Playing hard rock/Alternative on a Gretsch hollow body

  • Thread starter Thread starter blackba
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blackba

blackba

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I have been watching the foo fighters latest video "pretenders" as well as a VMA rehearsal performance, and the guitar player is using a Gretsch Hollow body and getting some decent heavy tones.

I have a Gretsch Brian Setzer hot rod, pre Fender buyout. The guitar is great for lower gain stuff, but just sounds too harsh and trebley if you try to play any kind of decent gain. I typically run the bridge pickup, as the neck is usually too bassy.

Any tips or ideas how the Foo fighters are getting that sound....
 
I love playing an ES-335 into a high gain amp. It just sounds massive, thick and woody. Mine has Seth Lover humbuckers which can get bright and harsh on the top end. I recently tried a different 335 which had a Fralin humbucker in the bridge and it sounded much better to me - thicker, smoother with no annoying high end.

If you like the guitar I'd suggest trying some different pickups. There a pain to swap out in a hollow body though...
 
I turn the tone control down on my 335 to about 6-7 on the bridge pup.
 
I used to use my Gretsch 6120-1960 reissue in high gain rock all the time...You just need to use the tone knob, or watch the presence/treble a bit on the amp. I miss the instant feedback of that guitar...It could really howl on command.
 
My model has no tone knob, just a volume control.

I really like the pickups for the low gain stuff, but for the higher gain stuff they just aren't cutting it, maybe I will try again.

I was just surprised to see the guitarist from Foo Fighters using a similar guitar....

Here is the current model, mine is very similar, just not made by Fender. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=517761


I didn't buy this guitar to play hard rock and have regulated it to low gain duty, but I am reconsidering, hence the thread....
 
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