At Michael's request...
A local guitar store was having a sale and this was exactly what I have been looking for. I'm a huge Gretsch-head and have played 6120s of various types for almost 40 years. God that makes me sound old.
I have used a 6120 SSLVO for the last ten years - that's a 6120 Setzer Signature Lacquered in Vintage Orange for those in the know. But recently it has played second fiddle to a more recent Duo Jet which has become my favourite guitar in the whole world. The Setzer has trestle bracing and a 9 1/2" fretboard radius and it (a) just doesn't play as nicely as the Jet, and (b) doesn't sound as fat and glorious. So I've been thinking about another big fat hollowbody which could replace it. And this came up.
You might think that there's not much difference between these two 6120s and you'd be right. Both the Setzer and this 6120 RHH - that's the Reverend Horton Heat model - are lacquer finished 6120s with slightly V shaped necks and TV Jones Filter'tron Classic pickups. And I did own an earlier RHH for some time. But Gretsch just keep getting better and better and this RHH is amazing.
For those who aren't Gretsch nerds the key differences are that the RHH is based on an early '50s 6120 but has Filter'trons rather than Dearmond pickups and an ebony board rather than rosewood as the early ones had. It has the larger headstock, G-brand and western inlays on the board. But for me the key differences between the RHH and Setzer is that the RHH has a 12" 'board radius and soundpost bracing where the Setzer has a 9.5" radius and trestle bracing. The tonal difference is subtle but the RHH sounds chunkier to me with less hifi highs. Acoustically it's louder. And it plays ridiculously well. The Setzer is basically a '59 6120 without the zero fret. Both guitars have locking tuners.
Anyway I love the new 6120RHH. I'm a fan of both Setzer and Jim Heath, have seen both playing live and have even met Jim Heath. I have removed the pickguard, put a plain trussrod cover on and adjusted a few things a little. But overall it hasn't needed much to be pretty much perfect. I haven't even needed to touch the trussrod, which is unusual. So now I guess it's time to sell the Setzer.
