JefferySmith Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I assume that this is a full hollowbody (as in very thick, more so than a Byrdland?). It has a nice look to it, sort of Gretsch-like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Boy, what a classic beauty. I wonder if they ever had a period where the Bigsby was offered as an option on the originals? I'm assuming they must have at some point, seeing as they produced them for so long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Here is more information about...... http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1685 Peter You are making me seriously GASy. The only jazz box I have is a cheap Washburn. And the new Swingerster is short scale, unique for Epiphone (and normal for Gretsch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthemBassMan Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 -All I can say is, WOW! L8R, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I like the red one! Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Jeffery Smith wrote: You are making me seriously GASy. The only jazz box I have is a cheap Washburn. And the new Swingerster is short scale, unique for Epiphone (and normal for Gretsch). Unique for Epiphone and normal for Gretsch??? Did you mean the scale length, or the overall design? It's the same scale length as the Joe Pass Emperor II, Casino, ES-175 reissue and Zephyr Regent (not to mention Dots, Sheratons and solidbodies). And the parallel-series wiring scheme is pretty unique for any company on a production model. The only "normal for Gretsch" feature I see is the orange finish. (Gretsch makes both 24.6" and 25.5" scale lengths) Otherwise, it looks like a clear attempt to compete directly with the Gretsch Electromatic series, without actually coming up with a new design, since the body and neck are really a Joe Pass in casual clothing. Has anybody here played one yet? I'm curious whether the pickups sound significantly different from the Joe Pass humbuckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenrirlupus Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I think i'd actually rather see a "dot swingster" with the same pickups and the bigsby, but better fret access, sustain, and feedback resistance... and i hate that orange... the black and the red finishes look nice though... i guess that orange guitar isn't getting shot if it goes hunting though (that is, unless someone gets annoyed with the person playing it...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthemBassMan Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 -No way, man. That orange is COOL! Looks like the old Gretsch Country Gentleman orange. L8R, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesman345 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 The Swingster is definitely a cool guitar. While googling various on-line music stores, I came across L.A. Music, which pictured this as a Swingster: It's actually an Epiphone Elitist Country Deluxe (BIG difference), which used to be called the "Chet Atkins". I really like the Gretsch Electromatics, but my real favorite is this baby, my Zephyr Blues Deluxe::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I like the red one! Notes +1 (I've been overusing this lately) I like the series/parallel wiring that will provide a greater choice of sounds and the looks of the Bigsby wire handle, but think this hollowbody guitar should have been made with access covers on the back and without f-holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 -No way' date=' man. That orange is COOL! Looks like the old Gretsch Country Gentleman orange. L8R, Matt[/quote'] I'm with you Matt. I think the orange looks killer. :D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I like: The "Chet" trem arm ... I'm not crazy about: The lack of a pickguard ... I'm not sure about: The pickups. I know what they're supposed to look like, but I wonder if it's just cosmetics? This is an interesting one! The members at the Gretsch Forum are laughing they're asses off, but who cares. The Joe Pass is a great playing guitar, so this Swingster has a good base to build off of in my opinion. The pups worry me a bit, but the Electromatic Gretsches don't sound all that "Gretschy" without a pup change either (I own an orange 5120, so I can say that). I hope we get some of these in at work, I'm really interested in checking them out! I just hope it's not all "looks" and that there is some "twang" built into these boxes! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svet Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I think it looks rather interesting and the push pull pots really have me jealous and intrigued! It seems to have a lot more options than my Gretsch 1957 6120 Chet Atkins! I have to go to my store today to pick up a foot switch for my Epiphone BC 30 so I'll see if they have the Swingster in Stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Jeffery Smith wrote: Unique for Epiphone and normal for Gretsch??? Did you mean the scale length' date=' or the overall design? It's the same scale length as the Joe Pass Emperor II, Casino, ES-175 reissue and Zephyr Regent (not to mention Dots, Sheratons and solidbodies). And the parallel-series wiring scheme is pretty unique for any company on a production model. The only "normal for Gretsch" feature I see is the orange finish. (Gretsch makes both 24.6" and 25.5" scale lengths) Otherwise, it looks like a clear attempt to compete directly with the Gretsch Electromatic series, without actually coming up with a new design, since the body and neck are really a Joe Pass in casual clothing. Has anybody here played one yet? I'm curious whether the pickups sound significantly different from the Joe Pass humbuckers.[/quote'] I was under the impression that the big acoustic archtops electrics by Epiphone tended to be 25" scale, while the thin models were 24.75". Bad deductive logic on my part. Most of the Gretsch line (at least all of my Gretsch guitars) are 24.6". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I like: The "Chet" trem arm ...I'm not crazy about: The lack of a pickguard ... I'm not sure about: The pickups. I know what they're supposed to look like' date=' but I wonder if it's just cosmetics? This is an interesting one! The members at the Gretsch Forum are laughing they're asses off, but who cares. [/quote'] The members of the Gretsch forum need to be aware that every Gretsch hollowbody with a single, rounded Venetian cutaway is a copy of the FIRST hollowbody with a a single, rounded Venetian cutaway, the Gibson L5CES. The Gretsch body shape is copied from Gibson. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 The Swingster is definitely a cool guitar. While googling various on-line music stores' date=' I came across L.A. Music, which pictured this as a Swingster: [img']http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss187/bluesman345/xxl_epiphone_elitist_country_deluxe.jpg[/img] It's actually an Epiphone Elitist Country Deluxe (BIG difference), which used to be called the "Chet Atkins". I wish the Swingster utilized the Country Deluxe body. There are enough Emperor or Joe Pass models out there. The Country Deluxe shape is a great full body design. They could do a plain top and figured top. I have seen one or two in wine and they are fantastic. Love the Bigsby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 And while I'm at it, don't those Gretsches have a couple of hum filtering pick ups on them? Copies of the humbucker, invented by--Gibson. Don't the Gretsches have some kind of, I don't know, adjustable bridge? Hmmm...looks like a copy of the one invented by--Gibson. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardog Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 i believe there is a member who pre-ordered. Maybe his can help on a personal review. Does anyone remember who that was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Not sure why the Gretsch folks would be laughing, since (in addition to what Red 333 has already stated) the Emperor is based on an original Epiphone design that they've produced on and off since the '30s, so it's not like they're exactly trying to rip off Gretsch or anything. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Not sure why the Gretsch folks would be laughing' date=' since (in addition to what Red 333 has already stated) the Emperor is based on an original Epiphone design that they've produced on and off since the '30s, so it's not like they're exactly trying to rip off Gretsch or anything. :) [/quote'] Well look ... like I said, it's not Gretsch, but members of a Gretsch forum that are chuckling. Let's face it, we forum-ites tend to be pretty fiercely loyal to our brand of choice, and there is no denying that this Swingster is very derivitive ... at least looks-wise. Fender folks are roaring at all the Gibson/Hendrix nonsense ... and we've done a fair bit of dumping on it ourselves. Many guitars are similar to each other in certain ways. Figuring out who copied who is a waste of time and does nothing to further he development of the instrument. Like I said, who cares? This Swingster is either going to be a good guitar or it's not, and isn't that what's important? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeladdie Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I like the red one! Notes Yah, me too! Looks like the Tennessean I stupidly sold a long time ago!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyonder Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Well look ... like I said' date=' it's not Gretsch, but members of a Gretsch forum that are chuckling.[/quote'] Sorry if you misunderstood my post, but when I referred to "Gretsch folks", I was actually referencing the forum members you had mentioned previously. And I do agree with your statement about "Who cares?". I just find it a bit odd that people would have an issue with a basic design that's been more or less mimicked to one degree or another by several companies over the years, especially since to the best of my knowledge and memory Gibby and Epiphone were two of the first biggies to use it. Unless I'm mistaken, Gretsch was actually just a bit of a late comer to the electric guitar party by a few years anyway, weren't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster007 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 i believe there is a member who pre-ordered. Maybe his can help on a personal review. Does anyone remember who that was? That member was me, I regret to inform all I have not recieved the guitar as of yet. DANG IT!!!!!! I do find it funny that there are gretsch players making chuckles at the guitar saying it is a rip off. I do not see how. The swingster has 20 frets, and 5120 has 22. a 5120 is all Maple, the swingser has a spruce top and maple back and sides. has a spruce top. Now the pickups look simalar, I have a feeling they come from the same Artec factory as the 5120, But the swingster has push pull coil taping the 5120 does not. The swingster also has bound f holes the 5120 does not. The swingster has a pinned bridge the 5120 does not, As you can see besides the fact they both come in orange they are very differant guitars. Now the biggest funny is the one thing no one on gretsch forums like to talk about is Chet Atkins in his later years was a Gibson player. He played gibson untill he past away. Then and only then after his death did the Atkins family sell the name back to gretsch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted October 14, 2009 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 That member was me' date=' I regret to inform all I have not recieved the guitar as of yet. DANG IT!!!!!! I do find it funny that there are gretsch players making chuckles at the guitar saying it is a rip off. I do not see how. The swingster has 20 frets, and 5120 has 22. a 5120 is all Maple, the swingser has a spruce top and maple back and sides. has a spruce top. Now the pickups look simalar, I have a feeling they come from the same Artec factory as the 5120, But the swingster has push pull coil taping the 5120 does not. The swingster also has bound f holes the 5120 does not. The swingster has a pinned bridge the 5120 does not, As you can see besides the fact they both come in orange they are very differant guitars. Now the biggest funny is the one thing no one on gretsch forums like to talk about is Chet Atkins in his later years was a Gibson player. He played gibson untill he past away. Then and only then after his death did the Atkins family sell the name back to gretsch. [/quote'] I have read that Chet didn't particularly like the bass characterstics of the Gretsch guitar, but Gretch and Chet Atkins are certainly permanently attached. I wish I could tell which recordings he did with each. The Poor People of Paris by Atkins sounds much twangier than his usual sound, and I don't know which guitar he used for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster007 Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 I have read that Chet didn't particularly like the bass characterstics of the Gretsch guitar' date=' but Gretch and Chet Atkins are certainly permanently attached. I wish I could tell which recordings he did with each. The Poor People of Paris by Atkins sounds much twangier than his usual sound, and I don't know which guitar he used for that. [/quote'] That is correct, when Gretsch first started out they only offered DeArmond pickups in all there guitars. Chet didn't like the bass responce. So the Filtertron was born. From what I have read Gretsch also would not make the guitar Chet really wanted to make. Gibson was willing to make that guitar for him. Chet switched to Gibson in the 70's or 80's, I am not sure the exact date. The song your wondering about was done on a gretsch 6120 with a Filtertron in the bridge and a DeArmond in the neck. unless I am wrong, and that only happens once a year.. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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