GRETSCH DUO-JET TENOR

model number PX-6127
serial number:13060(1954-55)

In 1955 Gretsch introduced its single cutaway models,as an answer to the Gibson Les Paul.The main difference lay in the fact that the Gretsch was not a true solidbody, but was built up out of different pieces of spruce maple and mahogany. The tenor guitar,actually a leftover from the 1930's when tenor banjo players also wanted to be able to play the guitar in their own tuning , did not find much usage in the 1950's, but they were built in small numbers right up into the 1960's, also by for example Gibson.

The tuning of such a guitar will be G-D-A-E( in fifths),but occasionally D-G-B-E (guitar) or A-D-G-B (inner 4 of the guitar) are used. If there is already a bass playing in the combo , 4 strings are actually enough. Furthermore it's been proven that the usage of different tunings within a combo can yield intersting tonal colours. That is to say that because the intervals are different, the chords sometimes mix better(for instance one of the players in the former guitar duo Carl Kress and Dick McDonough played in 5ths.) One can see the same variety of tunings used in south american stringed instruments such as cuatro ,tres and cavavquinho.

Anyway, it is unlikely that the powers to be at Gretsch thought about all of this when they made this instrument.

The body and pick-ups are the same as on the 6-string version. It was probably not thought worthwhile to make a four strinh Melita Synchrosonic bridge so a simple wooden topped jazz-type bridge was used. All together a true ugly duckling. The serial number on this type of Gretsch guitar is often scratched on the plastic cover of the controll cavity, and than again on a label on the inside of the cavity(see photos).

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