1961-68 Gretsch Jet Firebird double-cutaway

The Gretsch 6131 Jet appeared in 1955, following the 1953 release of the Duo-Jet, perhaps as the Gretsch response to the Gibson Les Paul.  At that point it featured a single cutaway body with an arched top – but instead of being solid, the body was chambered to reduce weight and produce a more ‘acoustic’ tone, towards Gretsch’s other arched-top models. The pattern of an archtop-style floating bridge rather than a fixed bridge like the Les Paul was still used.

 

These models were fitted with a pair of deArmond DynaSonic pickups from 1951-57.  In late 1957, the new humbucker Filter’Tron pickups, designed by Ray Butts, became available.

 

In 1961, the body design again followed the Les Paul evolution and the single cutaway body became a double cutaway (following Gibson's new double cutaway 1961 Les Paul "SG"). The Jet construction used a chambered Mahogany back with a Maple laminate, arched top and a Mahogany set neck with Ebony or Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The floating bridge base matched the fingerboard wood; both the bridge base and fingerboard were Ebony, and the fingerboard had a zero fret.  The Bigsby vibrato was swapped for a Burns tailpiece, and a standby switch was added to the controls. The double-cutaway model would remain consistent using Filter'Tron pickups until 1968 when the pickups were upgraded to Gretsch's Super'Tron humbucker.

Malcolm Young played a 1963 Gretsch Jet Firebird guitar (originally red) given to him by Australian rock guitarist, Harry Vanda.  Malcolm's guitar went through several iterations over his career:

 

1973-77 Version #1 (images #2 & 3)

• Stock 1963 Gretsch 6131 Jet Firebird in Vintage Red, with 3 Gretsch Filtertron pickups, and a Burns Bridge
• Young used this Firebird Red iteration of the guitar in early AC/DC performances and music videos including "It's a Long Way to The Top," before eventually making his own mods and stripping the paint job.

 

1977-95 Version #2  (images #1, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8)

• The guitar's original Red top was sanded back to natural Maple during the second version.
• Various additional pickup routings and switch mods were undertaken with the guitars neck and middle pickups removed, leaving a single remaining Gretsch 'Filtertron' pickup.  For a short time, he placed socks in the pick-up cavity, to stop it from feeding back. Prior to that he used a white piece of plastic to cover the pick-up cavities.
• In 1977, during the Let There Be Rock era, he stripped the red paint off, down to the maple top. 
• In 1978, during the Powerage era, he again removed the plastic and stuffed socks in the pick-up cavities, and also changed the bridge from a stock Gretsch trapese tail-piece to a modified 'Badass' Wrap-around Bridge / Tailpiece, and the iconic black 'Bishop' pickguard at the guitar's bottom (hiding the original tail-piece routing)

 

1995+ Version  (images #9, 10 & 11)

• Finally, in 1995, during the Ballbreaker tour, Young replaced the Badass bridge with the original tailpiece, and removed the pick-up ring that was held in the bridge pick-up.  This is how the guitar has been since then...

 

Malcolm also owned a 1959 Gretsch White Falcon that was used during the tours that supported the albums, Back In Black and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You).  But he said that after someone 'fixed' it, it lost the sound he liked it for, and thus got rid of it.  The guitar was sold in 1998 and it's whearabouts are unknown... (image #12)

 

Malcolm's main amp since recording Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in 1976 is a slightly modified Marshall Superbass from the late 1960s or the early 1970s.

 

Malcolm uses old Gibson 12-56 pure nickel roundwound strings

Malcolm got an endorsement deal with Gretsch to produce a signature model based on his original guitar. Gretsch now makes Malcolm Young signature model guitars, in single and multi pick-up configurations.

 

• 2017 Gretsch G6131MY-CS Custom Shop Malcolm Young "Salute" Jet™  MSRP $10,000  (image #10)
  • Limited Edition of 40pc
  • Natural Relic 
  • Chambered 2” Mahogany double cut body with arched Maple top, NO pickguard
  • 24.6” scale, 12"-radius bound ebony fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets (plus zero fret), aged pearloid Neo-Classic™ thumbnail inlays
  • Space Control bridge with pinned ebony base, '60s Jet vibrato tailpiece, bone nut
  • Schaller® die-cast tuners, 
  • Single TV Jones® Filter'Tron™ Classic bridge pickup
  • G-arrow control knobs
  • Made in USA

 

• 2019+ Gretsch G6131-MY Malcolm Young Signature Jet  MSRP $3359   (image #11)
  • "DIY" pickup routes with simulated screw holes
  • Chrome switch plugs
  • Single TV Jones® Power'Tron™ bridge pickup
  • Double-cutaway chambered mahogany body with maple top
  • Aged-white binding
  • Bound ebony fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets and Neo-Classic™ thumbnails
  • Gretsch '60s Jet™ tailpiece
  • Space-Control™ bridge, bone nut and Schaller® die-cast tuners
  • Aged Natural stain with black back and sides
  • Thin-skin semi-gloss finish for a true "tour-worn" feel

 

• Gretsch G6131-MY-RB Limited Edition Malcolm Young Signature Jet™  MSRP $3399  (image #3)
  • Young used this Vintage Firebird Red iteration of the guitar in early AC/DC performances and music videos including "It's a Long Way to The Top," before eventually making his own mods and stripping the paint job.
  • Chambered 2” Mahogany double cut body with arched Maple top, black pickguard
  • 24.6” scale, 12"-radius bound ebony fingerboard
  • Harmonica-style Adjusto-Matic™ bridge with pinned ebony base
  • '60s Jet vibrato tailpiece, bone nut
  • Schaller® die-cast tuners
  • 3 pickups:
    • TV Jones® Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity Filter'Tron bridge and neck pickups that replicate the unmistakable vintage Gretsch voicing
    • TV Jones Starwood humbucker in the middle for clear and punchy tone.
  • 22 jumbo frets (plus zero fret), aged pearloid Neo-Classic™ thumbnail inlays
  • G-arrow control knobs and aged gold hardware
  • Made in Japan

The Mach Five guitar is a  replica of the 1977-95 version of Malcolm Young's “Beast”.  (images #1 & 8)

 

Built upon a 1999 “Pre-Fender” Gretsch Electromatic Firebird, the guitar was customized and played by Jimmy Di Tullio, the "Malcolm" of the AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds - The AC/DC Experience prior to Mach Five's ownership.  The guitar features:

• Double-cutaway, solid body, chambered for lighter weight
• Original Firebird Red finish stripped (like Malcolm did), and custom repainted by Chris Rapoza, former paint specialist a Parker Guitars, to replicate the maple top of the 1978+ version of the Beast
• Body custom routed for a 3rd, "empty" pickup slot in the same shape as Malcolm's middle pickup slot (only 1 active pickup)
• Single TV Jones® Filter'Tron™ Classic (SAME as the $10k Custom Shop version)
• Wraparound "Bad-Ass" style bridge / tailpiece combo
• Iconic black 'Bishop' pickguard at the guitar's bottom (hiding the original tremolo routing)
• 24.6” scale, 12"-radius bound rosewood fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets 
• Vintage-style nickel tuners
• G-arrow control knobs

1. The Mach Five guitar

2. 1973-77 version of the "Beast"

3.  G6131G-MY-RB Limited Malcolm Young Signature Jet™ in Vintage Firebird Red (1973-77 version)

4. Malcolm Young

5. Malcolm playing the "Beast"

6. Malcolm & Angus Young

7. AC/DC with Bon Scott

8. Jimmy Di Tullio playing the Mach Five "Beast"

9. The real "Beast" (1995+ 3rd generation)

10. 2017 Gretsch Custom Shop “Salute Jet” (1995+ 3rd generation)

11. 2019+ Gretsch G6131-MY Malcolm Young Signature Jet (1995+ 3rd generation)

12. Malcolm Young's 1959 Gretsch White Falcon

 

 

"Beast" version #1 1973-77:  

• AC/DC - It's A Long Way To The Top [Official Music Video]

 

"Beast" version #2 1977-95: 

• AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Official Video)
• AC/DC - Hells Bells (Live at Donington, 8/17/91)

 

"Beast" version #3 1995-2017 :  

• AC/DC - Malcolm YOUNG ( LIVE )  Berlin 2003

 

Malcolm's 1959 Gretsch White Falcon:

• AC/DC - Back In Black (Official 4K Video)

 

Mach Five Guitar:

• Prior Ownership:  
  • Dirty Deeds - Have A Drink On Me 
  • Dirty Deeds - Long Way to the Top
• Current ownership:  Father & Son - Ride On from Eclipse 2025

Malcolm Young: The GENIUS Behind AC/DC: The Rhythm Guitarist Who Changed Rock Forever