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.