1956 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, Black
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At a Glance:
Model: 6128 Duo Jet
Year: 1956
Finish: Black
Body: Mahogany, arched laminate top
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood, block inlays
Frets: Original in good condition
Hardware: Correct Chrome, added Bigsby
Pickups: Original DeArmond Dynasonics
Electronics: Correct and appear undisturbed
Pots: Week 40 of 1956
Modifications: Bigsby fitted (Original tailpiece included)
Case: Correct Gretsch hardshell case
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1956 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, Black
- Unit price
- / per
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1956 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, BlackDescription
A superb mid-’50s Gretsch Duo Jet, finished in its classic black top and classy appointments - an excellent alternative to the more obvious solidbodies of the period.
Introduced in 1953, the Duo Jet was Gretsch’s first serious entry into the solidbody market, arriving in response to Gibson’s Les Paul and the growing success of Fender’s Telecaster. In typical Gretsch fashion, however, it was never quite a conventional solidbody. With its lightweight chambered construction, glued-on arched laminate top and DeArmond pickups, the Duo Jet has a voice and look very much of its own.
This example is a very late block inlay model before the switch to humptop inlays in late-'56/'57. It's in excellent condition overall, particularly for a guitar of this age. There are a few small knocks and light signs of use, but the body presents extremely well and certainly does not look its 60-plus years. The laminate top is in excellent shape, the binding remains clean and intact, and there are no signs of breaks, resets or structural repairs.
The neck is a real highlight, with a comfortable feel and no evidence of repair or reset. The Rosewood fingerboard is in great condition, as are the original frets, and overall the guitar plays very nicely.
Hardware is also in very good order, with only light signs of age and use. A Bigsby has been fitted at some stage, which really suits the guitar both visually and practically. The original Gretsch tailpiece is included in the case and could be reinstated easily. That said, the Bigsby looks fantastic on the guitar, so we have left it exactly as it is.
Electrically, everything appears correct and undisturbed, with no signs of solder disturbance. The pots date to week 40 of 1956 and the original DeArmond Dynasonic pickups sound superb: clear, open and well-balanced, with all the attack and sparkle that makes these early Gretsch's so distinctive.
Tonally, this is a hugely inspiring guitar. The lightweight chambered body is lively and resonant, while the Dynasonics give it a broad and very usable range of sounds, from bright and twangy through to woody, full and surprisingly powerful. It has plenty of Gretsch character, but with enough focus and bite to make it a genuine contender against any mid-’50s solidbody.
A seriously cool early Duo Jet in excellent condition, with great originality, a superb feel and a fantastic voice. Sometimes, a Gretsch really is all you need.
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At a Glance:
Model: 6128 Duo Jet
Year: 1956
Finish: Black
Body: Mahogany, arched laminate top
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood, block inlays
Frets: Original in good condition
Hardware: Correct Chrome, added Bigsby
Pickups: Original DeArmond Dynasonics
Electronics: Correct and appear undisturbed
Pots: Week 40 of 1956
Modifications: Bigsby fitted (Original tailpiece included)
Case: Correct Gretsch hardshell case
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.