Description: Gretsch 6130 Round Up guitar
Available: 1954 to 1960.
Collectibility Rating: C+.
General Comments: Very simular in features and appearance to the Chet Atkins 6121 with solid body 13 1/4 inches wide. The Gretsch 6130 has knotty pine top or mahogany (instead of maple on 6121), western "belt buckle" tailpiece (instead of Bigsby), Melita bridge (instead of aluminum bridge), tortoise pickguard with engraved steer head, and a bone nut (instead of an aluminum nut). Models 1954 to 1956 have full "cowboy" attributes including the cow and cactus fingerboard inlays, cowboy belt buckle tailpiece, "G" brand, and leather cowboy tooling around the body, making them very unique Americana guitars. By 1957 unfortunately most of these cowboy features were gone. The color also sometimes is more brown and less orange, but this is not always the case. The body is really not solid, but Gretsch called this series of guitars a "solidbody".

The Gretsch Chet Atkins 6121 solidbody was very similar to the Gretsch 6130 Round up. The differences included a maple top on the 6121 (knotty pine or mahogany on the 6130), orange top finish on the 6121 (the 6130 had a more brownish top finish), a metal aluminum nut on the 6121 (bone or plastic nut on the 6130), and a Bigsby vibrato on the Chet Atkins 6121 (western "belt buckle" tailpiece on the 6130). The timeline for attribute changes on the 6121 were the same as the 6130 (for example, in 1957 the inlays changed to humptop inlays on both models). The Gretsch Chet Atkins 6121 stayed in production until 1963 (unlike the Roundup 6130 that stopped production in 1960). Hence in 1961 the Chet Atkins 6121 became a double cutaway model, and in 1962 got a standby switch. The 6121 was discontinued in 1963.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar or Chet Atkins 6121 solidbody guitar, use the serial number from the serial/model number label. This is located inside the body in one one of the rear control cavities. See the Gretsch Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year.

If you have a vintage Gretsch 6130 Roundup or Chet Atkins solidbody 6121 guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

1954 Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar Introduction specs:

• Single Cutaway, body finished in Amber Red, Orange, or Mahogony Brown.
• Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
• "Belt Buckle" western tailpiece.
• Three knobs on lower bout, one on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
• Melita bridge (gold).
• Tortoise pickguard with engraved steerhead.
• "G" branded into top.
• Sides covered with wester-motif tooled leather.
• Celluloid block inlays with engraved cows and cactus.
• 24 3/4" scale
• Longhorn steer inlay peghead.
• Gold plated parts.

Mid 1956 Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar specs:

• Unengraved block inlays.
• Horseshoe peghead inlay replaces longhorn steer.
• Truss rod cover became more bulbish (happened in early 1956).

1957 Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar specs:

• "G" brand gone.
• "G" style tailpiece replaces western belt buckle tailpiece.
• "Humptop" inlays replace blocks.

1958 Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar specs:

• Filter'tron humbucking pickups replace DeArmonds.
• Thumbprint (neoclassic) inlays replace humptop inlays.
• Bar style bridge.
• Two switches on upper bass bout (tone and pickup selection).
• Two knobs instead of three on lower treble bout (three total).

1959 Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar specs:

• Zero fret.

Gretsch Roundup 6130 guitar discontinued in 1960.