Members RiderOnTime Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 I fancy a Gretsch style guitar but unless a miraculous deal appeared I don't think I could stretch to a 6xxx series model. This leaves me with the possibility of an Electromatic instrument, which I've read many good things about. However! It may sound superficial but part of the appeal of a Gretsch surely lies in its stylings and for me that includes the charm of the bound f-holes, amongst other things. I've also read many good things about Peerless guitars and obviously they've had strong Gretsch connections over the years; their current range includes budget-friendly Gretsch style instruments with f-hole binding... So I'm wondering how they compare with the ones with the 'real' name on the headstock. Some Gretsches in that range come with Dearmond pickups, whilst the Peerless come with their own versions...do they nail that sound? If you weren't concerned with the name on the headstock, which would come closer to getting that vibe overall? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 Bumped to save an innocent question from drowning in the mire of a busy forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob Dobbs Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 ive heard good things about Peerless but never held one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moltisanti Posted March 5, 2008 Members Share Posted March 5, 2008 i've got a Peerless Gigmaster Custom and I absolutely love it, as far as I know it has the same pups as the Gretsch and to my ears they sound fantastic. As for binding etc, it's very bling, i would heartily recommend them to anyone here's me rocking mine a few weeks ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Thanks for the replies! It's especially good to have a first-hand account of how they shape up. And let's be honest, if you can't indulge bling on a Gretsch, where can you?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 i've got a Peerless Gigmaster Custom and I absolutely love it, as far as I know it has the same pups as the Gretsch and to my ears they sound fantastic. As for binding etc, it's very bling, i would heartily recommend them to anyone here's me rocking mine a few weeks ago! Peerless is quite a guitar maker. Here is my Carlo Robelli RB-1955 BK (Mfg for Sam Ash from 2003-3004, made at Peerless Korea) basically a Gigmaster in Black. 20 frets, Abalone binding all around Same Pickups as the Gretsch without the name. Interesting thing about these guitars here are the fact that they copy the Gretsch Aniversary Model G-3131 that was available prior to the sell-out to Fender. (Gretsch Pages has more info on this, as well as the web) Great Guitar. sadly I no longer own this one,sold it last year to purchase the Marshall. My only hang-up with it was it squealed like a pig if cranked. Great Sound other than that. -Crisco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Here is a picture of a Gretsch G-3131 borrowed from the net. Notice the similarities.. Control knobs, binding, 20 frets , even the headstock is eerily similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob Dobbs Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Crisco your photobucket pics seem to have been deleted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DRPool Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Okay enough teasing. Who sells these things in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moltisanti Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 http://www.jazzguitarzone.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 http://www.jazzguitarzone.com/ Those are all about double what you'd pay for an electromatic. Frankly, at that price, you can find a used 61xx series gretsch (or maybe even a new one). However, they ARE pretty. It's just that I think for that sort of coinage, I'd prefer a US or Japan Gretsch... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carbohydrates Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 as far as I know it has the same pups as the Gretsch Nope. Very cool, though. Only thing I'm not big on is that clear pickguard. I got my 6118 (Anniversary) cheap because the green color isn't very popular! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crisco Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Bump.Please have a look I fixed the photo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Those are all about double what you'd pay for an electromatic. Frankly, at that price, you can find a used 61xx series gretsch (or maybe even a new one).However, they ARE pretty. It's just that I think for that sort of coinage, I'd prefer a US or Japan Gretsch... This is a good example of how the US and UK markets can differ. The UK dealers are offering Peerless models on average between Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moltisanti Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 wow are we actually in a position in the UK to get a better deal than people in the States ???!!! This is a great day!!! seriously though i'd try out a Peerless if you come across one, superb guitars. Those Gretschs above look scarily similar, very interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 wow are we actually in a position in the UK to get a better deal than people in the States ???!!! This is a great day!!! It doesn't happen often, I know... The only thing I can think of is Marshall amps and maybe Laneys..? As for the prices I put for the 6xxx Gretsches, I just had another look and most of the favourably-pricing dealers here quote over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted March 6, 2008 Members Share Posted March 6, 2008 Don't worry - another few months of "Bushonomics" and I'm sure everything across the pond will be cheaper than here. Hell, we'll probably be standing out on street corners in England begging for jobs doing yardwork in London Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moltisanti Posted March 7, 2008 Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 is this cadillac green ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 is this cadillac green ? Not quite, unfortunately. I think this one's more metallic/sparkly... I did check this model out on the webpage but it's more Gibson than Gretsch to me. Not that this is a bad thing in its own way but it won't scratch the Gretsch itch... Cheers anyway! By the way, where did you get your Peerless? I've found a few dealers not too far from me but it's always good to get a personal endorsement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moltisanti Posted March 7, 2008 Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 i'm in the Uk and got mine at www.soundsgreatmusic.com , i try to buy stuff from them when i can they're easily the best guitar store in the UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiderOnTime Posted March 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 I've seen their ads many times and I've probably phoned them on occasions too but I've never had the pleasure of visiting the shop as I'm way down south... I think I'm going to have to make the voyage to outer London for my nearest dealer from what I can gather so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alfsboy Posted March 7, 2008 Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 I've tried out about 4 of them in different guises .Very nice guitars indeed.The 335 type is very good but has no centre block I can see.the Casino type is good .I gather some of the pickups are Epiphone ,which are pretty good any way .i would recommend them absolutely and may well get one .I liked the little thin line jazz box ,sounded very sweet and jazzy very well built and finished.nice quality fittings ,If the pups dont suit you ,then your are adding better pickups to a quality guitar not a pile of junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 7, 2008 I fancy a Gretsch style guitar but unless a miraculous deal appeared I don't think I could stretch to a 6xxx series model. This leaves me with the possibility of an Electromatic instrument, which I've read many good things about. However! It may sound superficial but part of the appeal of a Gretsch surely lies in its stylings and for me that includes the charm of the bound f-holes, amongst other things. I've also read many good things about Peerless guitars and obviously they've had strong Gretsch connections over the years; their current range includes budget-friendly Gretsch style instruments with f-hole binding... So I'm wondering how they compare with the ones with the 'real' name on the headstock. Some Gretsches in that range come with Dearmond pickups, whilst the Peerless come with their own versions...do they nail that sound? If you weren't concerned with the name on the headstock, which would come closer to getting that vibe overall? Thanks! I'm presuming that the Gretsch 5 range comes out the Peerless factory anyway? Peerless are doing some lovely stuff now, so I'd be happy to pickp a Peerless if they did what I want....which they dont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 7, 2008 The 335 type is very good but has no centre block I can see.the Casino type is good .I gather some of the pickups are Epiphone ,which are pretty good any way They should be pretty good as the best Epi Dots come out of the Peerless factory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted March 7, 2008 Members Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm champing at the bit to get my hands on a Peerless. I've been hunting for several years for something along the lines of a Gretsch 6120, but alas I don't have in the region of GBP2,400 (That's about 4,800 in USD, folks....) to spill on one of those. I'm not sure i could bring myself to spend that much on a guitar even if I could afford it...... Used, they don't go for an awful lot less. Although lefties don't have so much of a market used, that balances out as the would-be buyer has fewer options and left handed instruments seem to hold their value pretty damn well if they're a big brand. Hunting around all the alternatives to the "real" Gretsch, including their own 5xxx series, nobody makes anything approaching them left handed. Peerless, however, told me that they plan to start doing lefties in 2008..... yummy. Everything I read about Peerless gives them glowing reviews. I'm wary of user reviews often, but the British guitar press - which I've never known to be unrelaible - has had only good things to say about them, making many "as good as much more expensive instruments" type noises. If what I read is accurate, you're looking at what is, in effect, a "Gretsch by Tokai" level of quality. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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