Errata, Answers & Responses
Note that tomorrow morning - well, later THIS morning - the official NAMM reportage thread will begin, which Mike Lewis will link to Gretsch's MySpace page. I expect to keep all coverage in that one.
I forgot to mention. I played the DL Falcon, and noticed the action seemed a bit high and the bridge looked worn. Huh! Turns out it's the ONLY DL Falcon in existence at the moment. The way artist models work is that prototypes are sent TO the artist for his play and approval.
In the case of this model, the prototype flat nailed it, David Lee loved it, and has been playing this very guitar for the past several months. Joe had to get it back for the show. The action is set to his specs (glad I didn't adjust it...) and the bridge has come by its wear quite honestly.
I'm set up to record. A Fender product manager has graciously loaned me an Executive GDEC, the sampling/play-along amp. (The Executive is finished in gorgeous sunburst.) I have it set up in the IT den, running from its headphone out into the little Roland/Edirol R-09 recorder, so I can record pretty much silently (though at some annoyance to the dedicated video editors sharing the space with me).
Still learning the G-DEC and playing with amp samples - but clips will start tomorrow. (I experimented with the DL Falcon, but didn't get it dialed in enough to provide a sound clip. I do know I like the fat frets. I can get along with skinnier, but it turns out fat frets just FEEL right to me.)
Teasing and Tickling... The giveaways Joe has planned are ... well, just you wait and see. WELL worth your time, I can assure you. Magnitudes beyond the last shows.
And how about some live music, performed at Fender's Front Line stage in the pavilion and posted here for you to hear? Before the weekend is out, how do The Shack Shakers, GE Smith, Dick Dale, and The Ventures sound? I'll do me best.
And to your cards and letters.
DrDiabolo mentions Etymotic ER-6i headphones as an alternative to iPhone buds. I appreciate the specific suggestion; it's what I was hoping for. Now if I get some free moments I can see if Etymotic is at the show. Thanks.
Sorensen, ever the smartass, says Maybe it's just a big practical joke to leave you stranded at Orange County airport. BTW, I saw you toss that apple-core out of the plane as you flew over Arizona. Always appreciate your good thoughts, Mark. And I was trying to HIT you. You mean I missed?
stjohn wonders exactly how many Gretsch's I'm coming home with... Oh...none. No room on the plane, man.
He also says Iphones Rock, don't they? My wife got one, and I never would have thought I would be GAS'ing for one, but crap they're cool. And they certainly do. I wouldn't have believed it before getting one, but all the features are so much easier to use than on other phones that they actually GET used. No manuals, no tweaking or twiddling. I didn't scratch the surface of what my last phone could do, because it was miserable to use. The iPhone has actually materially improved my "quality of life." I'm a happier person now!
Curt has iPhone suggestions too: turn them around 180 degrees and wrap the wire around the back of the ear. I'll try it.
Shuie says don't forget to mention the dearth of Dyna lefties to the 'man'!! I'm putting it on the question list now.
sassy wonders if any more three quarter scale Gretsches are being made, and needs a cool Gretsch TShirt. You mean like Americanas? And I can assure you plenty of chances to win a TShirt!
Calacas REALLY likes the looks of that G. Love Corvette, and wants an in-depth review of its feel and tone. I can promise that. Be up early!
Boyko wants lots of Electromatic coverage – and will get it. If you see an Electromatic amp lying around, unwatched, they're small enough to smuggle out and would fit great in my dorm next year!
Shhhh. Look, man, this is a secret...but...you might be able to smuggle one out yourself. SHHH!
Pappy, who's watching the GDP instead of his butt, wants to know
Is that the litho that comes with the DL?
Hmm? What you mean, litho? The poster? Does a poster come with each one? I'll find out.
And what is the green sig next to it? The Bono Irish Falcon. That entire wall is signature models. Out of respect for their artists, Gretsch always displays every one at every trade show.
Ric12string asks Is it safe to assume that Fred Jr. doesn't want anyone laying his grubby mitts on that G6120-125? And I haven't worked up the nerve to ask yet. I suspect it sounds little different than any other 6120 with TVs, though, so I would only be playing it to say I'd done so. And I can't afford to drop that one!
Proteus, the back and sides of the Anniversary G6118T-125 almost look like the green of the earlier Annies, but I had understood that the sides and back are the metallic gold. Does the gold really predominate, or is it closer to an Annie green?
I still don't have good pics of the color of that model, and I haven't had it down to get the back and sides under neutral light. My impression is that it's definitely gold, much like the gold on the discontinued 6120 Golden Anniversary, which skews a little greenish under some lights.
In the tenth photo, is the gold guitar on the right the Keith Scott model? Yes. A very handsome guitar. Metallic gold with Dynas? What's not to like about that?
In the twelfth photo, is the Duo Jet the relic'd G6128TDS-R? From the photos that Joe posted earlier, I couldn't really see the relic'd features very well. Can you get any closeups that show us what makes this guitar so special? In what respects would this guitar differ from my G6128T-1957? It is the relic; some of the marks which on other pics you'd assume were reflections are, on that guitar, dings in the paint. It looks like a used guitar, I promise. I will get more pics.
Jimbodiddley suggests Shure ec2 sound-isolating in-earbuds for the iPod. Another good suggestion; I KNOW Shure is at the show.
(Oh, when will the iPhone come to Canada?) Oh man, don't ask me that one. I think MacWorld is still going on up in San Francisco though. Maybe Steve will answer.
Mark S(ynchro) abjectly begs How about some pics of Gretsch basses Tim? Right, like I'm going to do anything for your after your wisecracks.
K-Wad admits
I work down the street from the convention center. If I sneak around back, do you think you could kick the door open when no one is looking?
Well...not now that you've advertised it on an internet page!
Michael6120 wants me to
please have a look to see if the chris cheney sig. falcon is at NAMM?
Well...I haven't seen it. Unless it's a surprise to be rolled out later in the week, I don't think it's happened. I'll check with The Powers though.
Diggey reminds me to get pictures of bracing in the Jag along with better color shots. I sure will if it's possible.
And thanks to all for your good wishes; I really do feel like I'm here on y'all's behalf.
And that's enough for one day. Grab your coffee and McMuffins; the day starts early.
j/k
