The Curious Case of the Gretsch Duo Jet

The Gretsch guitars we’ve come to know, love, and obsess over rose out of the company’s banjo and folk instrument–building success of the early 20th century. By the 1930s and ’40s, their Brooklyn factory was churning out archtops and acoustics even faster than the renowned drums that gave Gretsch its start. Models such as the 25, 35, 50, and Synchromatic, to name a few, were so well received that Gretsch soon began a gradual conversion of several models to feature electric pickups, introducing new hollowbody examples like the Electro II. Subsequently, Fred Gretsch Jr., heir to the company throne, devised a creative adaptation for this expanding market of forward-thinking instruments. But before that, something unexpected had happened.

The Fender Telecaster. Electric guitars — of solid wood? In 1951, some companies scrambled to the drawing boards to keep up with Fender’s unforeseen threat while others, like Gretsch, sat back and watched with suspicious eyes at the precarious marvel. But, once a company like Gibson entered the solidbody fray with the Les Paul Goldtop in 1952, it was game on, and Fred Gretsch Jr. was not about to be left out of the race.

In 1953, the outlandish mechanical and stylistic realms of the United States manufacturing industries were evolving rapidly and on course to collide. Steam was dead. Then was the age of diesel trains, jet engines, and cars that looked like rockets. Gretsch thought that guitars should advance, too, but without losing all the stylistic features that got their electrics this far. Wait a minute, go back — the Jet. That’s it! With two pickups, right? How about the Duo Jet? Yes — there’s the name!

So dawned the battle of Fender vs. Gibson vs. Gretsch and the curious journey of an unprecedented guitar model with its wheels still in motion to this day, nearly 70 years later. From the intriguing design elements to its unique tone, from the companionship of some iconic hardware to the musical inspiration for many more guitars and musicians, this often in-the-shadows axe is a legend that deserves retrospection. We’re beyond excited to dive into a story like no other about a guitar like no other from the company like no other. Let’s focus on the curious case of the Gretsch Duo Jet!

Iconic Guitar Shape: Let’s Lay the “Gretsch-Paul” to Rest

Unless you’re a Gretsch enthusiast, the Gibson influence will usually stick out fairly quickly when you come across a Duo Jet in the wild. You’ll likely ask, “Wait, is that a Les Paul?” only to further beat the dead horse. While you wouldn’t be alone in spotting the similarity, you might want to think twice before calling the Duo Jet simply a “Les Paul copy” or the daftly nicknamed “Gretsch-Paul.” In actuality, several fascinating stylistic elements set this guitar far apart from its Gibson counterpart. Pairing the designs of the past with contemporary playability is one trademark — and that’s before we even consider the electronics! The best way we can put it: the Gretsch Duo Jet is the original “solidbody archtop,” much more so than the Les Paul. Here’s why.

While the single-cut, hourglass-like body shape is a commonality between the two guitars, a closer look will reveal the key differences that give the Duo Jet its unique, larger archtop shape. First (to state the obvious), the Gretsch’s body is way bigger! Side by side, it’s easy to see how the jut of the Gretsch’s upper bout plateaus further outward than the Les Paul. On the downward slope past the waist of the guitar, the Duo Jet’s shape follows a softer and more gradual incline that reaches the lower bout in an asymmetric curve far less bubbly than the Gibson. Look at the shapes of the two models and now imagine transforming them into deeper, hollowbody guitars — the Duo Jet’s squarer silhouette is literally a pancaked archtop! It’s plain that Gretsch stuck to what they knew while entering this modern age of guitar making.

Additionally, the single “horn” cutaway of the Duo Jet is much milder than that of the Les Paul, offering a rounder appearance that slopes toward the neck at a lower point (further up the fretboard); this affords easier access to the higher frets. Aside from frequently sporting a Bigsby vibrato (more on that in just a bit!), the Duo Jet showcased several other exclusive body-design features, most notably the location of its master volume control. Positioned at the base of the cutaway, the Duo Jet’s master volume knob enabled adjustments on the fly with much faster access. Many pickup’d hollowbodies from before the Duo Jet’s time arrayed all volume and tone controls at the rear of the body, but later archtop innovations added these control knobs into the pickguard itself for playing convenience. It’s no mere coincidence that the master volume of the Duo Jet landed in the same vicinity!

Adding further to the uniqueness of the Duo Jet, its chrome hardware and wood-based Melita bridge added natural elegance while the “shark fin” pickguard took on a shorter, more teardrop-like shape than the Les Paul’s. Furthering the archtop influence, Gretsch chose to stick with the classic, oversize full-block inlays to mark each fret during the beginning of production. Its more-narrowly sculpted and modestly engineered headstock held traditional oval tuning pegs, supplying a downsized look up top that emphasized the Duo Jet’s unique body style beneath. Finally, the Duo Jet technically qualifies as a “short-scale” guitar! Due to its shorter, 24.5-inch to 24.6-inch scale-length neck, it comes in just shy of the accepted 24.75-inch standard-size cutoff (like on a Les Paul), which is quite intriguing given its longer strings, greater tailpiece-to-bridge distance, and overall larger size. However, this difference is minute enough that, in hand, it’s hardly noticeable in terms of playability.

The Duo Jet truly is a curious case — a fascinating combination of jet-age rockabilly meeting natural archtop blues — and it’s absolutely gorgeous! The more you look at it, the more captivating it is. Like a familiar shape you’ve known all your life, with charming details around each curve, it gives off a splendid energy and a vibe all its own.

Chambered Solidbody? Semi-hollowbody?

So, it’s a chambered solidbody? Wouldn’t that technically make it a semi-hollowbody? Well, yes — but, actually, no! With a maple top sealing off its all-mahogany back and sides and its bulkier and nontraditional interior wiring cavities, the 6128 body is officially a solidbody guitar. However, the term “semi-solidbody” has become somewhat synonymous with the model. Gretsch would later introduce guitars that fit that capped semi-hollowbody mold, like the Chet Atkins Nashville and Country Gentleman. Those were built in the traditional semi-hollow fashion but did not have legitimate soundholes. But why does all of this matter?

An inside look from Gretsch on the chambering of their Duo Jet builds.

For starters, a chambered guitar is going to reduce some weight! As opposed to the Les Paul (which didn’t see weight relief until the 1980s and chambering until the 2000s), the Duo Jet gave guitarists the milder bulk of a solidbody design with much less density. This allowed the use of heavier hardware, like a huge vibrato bar, netting a more comfortable experience for performers — almost putting it in the same vein as a semi-hollow! Additionally, the sonic impact is very impressive, too. With an internally open body, the depth and resonance of the Duo Jet’s natural, woody tone become quite evident when plugged in, simultaneously combatting the pesky feedback that you’d experience with a traditional, open-top hollow-bodied electric. It’s a win-win any way you look at it.

Putting the “Duo” in Duo Jet

For the first four years of production, the Duo Jet saw the inclusion of a pair of spanky DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups that really brought “that great Gretsch sound!” into their growing world of electric guitars. The Dynasonics showcased tremendous character, delivering sharp, glassy tone with incredible high-end twang accompanied by plenty of tight low-end body. The Duo Jet’s revolutionary spirit offered Gretsch’s first pickup selector switch, opening the door for an entirely new world of tone shaping. Moreover, the adjustable pole pieces were the first of their kind and offered an attractive degree of customization for guitarists who sought a bit more freedom to develop their instrument’s voice. Its unique control layout featured neck- and bridge-pickup volume knobs with master volume and tone control knobs, offering essentially a middle ground between Fender and Gibson controls at the time. Combined with the resonant, sustain-favoring elements of the mahogany body and neck, there wasn’t a guitar on the market that sounded or played like a Duo Jet. And that was just the start!

By 1957, Gretsch engineer Ray Butts, along with country star/endorsee Chet Atkins, had devised one of the first hum-canceling double-coil pickups ever produced: the Filter’Tron. This new breakthrough marked an end for the Dynasonic and the establishment of the warmer, fuller-sounding Filter’Tron as the new standard of sound for Duo Jets and a large chunk of Gretsch’s entire lineup. Since then, Duo Jets have seen several pickup changes over the years, such as the introduction of the Broad’Tron, Hilo’Tron, Super’Tron, and so forth, but those with Dynasonic and Filter’Tron pairings remained as steadfast examples of Gretsch’s finest and most versatile-sounding solidbodies — and they continue to do so today!

Commanding the Bigsby

We can’t write an article about the Duo Jet and not mention the Bigsby vibrato tailpiece! Unmistakable country-western chord dips and wailing blues dives alike come alive, courtesy of this stable, spring-loaded vibrato system that broke out in the 1950s as the most successful example of its kind. This vibrato bar helped set the tone (literally) for the high-tech and ultra-strong whammy bars that rose to fame in the forthcoming genres of hard rock and metal. And, while not every Duo Jet is equipped with this iconic option, it’s certainly safe to call it a major enduring feature of Gretsch’s sound and style. Interestingly, though, this pairing was not always such an exclusive association.

Originally, both Gibson and Fender had various Bigsby models specifically designed for Les Pauls and Telecasters, respectively. It wasn’t until a few years later that the Bigsby really caught on and rose to prominence — but not on the bodies of either of the two aforementioned brands! Gretsch guitars, Duo Jets and otherwise, simply demanded the action of a substantial, comfortable, and reliable tailpiece like the rocker-style Bigsby to complement their shape and the vivid twang of their premium pickups. Gretsch’s adoption and use of the Bigsby eclipsed that of other manufacturers so much that they ultimately purchased the name in 2019. So, sure, other guitars use them, but none command them quite like a Gretsch does. And, for the Duo Jet, it’s a clear match made in heaven.

Keeping Up with the Times

From the original blueprints through today, the Duo Jet has seen a number of interesting stylistic changes, some more experimental than others! A lot of these came soon after the first model was introduced back in 1953, the following year seeing upgrades like Gretsch’s iconic streamlined “T-roof” logo, which replaced the script logo on the headstock while adding an additional matching logo to the pickguard. A select few of the original ’53s even came with legitimate Gretsch drum badging on the lower bout — a prime example of a prototypical design leap at its finest! The blank control knobs started coming imprinted with the soon-to-be classic “G” arrow knobs while the oversize block inlays gained an additional marker on the first fret. And, after briefly morphing into a unique “bump-block” form, the fret markers of all Duo Jets ultimately resorted to discreet, thumb-side half-moons as the standard look going forward.

In addition to these somewhat minor changes, black was no longer the be-all, end-all finish for the Duo Jet! The earliest models had their laminated maple tops interestingly overlaid with hard plastic, as was customary on the company’s drum kits. Gretsch ultimately did away with this obscure drum-wrap top and resorted to pure laminate construction, but not before making a historic leap that would be replicated for decades. In 1954, Gretsch took a chance on the Sparkle Jet, a gleaming Duo Jet that glittered with a silvery metallic flake like something out of a sci-fi comic book and surely like nothing the musical world had seen before on a guitar. On drum kits? Maybe. Guitars, however — well, why not? Gretsch ran with this trailblazing philosophy and even took their trademark Roundup Orange color scheme from the Chet Atkins signature hollowbody and applied it to the 6121 Duo Jet, enabling solidbody playing for the more curious country fan. Complete with leather binding, a belt-buckle tailpiece cover, western-inspired inlays, and even the gigantic branded “G” on the lower bout, it served to show that Gretsch and their solidbody guitars were coloring outside the lines.

Some of Gretsch’s other efforts boasted classy but humble colors like the famous Cadillac Green and Oriental Red Jet Firebird (sported by Bo Diddley!), and these finishes soon began overtaking guitar shops everywhere with effortless style. The guitar’s popularity continued to escalate, and so did the Duo Jet’s potential for even greater evolution down the line. Gretsch was working in a league of their own, and, with their hollowbodies performing so well commercially, taking a chance here and there was well worth the risk.

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The Jet Evolution and Resurgence

While the Duo Jet is where it all started for Gretsch solidbodies, the entire Jet family of guitars has shifted and grown both physically and cosmetically throughout its tenure with the company. The Gretsch Penguin hit production in 1956 and was essentially an exact copy of the Duo Jet in terms of shape, woods, and electronic components — except the Penguin came dressed to impress. This new model boasted many of the qualities of the popular White Falcon such as pearl-inlayed control knobs, gold binding and hardware, a deco-inspired “G” trapeze tailpiece, armrest, pickguard graphic, and larger White Falcon headstock. Though not nearly as successful as the Duo Jet nor the White Falcon, the Penguin boldly bridged the two and has since become a total unicorn in the vintage-guitar world.

By 1961, the traditional single-cutaway body style of the Duo Jet had been replaced by the increasingly popular double-cutaway solidbody style while also introducing an eye-catching Champagne Sparkle finish option. At this point, the Duo Jet also featured some new controls to go with the new design, such as a kill switch and a 3-way tone selector to replace the master tone knob, which first appeared in late 1958. This evolution of the Jet became notorious as the axe of choice for several musicians down the line, including Malcolm Young and Jack White, who both sported Triple Jet versions of the guitar. This design represented the pinnacle of Gretsch’s solidbody lineup through the company’s purchase by Baldwin in 1967 with other, less popular models such as the Corvette slowly making their way into the market. In 1969, Gretsch saw a return to the single cutaway in the form of the Roc Jet, a lackluster example that generated little interest and would come to define Gretsch’s solidbody efforts throughout the 1970s until Baldwin’s eventual and catastrophic bankruptcy in the early 1980s.

After the death of the Baldwin era and the repurchase of the company by Fred W. Gretsch and the Gretsch family in the mid-’80s, the end of the decade finally saw the return of higher-quality guitar making, including several examples of the classic and legitimate single-cut Duo Jet guitars in a handful of classic finishes. From that moment onward, and thanks in part to the evolving music scenes that followed, the Gretsch Duo Jet gained a tremendous resurgence of popularity and loyalty while introducing several affordable Jet series along the way, like the Junior Jet, Electromatic Jet, and even the Jet II bass guitar. Few could’ve predicted all the twists, turns, and roadblocks throughout the Duo Jet’s evolutionary path, but we’re happy to see that the classic solidbody is here to stay!

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Who’s Rocking the Duo Jet – Then and Now?

Many guitar greats have owned and played Duo Jets over the years, but the guitar’s comparative rarity in the spotlight has meant that a much smaller number of musicians have outwardly associated with the model. Despite this, the phenomenally pleasing versatility of the axe’s sound has led it to be featured on a number of big recordings while flying virtually under the radar. Rockabilly artists like Cliff Gallup, Bo Diddley, and Hank Garland favored the Duo Jet in its early stages and served as its initial ambassadors to the world. Following them, British Invasion poster children like George Harrison and Pete Townshend were also known to tour and record with them. You can hear George’s Duo Jet all across the early Beatles recordings, while Pete’s Jet reared its head time and time again on the Who’s Quadrophenia tour. Other classic rock legends such as Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott of Humble Pie, Malcolm Young, David Gilmour, and Wayne Kramer of MC5 recorded with the Duo Jet, too.

Thanks to the 1990s resurgence of the brand, the Duo Jet made its way into the hands of quite a few new artists of emerging genres including Chris Cornell, Paul Arthurs of Oasis, Brian Baker of Bad Religion, Nick McCabe of the Verve, and Adam Devlin of the Bluetones. Now excelling in hard rock and alternative, the spike in popularity of the Duo Jet further solidified just how tremendous the guitar is to both perform and record with, even among a younger generation of musicians. Since then, the pattern has only repeated throughout the 21st century as new guitarists from a myriad of musical categories started picking up and playing the Duo Jet and its variations left and right. Some notable examples of modern Jet wielders include Jason Isbell, Jack White, Hanni El Khatib, Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne, Nick 13 of Tiger Army, Chris Cheney of the Living End, and Alex Trimble of Two Door Cinema Club. While the Jet is of course not as popular nor as mainstream as its contemporary counterparts, it’s no surprise that those who’ve picked one up have found it so tough to put back down!

Want a more engaging glimpse of the Duo Jet in action? Check out our Spotify playlist below, which features the aforementioned artists and the songs, live performances, and albums where they stuck with the Jet!

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The Duo Jet Lives On

As you can see, it’s been an intriguingly long, bumpy, and ever-evolving road for the original chambered electric guitar. Still, the Jet is a rare breed of electric guitar that has stood the test of time, which is a feat few others have done, especially over the course of nearly 70 years. If you’re playing a Jet yourself — regardless of the series, pickups, or body style — be proud to be contributing to such an incredible legacy of guitars! And, if you’ve been wanting to get in on the fun but need a little encouragement, then get in touch with one of our awesome Sales Engineers by calling (800) 222-4700, and you’ll be well on your way to uniting with the ideal Jet of your choice.

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