Gretsch rolls out limited edition George Harrison Tribute Duo Jet
(Dave Molter | Posted 2011-01-13)
Wondering what to do with that extra $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Gretsch Guitars has an idea: buy one of its new limited-edition George Harrison Duo Jet guitars.
Assembled by the Gretsch Custom Shop and limited to 60 pieces worldwide, the guitar pays tribute to what the late Beatle called "my first real American guitar." Harrison played the Duo Jet, which he purchased second-hand, during multiple dates at the Cavern nightclub in Liverpool as well as during club stints in Hamburg, Germany. In 1962, Harrison used the guitar on a four-song demo for producer George Martin, who signed the band.
Harrison retired the Duo Jet after acquiring a Gretsch Tennessean and Country Gentleman, the guitars made famous when The Beatles appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. In the mid-60s, Harrison gave the guitar to friend Klaus Voorman, a bassist and artist who also deigned the famous cover for the "Revolver" LP. Voorman modified the Duo Jet, but Harrison reclaimed the guitar in the late '80s and had it restored to original, and he's seen holding the guitar on the cover of his 1987 album "Cloud Nine."
The Custom Shop Duo Jet is meticulously recreated by Gretsch master builder Stephen Stern & his crew from the ORIGINAL guitar owned by George and played during his early & post Beatles career.
Specifications:
Body Material: Mahogany back, 3-ply Maple top
Body Shape: Jet™
Body Back: Mahogany-Chambered
Body Top: 3-Ply Maple
Body Finish: Array
Number of Frets: 22
Fingerboard Radius: 9" (22.9 cm)
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck Material: 1-Piece Mahogany
Neck Finish: Lacquer
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 24.6" (62.5 cm)
Bridge Pickup: DynaSonic™ Single-Coil Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup: DynaSonic™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
Hardware Finish: Chrome-Plated
Bridge: Vintage Style "Rocking" Bar Bridge with Rosewood Base
Tuning Machines: Chrome-Plated Grover® V98G Sta-Tite™ Die-cast Tuners
Additional Comments: INCLUDES: Two (2) unpublished photos of George with his ORIGINAL Duo Jet guitar, Rare 1987 British 7" vinyl record release of Harrison's hit song, "Got My Mind Set on You", DVD - "The Making of George Harrison's TRIBUTE Gretsch Guitar"
Unique Features: Light weight mid-50's body chamber style, distressed all BLACK color scheme (body top, back & sides & back of neck), modified B6C Bigby tailpice with black "phillips-head" trem arm pivot bolt, off-set mounted strap carrage bolt on butt of body.
From information on the Gretsch Guitars website: www.gretschguitars.com.
