The Troubled History of My First Gretsch! | 2020 Gretsch White Penguin G6134T-58 | Review + Demo

[@Trog]

🔴Reverb: reverb.com/item/34581262-gretsch-g6134-white-penguin-2007?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 💰New to Reverb? Get $10 on Me ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/earn10 ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/ 👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211

[@The_WaryWanderer]

Salivating. Those penguins and falcons are some of the most beautiful guitars ever made.

[@matthewb8229]

Must whole heartedly agree wtih you. Any Gretsch is just pure class.

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

They are gorgeous

[@reedburke7762]

Matthew B 9

[@johntchb]

Quality instrument for sure,a bit too blingy for my taste tho.

[@teerexness]

Gretsch has always enabled a certain playful flamboyance that can't be found in T, S or LP style guitars. Not for everybody, I guess. I love 'em.

[@Ruubinnn]

Please do more Gretsches. They sound amazing, look amazing and the headstock or neck will not have cracks! There are so many sounds in this guitar, I want one.

[@joeykelly5642]

I'm glad you're documenting Gretech guitars now - it seems like a more logical jump from Gibson than Fender. This is my favorite model, too! If you ever get the chance, the Gretsch Astro Jet model would be a really interesting first vintage Gretsch for the channel. Wacky shape, and some of them have built-in treble boost / fuzz circuits (stock from the factory!). Of course, CME snatched a ton of them up and fixed the price higher than it used to be, but you never know when one will show up.

[@shaunw9270]

Was chatting to a guy over here 🇬🇧 recently who owns an Astro Jet . I have always wanted one too !

[@terrycolletti8645]

I'm a Gibson guy for life but that Gretsch sounds better than anything that's ever been on this channel. By far......

[@fredericsrhetorics6114]

Nah, not really. The cleans were nice, but the guitar overall sounded as if it had close to no sustain and therefore somewhat dead. Also the overdrive tones were good standard, nothing more, nothing less.

[@ghairmichaud5765]

Again with the tuning issues…I recently bought this exact guitar and it stays in tune fine..a beast of a guitar!! Don’t let one person’s judgment of an instrument steer you away from what could be an awesome axe..

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

Trogly, big fan but how could you forget about one of the GREATEST ROCK GRETSCH Players, Malcom Young? His Duo Jet is much closer to the Penguin than Setzer playing a 6120. The TV Jones PUPs are extremely good, one of the best clean tones around. They do work very well via a good OD or Distortion and high gain amp (think AC/DC). Thanks and Congrats all at once for you first go with a Gretsch. Would really like to see a review on a Duo-Jet. Cheers!

[@wrenchhead4378]

Yes! Malcom’s duo jet!

[@Tele999zzz]

Malcom played a Falcon for a while...looked bigger than him

[@alanthompson3493]

He probably doesn't know who Malcolm Young is!.

[@tolvajakos]

@@alanthompson3493 why would he not know. just because he is not your average metal/rock guy always wearing black t-shirts.

[@Djarra]

@@Tele999zzz Malcolm's Falcon had it's neck smashed in transit. It was repaired by JayDee (who did a lot of work for the band) but it fell out of favour so he sold it, for a cheap price. Last time it sold it made over £50k

[@ricmel8008]

Honestly, I don't know if it was you doing the playing demo of the guitar, but this is one of the sweetest playing and tone i have heard on your channel.

[@Icantdrive55]

Loved the Stray Cats tribute in the playing demo. Put a smile on my face when I realized what it was you were playing.

[@maxwellpowell4306]

FINALLY!!! My love for Gretsch guitars and procrastinating practice have made there way to this Chanel. I LOVE gretsch's and Trogly is one of my favourite guitar demo-ers on KZbin.

[@shellw1506]

Finally a Gretsch review. Thank you. The tone switch is usually called a ‘mud switch’ by Gretsch users.

[@maxadkisson5270]

The body turning yellow and the headstock staying white is equivalent to leaving your phone on your chest while you tan

[@hkguitar1984]

Austin, the different sizes of the round saddle wheels of the space adjustable bridge are sized to match the neck radius, not for style/looks. Cool guitar and thank you so much for the review.

[@socialdef3]

Never liked them until recently, now I've a growing interest in these Gretsch even the low end models look kind of tasty. Great review as always!

[@BizarrePudding]

Neil Young owned and played a couple of white Falcons and his bandmate Stephen Stills still plays one... George Harrison played a bunch of Gretsch guitars...Duo Jet, Tennesseean and the one he used the most in his early Beatle days, the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman model...he came back to them throughout his lifetime 50s twang master Duane Eddy played a G6120 (with a Bigsby) if I'm not mistaken... early Rockabilly guitarists like Eddy Cochran played Gretsch guitars (which is why revivalists like Brian Setzer and Dave Edmunds used them)... Then there's punk guitarists like Billy Zoom and Poison Ivy who both played Gretschs... And most distressingly for Gibson fanboys like myself and Austin, it's widely accepted that it was Ray Butts at Gretsch, and not Seth Lover at Gibson, who created the first humbucker pickups as we know them Great guitars, great company, glad they're still around

[@EatAPeach72]

I am a gigantic "WHOer" and jist found out that Pete used a 6120 country gentleman Joe Walsh gave him to record Whos next and Quadrophenia ,you can see him playing it in his solo "white City" movie/video

[@gretschguild]

@@EatAPeach72 a 6120 and a country gentleman are 2 different models.

[@EatAPeach72]

@@gretschguild my bad it was the 6120 Chet Atkins endorsed hollow body,which makes me think "country gentleman " The 6122 is the "gentleman" There is a tennesean as well but is the 6120 called the "Nashville'" endorsed by chet Atkins?

[@gretschguild]

@@EatAPeach72 Nashville was put on the pickguard of the 6120, when chet atkins stopped endorsing gretsch. instead of his name.

[@ErickC]

Cool points for mentioning Billy Zoom.

[@thehound2161]

One must smile at the beauty.

[@johnhmaloney]

For a guitar that was never meant for distortion, it really came alive when you put some dirt on it. Ever position just sang.

[@saltpeter7429]

I agree 200%. He had me at the chunky riffing. These things are so cool looking, and now I know they sound good.

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Absolutely, most people when they think Gretsch they think bright shimmery cleans. But if you turn the gain up and roll off the highs they scream.

[@brantsky]

So nice to see a Gretsch on the channel, and the fact that it's a White Penguin makes it all the more special. You have to do a White Falcon at some point of course... ok, you don't *have* to, but I'd love to see you review on regardless.

[@ricmel8008]

Been waiting on this one. This is going to be good. I am already feeling this episode. Every-time I hear the name of this guitar, Danny DeVito comes to mind.

[@adampeters1241]

One of my favorite videos of yours in a while! Cool to see something different. I’m loving this guitar.

[@keithfaust8925]

I’ve put TV Jones pickups in 3 of my guitars. I love ‘em.

[@craig.encinitas]

I’d like a project guitar to do that with. TV Jones everything!

[@franciscandie8570]

You could totally use an endoscope to see the chambering in some guitars!

[@dommadonia5862]

I use a borescope i got from snap-on, high def video handheld.

[@grayaj23]

Um . . . just make sure you clean it real good first.

[@gunsofsteele]

My wife gave me a G5445T last Christmas. It's really well made, looks amazing ( black)! Neck is straight and smooth, fret ends are smooth, & sounds Amazing!

[@suitsandstrings55]

The array of sounds, but most importantly the USABLE nature of those sounds is amazing. They say never meet your heroes and I'm definitely paranoid of seeing one of these at a local shop... Incredible sounds.

[@miguelnunesdias6094]

Hello, gratings from Portugal, I am a poor excuse to the eternal guitar beginner, but since I was a a little kid that I get hooked on guitars, as a gorgeous fascinating object, and at my 8, 9 years old, without the influence of the fame of the brand or how expensive their were, Gretsch guitars became my dream instrument, especially the orange g6120t from Brian Seltzer on the Stray Cats.

[@eddiejr540]

I was surprised at how good it sounded....that thing sounded fantastic!!!!

[@mikebrison1838]

The Gretsch hollow body G100 CE is a thinline jazz guitar with only 1 pickup at the neck. It's an $800 ax made in Asia. One of the BEST guitars I've ever played. The tone, the feel, etc.

[@bobloblaw2664]

I played a lefty at a music store about 15 years ago and fell in love with it, unfortunately at that time I couldn't afford the $3200 price tag but never forgot them. Of course when I said I'll just pay it off slowly a few days later it was gone, so the hunt for a lefty one went on for about 14 years. I always missed out or the seller changed their minds about selling them (my luck), I finally found one last year and I love it! A few changes had to be made, the stock Duosonic single coil pickups had to go, every time I had to do a solo high on the neck, the semi hollow body would suck the note in causing it to disappear. my bandmates were annoyed because it sounded terrible that my solos would disappear even when using a compressor. So I changed them out with some TV Jones humbuckers with a little more output and that fixed the problem, but that was an additional $300. You could sell the Duosonics for about $200 but Im holing onto them. The 2nd was the stupidly designed bridge with the adjusters on top. Its awesome and easy to adjust the intunation but if you play in an energetic rock band, you always hit the knurl nut on top and send it out of adjustment. a $44 Gretsch compensated bridge from Ebay did the trick and now the guitar is my favorite.

[@jasonalbert9939]

I joined a Gretsch group on Facebook when I got my first one, they told me that they’re addictive. Now I have 2 looking to get a third Gretsch. I love those guitars thanks for doing the video 😁

[@BouncingSoulR6]

Dude! I’m already looking for a second Gretsch and I got my duo jet a few months ago lol

[@jasonalbert9939]

BouncingSoulR6 they are addicting 😆

[@gretschguild]

Jup!

[@grayaj23]

Damn that sounds good. Gotta love the Filter'tron. I believe that getting rid of the tone knob was Chet's idea. He wanted known quantities that he could get to effortlessly.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Putting a TV Jones Classic at the neck is a killer match up with a PAF at the bridge if you use a lot of dirt. You EQ your bridge to be as fat as you want and when you switch to the 'TV' it is just as full but zero mud . You can shred with either. Killer set up in any guitar!!!

[@lizarrrdbeth]

It's funny how this channel has an Antique Road Show feel. I love it!!!

[@pdbordelon]

If I bought that guitar I'd be flat broke but I wouldn't care...I'd strut right by with my tail in the air...

[@chvckfventes]

Your playing is really getting nicer and nicer in every video you make. The progress is really noticeable. Keep it up both! Cheers from the Philippines! 🤘🏼

[@DavidFell]

Great overview! I bought my first Gretsch this year, a rare G6120-CGP. It’s stereo, and it has no tone control of any kind! A point about those wheels on the space bridge being different sizes: I’m sure that’s not merely to be a pleasing style; rather to (probably) match the neck radius.

[@philluck1956]

absolutely beautiful

[@Okla_Soft]

I think I just fell in love with this guitar. I’ve always not really “got” these until now. Thank you Trogly!

[@Oilid]

Yes finally! Thanks Austin! 💪🙂👍

[@patrickbrown8540]

I am loving everything about this one! I normally do not like the “Grandpa” guitars either, but this one is nice! Also, $490 in 1959 would be a price tag of $4362 today 🤯

[@davehopping7212]

Nice to see you review a high-end Gretsch! As a White Falcon owner I'm also stoked about the Terada Gretsches' playability,and especially the improvement in the tone switch- the down position is much brighter and more useable then that of the Sixties models(got a few of them too). My only criticism of the Falcon and Penguin is that they're great for country, but country bandleaders have issues with a sideman playing a guitar with more bling than the boss' axe has! LOL.

[@jimmyhansen5842]

Yes they've made the mudswitch usable after 2001👍

[@whiterose7055]

Hey Austin, the way Gretsch usually configures the switch systems are pretty simple. If you buy a guitar with single coil pickups, you get the one switch and tone knobs. If you get the dual coil pickups, the tone switch come stock! I hope you enjoy the guitar! I just love mine. Maybe we can arrange for you to review a couple of mine some time if you don't want to go to the expense of buying a lot of Gretsch guitars, but I have a feeling you are going to want more anyway ;)

[@faustivious1854]

That Gretsch is a BEAUTIFUL guitar !!! WOW !!!!

[@TheSleepArtist]

Never played one, but it’s lovely

[@andrewpappas9311]

Another famous person who played the White Penguin is Jack White who was seen played one during the White Stripes’ _Icky Thump_ sessions, also he played a lot of Gretsches with The Raconteurs

[@gordonpenny1842]

Gorgeous pad sound at 20:03

[@the-northern-light]

Wanted to see how the armrest was fastened. Perfect. Thanks Trog for another good one!

[@geruto17760]

Now you're talking! GORGEOUS!!!!

[@brianeharmonjr]

Sounds SO much better than all the Gibson stuff you play, IMO. Then again, I love Gretsch guitars and TV Jones pickups.

[@davidshepack2484]

I love TV Jones pickups. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GUITAR IS TUNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@garycoates4987]

Dave Gilmour used his in the Kate Bush "love and anger" video and the other famous user was Dan Folgerberg , his was even rarer with stereo wiring with split flitertrons

[@strobeable]

some of your best playing at the end 👍🏽 super cool guitar

[@GJR44]

I wasn't expecting to it sound so good with the overdrive, it's just a great sounding guitar

[@townshendshean]

Normally I hate painted guitars, I love woodgrain! But this thing...it's beautifully done!

[@LazyCat010]

Gretsch guitars are so stunning!

[@gordonpenny1842]

Love the white penguin! Great history lesson! Hahahahaha

[@visje1996]

Yess First fret depth in mm, my day is made!!

[@chrisggoodwin777]

This is the only Gretsch I like and would buy. Nothing against their other offerings, just not my cup o' tea. This one, however, is definitely my flavor of Kool aid 😉🤘🎸

[@justiceforall6412]

I've got 4 Gretschs. All have a Bigsby, but I don't have a tuning problem. I did pit locking tuners on a couple of them and the others already had them. I love my Gretschs.

[@robinosborne266]

I have a lefty Made in Japan Gretsch 6120 with Bigsby and I have to say that the build quality and quality control os absolutely fantastic. I purchased the guitar new and have had it for over ten years and I have never had any problems with it whatsoever. Tuning stability is amazing considering the Bigsby (which is too tempting not to use). I honestly love the guitar and would not like to be without it. I would love to hear it with TV Jones pickups on it though. Hmmm, tempting upgrade could be coming this way soon, although the wiring does look “different” to say the least!!!

[@Kabayoth]

When I didn't know better, I picked up a Gretch Duo-Jet thinking it was a Les Paul. Fell in love before I knew I'd made a mistake. A Black Penguin with Dynasonic pickups minus the Bigsby is a dream guitar of mine.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

I've always found Gretschs aesthetically pleasing. It must be from looking at all those Chet Atkins, Beatles and Monkees albums all of my life.

[@lurklingX]

i grew up on the monkees! (i have no idea how. just remember had a random little kid record player. 80s) never knew what they played tho it's cool if gretsch made it in. they don't get as much attention but i think they're cool and pretty versatile. i have a goldtop streamliner that is one of my favs, one of the best players i have. (top 3)

[@lurklingX]

getting to this late, but it's really nice to see you covering Gretsch!! (i had to look up penguin again because i could have sworn it was a price i could attain one at, and what i was thinking of was the acoustic line. same names.) i think the headstock is really neat on these, pretty wild. and that binding. i do frown a bit when it comes to Gretsch's record keeping. it's not the greatest, though they aren't alone in that.

[@redjet4810]

As a guitar expert, it behooves you to become an expert on the 4 or 5 classic American manufacturers:Fender, Gibson, Guild, Gretsch, Rickenbacher. Gretsches were always highly desirable. Back in the early 60s every kid wanted (but couldn't afford ) a Guild Starfire, Gretsch Country Gentleman or FenderJaguar.

[@reedburke7762]

I want one of these just to stand in my living room and look at it! Great riff at the beginning...Thank you

[@mikeriley3814]

Austin thanks for playing a little bit of Brian Setzer! Loved it and you did great!

[@howardskinner4916]

Having a master volume makes sense - I use my volumes, varying the mix of pickups, to set up my tone on my Les Paul. It's difficult to keep the mix while turning up for a solo. Having a master volume answers that problem. Since it has TV Jones pickups, Magna'Trons would be cool in this guitar.

[@JohnnyReading]

That is an extremely well made guitar. You didn't examine those awesome looking Gretsch capacitors enough!

[@montag4516]

Pretty sure those are Emerson caps, that's what came stock in my Vintage Select Firebird and the ones shown here appear to be the same. Mine also came with a treble bleed circuit on the master volume pot.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Awesome!! Listen to buffalo springfeild. Both Still and Young rocked gretch's bigbys have tuning problems when you go under the front bar then over the bridge. Straight out over to the bridge with the rollers works fine.

[@kiezersosay49]

Super awesome looking guitar! I dont know if you've ever had an acoustic on here, but the gretch G5034FT is so cool. It has a bigsby trem on it and it sounds amazing. That's right! A bigsby on an acoustic!

[@vonslagle]

I’ve got a Gretsch from the late 70’s called the BST and nicknamed the Beast. Very cool! It was like their Punk guitar and only made for a few years

[@pixiestrikes]

its such a pretty guitar 🥺

[@overtonesnteatime198]

Well Austin. You sure picked the right Gretch to start with!

[@A-staticCal]

Man, I'll admit that cosmetically Gretschs are a little gaudy to me, but it was totally worth it when you broke out Stray Cat Strut. Made my day, brother.

[@Chris66JTM45]

Looks like Epi took this as their inspiration for the 2020 Kats. Especially the metallic colour options.

[@_dmfd]

You should get a little flexible scope camera, kinda like the light you use to check inside the routes but we'd be able to see inside and everything. There's been some guitars on here with some very interesting semi - hollow designs I feel like would have been awesome to see from the inside. Also would help out in fishing wiring around inside full hollow guitars with access only from the F holes. Just a suggestion! Edit - God I love the sound of these with a dirty tone.. They just sound so raunchy. Ik they're geared more towards cleans but damn it sounds so raw with some dirt.

[@nrthrn_dcy]

Damn trogly, that guitar really brought out the smoothness of your playing. Very nice 🙌

[@robvee532]

I love my Penguin, I have the one that had the single coil DeArmond pickups. If you are playing fast rock-n-roll, those pick-ups are not great for that, the semi-hollow body sucks the note in when you are playing high on the neck so I replaced them with TV Jones DeArmond style humbuckers and that solved that problem, it's really full sounding and easy to play. The bridge takes some getting used to, the adjusters on top is weird at 1st but you learn to avoid them. It's not like a Les Paul or anything that Gibson puts out which I like. Playing Les Paul's, SG's and Fenders for the past 30 years, this is a different and nice change that works really well. Extremely well made, nothing on it is cheaply made. The case is sturdy and very well protective, if you took it out to play in clubs no one would look twice at it, if it had a blingy & pretty case, it would get swiped in a minute so I always prefer plain but well made cases, in my experience of playing out all over the country its not the collectors that go out stealing guitars, its usually someone looking for a quick buck and they'll take the fanciest looking thing they see so leave the nice fancy cases at home and keep your eye on your gear at all times. They are very well made, nothing cheap about them at all, if you are looking for something different and very usable, this is it.

[@bipbipletucha]

Gretsch cleans are great! But I'm always inspired to play some Who's Next era Pete Townshend riffs when I pick one up.

[@orlandokaraoke3002]

Guy in my old trailer park had a hollow body one. He was from up north and moved away with my metallica black album tab book. Truth be known he probably got way more use out of it than I ever would have. He was a great player with natural talent and super humble. Wherever he is now I'm sure he's picking away happily..

[@jeremywolstenholme9277]

So many tones and I like them all.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: Thanks for doing a good demonstration of that rare and interesting guitar. I love the JET series of guitars from Gretsch. They are lighter and more comfortable to play, and I love the Filtertron pickup voicing. Once I spent some time with A Gretsch Jet, I felt no need to own any further Les Pauls. The White Penguin is an amazing upgrade to the JET series. The Bigsby is the only style of Trem system I like. All that metal to make a Bigsby does add some weight.

[@jayzak2271]

Yes, good! Come to the gretsch side. Gotta get your hands on a 6120 or one of Setzer's signatures.

[@zacharywatson885]

Best headstock ever. Split headstock White Falcon with Filtertrons and Bigsby is my unicorn.

[@dommadonia5862]

The owner of this beautiful instrument will be very happy, hope we see more of gretch in the future.

[@joshwhitty7024]

Omg... the tones are just 🤘

[@wildcard33]

A Duo Jet and a White Falcon had a baby. Perfect. More on Gretsch guitars, brother, Yes.

[@stevenkimsey7039]

You will never be the same. Now you have experienced That Gretsch Sound

[@andrewmuelleranantababaji8073]

Lady I know bought penguin parlor acoustic, she loves it! I almost bought 12 string Grestch Falcon Rancher, but already have white Jackson Monarkh, second reason she had penguin and fact side and back laminated, so got 12 string Takamine GJ72 CE love it! Bear claw spruce top, flame maple back and sides solid wood, over years know it will age better.!

[@bebop425]

My duo jet 6128t-57 Gretsch bigsby has no tuning issues. My player's edition anniversary has a very awesome string thru bigsby (no wrapping around those posts!)

[@wesmclaughlin9369]

Sounds fantastic, looks great!

[@katiepatrick425]

I play a Black Falcon w/ Bigsby. Same set up and controls and bling as this Penguin except it has Filter-Tron pickups. Same tuners, same ebony, same knobs etc... Got through an entire practice last night and only needed to adjust the low E a 1/4 tone near the end of the sesh ^^ they're good

[@bumblefritz]

I played a Black Penguin once. I had no idea such a thing existed. It was way out of my price range but that was quite an experience.

[@lizarrrdbeth]

Now newer bands such as Palaye Royale (Sebastian Danzig) are rocking the Gretsch exclusively! It's nice to see (and hear)!!

[@miahconnell23]

Trogly: we need you to thoroughly cover more Gretsches ! Korean made, Japan made, and pre-Fender acquisition vs post Fender, talk about the impeccable work of the Terada factory…. And there are so many iterations & slight changes depending on the year of manufacture … and show us unplugged and plugged in… and how did Matthew Ashman get that tone in Louis Quatorse ?

[@samuelzetterman]

Ma boy learned stray cat strut for this!!!! Love your work!

[@pak40l46]

I loved listening to Chet Atkins play his Gretsch 6120.

[@destianpatrianagara1119]

Man.. that has to be the cleanest cavity I've ever seen

[@SmewthePew]

If that's you playing, the progress of your picking hand is getting there man

[@aarondavis4341]

I'm a bass player,but I've wanted a penguin forever,a buddy of mine had one ,killer guitars nuff said

[@cpoyet4107]

Awesome guitar... Next review Falcon?... I love them especially in sparkle champagne finish 😉