Gretsch Guitars

INFO: 100% original example of Samick's own brand flagship Greg Bennett designed acoustic / electric archtop model.  From the same Korean factory as Aria, Epiphone, Ibanez and Gretsch. Plugged in it sounds great, with what we believe to be a Kent Armstrong floating jazz pickup (see reviews) - however some USA reviews say it’s a 'Duncan designed' so either way it’s a good un.  It doesn't just do jazz plummyness, the spruce top and maple back/sides gives it plenty of acoustic brightness - so it can cover the whole western swing / rockabilly field as well. Check the reviews on Harmony Central (link below)

SPECIFICATION: A superior and well cared for acoustic / electric jazz guitar in every respect, with a little more wow factor in the finish.

Head: Greg Bennett signature design, black with gold lettering, triple bound.

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard : triple bound Rosewood

Frets : 20F

Scale : 648mm(25-1/2")

Body: Triple bound Spruce top (most likely pressed solid).  Stunning quilted triple bound Maple back and sides as befits a flagship model. 

Pickups : FT-1 Floating mini-Humbucker x 1 (either Duncan Designed or Kent Armstrong, both are quoted as being possibly fitted)

Controls : Volume x 1, Tone x 1 (mounted on pickguard - nothing on guitar top so it's fully acoustic if you wish!!)

Tailpiece : Gold harp style.

Hardware (gold): Grover tuners. 

The FZ-4 goes the extra mile towards being a luxury item, with a wonderful quilted maple back and sides. Let me quote from just two gushing (independent) Harmony Central reviews, where it scores an outstanding 9.5 / 10 from 14 reviews.  Check the rest yourself and wonder what you have been missing:

‘It's intonated well, plays like a dream, and sounds like 'Jim Hall' sound so hard to achieve.  Don't be fooled by the Made In Korea label, this is a truly high quality Greg Bennett designed jazzbox that would hold its own with guitars 5 times its price!’

'...great sound, not a Megas, not a Ribbecke, but better than most under $4,000.'

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Samick/JZ-4+Greg+Bennett/10/1

Many top bandstand and session players in the USA now use these Greg Bennett jazzers, and as such have become one the best kept jazz guitar secrets - hence why they are becoming impossible to find, especially in the UK!  

CONDITION GRADING:  B: 'good used condition for 7 year instrument' = home & studio use, no sign of gigging, some light play wear & marks, all original'

Quality of construction is at least as good as any Japanese guitar, and a good deal better than a lot of them.  It has been professionally set up with 11-50 strings and all the frets levels checked and polished.  In fact the main issue was lack of use, and some of the higher frets still had lacquer stain from the factory on - so had never been played.  It now plays as good as any jazzer you'll find and it will accommodate whatever action you prefer with minimal fuss.  Of course the Grovers hold it in tune wonderfully.

CAVEATS: Very minor signs of gold plate fading and/or wear on tailpiece and tuners, as you would expect. No flaking or nasties, just honest oxidisation. Light strum marks on the pickguard as you would expect (see pic).  A slight lacquer crack (see pic) near the jack plug socket where it was probably over-tightened at the factory (a not uncommon occurrence).  A miniscule match head size ding (in same pic, barely visible) in the same area where someone missed the socket with the plug, probably.   The head has the usual string marks around the machine heads (top coat only) which would probably polish out - and then you could make them again when you change the strings.  

We have re-listed and dropped the price, but this will be the last time on eBay for this excellent instrument.   Street price in USA was at best $800 - $1000 when available, if you imported that to the UK now it would cost you around £800 - £950 sterling by the time you had it shipped over & it passed through customs....  Just so you know!! 

> drop prejudices & do a little homework > hit BIN & save a grand (or a lot more) on an quality equivalent instrument.

Will come with a basic gigbag as standard.  
If BIN is used we will upgrade this basic gigbag to a brand new deluxe Ritter padded gigbag (rrp £35) with shoulder straps, mobile pocket and zip pockets.    
UK SHIPPING VIA DHL HOME 48 - £19.00 FULLY INSURED & TRACKABLE.
Contact: twangcorp@gmail.com.  

UK SHIPPING: WE USE DHL.  THE UK PRICE SHOWN IN THE LISTING IS FULLY INSURED TO VALUE AND TRACKABLE.WESTERN EUROPE SHIPPING via DHL or FED EX.  APPROX £50* (includes FULL INSURANCE & VAT).CENTRAL EUROPE SHIPPING via DHL or FED EX.  APPROX £65* (includes FULL INSURANCE & VAT). * PRICE VARIES COUNTRY TO COUNTRY, PLEASE ASK FOR DEFINITE QUOTE BEFORE BIDDING!
OTHER INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING QUOTES ON REQUEST.  WE CAN GET COMPETITIVE  SHIPPING RATES TO ALL EUROPE & USA/CANADA FROM DHL / FED EX - BUT BE WARNED THAT UK COURIER PRICES HAVE RISEN SHARPLY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. WE CHARGE UNDER COST PRICE TO US & HAVE YET TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH POSTAGE AFTER SHIPPING TO UK & WORLDWIDE FOR YEARS.  WE BELIEVE THE POSTAGE RATE TO BE EXCELLENT VALUE, AND EVEN THE 48 HOUR UK SERVICE USUALLY GETS THERE NEXT DAY.  WE DO NOT USE PARCELFORCE OR GENERIC CHEAPO WHITE VAN CARRIERS AS WE VALUE THE GUITARS WE SELL AND SO WILL NOT CUT CORNERS BY EXCLUDING FULL INSURANCE OR TRUSTING TO SUB STANDARD COURIERS.  WE DO NOT PROFIT ON POSTAGE, WE SIMPLY TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF CARE & USE THE BEST SERVICES.   SO PLEASE IF YOU DISAGREE WITH OUR SHIPPING PRICES DO NOT BID!!  
COLLECTION WELCOME