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Report from Japan

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- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 2:53 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Greetings! Joe Carducci here reporting to you from Japan. Stay tuned as I cover my travels from the land of the new rising sun.

First in store is coverage of the "Yokohama Music Fair". Think NAMM show... only it's OPEN to the public! Folks are able to pay an admission fee to see all the newest & greatest musical goods from the BIGGEST (and smallest) names in the industry.

From Yokohama I'm headed to Tokyo to visit the offices of our friends at the Japanese Gretsch distributor, Kanda Shokai. Also planned in Tokyo are visits to local music stores.

From there I'm headed to Nagoya to visit more good friends (more like family) at the Gretsch Guitar Factory, Terada. Yes, you're all invited for a personally guided factory tour that will be published in this tread.

Lots of images and groovy contest prizes! From the very cool... to the very bizarre, you'll see it right here on the GDP!
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:07 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

"That Great Gretsch Sound" was prominently displayed at the Kanda Shokai booth.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:12 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Exclusive to the Japanese market, an Electromatic Corvette in WHITE!

Wha-da-ya think?
- Rated: 18 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:19 p.m. dave w:

Wha-da-ya think?

I THINK YOU NEED TO BRING THEM IN TO THE US!!!!
- Rated: 93 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:23 p.m. Pappy:

Joe, it seems like a lot of folks want white guitars here and it seems like Gretsch is all too ready to make them available for different countries and I was just curious if you could divulge why not the US?

And I'm super excited to fully exploit Bax's new click and see full sized pics with this thread. Japan's pretty much my favorite place ever and a Gretsch thing going down there is just too awesome. Keep the great pics coming, Joe!
- Rated: 33 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:26 p.m. RepentOrPerish:

Joe....any pics of the fabled deep cherry stain 5120 ??? (pleese)
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:31 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

In celebration of Kanda Shokai's 60th Anniversary, we produced a "limited production" G6134 Penguin in SILVER SPARKLE. Notice displayed in the background is another Kanda Shokai 60th Anniversary "limited production" model, a G6118T in SILVER SPARKLE. - Sorry, these are for the Japanese market only.
- Rated: 67 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:37 p.m. Antik:

Lots of great restaurants in Yokohama. Especially for Chinese food.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:39 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Electromatic G5120 in ORANGE. Notice the pickguard is silver instead of CLEAR, as the U.S. version.
- Rated: 18 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:40 p.m. dave w:

Sorry, these are for the Japanese market only.

I bet they have a red DC Jet over there, too...
- Rated: 29 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:40 p.m. jetbunny:

That's it. I'm going to Japan tomorrow.

Sayonara!
- Rated: 67 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:40 p.m. Antik:

G6118T in SILVER SPARKLE??!!
- Rated: 17 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:42 p.m. Sunshine:

I hope that there aren't much of "Bad Gateway" errors...
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:47 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

No worries, the G6134 Penguin is still offered in WHITE!
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:52 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

A smile of approval for the G5246T Double Jet w/Bigsby.
- Rated: 212 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 3:54 p.m. Proteus:

But what's the pearly/sparkly white Jet with gold hardware to the left and behind the young lady holding the orange 5120? What pickups are on it?

Gotta say, in a global economy I don't understand the concept of guitars for just one market, and unavailable to the others.

I'm sure there's a reason, but it's not immediately evident to me.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:01 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Wouldn't you say this Brian Setzer G6136SLBP "BLACK PHOENIX" is in good hands?
- Rated: 93 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:12 p.m. Pappy:

When I was at the Gretsch roadshow last weekend I talked to Fred III for a little while and then wandered back over to the Phoenix (that's no doubt my next Gretsch down the road) and Fred stopped talking to a guy to call out to me "GREAT choice! Brian plays the heck out of that thing," and while I wasn't shocked that he would say that I was shocked he would interrupt a conversation to say it and since he seems a little mysterious about which model he favors from the current lineup I took it as a little wink.

I mean, who DOESN'T like the Phoenix?
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:35 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Proteus said: But what's the pearly/sparkly white Jet with gold hardware to the left and behind the young lady holding the orange 5120? What pickups are on it?
The guitar you're referring to is another Japanese "limited production" Electromatic G5238 Pro Jet in WHITE SPARKLE with gold hardware. The pickups are STOCK with gold plated covers.
- Rated: 212 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:41 p.m. Proteus:

Joe, man – an awful lot of us here are WHITE people. A bunch of us like white guitars! Bring 'em on over.

(I won't mention the vintage white 25.5" 6122 doublecut with Dynas idea again.)
- Rated: 93 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:45 p.m. Pappy:

Joe, would you mind taking a picture of the back of the Setzer relic? I'm curious what the neck wear looks like.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:48 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

In another exhibit hall was "The Premium Guitar Show". This was more like a vintage guitar exhibit/swap meet where vendors were set up to sell old school & used "custom shop" collectable guitars. Attendees are able to buy guitars right there on the spot and take them home that day.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:49 p.m. Pappy:

Oh man, Joe. Surely you have pics!
- Rated: 59 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 4:56 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:

Offered at the Premium Guitar Show was a vendor selling Gretsch "Custom Shop" AND Bigsby guitars.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Nov 3, 2007 5:12 p.m. Drew Morrison:

Nice picture Joe. Those Bigsby and orange 6120 guitars look very beautiful.

Yours

Drew