NBD - Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club

[Solipsistik]

So, I just played an entire wall of basses today. Three Fender Jazz variants, all $2K+, three American Fender P-basses, a Charvel, a Jackson, a Godin, an Ibanez, an Epiphone and a Spector Euro. I was playing all of them through a Mesa D800 with a single 12", set everything to 12-o to get the neutral tone of the guitars.

Then I picked up a bass I had picked up once before and written off though I really liked its feel, size and sound, because it was Shell Pink.

Well.

This little $489 (Canadian) Gretsch bass plays better, sounds as good as the best of them, and is easily my favorite feeling bass of that entire bunch. Even more than last time, I find myself playing a Gretsch Streamliner with dust on it from customer neglect, and I am floored by how well it plays. Like having a beer with an old friend, biting into a good roast, your spouse's head on your shoulder at the ball game. That kind of thing.

Given the amount of time and effort I had just put into finding the distinct tone and neck character of all those basses, it was a total revelation. The tone controls are meaningful and mixing the two full-time single coils with the tone controls is easier and more impactful than guitars I had just played worth 5, even 10 times more money.

So I did what must be done. I ordered one in Walnut and will pick it up next week. I am over the moon about how much I liked this thing. It fits right into places that my existing basses can't - too punchy, too serious, too many frets, and just meant for different music - so they still have their place (and will).

It's not pretentious. It's not sexy. It doesn't have active pickups. It's just great.

 

[bignc]

It’s been on my list of possible short scales for a while. I’m thinking of putting rounds back on a pbass and flats on one of these to cover most of what I do. I am large but having some joint/ back and tennis elbow issues and thinking lighter and smaller may help.

 

[Solipsistik]

Wait until you play one. For me at least, it was such a pleasure how it fits. I'm used to my large basses and will absolutely still play them, but I have a dropped shoulder from a motorcycle crash in 2006 (you can almost see it in my profile picture!) and there are gigs where the Warwick was really starting to feel its weight.

 

[bignc]

Wait until you play one. For me at least, it was such a pleasure how it fits. I'm used to my large basses and will absolutely still play them, but I have a dropped shoulder from a motorcycle crash in 2006 (you can almost see it in my profile picture!) and there are gigs where the Warwick was really starting to feel its weight.

Thank you! Is it a thumpy old-school one- trick? I’m looking at the cheap broncos and the not cheap mustangs also….. I think the mustang flats will work for 90% of what I want and this would take its place. And for some punk and metal I’ll just have to make the pbass work or even BEAD tune it. It’s sentimental so not selling and do not have room for three basses lol.

 

[Solipsistik]

Thank you! Is it a thumpy old-school one- trick?

No, but you might also want to look into the Jet II, as it seems a bit more of the same thing but with humbuckers. Something I'll definitely be considering too since I am purchasing from a store that allows a 30-day return, no questions asked. I'm sure they'd also be happy to exchange if it comes to that (but I seriously doubt it, the example I played sounded terrific). I already play two basses that have dual pickups and I use both pickups pretty much all the time, to cancel hum all you'd have to do is crack the volume a little on the single pickup you're not planning to use and the hum will disappear.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

So, I just played an entire wall of basses today. Three Fender Jazz variants, all $2K+, three American Fender P-basses, a Charvel, a Jackson, a Godin, an Ibanez, an Epiphone and a Spector Euro. I was playing all of them through a Mesa D800 with a single 12", set everything to 12-o to get the neutral tone of the guitars.

Then I picked up a bass I had picked up once before and written off though I really liked its feel, size and sound, because it was Shell Pink.

Well.

This little $489 (Canadian) Gretsch bass plays better, sounds as good as the best of them, and is easily my favorite feeling bass of that entire bunch. Even more than last time, I find myself playing a Gretsch Streamliner with dust on it from customer neglect, and I am floored by how well it plays. Like having a beer with an old friend, biting into a good roast, your spouse's head on your shoulder at the ball game. That kind of thing.

Given the amount of time and effort I had just put into finding the distinct tone and neck character of all those basses, it was a total revelation. The tone controls are meaningful and mixing the two full-time single coils with the tone controls is easier and more impactful than guitars I had just played worth 5, even 10 times more money.

So I did what must be done. I ordered one in Walnut and will pick it up next week. I am over the moon about how much I liked this thing. It fits right into places that my existing basses can't - too punchy, too serious, too many frets, and just meant for different music - so they still have their place (and will).

It's not pretentious. It's not sexy. It doesn't have active pickups. It's just great.

View attachment 7481556

I love mine! So does everyone who plays it.

 

[doctone]

Thanks, what a lovely report. Have fun and play her in good health!

The Gretsch walnut color should look gorgeous. My hollowbody guitar has it too. So deep, as if the wood had been soaked in Bordeaux for years...

 

[bignc]

Thanks, what a lovely report. Have fun and play her in good health!

The Gretsch walnut color should look gorgeous. My hollowbody guitar has it too. So deep, as if the wood had been soaked in Bordeaux for years...

View attachment 7481957

Yikes! That’s gorgeous

 

[darwin-bass]

No, but you might also want to look into the Jet II, as it seems a bit more of the same thing but with humbuckers.

Gretsch's page is showing the Jet Jr II as having single coil pickups.

G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet™ Bass II Short-Scale, Walnut Stain

Featuring classic Gretsch® appointments, the G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet Bass is easily capable of filling a room with massive subsonic tones. Key features include a shorter scale (30.3

www.gretschguitars.com

 

[darwin-bass]

Are the two single coils RWRP so they're hum cancelling when run together?

 

[Aric Bjorn]

re: "Humbuckergate", from May 2022

Hey everyone! We were right about the Gretsch G2220. Gretsch has updated the specs on their site and many retailers are following along.

Original Video: • Fender & Gretsch caught LYING to you! - Un... Pickup Close Up: • A Closer Look at the Gretsch G2220 Junior ...

 

[jVilla76]

I've had mine for about a year now I think. Great basses for the $.

 

[mr80htz]

I was really impressed with this bass too. Nice choice

 

[Solipsistik]

Are the two single coils RWRP so they're hum cancelling when run together?

Yes, so if you really want to use just one pickup, crack the other and the hum is gone. Though in my playing, I didn't do that, I mix the pickups just like I do on J/JP basses and my active basses. One tone for the warmth and thump, one added to cut into a mix.

 

[Solipsistik]

Gretsch's page is showing the Jet Jr II as having single coil pickups.

G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet™ Bass II Short-Scale, Walnut Stain

Featuring classic Gretsch® appointments, the G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet Bass is easily capable of filling a room with massive subsonic tones. Key features include a shorter scale (30.3

www.gretschguitars.com

Interesting! Well, I was aware that the ones in mine are singles, so it doesn't affect me anyway.

 

[Markshan]

So, I just played an entire wall of basses today. Three Fender Jazz variants, all $2K+, three American Fender P-basses, a Charvel, a Jackson, a Godin, an Ibanez, an Epiphone and a Spector Euro. I was playing all of them through a Mesa D800 with a single 12", set everything to 12-o to get the neutral tone of the guitars.

Then I picked up a bass I had picked up once before and written off though I really liked its feel, size and sound, because it was Shell Pink.

Well.

This little $489 (Canadian) Gretsch bass plays better, sounds as good as the best of them, and is easily my favorite feeling bass of that entire bunch. Even more than last time, I find myself playing a Gretsch Streamliner with dust on it from customer neglect, and I am floored by how well it plays. Like having a beer with an old friend, biting into a good roast, your spouse's head on your shoulder at the ball game. That kind of thing.

Given the amount of time and effort I had just put into finding the distinct tone and neck character of all those basses, it was a total revelation. The tone controls are meaningful and mixing the two full-time single coils with the tone controls is easier and more impactful than guitars I had just played worth 5, even 10 times more money.

So I did what must be done. I ordered one in Walnut and will pick it up next week. I am over the moon about how much I liked this thing. It fits right into places that my existing basses can't - too punchy, too serious, too many frets, and just meant for different music - so they still have their place (and will).

It's not pretentious. It's not sexy. It doesn't have active pickups. It's just great.

View attachment 7481556

This is my first recommendation whenever someone asks about a short scale. I really want to check out the 32" with a horn that they have now. I bet it's amazing.

 

[TheDuff]

Great. Nice.

I recently purchased the Havana Burst Streamliner Club Jet bass.

I really like it.

The feel is superb. Thin neck, fast. Nice fretboard. Great fake humbucker looking single coil pickups that are very quiet on mine. I like the stock pickups.

I like the feel of the bass guitar and the cool semi LP styling.

The only mod I did was to install Grover sealed mini tuners. I like Grover mini tuners or Gotoh Gb707 mini tuners like I put on my new Player 2 coral red mustang pj bass.

The Gretsch Jet Club bass is light, short, and manuerverable. Sporty. It looks cool on the strap.

 

[TheDuff]

Interesting! Well, I was aware that the ones in mine are singles, so it doesn't affect me anyway.

All of these versions are single coils that look like mini humbuckers.

A lot of players like these pickups. I like them. Mine are very quiet single coils.

They just look like fake mini humbuckers. They are actually very nice in my opinion. They sound great. I think they look great even if they are fake imposters. They are cool.

Both pickups sound distinctly different. The neck pickup sounding very vintage. The bridge pickup sharp and bright reminding me of my J bass. Combined the pickups really shine. Because of the single coil pickups it probably sounds so great.

Nevertheless a complete rewire job with nice expensive parts would be a fun project. It might not sound as good though…

I want to keep mine stock unless it needs attention.

 

[TheDuff]

Yes, so if you really want to use just one pickup, crack the other and the hum is gone. Though in my playing, I didn't do that, I mix the pickups just like I do on J/JP basses and my active basses. One tone for the warmth and thump, one added to cut into a mix.

I agree on the tonal variance.

 

[TheDuff]

Thank you! Is it a thumpy old-school one- trick? I’m looking at the cheap broncos and the not cheap mustangs also….. I think the mustang flats will work for 90% of what I want and this would take its place. And for some punk and metal I’ll just have to make the pbass work or even BEAD tune it. It’s sentimental so not selling and do not have room for three basses lol.

The new Streamliner Club Jet bass is a great bass. It has a vintage sound and a more bright cutting sound. Good variance between neck and bridge tone and timbre.

The stock controls on mine work well and it has a great range of sound.

Plus it is sporty and easy to play on the strap.