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Gretsch Basses

E

eagb

Aug 31, 2010
4
1
Florida
#1
OK Lads; Lassies::bassist:
I need a bit of feedback. I have been a Fender man for many years and I also have a Dean Fretless. In my guitar arsenal I have a Gretsch Hollowbody Electromatic and I like Gretsch products. Properly tweaked, they are fine instruments. I have my eye on a Gretsch White Falcon bass. I will test one when I find a GC thats stocking them and compare it to a Epi Jack Cassidy (another possible option). Is anyone out there playing a Gretsch regualarly? I would love to hear any reviews. Specifically the Falcon. I know they are known more for their guitars than their basses but I'd like to check this out.
 
#2
I don't have one for a few reasons: Setup and intonation can be a bit finicky on instruments with floating bridges, some of their basses are short scale and I've gotten too used to Fender scale and, in any case, they are a very, very pricey habit to pick up. Then again, maybe those things don't matter so much to you. :)

Having said that, they are probably the most gorgeous and classy basses I've seen. Truly beautiful and the tone is great. Very warm and thumpy and classic vintage. They are just definitively cool if you like that old-school aesthetic.

If you want to get the word on Gretsch specifically, you should check out the discussion board at The Gretsch Pages. Invalid Link Removed. Gretsch has die-hard fans and the people on that board are extremely knowledgeable.
 
#3
Aloha,

I happen to love my White Falcon. Bomb tone, bomb feel, bomb bass all around.

This bass is a 34" scale bass, so the previous poster's concerns about short scale doesn't apply. However the body is big, so it hangs on your body like a 35". That's good for me as I play 35" 5 strings normally.

You will always impress other musicians and audience members when you bust this thing out. It's too cool.

As for the floating bridge: Have it set up by your guitar tech/luthier. If you don't have one, get one before you spend this kind of $ on a bass. Not because you need one with this bass, but not having one is like being a serious grill man and not knowing a good butcher. Once you get it, have it set up and you're golden. Remember to change your strings one at a time or you'll move the bridge. If you remember that you'll be fine.

I just took mine out for a spin last week and just freaked (to myself) about how good it sounded.

Serious about a killer hollowbody that you'll want to look at everyday and play forever? This is the one.
 
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#4
I said SOME of their basses are short scale but not all of them. That's not the case with the White Falcon but I'd imagine that very, very long neck would give you neck-dive issues?

At any rate, the White Falcon isn't cheap so I'd recommend getting the kinks sussed out before you commit to a purchase.

I agree about the looks and the tone being amazing. No arguments here.
 
#5
WOW! Thank you both for the great responses.
nocontrols, as I said I have a G5120SB Electromatic and read The Gretsch Pages every frikkin day. I have learned valuable lessons on the GDP in my quest to master intonation, the complexities of a Bigsby Vibrato and the infamous TWANG. I highly recommend that forum to all guitarist and bassists.
...and Aloha to you Max. I do have a great guitar tech here in the middle of America and have learned alot about set up since I left Ewa Beach. I am, however moving back east soon and will have to find a new one about the time I satisfy the case of GAS. A more metopolitan are will help there. And what I have learned through pracical application with my Gretsch guitar will be of assistance. I do not fear floating bridges or hollow bodies because my guitars are archtops! I'm glad you are having success witth your Falcon and I look forward to perhaps getting one. Tell me about your rig sometime.
.....and by the by Max....we might know each other. If you also have a Ric and play thu a rolland cube at barbers point on some sundays...you know where to find me on facebook.
 
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#6
I have a short scale Thunderjet. Love the tone. It sits well in the mix, whether I'm at a large club with PA support, or jamming with acoustic instruments using a little practice amp. And great looks. The first time I brought it to blues jam, the host kep calling for her bass player while I was standing right there--she mistook it for a Les Paul. Short-scale does some practice to adjust to, as I usually play regular scale Fenders.
 
#8
eagb said:
WOW! Thank you both for the great responses.

.....and by the by Max....we might know each other. If you also have a Ric and play thu a rolland cube at barbers point on some sundays...you know where to find me on facebook.
Click to expand...


Well, while I do have a Ric, I currently reside in San Diego, so I'm probably not the guy. No Roland cube. I use GK amps, usually a MB210 for small to medium gigs.
 
#9
Love my 6072 reissue. I think it's made in the same factory as the WF. It's got a relatively thin neck, heard it described as the offspring of a Hofner & Fender. The setup, tone, and playability are top notch. The thinner body, although hollow, will not feedback at high volumes either. Always tons of compliments and I'm sure that would increase exponentially with the White Falcon.
Top tip: I installed a third strap button on the underside of the neck heal. It shifts the bass a bit more to the right so neck access is better and removes all the neck dive.

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#10
Broadkaster.JPG
Here's my Gretsch bass; '94 Broadkaster. As you can see, it will most likely be my only Gretsch, unless I pony up big $$s to the Custom shop (I would love to have a White Falcon bass!). Sorry to say, mine has problems, but they're the result of when it was made, and what it went thru before I got it. I'm slowly getting it sorted out; and always looking for another Gretsch bass. :)
 
#11
Got a 5440LSB and a defretted of the same. Fine basses: LONG (no neck-dive issues if you hang the bass at 45 degrees); much easier to set-up than their vintage forebears; non-derivtive tone;
CHEAP (for a Gretsch).

If it's the bling you're after, I guess it will have to be the WF. If it's other considerations, i would look at the 6072 reissue or the 5440.
 
#12
I bought a G5440 and used it for the first time Friday night. I was happy with the results. I normally play P basses but i just wanted to play something else for no other reason than "i just wanted to". It did not feedback. It produced a nice full sound that was heard through the mix. I am very pleased and i will continue to use it when i play "live".
 
#13
I had a '99 Broadkaster, 32" scale and made in Japan. In terms of build quality, tone and neck feel it was awesome. I got if for really cheap with plans to flip it and make some cash, which I had to do and surely did. I probably would have kept it if not for two reasons: #1-it ate my forearm up something fierce. #2-the finish was pretty delicate and I'm pretty aggressive/hard on my basses. It would have looked pretty haggard in short order and had I decided to sell it after a few months it would have been worth $750 instead of $950. I'd love to have another one.
 

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