was actually quite an enjoyable experience. Obviously, I'm doing it to mine for the trem/vibrato feature, but the Epi I have is a very plain flat top slab in worn cherry and needs some bling appeal. Don't worry though I won't go GM and create fake F-holes like they do for the hood & fenders on a Buick.
I have this Gretsch
Gretsch Guitars FSR Two-Tone Electromatic Pro Jet with Bigsby Electric Guitar Candy Apple Red and White G534TG. Love it!
Thanks for the comparison. But, if the 'Pro Jet' is the 'Electromatic Jet' g5230, note that it has a mahogany body, not basswood. If it were basswood, it would be much lighter than the Duo Jet. And, besides the mahogany body, they both have a maple top.
is the strat behind your head at 6:34 one of the new american performers? i may have missed it if youve already used it in a video but i grabbed one recently so it stood out
Hi!
Congrats on your new guitar :)
It is an American Professional
The TV Jones sound great on clean / crunchy sounds. but as you crank the gain the midrange of the filtertrons shine sounding more aggressive and closer to what I like to hear.
Both had a great sound. I'm impressed with the filtertrons, too.
Interesting... thank you... I like the pickups in the Duo better (tend to not like the brightness too much), but I imagine a little tweaking of the tone knob on the Pro would do wonders...
Great review! Maybe I missed it, but any thoughts on the "very" different bridge designs? the Duo has the older style that can adjust the string width, but has no intonation, and the Pro is just the opposite. significant design differences not mentioned, but otherwise a great comparison of tonal differences.
Excellent way to do the back-to-back comparison. Too many other comparisons like this have too much talk in between but this made the two tones obvious & evident! Good work. And wow...I always loved Jets but now I'm thinking I want a Chinese-built Jet!
According t the above post, it was a year ago that I typed that! I'm just now awaiting delivery of my black Duo Jet Pro! I wanted to re-watch this video to get an idea what to expect and I'm sure I'll be delighted with it. I've picked it up for an obscenely low price, so even if I want to upgrade it, I'll still be way ahead!
Nice playing Darrell! I really liked your solos!
Thanks!
So I have a gretsch 5220 coming within the week; it’s the new updated pro jet.
They stopped making those pro jets.
I’m either going to install tv classics or T-Armonds in it. It would be a really cool vid if you put tv classics in your pro jet; then compared the tone of your Pro jet and your Duo jet. That! Would be an amazing vid. You could do some proof on whether or not the woods play that much of a role in tone when using the exact same pickups in these two guitars.
Another Great vid btw.
I looked it up on tv Jones and gretsch pro jets made after 2011 do not require routing out of the neck cavity. So some tv classics should drop right in your pro jet! Mine finally came in but it had some factory finish issues so I’m waiting now for a replacement. But I plan on changing the pups. But it would be cool to hear the difference between a duo jet and a pro jet with the tv classics installed.
I thought the pickups in the 5220 were really good not sure why you would want to change them out. The main thing I prefered about my G6128t 59 VS is the shape of the neck and the geometry of the body / neck / pickups making it a lot more comfortable for playing finger style. Given the different geometry I'm not sure you'd get the same sound as the Duo Jet by simply changing pickups - as pickup / string heights are going to be completely different.
tdunster2011 yeah I get it, but I still think it “could” be close! 😃 man I’d really love to have a duo jet tho.
@@wyattsdad8561 What amp are you using ? I played the 5220 through a Carr Rambler, Vox AC30HW, Super Reverb, and a 59 Bassman - they all sounded really good. The only thing I didn't like was the neck profile didn't suit me.
tdunster2011 oh I think the pickups are fine! I jus want it to be the Duo Jet that I will probably never own. 😁
Hey do you think the pups in the new 5220’s are the same as the old Gretschbuckers they put in the old 5120’s, but just put a different cover on them?
I just noticed you have Soli Deo GLoria! at the end of your description. Ever since I learned what that meant I have put it on everything I could. Props. SDG brother.
I never notice that before.
Thats cool.
Omg I’m so excited about this vid! I just started it
Nice comparison! I've got the gold Pro Jet and I like it a lot. Pickups sound a bit brighter and tinnier than the Duo though.
Thanks for the review and comparison. You say that the electromatic has a basswood body and rosewood fingerboard, but the Gretsch website says it’s a Mahogany body and walnut fingerboard. Have the specs changed? I have a 2018 model that I recently purchased used. Thanks.
Gretsch guitars are killer instruments! I have an affordable Streamliner G2622, plays freaking amazing. As good as my Gibbo LP :)
I can confirm that also my friend
Adam Connor I’ve got the same, absolutely love it.
@@mikewhitfield2994 I was going buy a Gibson ES 335. $3000 and no binding or block inlays or Broadtron pickups or tusk nut or special design interesting tail piece👎 My Streamliner has all that and imo sounds and looks better for alot less.
I just got a G5120. I was never a big Gretsch guy. Their necks were too thick and I associated them with a bygone era. However, I was very, very pleasantly surprised and have to reevaluate my original stance on Gretsch. The 5120's neck was just right, the pickups were very good and versatile, and the neck was just right for my hands. It's a great guitar and quite beautiful to look at too.
Have you tried an Ormsby yet? If not, I'd love to see your opinions
2 great guitars indeed duo is in my near future forsure
So, here's my question. When are you going to release an album of you playing blues like we hear on the channel? I'll be the first in line to buy. Hell, I'll buy a couple extra to give away as gifts.
both guitars have distinguishable characteristics that sound amazing. by just listening, can't tell what's more expensive.
Great comparison and analysis. Thank you! It’s the Duo for me.
Hey Darrell I'm curious , did Gibson reach out to you after your " Done with Gibson " video ?
They put a "hit" out on me, but that doesn't really count as reaching out! 😂😂😂
I'm sure, they didn't appreciate my honesty, but sometimes I'm just going to post videos on how I'm feeling, and I won't pull punches to spare the feelings of corporations :)
I have a Gretsch Duo Jet made in China, SN starts with CYG2010---- so probably made in Oct 2000. The position of the next at the top of the body is like the red Chinese model demoed by you but the back looks like varnished dark mahogany and the fretboard looks to be a lighter, inferior kind of rosewood or maybe another wood like meranti. I can't pick any other differences with the red Chinese model you demoed other than chrome hardware and sturdier looking machine heads. Is it possible that Chinese manufacture later reverted to using mahogany on the back of their later models? Thanks.
I just ordered a G5210 from Sweetwater in Broadway Jade after playing it in a local guitar shop. Love it!
The Duo Jet is not 'full' mahogany, it's heavily chambered body, basically hollow inside. Also are you sure it's TV Jones? Unless you upgraded the pickups, it's a regular Gretsch filtertrons, or supposed to be anyway. I had that same Duo Jet model, very cool! Thanks for the video!.
Recently bought the electromatic G5655cbt and cant decide to upgrade to TV Jones. The black tops are kindof dull, but they're different than Jones
I like the control layout on the Pro Jet and the color, I like the ebony fretboard on the Duo Jet and sound of the pickups seem a bit richer. Nice comparison thanks!
Daryl, the Pro Jet I have has a Mahogany body and neck. I think that Gretsch has changed the specs on the Pro Jet.
I know it's subjective but I really preferred the warmth of the Duo-Jet pickups on the clean stuff. The Pro-Jet was great for the crunchy stuff. For the higher gain, I liked both but give the edge to the Duo.
I thought they both had interesting tone qualities as well as they both shared qualities. I would have to vote for the Pro Jet (sounded a hair more twangy and had that clean country tone and plus im a sucker for red and gold, lol
Nice Vid Derrell! I have a Black Pro Jet from about 4 or 5 yes ago and I just love it! I perform Blues and Classic Rock and it sound Killer! Have a Great Day!!
Nice video. Difficult to compare without putting your hands on them. My biggest concern would be the quality of the hardware. A lot of Chinese guitars builds cheap out on metals and polymers. If Gretsch is controlling the quality of the components, and the quality of the factory, the basic construction should be just fine, while the playability and sound have more to do with good setup. I would be more curious to compare the 5435 and 5230, basswood vs mahogany.
I like how bright the Pro is but I have never really played a guitar with a trem or floating bridge before. Tried a PRS vintage a few weeks ago and I just couldn’t play it well. Is the pro with that type of trem different than a floating?
Hi!
It's a floating trem, but feels quite a bit different than your standard 2 point or 6-screw system :)
Thanks for the quick response. The hardest thing I had with the floating trem is palm muting. It’s hard to get used to because too hard and it changes the pitch. Messed me up when I first played one, thought the guitar just wouldn’t stay in tune
Pre 1967 music: Duo Jet
Anything after Cream: Pro Jet
Agreed. It's really quite simple. Old school? Or new school? How about both?
Great vid, as always! My favourite: the DUO JET!!! 🤩⚡️🚀🎶But as mentioned, the Pro Jets still offer a lot of bang for the buck.
I find the Pro to be overly bright while the Duo is more refined and smooth. I'm not a fan of fingerboards high off the body. In fact, I hate them. It messes with my picking. I own a couple Gretches, a White Falcon Professional Series and a Penguin Special Edition. Both play and sound really good and I absolutely love them. I can't recall if the fingerboard is high on either of those, but it's gonna bug me now until I get home to look!
I just can't see buying a Gretsch without a Bigsby, it just seems wrong. For the 'in the mix' section, the tone you had on the Duo was just drippingly sweet. The amp, the guitar... they just worked so well for a very magical tone. And it doesn't help that the guy playing has a really good emotive feel for expressive playing, either.
Another, awesome video review and discussion!
I like the tone of the duo jet but that pro jet.....wow, gorgeous! Wow!
Hey Darrell, I have a gold top G5435T. Really wish I hadn't gotten the T model with the Bigsby. Would have probably gotten much more use out of it than I do. In fact I rarely ever play it at all. Always liked the look of a Bigsby, something about the old school classic looks. So this model has a chambered mahogany body. Not weight relief, actual chambered like a semi hollow LP, Maple cap, mahogany neck. Rosewood fretboard (which is why I'm either selling it or stripping the parts off it before I come back to the US, CITES ll) and the bump top block inlays with the Filtertron pups. I absolutely love the sound and clarity of a Filtertron. Much more even than the PAF's. It's a personal thing, and a hearing problem thing. They are brighter than a PAF. I want to stick one in the neck position of a Tele. Next project ;) But personally on these two guitars of yours, Duo Jet all the way. The Pro jet is a great guitar. It really is. But when in the mix with a bit of drive on it, the bridge kind of disappeared. I was surprised. Anyway, take care buddy, Bob in Germany (Pretty soon it's going to be Bob in Nevada....)