[rh4blade]

Hi guys and gals, I'm looking at either a gretsch Duojet with filter-trons or a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Any advice or info on these guitars would be appreciated in regard to versatility. I play everything from Rock to blues, jazz and country.

Thanks once again for your time.

[Ultimate Garage Band]

This is more of a personal choice. I'd go w/the Gretch.

[Lcjones]

Ditto, UGB.....

A Tennessean would be nice too! A red one!

**
Les

[rh4blade]

I realise it's a preference thing, but what are you're reasons for going for the gretsch. Also have you had any experience playing rock on one.

Thanks again for your time

[Ultimate Garage Band]

I'm not partial to Gibson because I know I'm paying an inflated price due to the product name and their quality generally ranges anywhere from 'ok' to horrible. If I'm in the market for a quality, made in the USA, electric guitar, Carvin gets my money every time.

I guess for me it's a value issue.

At this point in my playing life, I can make pretty much any guitar sound like I want it to because the tone is ultimatly in the fingers, both on the strings and the knobs of the guitar and amp. I own guitars that cost $1000 or more but I gig every weeek w/one that I bagged in a pawn shop for $50 and then spent $85 on used pickups and new tuners. My currently weekly gig has me handing my guitar to total strangers to play and I'm not going to do that w/my nice guitars, so I put together a used 'beater' to fit the bill. That guitar plays and sounds so well I could have sold it to a guy last week if I wanted to, he was that impressed with it.

[Rockerbob]

I think the Gretsch and the Les Paul are really very different. In feel and in tone. Personally, I think I would prefer the Gretsch for tone most of the time, but sometimes I do like the Lester sound. I'm more of a single coil (Fender type) guy most of the time. My preference for the Gretsch over the Les Paul is likely because I get more "Twang" from the Gretsch.

[rh4blade]

Thanks again for the info. I've heard that the gretsches are a little hard to keep in tune. Do you know if this is just the vintage ones or does it apply to the reissues as well? Over here in the land down under the prices for guitars is generally super inflated, the Gretsch retails for $4500 and the Les Pauls about the same. I have managed to track down a new duo jet for $2795 and a used Les Paul for $2400, so the gretsch for me is the dearer option. I'll be honest, I tried the 57 reissue duojet unplugged next to a lespaul studio plus, and the paul felt like a piece of mud next to it. I guess it's mainly the tuning and whether the guitar will hold up well under heavy distortion (not metal though, and I already know that the gretsch sounds beautiful for jazz).

[737blues]

I don't know if the prices here are really that much inflated rh4, it's just supply and demand, but if you can afford a Gretsch I'd go for it. Beautiful guitar and I reckon it's value will increase, more so than a Gibson. What UGB said about Gibson IMHO.