Vintage VSA850 WH

[Jay Bass]

Hi
How about some pictures?
i have always wanted a Gretsch White Falcon or a lookalike
but cant justify buying one ,it would probably just hang on my wall as any guitar duties i get now
are covered by my strat.


Regards
Jay

[Graylion]

Here's the Vintage:

Vintage VSA850 WH.jpg

(37.32 KiB) Downloaded 5282 times

And here's the Gretsch Electromatic:

Gretsch Electromatic[b].jpg

(11.63 KiB) Downloaded 5282 times

[Strummer]

The Vintage shown is the "cheaper version" not the all singing, all dancing model which is the Vintage VSA850 WH...all white, all (24 carat) Gold hardware.

£469 for the model shown, £799 for the 24 carat job.

Anyway, although I love Gretsch I would only buy the White Falcon, that retails out at approximately £2100 (cheapest model) up to £3100 (dearest model). Need a bloomin 2nd mortgage for those?

So, having experienced and played the top 'Vintage' model I can safely say, along with others, that it isn't half a bad guitar at the price. So, there you have it!

If you look, like I did you should/could find a bargain. I got mine for £299 + £25 Carriage and Insurance from a shop in Leeds. A REAL bargain in my book.

Oh, by the way, the tremolo is a REAL Bigsby unit also!

[Graylion]

Hi Strummer, I'm afraid you're wrong about my photos. I've checked the Vintage/JHS site and they only list one version of the "Vintage VSA850 WH" which has gold-plated hardware (whether it's 24 carat or not isn't stated but isn't relevant - 24 carat is actually the softest gold!) It is the one shown in my picture, although I would have been better off capturing it from their website. They indeed list its RRP as £799, which is why many dealers can undercut it. GAK does as well as Reidys and DV247. All these are easily found by Googling, as is everything on the planet!

You did amazingly well to find a new one for £299 - I would have had their arm off for that price! I still reckon a genuine Gretsch Electromatic is the best value and looks almost identical to the White Falcon. I agree that the Vintage does have a genuine Bigsby as I have seen other site's photos with it.
Cheers, Lionel

[Strummer]

Hi Graylion, I have been "fibbed to" then?

I take your word that what you say is the correct version. I could only go by what I had been told 'by so-called' those in the know!

Yes, I have been extremely lucky, and I know it. I also like Gretsch but the model I want is far too expensive for me at the moment, so, I settled for the next best thing? (Almost?)

It is a lot of guitar for the money and as I really did get it for a snip I cannot run it down in any way. No! It isn't a Gretsch, but, there is not an aweful lot of difference I can safely tell you that. For a Company that builds guitars at the lower end of the price market, they have done an exceptional job on this particular model. Well worth the layout, plus, if I ever get enough ££££ together I can do a cash and PX for the Vintage as it will hold its price.

[Graylion]

Hi Strummer - no need to take my word or anyone else's! The internet's a very big place, thanks to Mr.Google All guitar makers have a website and most have prices. £799 is the top price (RRP) for this one so you'd always look for a discount. There are people selling guitars on eBay that you can buy in competetive music shops for less money! Better aftersales and warranty comeback too! No need for you to worry as the only way anyone could beat £299 is if they stole it! Hope yours is legit eh?
Cheers, Lionel

[cockroach]

Are those pickups (humbuckers with twelve screws) the same on both the Vintage and the Chinese made Gretsch Electromatic?

I recently bought a Shine double neck guitar (6/12) with what looks like the same pickups.

How do they sound on the Vintage and the Electromatic?

Mine seem to be very full, thick and dark in tone, not like many humbuckers which have fairly strong treble response, although nothing like as much like single coils.

[Strummer]

Hi Strummer - no need to take my word or anyone else's! The internet's a very big place, thanks to Mr.Google All guitar makers have a website and most have prices. £799 is the top price (RRP) for this one so you'd always look for a discount. There are people selling guitars on eBay that you can buy in competetive music shops for less money! Better aftersales and warranty comeback too! No need for you to worry as the only way anyone could beat £299 is if they stole it! Hope yours is legit eh?
Cheers, Lionel

Yup! The Internet is a very big place, if you have time to surf it all? I haven't as I still work full time!
I also have a very busy life (lucky me!) I look for discounts on whatever I buy, so, yes, I agree. As I originally stated, I bought it from a Music Shop in Garforth, Leeds complete with a warranty! So, again, no problem. Oh, and it was 'brand new'.
Mine is definitely "legit"...all proven as well.

Cheers, Strummer.

[Strummer]

Are those pickups (humbuckers with twelve screws) the same on both the Vintage and the Chinese made Gretsch Electromatic?

I recently bought a Shine double neck guitar (6/12) with what looks like the same pickups.

How do they sound on the Vintage and the Electromatic?

Mine seem to be very full, thick and dark in tone, not like many humbuckers which have fairly strong treble response, although nothing like as much like single coils.

Amazingly the pickups are great, even played spme Shadows stuff on it just to see how it sounded...(Through my VOX AC30 CC2 ALL VALVE) and a Quadraverb Echo unit. Sounded damn fine if I might say so!
Despite the "anti OTHER" guitars and the ALL for Gretsch votes i would say if you can't afford a good Gretsch you'd do a lot worse than this Vintage Model. Very, very good value for money.

However, i am saving like mad for a Gretsch White Falcon, I will do a PX and cash for it when I have enough. In the meantime the Vintage is a great stand in.

[AlanMcKillop]

I recently purchased a Peerless Gigmaster Custom and it's better than a Gretsch. As many of you will know, Peerless is the factory where many guitar manufacturers had their guitars made under licence, so it was no surprise that they went it alone and built their own. The guitar is similar to the above pics (a web search will let you see what it's like) and having owned a Gretsch 6120 & 6122 Junior, I can honestly say that it's a better guitar. The p/u's are what Gretsch use, but the finish to the body and neck, is second to none. You can get them discounted at circa £600 - 650 and pound for pound, there is no comparison to the Gretsch, except paying for the Gretsch name.