I was motivated late last year to sell off my 1992 black G6128T after noting for a while that the ceramic Filtertrons are sure oomphy but the cleans are rather stuffy. Of course I could just throw on some new HS Fitlertrons and be done with it all, but I'm way more vain than that. Right before NAMM I also found a nicely trashed 1995 G6129 (sparkle) on the cheap and got the neck straightened out enough to feel good and become the template for a triple Dynasonic jet project with a few silver penguin appointments (more on that later). OTM Jazzmaster going bye-bye and extra bodies out the door as well.
Fast forward a few weeks to early this month, when over on GT a used limited-edition G6128T-DCM popped up...and I almost immediately burned a hole in my pocket with hard-earned manland funds (mostly from teaching English privately, to be sure). And the DCM arrived this past weekend.
I've honestly never touched a DC Jet before, but this thing feels and plays fantastic: Really light with a thinner top (did the knock-knock thingy) over chambered body, AlNiCo filtertrons can both zing and crunch, zero fret sounds as it should all over the place, adjustomatic bridge has not a buzzy bit about it and behaves itself as it rocks nicely with the B3's movement, guitar has very good balance on the shoulder, and without an upperbout 3-way tone switch to add to the p'up selector, there's only one of them to bump when Rawb donwstrokes the thing at Rivers angles. Dark Cherry Metallic finish with black (not dark walnut stain) backside is really sexy, but hard to photograph.
Nice modern appointments, too: medium C neck that's a good bit thicker than any other Gretsch in the quiver (and very unexpected), very much like a '62 Strat shape. Pinned bridge base keeps things in place for good, and the most curious thing of all, the G6128T-DCM ships from the factory with Schaller strap locks. Although I prefer Dunlops on my Moollons and Fenders, I've a few straps with Schallers already installed so it's actually a nice touch. Tracked some Kick Out the Jams-style I -IV riffage last night for a VR game sound track and it took gain of all sorts really nicely and sustained with ease. Looking forward to messing about side by side with the G6122-1962 to test timbre of the clean tones, and I'm quite optimistic so far.
