Gretsch Guitars G6128T-59 Vintage Select '59 Duo Jet Electric Guitar With Bigsby Black
A masterfully crafted recreation of the 1959 Duo Jet with chambered mahogany body, Bigsby vibrato, and Gretsch's signature twang. Built to historical specs with modern playability and construction.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Chambered mahogany body delivers the unmistakable Gretsch warmth and resonance that solid-body alternatives cannot match
- +Bigsby B3CB tailpiece and Space Control bridge recreate authentic 1959 vibrato characteristics with modern reliability
- +Made in Japan with exceptional quality control — playability and finish consistency rival US-made guitars
- +Dual-coil pickups offer from old-school country twang to full-on AC/DC rock without sounding dated
Cons
- −Premium price ($3,000) puts it in competition with genuine vintage models, limiting accessibility
- −Bigsby vibrato requires patience for re-tuning between songs if you use it aggressively
- −Chambered body is resonant but not as warm as a truly hollow semi-acoustic configuration
The Verdict
Gretsch’s Vintage Select ’59 Duo Jet is what happens when a company respects historical accuracy without sacrificing playability. This isn’t a cosmetic throwback — it’s an engineered recreation built to 1959 specifications using materials and processes that honor the original while embracing modern manufacturing precision.
The chambered mahogany body is the heart of the tone. Unlike solid-body guitars, this resonates with a warmth and complexity that feels organic. Gretsch’s signature twang cuts through in clean tones. Push the gain and you get full, rockin’ aggression without losing character. The dual-coil pickups are voiced right — responsive to dynamics, with excellent separation and harmonic richness.
The Bigsby vibrato is authentic and genuinely musical. The Space Control bridge and pinned ebony base deliver classic Gretsch tone and tuning stability. Yes, Bigsby requires patience, but that’s part of the experience. If you’re seeking that vintage George Harrison, rockabilly, or classic rock aesthetic with legitimate tone to match, the Duo Jet is uncompromised. It’s expensive, but for players who’ve earned the gear budget and won’t settle for modern interpretations, this is the real deal.
Specifications
| Body shape | Single cutaway |
| Body type | Semi-hollow or chambered body |
| Body material | Laminated |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Top wood | Not applicable |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Vintage V |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Neck finish | Gloss |
| Joint | Set-in |
| Scale length | 24.6 in. |
| Material | Ebony |
| Radius | 12 in. |
| Fret size | Medium |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Thumbnail |
| Nut width | 1.69 in. (43 mm) |
| Configuration | HH |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | Adjusto-matic |
| Tailpiece | Bigsby B3CB |
| Tuning machines | Grover Sta-Tite |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Japan |
