This Gretsch Custom Shop NAMM Duo Jet Jr Electric Guitar in Black is the baddest guitar in all the land. Well, our land, anyway. Image a Les Paul Special, paired with a Duo-Jet that has a sense of style unlike any other, thanks to the Black Studded Leather Belt inlaid around the side of the guitar with a steers head in the middle of the butt of the guitar A NAMM 2020 score, this is the 1st guitar of its kind that we have had and it is as cool as it gets!
The Gretsch Custom Shop makes a heck of a guitar. From quality components like Lindy Fralin Pickups, Real Bigsby Tremolos, and choice tuners, all the details are covered. This particular guitar has been finished in Black Satin Nitro Cellulose over a 54 Round-Up Stain and then aged, or relic'ed, to perfection giving it a well-worn look that oozes mojo. A heavily-worn Pin-Up Girl sticker is mostly gone but her ghost remains. To take things up even further, the side of the body has been inlaid with a studded leather strap/belt. Make sure to check out all the pics as this little detail needs to be seen to be fully appreciated!
The neck is made from 2 pieces of figured maple that has been roasted. Heat treating timbers is a great way to reduce instability, increase rigidity, and speed up the aging process by cooking out sap and oil that would typically happen over time. If you hate adjusting your neck, roasted woods should be the next thing you google. The neck profile is the classic Gretsch U meets D with a nice, full taper. It measures in at .880" at the first fret and .972" at the 12th. This is a big, full feeling neck that helps this thing resonate like a tuning fork! 1.685" Nut Width and 24.75" scale length give this guitar a decidedly Late 50s Gibson-like feel.
A pair of Lindy Fralin Soapbar P-90 pickups are installed in this Duo Jet Junior which makes the Gibson Les Paul Special comparison hard to ignore. The P-90 is seeing a surge in popularity due to its unique tones and gray area in between a humbucker and a single-coil. Think humbucker output, single-coil platform. If you play a tube amp loud and use your volume to clean things up, a P-90 should already be in your toolbox! A 3-way toggle grants access to each pickup on its own or in tandem.
If badass is your thing, look no further. This guitar ain't pretty... it's Ugly Hot. Though it seems pretty cut and dry when looking at it, the details and specs off some pretty cool touches, especially the studded leather belt inlaid around the side of the guitar. The body is made from mahogany, the perfect choice for this specific guitar. Though it also has a thin maple top on it. This tested- tonewood sandwich needs no introduction.
Gretsch Custom Shop is making the best guitars the company has ever had its name on. These instruments offer unparalleled build quality and are simply second to none. From hardware to features, from unique finishes to one-of-a-kind builds, the Gretsch Custom Shop and Stephen Stern are creating nothing but amazing guitars!
