In 1999 the existence of the budget Synchromatic line was one of the biggest mysteries of the modern Gretsch era. The revered Synchromatic name, traditionally reserved for high-end acoustic archtops, was plastered across a dizzying array of budget-priced, Korean-made guitars. Even more baffling, the new Synchros were near-clones of the Electromatic and Historic lines introduced at the same time.
Nobody — not even Gretsch — could keep track of all the overlapping models, and the short-lived Synchromatic series was merged into a single (and much-improved) Electromatic line-up in 2003.
39 different models
and 21 examples
are in the Gretsch-GEAR database, including
Bo Diddley, Double Jet, Elliot Easton Jet, Jet Baritone, Jet Bass, Jet Club, Jet II, Jet Pro, Junior Jet, Junior Jet Bass, Junior Jet Bass II, Mini Diddley, Sparkle Jet, Sparkle Jet Double Neck, Sparkle Jet with F-Hole
and
Standard Folk
models.
The 1121 held up the bottom end of the modern made-in-Korea Synchromatic line with a sunburst-finished laminated hardwood body. You'll see Synchromatic on the headstock, differentiating it from ...
Black finish, Laminated Hardwood body, Synchromatic name on headstock. Pre-FMIC models have one Gretschbucker pickup, FMIC models (2004-2005) have one Grestch single coil (lap steel style) pickup.
Red finish, Laminated Hardwood body, Synchromatic name on headstock. Pre-FMIC models have one Gretschbucker pickup, FMIC models (2004-2005) have one Grestch single coil (lap steel style) pickup.
Blue finish, Laminated Hardwood body, Synchromatic name on headstock. Pre-FMIC models have one Gretschbucker pickup, FMIC models (2004-2005) have one Grestch single coil (lap steel style) pickup.
Tangerine (orange) finish, Laminated Hardwood body, Synchromatic name on headstock. Pre-FMIC models have one Gretschbucker pickup, FMIC models (2004-2005) have one Grestch single coil (lap steel style) pickup.
Purple finish, Laminated Hardwood body, Synchromatic name on headstock. Pre-FMIC models have one Gretschbucker pickup, FMIC models (2004-2005) have one Grestch single coil (lap steel style) pickup.
Satin Amber finish, Maple top, Luan body, 2 Gretschbucker pickups, double cutaway, tone switch, Synchromatic headstock logo, identical to model 2910 except for headstock logo.
Black finish, Maple top, Luan body, 2 Gretschbucker pickups, double cutaway, tone switch, Synchromatic headstock logo, identical to model 2921 except for headstock logo
Red finish, Maple top, Luan body, 2 Gretschbucker pickups, double cutaway, tone switch, Synchromatic headstock logo, identical to model 2923 except for headstock logo
Silver Sparkle finish, Maple top, Luan body, 2 Gretschbucker pickups, double cutaway, tone switch, Synchromatic headstock logo, identical to model 2922 except for headstock logo
Black Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, identical to 2615 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Silver Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, identical to 2616 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Blue Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, identical to 2617 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Gold Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, identical to 2618 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Red Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, identical to 2619 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Black Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, single F-hole in top, identical to 2625 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Silver Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, single F-hole in top, identical to 2626 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Blue Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, single F-hole in top, identical to 2627 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Gold Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, single F-hole in top, identical to 2628 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Red Sparkle finish, Laminated Hardwood body, wraparound bridge, Synchromatic name on headstock, single F-hole in top, identical to 2629 Electromatic model except for headstock logo
Firebird Red finish, Rectangular Luan body, 2 Gretschbucker pickups, wraparound tailpiece, Synchromatic headstock logo. Pre-FMIC version of the 5810 model. Identical to model 2810 except for headstock logo.
Firebird Red Finish, one Gretsch mini-humbucker pickup, 21.4" scale, Rectangular Luan body, Synchromatic headstock logo. Pre-FMIC version of the 5850 model. Identical to model Electromatic 2850 except for ...
The Synchromatic version of the Elliot Easton Jet. The 1570 was available in 2002 and 2003 only before becoming the 5570 Electromatic Easton Jet when Gretsch dropped the ...
Inexplicably, this parlor-sized acoustic was named the "Standard Folk". The natural-finish 1653 came with a spruce top, nato neck, body and sides, and was topped with the standard ...
Inexplicably, the parlor-sized, red-finished 1659 acoustic was named the "Standard Folk". Like the natural-finish 1653, the 1659 came with a spruce top, nato neck, body and sides, and ...
The Synchromatic Junior Jet Bass was available in black and black burst finish and featured one humbucking pickup. It was identical to the concurrent Electromatic model 2202 except ...
A long-scale, two-pickup, Jet-styled bass. Looks just like the more-common Jr. Jet Bass, only with a bit more neck. Identical to the Electromatic 2232 Jet Bass.
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