Was thinking of getting a Jet. So what are you supposed to do? Thats right try one out before you buy. So i take a trip to Chicago and hit up 6 Guitar Centers. Amazing enough of, out of all the stores only 2 had a Jet and they were the $384 pro Jet with no Bigsby. Now don't get me wrong Gretsch makes some very good economy guitars. G5120 for example. However their economy Jet was not as nice. On both floor models that they had i now have groves on my figures from the very rough frets. To bad they were not as smooth as the 5120s that I have played. Anyways I digress. So I know if i get a Jet i want one with a Bigsby. Whether it is a Pro, Duo, or Power is still to be seen. Or should I say felt and heard. So where do I try them out? most independents that i have visited carry Fender and Ibanez. I know GC has a good return policy and I have used it a lot before i bought my 6118T-LTV 125 Annie. Still the question remains, whats a man supposed to do to get his hands on a guitar to play and ultimately fall in love with? If only I had been playing for years and years and hang around with dozens of players with numerous axes that I could play. Neither of those cases are true though. Oh well bummer.

I hear ya man

Usually my lust to possess whatever guitar I'm GASsing for overrides my cautious side, most times, for the better.

That is one of the unfortunate consequences of the destruction of the small guitar shops that used to exist in many metropolitan areas by the big box stores.

The best thing now available, I think, is what you mentioned...the generous Musician's Friend return policy. They accept a return if you don't like the guitar once you get it and have played it a bit. So, in that case, if you think that you really want a guitar, but have concerns about buying it without playing it, go ahead and order it from MF with no risk of being unable to return it if you don't like it.

all of my guitar purchases have been without trying them out first. its not the best idea but it hasnt failed me yet.

It's even worse outside the US. It took me about 4 years to track down a dyna jet. After the epic hunt I didn't even end up really liking it.

Since you tried one of the new Electromatic Jets you can bet the Pro-line models are exponentially better. If you love a 5120 odds are in your favor that you'll love a Duo Jet.

I have been fortunate enough to try both Duo Jets and the new Electromatic Jets and what I am able to pass on to you is that the Electromatic Jets are really good guitars that produce a tone similar to the Duo Jet but weren't quite as resonant acoustically and the necks are a little slimmer and a little stiffer feeling. The Duo Jet necks must be hand sanded because they feel like they are form fitted for my hand. The Electromatic Jet's neck felt closer to a 5120 but a little thicker. My Duo Jet is also finished in Nitro and doesn't have that plastic feel like the Electromatic Jets do.

Bottom line, if you played the Electromatic Jet and thought it was pretty cool, you will be blown away by the Pro-line version. Besides Musician's Friend, Rocky at Streetsounds will give you 3 days to try one and will take it back if you don't like it and they are a sponser here so everyone wins.

Only one of the last five guitars I've purchased have I actually had in my hands prior to the purchase (none of which have I returned nor wish to sell since purchase). Knowing what you like (feature-wise), knowing what you want and why, being knowledgeable about pickups and what they sound like in a particular body style, and brand familiarity really help in being able to purchase w/o playing first. But even then it's a leap of faith b/c you never know what you're really getting or what condition it is going to be in or if the person or dealer is reputable. Fortunately I have yet to be burned so that may make me a bit more cavalier about buying sight unseen. But research, research, research via forums, user reviews, dealer reviews can be of great help and may calm some of your fears.

If you're going to leap before you look, I will second the idea to go with one of the GDP sponsors . . . I have yet to hear about any bad dealings with any of them. And I suggest you get a Dyna Jet!

I tested Pro jets before I bought my 6121 blind from Street Sounds.

I liked the general attributes if the jet and with the 14 day return policy I felt comfortable pulling the trigger.

Glad I did.

Not sure where you live, but if you come to just about any of the Roundups around the country, you can demo just about any modern Gretsch imaginable.

At the Nashville Roundup, it's insane the number of modern Gretsch guitars we have at those things, and just about anyone will let you demo theirs.

Some of the site sponsors are pretty good about customer service & familiar with the product line & guitars in general. You might give them a call & tell them your concerns. They would likely set the guitar up how you like it before shipping it to you. If they have to order it it, they would likely also go over the guitar for you to check for anything out of spec.

In the old days, It was a lot easier. There wasn't nearly as many brands on the market and very few imports, those usually sold through department store catalogs.

The big five were Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone and Guild. Dealers who couldn't carry Gibson because of franchise area protection sold Epiphone and Guild was usually offered by most dealers through the Targ & Dinner wholesale distributor catalog.

Thus, when you walked into a fairly sized music store Gibson, Fender and Gretsch were prominent and big box stores didn't exist.

Everybody tried the guitar before they bought it, today it's "let's shop for best price on the Internet" while sitting in your underwear.

This has pluses and minuses. The big box stores give you a long test drive with no hassle returns, but you can't fall in love with a guitar on a monitor screen.

If I had waited until I could actually try a pro-line Gretsch in person before I bought one, I likely would still be without a Gretsch. It all depends on what's available near you. I had to do my research and roll the dice. It helped that I bought a 5120 first, modded it, liked it, and was able to guess with reasonable certainty that if I liked the 5120, a 6120 would be right up my alley.

Left handed = I never get to try out a guitar before I buy it. They all have to be ordered online. This tactic has only failed me once, in the form of an acoustic I just didn't bond with.

If I go to a GC or any other guit shop for that matter, I get to play a squier strat, epi LP and sometimes a tele.

Usually, its 3 different colours of the same damn squier strat.

I smurfing hate strats.

Spleen138 and I live on the same planet.

The Intergoogle has revealed the number of lefties out there and given us choices heretofore only available at a shop in a strip mall in a Houston, TX suburb. (Really.) Online buying is quite necessary for us portside players.

The good news is that guitar manufacturing nowadays is remarkably consistent, and consistently good. The idea of weeding through a pile of guitars to find just the right one is now pretty outmoded (though some players still claim to feel sufficiently significant variations from one example to the next; my hands aren't so sensitive).

I have no fear of ordering online, especially from our sponsors. The low likelihood that I'll receive a dog, combined with reasonable return/exchange policies (which I only invoked once with a sponsor, then changed my mind and had them send the guitar back to me!), just plain works for me.

Paul/FF909

The last 8 guitars i've puchased i've bought over the net,there just isn't any here to try. Out of the 8 i've not bonded with one,but i still have it.

I'd really like to try out a silver sparkle 57 Dyna Jet,but the last Jet i had my hands on had Filters ,and that was back in 2003,and it was used!

The only other Jet i've had in my hands was back in 1990,and that was a red Firebird with Filters.

I want Dyna's dammit!

Well my last guitar was bought without trying it out first. Of course I padded my chances by getting a 5120 the same time. Knowing i liked the 5120 a lot and hoping the 6118t-ltv did not blow it out of the water I knew one was going back. Needless to say i still have the 6118. Hmm imagine that

Anyways i have found a new GRETSCH 250 5010 506 G5235T PRO JET ELEC W/BIGSBY WAL STAIN BLK TOP on clearance for $339. nice little discount from regular price so i guess i cant go wrong with it.

As always thx for all the info and insight.

You can take a chance and order one online, or if you really want to try before you buy (frankly, GC is a waste of time for most Gretsch stuff IMO). try the shops listed below, since it sounds like you're in the upper midwest:

Chicago Music Exchange (although IMO, they are bit on the pricey side, they do have a pretty decent selection)

Cream City Music (in the Milwaukee area - they have a showroom dedicated to Gretsch guitars [I've bought several from them])

Dave's Guitar Shop (in LaCrosse, WI - also a major Gretsch dealer)

what i've done is visited a major Gretsch stockist when i was in that part of the US--Dave's in my case--so i could try out models of Gretsch i wouldn't otherwise be able to play. astonishingly, there's nowhere in the SF Bay Area where you can find a comprehensive selection of Gretsches. at Dave's, i was able to put my hands on a White Falcon with Filters, a Dyna Jet, and a 1958 Country Gentleman RI within minutes of each other. having done that, i know how much i like each model and which would be best for what i want, and can order from wherever i wish; i'm going to give Dave's preference and the chance to price-match because they were so great to me when i showed up there a half-hour before closing looking like something the Manson Family dragged in.

I must've played about every Gretsch in a 30 mile radius from where I live (luckily there were a good number of different models around). And I got to try a good couple more when Ric12string generously invited me in his Gretsch-dungeon when I happened to be near where he lives.

My advice: get in touch with a GDP member near you and see if you can try the models you're looking for that way.

After that I ended up buying my pro-lines online, without having tried the actual instrument (one new, two used). That has worked out really well for me.

I've only played one of the six guitars that I own before they were purchased.

Of the ones I've sold, I played 3 of 4 sold. Seems I have better Lukas with guitars I purchase BEFORE playing.

Reminds me of a visit to Guitar Center when I was getting close to pulling the trigger.

All they had in stock were G5120's ( I have a G5125) on the showroom floor. I approached a sales rep to see if they had any Hot Rods in stock or if any other stores did. He looked in the database and none were to be found in the vicinity.

He did have a used G6120 DSW he gladly showed me.

Then he made the comment, "Yeah we don't really stock prolines anymore. The Electromatics sell really well. Besides anybody who wants a proline will just buy one and not need to play it, they know what they are."

WOW, I thought. There may be some truth to that, but as a guitar player and willing to sink in some serious $$ on a guitar I'd definately want to try it out or at least a similar one. At that point, I left the store.

there's a local store here in Knoxville that now stocks pretty much Gretsch only. I asked them about the Corvette and they just looked at me funny, "don't get much call for them in these parts" Never touched a Corvette, would love to feel how thin they are.

I purchased a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Gibson ES-339, a Hamer Newport, a Fender Tele Deluxe, a Fender Duo Sonic, a Parker jazz box and a Gretsch 6120 Jr2 blind. The only one I didn't like was the Parker, and that was because the jazz/flat wound thing just isn't for me. That being said, every acoustic I've purchased has been only after playing it, due to the wild variation in tone. Additionally, NEVER buy a Gibson SG or older Strat/Tele blind, there are many different neck "feels" for them and you never know what you'll get. Bottom line: if you buy top notch, you'll probably like it, and if you don't you can sell it.

Was thinking of getting a Jet. So what are you supposed to do? Thats right try one out before you buy. So i take a trip to Chicago and hit up 6 Guitar Centers. Amazing enough of, out of all the stores only 2 had a Jet and they were the $384 pro Jet with no Bigsby. Now don't get me wrong Gretsch makes some very good economy guitars. G5120 for example. However their economy Jet was not as nice. On both floor models that they had i now have groves on my figures from the very rough frets. To bad they were not as smooth as the 5120s that I have played. Anyways I digress. So I know if i get a Jet i want one with a Bigsby. Whether it is a Pro, Duo, or Power is still to be seen. Or should I say felt and heard. So where do I try them out? most independents that i have visited carry Fender and Ibanez. I know GC has a good return policy and I have used it a lot before i bought my 6118T-LTV 125 Annie. Still the question remains, whats a man supposed to do to get his hands on a guitar to play and ultimately fall in love with? If only I had been playing for years and years and hang around with dozens of players with numerous axes that I could play. Neither of those cases are true though. Oh well bummer.

I wouldn't judge all the Electromatic Jets from the G5410.

Absolutely perfect, smooth frets on my G5445T Dbl Jet.