A new limited run pairs the solidbody Penguin with Filter'Tron pickups, a chambered mahogany body and a string-through Bigsby.
Gretsch has given its Penguin a Light Blue Pearl makeover for a new limited run: the G6134T-58 Limited Edition Penguin with String-Thru Bigsby. Long the solidbody cousin to the flashier White Falcon, the Penguin keeps the same allure, while picking up a few player-focused touches.
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A chambered mahogany body carries an arched maple top, a pairing that trims some weight and adds air and resonance to the sound. Twang and bite come from a pair of TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity Filter’Tron pickups, the ones Gretsch players reach for when they want a cutting, chimey growl that doesn’t turn brittle, and an ebony fingerboard finishes the neck.
Instead of a standard Bigsby, this Penguin runs a String-Thru Bigsby B3CP, which threads the strings straight through the unit rather than hooking them over a bar. Restringing gets quicker, and the vibrato feels a touch more direct, while keeping the shimmer and gentle wobble a Bigsby is loved for.
Finished in Light Blue Pearl with gold hardware, it’s a stunning guitar, though the chambered body, Filter’Trons and Bigsby make it more than a show pony. Between the twang, the bite and the vibrato, it covers rockabilly, country, indie and plenty in between.
Check out the Penguin here.
