When Brian Setzer became a Gretsch signature endorser in the early 90s, he was already easily one of the best-known and loved Gretsch players around. In the years since, he’s practically become Mr. Gretsch, acting as a both a high-profile ambassador for the brand and a source for new ideas to expand the range.
His signature guitars have expanded from a single model, very loosely based on his beloved ‘59/‘60 examples, to a wide range, including the Hot Rods and Black Phoenix.
The Gretsch Custom Shop was hard at work building a replica of Brian Setzer’s classic ’59 Gretsch 6120––the guitar that Setzer used while rocketing to stardom with the Stray Cats.
The guitar, dubbed the Limited Edition Brian Setzer Tribute, is bearing the markings of a seriously worn-in Gretsch, including painstakingly recreated scratches, dings, worn down finish & hardware, and even some old stickers (note the oh so rock ‘n’ roll yellow skull & crossbones on the headstock.)
The Brian Setzer Tribute features a single cutaway hollowbody design, with trestle bracing, an ebony fretboard with 22 frets (and neo-classic thumbnail inlays,) a pair of TV Jones Classic pickups, authentic Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece (including “wear & tear” of course,) dual “dice” tone knobs, and a Relic Cowboy case.
Just 59 of the instruments have been produced, and the guitar will also ship with a DVD documentary featuring Brian Setzer.
This is number 50 of the Gretsch Custom Shop Limited Edition G6120SSC Brian Setzer Tribute Guitar Hollowbody Electric Guitar and features:
•Only 59 made
•Stephen Stern from the Gretsch/Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California is the artist behind these creations
•The guitars feature very specific attributes (electronic & cosmetic) that are related to the 1959 Gretsch 6120 that Brian used throughout his years with the Stray Cats
•Color: Vintage western maple stain
•Body style: Single cutaway
•Top: Arched laminated maple
•Bracing: 1959 trestle bracing
•Back and sides: Laminated maple, 16" wide, 2.75" deep
•Neck: Hard rock maple
•Scale length: 24.6"
•Fingerboard: Ebony, 9.45 radius
•Width at nut: 1-11/16"
•No. of frets: 22
•Fingerboard inlays: MOP neo-classic thumbnail
•Pickups: Two TV Jones Classic humbuckers
•Controls: 3-position toggle, Volume 1, Volume 2, and Master Volume
•Hardware: Distressed chrome/nickel/polished aluminum
•Bridge: Space-Control, fixed with double-sided carpet tape
•Tailpiece: Bigsby B6CB vibrato
•Tuning machines: Schaller
•Includes re-creations of classic Stray Cats backstage passes, a leather bejeweled guitar strap, a deluxe cowboy case, decals associated with the original guitar and an "OK Card" signed by Brian Setzer
