The Gretsch 6128 (Duo Jet) is a chambered solid body electric guitar which has been manufactured by Gretsch since 1953.

Origins

The Duo Jet was first introduced in 1953, after the success of the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. A difference between the two is that the Duo Jet has a semi-solid body with routed channels and internal pockets instead of a solid body. It is believed that the name Duo Jet was inspired by the fact that the guitar has two pickups (Duo) and by the advanced aircraft of the time (Jet). This was the first Gretsch guitar to feature a truss rod accessible through the headstock, a pickup selection switch on the body, and a master volume on the cutaway.

Construction

As is common with electric guitars, the body of the 6128 Duo Jet is made of wood, in this case chambered mahogany. The guitar shares its dual pickup, single cutaway design with the Gibson Les Paul, but the Duo Jet takes differing approaches to shaping the instrument’s tonality and has been made available in various configurations. The tone switch versions of the Duo Jet come equipped with Gretsch's own Filtertron humbucker pickup made popular by country music guitarist Chet Atkins.

Notable users

George Harrison played a 1957 Duo Jet during The Beatles' early days in Hamburg, and on their first album. Harrison also posed with the guitar for the cover of his 1987 solo album, Cloud Nine. Other notable players of the Duo Jet include Pete Townshend of The Who, who used one on early Quadrophenia era gigs in the UK, and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd owned a 1950s Duo Jet which he used on some of his early work and then again later in his career.

Variations

Other versions

"Silver Jet" "Round Up" "Jet Firebird"

Rock Band controller

A replica of George Harrison's Duo Jet is the basis for a guitar controller for The Beatles: Rock Band.