In 1953 the Gretsch Company introduced its
first solidbody electric guitar: the Duo Jet.
It was intended to compete with Fender’s
Telecaster and Gibson’s Les Paul. The Duo
Jet had a similar shape to the Les Paul, but
instead of being truly solid, its separate
pieces of mahogany had hollow spaces left
open for electronics and wiring. The pressed
arched top was often covered in the same
black plastic material used on some Gretsch
drums. The Duo Jet also included the innovative Melita Synchro-Sonic bridge, which
allowed separate intonation adjustment for
each string.
While Gretsch was behind Fender and Gibson
in the introduction of a solidbody, they were
ahead in eye-catching colors. Each guitar
received a different model name relating to
its striking finish, even though it remained
essentially a Duo Jet. These models were
the Silver Jet (Sliver Sparkle), the Roundup
(Orange with western style inlays and leather
trim) and the Jet Firebird (Red).
This month’s Gretsch Silver Jet has all the
features common to 1955 Jets: a rosewood
fingerboard with large pearloid block inlays;
chrome master volume, two individual
pickup volumes and master tone controls, all
stamped with an arrow in the center; a small
bullet shaped trussrod cover; two DeArmond
single coil pickups; Melita Bridge, silver pickguard, and a chrome “G” cutout tailpiece.
The feature unique to Silver Jets is the silver
sparkle top made from the same material
Gretsch used to cover its drums. The 1955
Gretsch catalog lists a Silver Jet for $255.
More detailed information on Gretsch guitars can be found in The Guitars of the Fred
Gretsch Company by Jay Scott, The Gretsch
Book by Tony Bacon and Paul Day, and 50
Years of Gretsch Electrics by Tony Bacon.
Dave's Guitar Shop
Daves Rogers’ Collection is tended to by
Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
All photos credit Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on display at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-7704
davesguitar.com
