From Bo Diddley, Billy F. Gibbons, and Gretsch.

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

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Average of 5 User Ratings

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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Gretsch Guitars G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Electric Guitar

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