Those Darlins bassist -- is this a Gretsch?

Dave W · September 02, 2009, 03:33:31 PM

I recently became aware of Those Darlins, whose debut album came out a few months ago. Their single "Wild One" has gotten some airplay. I saw 'em described as "pop/punk/indie/country/rock" and that's about right.

Today I saw this video of an in-store they did early this year in Nashville (performance is a little ragged), this is the first good look I've had at Kelly Darlin's bass. Is this a Gretsch? No-name Japanese copy? It almost looks like a Junior Jet but I can't see a name on the headstock and it has fancy binding.

Lightyear · September 02, 2009, 05:05:42 PM

Looks like a Gretsch to me

Pilgrim · September 02, 2009, 05:37:43 PM

Sure looks a lot like my Gretsch 2202 with a different pickup and headstock...in natural, not black.

Lightyear · September 02, 2009, 08:41:16 PM

Hey Dave, they're in Austin October 30

And here in Houston at Rudyards on the 31st - what a place to be on Halloween

Dave W · September 02, 2009, 10:00:33 PM

And at the Continental Club too! No fighting downtown Austin nightclub parking and traffic.

Bart! · September 03, 2009, 03:11:15 AM

Looks like a 2202 with the body and headstock sanded down to the wood (the sides still seem to be black).

SKATE RAT · September 03, 2009, 06:38:07 AM

are they Texans? maybe she got one of those cowboy leather jobs.

the mojo hobo · September 03, 2009, 06:45:34 AM

Looks like it says"Gretsch" on the pickguard.

Dave W · September 03, 2009, 09:17:45 AM

They're from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, home of MTSU.

The Electromatic Junior Jet (2202) is a plywood bodied bass. It's a good little bass for the money but even if you sanded it down, it's hard to imagine someone putting the time and effort into fancy binding. And there's that headstock, which does look different from the Junior Jets I've seen.

It's a mystery.

JimmyBond8 · September 03, 2009, 09:55:08 AM

I'll plug the store/venue. Grimey's is a pretty great music and record store. They have a rather large and wide selection, and are known for their in-store performances.
And The Basement (The downstairs venue) is a pretty great little place as well.

Dave W · September 03, 2009, 03:19:26 PM

Charlie Louvin seems to like it.

Pilgrim · September 04, 2009, 09:16:00 AM

Quote from: Dave W on September 03, 2009, 09:17:45 AM
They're from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, home of MTSU.

The Electromatic Junior Jet (2202) is a plywood bodied bass. It's a good little bass for the money but even if you sanded it down, it's hard to imagine someone putting the time and effort into fancy binding. And there's that headstock, which does look different from the Junior Jets I've seen.

It's a mystery.

Dave's right on target. I have a 2202 and it's one of my favorites, but the headstock is definitely not a match to the one in the video.

Dave W · September 04, 2009, 09:36:51 AM

Here are a couple of stills, from shows in Chicago and Minneapolis. In both of these, Kelly and Jessi had switched instruments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wescraftfoto/3344401465/in/set-72157615077250550/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crindy/3736159818/in/set-72157621693647044/

Bart! · September 07, 2009, 05:36:05 AM

The "binding" looks not very solid, to me it seems as if a kind of rope/cord was attached to the edges, maybe thats also the reason why the headstock looks different. The body probably isn`t sanded but painted, as I can`t see any woodgrain.

drbassman · September 07, 2009, 05:25:53 PM

Well, I think it's a 2202 that's been sanded and tweaked. It wouldn't ne that hard to change the headstock, sand the top and add glitery binding. I've some similar things myself!!!