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Body Closeup Pickups Detail Headstock Back Back Close Angle Headstock

The Billy-Bo is a modern version of the Jupiter Thunderbird designed in 1959 by Bo Diddley himself. Billy F. Gibbons fell in love with an original given to him by Bo Diddley, but added some of his own mojo to this new version that he created as his touring axe. The Billy-Bo features a heavily chambered mahogany body, one-piece mahogany neck, ultra-thin laminate maple top, TV Jones Power'Tron (neck) and Power'Tron "Plus" (bridge) pickups, pinned Adjusto-matic bridge, and Schaller Straplocks. It's a dirty, low-down rock guitar with serious credentials and a vibe that hasn't lessened in nearly 50 years.

Gretsch Guitars G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Electric Guitar Features:

  • Bo Diddley designed in '59
  • Modified by Billy F Gibbons
  • Heavily chambered mahogany body
  • One-piece mahogany neck
  • Ultra-thin laminate maple top
  • TV Jones Power'Tron (neck) and Power'Tron "Plus" (bridge) pickups
  • Pinned Adjusto-matic bridge
  • Schaller© Straplocks

Gretsch Guitars G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Electric Guitar Includes:

  • gretsch hardshell case

A great mix of retro and modern, the Billy-Bo is a rock legend of the past and present. Order your now.

Gretsch Guitars G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Electric Guitar

Write A Review

Average of 5 User Ratings

Overall

Overall: 8.40

Quality

Quality: 9.40

Features

Features: 9.20

Value

Value: 7.00

Customer Reviews

Overall

Overall: 9

Quality

Quality: 9

Features

Features: 8

Value

Value: 5

B-B Jupiter Thunderbird
Posted by Steve from London (yes THAT London) on Jun 16, 2008
Experience w/product: I have used it
Reviewer's Background: Active musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, blues, etc etc
It caught my eye when I was in Regent Sounds trying out a bunch of Teles - I'd read the review in Guitarist. Despite the shape I found it very comfortable to play, without the headstock diving floorwards like a Firebird. Nice action, great tone, but overpriced (2000 pounds at the time). My main axe is a Les Paul, & I'm after a Strat for the tonal range it covers. This would have a place on my rack if I had the cash to spare, without a doubt, but I see it as a bit of a niche luxury (at this price) like an EDS-1275.

Overall

Overall: 9

Quality

Quality: 10

Features

Features: 10

Value

Value: 8

Really, it's a great guitar!
Posted by Dr. Mumbo from East Coast on Sep 15, 2007
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Retired - but I love to collect guitars
Reviewer's Play Style: Anything but rap
This is a solid guitar It sounds good. It is fun to play. It looks good. It's a keeper!

Overall

Overall: 10

Quality

Quality: 10

Features

Features: 10

Value

Value: 10

Get this axe!
Posted by Skottmjfarkus from Naples, Fl on Apr 21, 2007
Experience w/product: I have used it
Reviewer's Background: hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, blues, metal
I just played this guitar today at a local music store and I was floored. I plugged it into an Orange Rocker 30 half stack and was able to get some great, raucous tones. This guitar was so easy to play I could shred on it! Anyone who can get this guitar who's thinking about it, just get it. You won't be disappointed

Overall

Overall: 9

Quality

Quality: 10

Features

Features: 9

Value

Value: 8

Very Different
Posted by Russ from Sugar Land, TX on Apr 27, 2006
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Playing amateur for 40 years
Reviewer's Play Style: rock, bluse, christian rock
Great quality. Playability is also top notch. The sustain and nuance from this guitar is great. Here's the surprise. This guitar tends to want to sound cleaner than you'd expect. It's not a pure dedicated rocker like a Les Paul might be for example. The treble pickup is bright and loud, and will distort and grind pretty well, but the neck pickup is dark and lacks definiton on the notes. The 'both pickups' switch position is great.

Once you realize what sounds this guitar excels at, it's a great instrument. Can cover rock, clean, jazz and more very well. But it's not a great blues guitar, and there are better rockers out there too. I use it mostly to get the old Phil Keaggy sound from Glass Harp in the 70's, which is a driven but clean and rick sound.

Overall

Overall: 5

Quality

Quality: 8

Features

Features: 9

Value

Value: 4

Way, way overpriced
Posted by Plankspanker from Earth on Feb 20, 2006
Experience w/product: I have heard about it
Reviewer's Background: Plenty
Reviewer's Play Style: Rockabillybodiddly
Like most "artist" models, the Billy Bo is an average guitar with an astronomical price tag. I'm a big BFG fan and the look is very cool, but its simply not worth that much money. And Billy has enough hot rods already without me buying him another.

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Gretsch Guitars G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Electric Guitar

Overall: 8.40Read 5 Reviews

$2,674.99

MSRP: $3,825.00 Savings: $1150.01(30%)

Finance Now for $268/mo.

Availability: Available: 32 days.

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