Vintage Guitars Info's
Vintage Gretsch Guitars.
Model Information and Specs.
Gretsch vintage guitars history and collecting. Private vintage guitar collector. Model information, history for Gretsch vintage guitars.
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1955 Chet Atkins 6120 hollowbody
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6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body.
- Single Cutaway, 16" wide, 2 7/8" thick maple body finished in Amber Red or Orange.
- Bound f-holes, double bound top/back, single bound rosewood fingerboard and peghead.
- Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
- Three knobs on lower bout (volume for each pickup, one tone knob), plus one master volume knob on cutaway.
- 1 pickup selector switch on upper bout.
- Compensating metal (aluminum) Bigsby bridge.
- Gold Bigsby vibrato, fixed arm.
- Signpost and signature gold pickguard.
- Large "G" branded into top.
- Celluloid block inlays with engraved cows and cactus.
- Longhorn steer inlay peghead.
- Metal aluminum nut.
- 24.5" scale length.
- Gold plated parts.
- White leather case with engraved brown 1" wide cow & cactus trim.
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: B, Double cutaway models: D.
The most popular of all Gretsch's, this model has been made famous by many players including Duane Eddy, Brian Setzer and obviously, Chet Atkins. The body is 16 inches wide, with two bound "F" holes, two pickups.
1954 model 6120 Introduction specs:
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Mid 1956 model 6120 specs:
- Unengraved block inlays.
- Horseshoe peghead inlay replaces longhorn steer.
- Aluminum colored, swing arm bigsby replaces gold fixed arm unit.
(Right) 1956 Chet Atkins 6120 with "G" brand.
Notice the 1960 model has faded a bit. The 1956 model has also faded
a little (notice where the Bigsby round felt pad was). But generally
earlier 6120 models had a brighter orange than later models.
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1957 model 6120 specs:
- "G" brand gone.
- "Humptop" inlays replaces block inlays.
- Filter'tron humbucking pickups with "pat pending" and smooth gold pickup rings replace DeArmond pickups.
- Thumbprint (neoclassic) inlays replace humptop inlays.
- Ebony fingerboard replaces Brazilian rosewood.
- Bar style bridge.
- Two switches on upper bass bout (tone and pickup selection; tone switch replaces tone knob).
- Two Separate pickup volume knobs, plus master volume knob on cutaway.
- Gretsch "V" bigsby.
- Zero fret.
- Bone nut replaces metal nut.
- 2 1/2" thick body.
- 2 1/4" thick body.
1958 model 6120 specs:
1959 model 6120 specs:
1960 model 6120 specs:
1961 model 6120 specs:
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Late 1961 model 6120 specs:
- Double cutaway
- Simulated (painted) "F" hole body.
- Smooth Leather back pad.
- Single mute added.
- Signature (no signpost) on pickguard.
- One added standby switch on lower treble bout (three switches total; pickup, tone, standby).
- Rename "Nashville", nameplate on peghead.
- Pebble grain vinyl backpad.
- Renumbered to model 7660.
- Adjustamatic bridge.
- Squared pickguard.
- No mute.
- No nameplated on peghead.
- Open "F" holes.
- Red finish.
1964 model 6120 specs:
1971 model 7660 specs:
1973 model 7660 specs:
Discontinued in 1980.
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6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean hollowbody.
- Single Cutaway, 2 5/8" thick by 16" wide maple body finished in cherry red.
- One Filtertron pickup in the bridge position.
- One knob on the cutaway, one switch on the upper bass bout.
- Metal bar bridge.
- Bigsby vibrato with no "gretsch" logo.
- Black pickguard with white Chet signature signpost.
- Double bound top, single bound neck and back, unbound peghead.
- Ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays.
- Metal tuner buttons.
- Chrome plated parts.
Collectibility Rating: D.
This model was basically a slimmed down, single pickup 6120 from 1958 to 1960. Then in 1961 the model stayed single cutaway (unlike the 6120 which went to double cutaway in early 1962) and changed to 2 pickups and a thinner body. In any varient, it's pretty much a student model with low-end trim.
1958 model 6119 Introduction specs:
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1959 model 6119 specs:
- Gretsch bigsby.
- Zero fret.
- Bone nut replaces metal.
- 2 1/4" thick single cutaway body with painted simulated "f" holes.
- 2 HiLotron pickups.
- 2 knobs on treble bout, 2 switches on bass bout.
- Double bound top, unbound back, single bound fingerboard.
- Gray pickguard with Gretsch logo only.
- Rosewood fingerboard with thumbprint inlays.
- No zero fret.
- Plastic tuner buttons.
- Dark cherry walnut finish.
- 2" thick single cutaway body with painted simulated "f" holes.
- Standby switch added.
- Chet Atkins signature and gretsch logo on grey pickguard.
- Zero fret.
- Metal tuner buttons.
- Mahogany finish slightly redder than 1961 finish.
- Walnut top finish, mahogany back and side finish.
- Nameplate on peghead.
- Uniform dark-stain top and body finish.
- Open "f" holes.
- Dark cherry finish.
- Renumbered 7655.
- No nameplate on peghead.
- Adjustable bridge.
1961 model 6119 specs:
1962 model 6119 specs:
1964 model 6119 specs:
1967 model 6119 specs:
1970 model 6119 specs:
1971 model 7655 specs:
Discontinued in 1980.
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late 1958 Country Gentlemen 6122.
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6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen.
- Single Cutaway, 2" thick body finished in brown mahogany with 4 layers of font and back body binding.
- Simulated painted "f" holes, though this varies on models up to 1961. Some early models have inlaid black plastic f-holes. Also some have open f-holes!
- Two Filter'tron pickups.
- Thumbprint "Neoclassic" fingerboard inlays.
- Bound ebony fingerboard
- Name plate on peghead.
- Metal nut, 24 1/4 inch scale.
- Stairstep tuner buttons.
- 2 pickup volume knobs on lower bout (one for each pickup), 1 master volume knob on cutaway.
- 2 tone switches on upper bout.
- Bigsby vibrato and metal bar bridge.
- Serial number on peghead nameplate.
- Signature and signpost on pickguard.
- Gold plated hardware (except Bigsby).
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: C, Double cutaway models: D+.
Hollow body 17 inches wide electric archtop.
Late 1957 Country Gentlemen Introduction specs:
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1959 Country Gentlemen specs:
- No signpost on pickguard.
- Zero fret and Bone nut.
- Gretsch "V" Bigsby.
- Double cutaway body.
- Padded back.
- Double mute with two large mute knobs on either side of bridge.
- Standby switch added on lower bout.
Late 1961 Country Gentlemen specs:
- Gold plated Gretsch Bigsby vibrato.
- Smaller lever-action mute knobs.
- One Super'tron and one Filter'tron pickup.
- Non-stairstep tuner buttons.
- Serial number moved from nameplate to back of neck.
- Single mute with 1 mute knob/lever.
- 2 Filter'Tron pickups.
- Renumbered to model 7670.
- Adjustamatic bridge.
- No mute.
- No nameplate.
- Walnut finish.
- Open "F" holes.
1962 Country Gentlemen specs:
1963 Country Gentlemen specs:
1964 Country Gentlemen specs:
1965 Country Gentlemen specs:
1966 Country Gentlemen specs:
1970 Country Gentlemen specs:
1971 Country Gentlemen specs:
Discontinued in 1981.
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Super Chet 7690, 7691 Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D+.
- 17" wide 2.5" deep rounded single cutaway body
- Upper bass bout joins neck at a n angle towards body
- 2 pickup
- 5 knobs on pickguard: master volume plus individual tone and volume for each pickup
- Abalone inlaid tailpiece insert
- Model name on pickguard
- Inlaid binding around the sides in the middle
- 24.5" scale length, 25.5" scale optional
- Abalone inlay on fingerboard and peghead
- Zero fret
- Gold plated parts
- Bigsby vibrato optional (model number ended with "-B")
- Autumn red (7690) or walnut (7691) finish.
1973 Super Chet Introduction specs:
Discontinued 1980.
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1956 White Falcon single cutaway
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6136 White Falcon electric Hollow Body.
- Single Cutaway, body finished in white.
- Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
- "Cadillac G" tailpiece.
- Three knobs on lower bout, one knob on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
- Melita bridge (gold).
- Clear acyrlic pickguard with engraved falcon, back painted in gold.
- Pearl block inlays with engraved birds.
- 25.5" scale, vertical Gretsch peghead.
- Gold sparkle binding.
- Gold plated parts.
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: A, Double cutaway models: C.
Seventeen inches wide, 2 7/8" deep, maple body, two pickups.
1954 White Falcon Introduction specs:
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1957 White Falcon specs:
- "Humptop" inlays replace blocks.
- 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).
- Project-o-Sonic stereo optional (switch config different than above).
- Standard horizontal Gretsch logo.
- Nameplate on peghead.
- 2" deep body.
- Double mutes with 2 large mute buttons.
- Padded back.
- Double cutaway symmetrical body.
- Gretsch Bigsby vibrato.
- Small lever-action mute knob.
- Zero fret.
- Gretsch vibrato with "G" plate and straight tubular arm curving at tip.
- Large non-stairstep tuner buttons.
1958 White Falcon specs:
1959 White Falcon specs:
1960 White Falcon specs:
1962 White Falcon specs:
1964 White Falcon specs:
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1965 White Falcon specs:
- Adjustable nut on vibrato arm.
- T-zone tempered treble-end fingerboard with dot inlays from 15th fret.
- Tuning fork bridge.
1966 White Falcon specs:
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1971 White Falcon specs:
- Renumbered to model 7594, or 7595 for stereo.
- Single cutaway model re-introduced as model 7593.
- No mute.
- Block fingerboard inlays.
- No T-zone fingerboard.
1975 White Falcon specs:
Discontinued in 1980.
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Electro II Non-Cutaway electric hollowbody 6187 (sunburst), 6188 (blond).
Collectibility Rating: D.
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16" inches wide, "f" holes, 2 DeArmond pickups, 3 knobs on lower treble bout,
stairstep bridge, trapeze tailpiece, unbound beveled edge pickguard, triple bound
top, single bound back and fingerboard, block finger inlays, 2 ply peghead veneer
with black outer layer and white underlayer beveled to look like binding,
T-roof peghead logo engraved into
veneer, "Electromatic" engraved vertically into peghead in zigzag pattern,
peghead tapers to a point, sunburst (6187) or blond (6188) finish.
Introduced: 1951
Discontinued: 1955
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Electromatic 16" Cutaway and Streamliner electric hollowbody 6189, 6190, 6191.
Collectibility Rating: D, Jaguar Tan or Bamboo Yellow/Copper finish D+.
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1951 Electromatic 16" cutaway Introduction specs:
- 16" inches wide cutaway body with laminated spruce top
- 1 or 2 DeArmond pickups
- Melita bridge
- single bound top, back, and fingerboard with block inlays
- 2 ply peghead veneer with black outer layer and white underlayer beveled to look like binding
- Trapeze tailpiece
- T-roof peghead logo engraved into veneer, "Electromatic" engraved vertically into peghead in zigzag pattern
- sunburst 2 pickups (6189), sunburst 1 pickup (6190), blond 1 pickup (6191).
- Renamed Streamliner.
- 1 DeArmond pickup
- Trapeze tailpiece replaces Melita bridge.
- Maple top
- "G" tailpiece
- 2 knobs on lower treble bout
- Double bound top and back, single bound "f" holes
- "Electromatic" on peghead but no zigzag pattern
- Block or humptop fingerboard inlays
- Available in Jaguar Tan or Bamboo Yellow top with Copper mist back (6189), sunburst (6190) or blond (6191).
- Double bound "f" holes, single bound fingerboard and peghead
- Transition to Anniversary model which replaced the Streamliner.
1955 Streamliner specs:
1957 Streamliner specs:
1958 Streamliner specs:
1959 Streamliner Discontinued. Re-introduced in 1969 as a thinbody double cutaway model.
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Electro II Cutaway and Country Club electric hollow body 6192 (sunburst), 6193 (blond), 6196
(Cadillac Green).
Collectibility Rating: 1950's models: C, 1960's models: D.
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Seventeen inches wide, 3 3/8" deep, F-holes, two pickups, gold plated
parts, bound fingerboard and peghead.
- Two DeArmond pickups.
- Three knobs on lower treble bout.
- Stairstep bridge.
- Harp tailpiece.
- Block inlays.
- "Synchromatic" on paghead.
- Script "Gretsch" logo.
1951 Electro II Introduction specs:
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1952 Electro II specs:
- Knob mounted on cutaway.
- Double bound "F" holes.
- 4 ply top, back, pickguard binding.
- Renamed Country Club.
- Melita bridge.
- Unbound pickguard.
- 4 ply peghead binding.
- 7 ply body binding.
- Stairstep tuners.
- "G" tailpiece.
- Humptop block inlays.
- No "Synchromatic" on peghead.
- Block "Gretsch" logo.
- Filter'tron pickups.
- Roller bridge.
- Triple bound fingerboard.
- Thumbprint inlays.
- Project-o-Sonic stereo optional.
- 1 7/8" thick body.
- 2 7/8" thick body.
- Padded back.
- Zero fret.
- Mute control added.
- Project-o-Sonic discontinued.
- No mute.
- 2 knobs and 1 switch on lower treble bout.
- Green finish (model 6196) discontinued.
- Renumbered model 7575 (sunburst), and model 7576 (natural).
- 4 knobs on lower treble bout, 1 knob on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bass bout.
- Wooden tailpiece insert with model name.
- Block fingerboard inlays.
1954 Country Club specs:
1958 Country Club specs:
1960 Country Club specs:
1963 Country Club specs:
1965 Country Club specs:
1968 Country Club specs:
1971 Country Club specs:
1974 Country Club specs:
Discontinued in 1981.
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1962 Single Anniversary 6125
in smoked green.
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Single Anniversary 6124 (sunburst), 6125 (smoked green) and
Double Anniversary 6117 (sunburst), 6118 (smoked green), and
Double Anniversary Stereo 6111 (sunburst),
6112 (smoked green) Electric Hollow Bodies.
- FilterTron pickups.
- Sunburst (6124/6117) or 2-tone Smoked Green (6125/6118) finish.
- Unbound fingerboard.
- Nameplate on peghead.
- Hi-lo Tron pickups.
Collectibility Rating: D.
Named for Gretsch's 75th anniversary. 16" wide, 2.5" deep, 1 pickup (single Anniversary 6124/6125), or 2 pickups (Double Anniversary 6117/6118/6111/6112), 24.5" scale length, "G" tailpiece, single bound top and back, thumbprint fingerboard inlays.
1958 Anniversary specs:
mid-1959 Anniversary specs:
1960 Anniversary specs:
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1961 Anniversary specs:
- Stereo (1 pickup per channel) optional on Double Anniversary (6111=sunburst double anniversary, 6112=smoked green double anniversary).
- Bound fingerboard on Double Anniversary only.
- Stereo models 6111/6112 discontinued.
- 2-tone tan finish available.
- Zero fret on Double Anniversary only.
- Models renumbered to 7560.
1963 Anniversary specs:
1968 Anniversary specs:
1971 Anniversary specs:
Discontinued in 1975.
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Monkees Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: C+.
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Introduced in 1966 and discontinued in 1969, this thin body,
double cutaway guitar had 2 Super Tron pickups, bound top and back,
bound f-holes and fingerboard, thumbprint inlays on both edges
of the fingerboard, a "Monkees" guitar shaped logo on the pickguard
and truss rod cover, a Gretsch Bigsby vibrato, and a peghead plate
with the Monkees model name and "Rock n Roll". Red translucent finish.
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1967 6082 Van Ep 6 string in
"walnut" finish.
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Van Eps Electric Hollow Body 6079 (7 string sunburst), 6080
(7 string walnut), 6081 (6 string sunburst), 6082 (6 string walnut).
- Metal roller bridge with floating tuning fork
- "G" tailpiece.
- Wood bridge with no tuning fork.
- Tailpiece straight across from string anchors.
- Super Tron pickups
- Renumbered to 7580.
- All models discontinued except 7 string sunburst model.
Collectibility Rating: C+.
A 17" wide, single cutaway body with either 6 or 7 strings. Two "eared" Filter Tron pickups with extra heavy covers, triple bound top, fingerboard and peghead, 25.5" scale, thumbprint fingerboard inlays, zero fret, nameplate on peghead, gold plated metal parts, unusual top edge shape on peghead. The first year (1967) models are the most valuable. The rarer 6 string version is more valuable, although Van Ep himself played the 7 string model.
1968 Van Eps Introduction specs:
1969 Van Eps specs:
1971 Van Eps specs:
1972 Van Eps specs:
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6199 Convertible and Sal Salvador Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: C.
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Seventeen inches wide, F-holes, one pickup, two knobs mounted on oversized
pickguard, gold plated parts, bound fingerboard.
- Lotus ivory top with copper mist body finish.
- One DeArmond pickups.
- Rosewood fingerboard.
- Adjustable rosewood bridge.
- "G" tailpiece.
- Humptop block inlays.
- Renamed "Sal Salvador".
- Ebony fingerboard.
- One Filter'tron pickup.
- Thumbprint inlays.
- Knobs mounted into top.
- Large block fingerboard inlays.
- Zero fret.
1955 Convertible Introduction specs:
1958 Sal Salvador specs:
1965 Sal Salvador specs:
Sal Salvador discontinued 1968.
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Electromatic Spanish, Electromatic 6185, 6187 and Corvette Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D.
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Electromatic models do not have specific model names
until 1955.
- 17 maple non-cutaway body with "f" holes.
- 1 pickup
- 2 knobs
- sunburst finish.
- 1 DeArmond pickup
- 2 knobs on lower treble bout
- rosewood bridge
- trapeze tailpiece
- unbound beveled edge pickguard
- triple bound top, single bound back, unbound fingerboard with dot inlays
- 2 ply peghead veneer with "electromatic" engraved vertically over zigzag pattern. Edges of peghead veneer beveled to similate binding.
- peghead tapers to a point.
- Blond finish available.
- Named "Corvette" model
- double bound top and back
- "Electromatic" on peghead with no zigzag pattern.
- rounded peak peghead.
- Ivory top finish with grey mist back and sides optional (model 6187).
- Rounded cutaway on model 6187
- Corvette hollowbody model discontinued.
- Later Corvette name used for solidbody models.
1940 Electromatic specs:
1949 Electromatic 6185 specs:
1951 Electromatic 6185 specs:
1955 Corvette 6185 specs:
1957 Corvette 6185 specs:
1959 Corvette specs:
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Rambler 6115 Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D-.
-
1957 Rambler introduction specs:
- 13" wide pointed single cutaway cutaway body
- 1 DeArmond pickup
- 2 knobs on lower treble bout
- Adjustable rosewood bridge
- "G" tailpiece
- Single bound top and back and peghead
- 23" scale length
- rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- ivory top finish with green or black back and sides finish.
- Rounded cutaway
- Hi-lo tron pickup
- Red truss rod cover
1960 Rambler specs:
Discontinued 1961.
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Clipper 6185, 6186, 6187 Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D-.
-
1958 Clipper introduction specs:
- 16" wide, 1 3/4" deep body
- 1 pickup with slothead screw poles and oveal cutout in cover
- 2 knobs on lower bout
- adjustable ebony bridge
- trapeze tailpiece
- double bound top and back
- 24.5" scale length
- dot fingerboard inlays
- sunburst finish (6186)
- Blond finish available (6187)
- Hi-lo tron pickup
- Blond finish (6187) model discontinued.
- Short arm palm vibrato available.
- Renumbered 7555
- Sunburst (6186) model discontinued, 2 pickup model (6185) introduced
1959 Clipper specs:
1960 Clipper specs:
1961 Clipper specs
1963 Clipper specs:
1971 Clipper specs:
1972 Clipper specs:
Clipper discontinued in 1975.
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Viking 6187, 6188, 6189 Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D.
-
1964 Viking introduction specs:
- 17" wide 2" deep double cutaway body
- 2 Super tron pickups
- 2 control knobs and 1 switch on lower bout, 1 knob on upper treble bout, 2 switches on upper bass bout.
- Single mute with 1 small lever on lower treble bout
- Roller bridge
- Floating tuning fork bridge
- Model name on pickguard (earliest models with also a viking ship on pickguard)
- Ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays
- T-zone tempered treble-end fingerboard with dots from 15th fret
- Zero fret
- Nameplate on peghead
- Padded back
- Available in sunburst (6187), blond (6188) or Cadillac Green (6189)
- Renumbered 7585 (sunburst) and 7586 (blond)
1971 Viking specs:
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1972 Viking specs:
- No tuning fork on tailpiece
- tubular arm Gretsch bigsby
- 6189 green finish discontinued.
Discontinued 1975.
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Rally 6104, 6105 Electric Hollow Body.
Collectibility Rating: D+.
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1967 Rally introduction specs:
- 16" wide 2" deep double cutaway body
- 2 Hi-lo tron pickups
- 3 knobs and 1 switch on lower treble bout and 1 knob on upper treble bout
- Standby switch and treble booster switch on upper bass bout
- Bar bridge (some with roller bridge)
- Plate on back for active electronics
- Gretsch Bigsby vibrato
- Rally stripe on pickguard and truss rod cover
- Double bound top, single bound back and fingerboard
- Thumbprint fingerboard inlays and zero fret
- T-zone tempered treble-end fingerboard with dot inlays from 15th fret
- Songbird same model as Rally buy with "G" soundholes and no rally stripe
- Green finish (6104) or Bamboo Yellow top and copper mist back finish (6105)
Discontinued 1970.
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6121 Chet Atkins Solid Body.
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: B, Double cutaway models: C.
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The solid body version of the 6120. Les Paul shaped and sized,
the body is 13 1/4 inches wide, maple top, two pickups. Very similar to
the 6130, but has Chet Atkins trim including Bigsby vibrato and aluminum
bridge, metal nut, gold pickguard with Chet's signature, maple top.
- Single Cutaway, body finished in Amber Red, Orange, or Mahogony Brown.
- Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
- Three knobs on lower bout, one on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
- Compensating metal (aluminum) bridge.
- Gold Bigsby vibrato, fixed arm.
- Signpost and signature gold pickguard.
- "G" branded into top.
- Sides covered with wester-motif tooled leather.
- Celluloid block inlays with engraved cows and cactus.
- Metal nut, 24 3/4" scale, longhorn steer inlay peghead.
- Gold plated parts.
- Unengraved block inlays.
- Horseshoe peghead inlay replaces longhorn steer.
- Aluminum colored, swing arm bigsby replaces gold fixed arm unit.
- "G" brand gone.
- "Humptop" inlays replace blocks.
- 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).
- Gretsch bigsby.
- Zero fret.
- Bone nut.
- Double cutaway symmetrical body finished in orange.
- Standby switch added.
1954 model 6121 Introduction specs:
Mid 1956 model 6121 specs:
1957 model 6121 specs:
1958 model 6121 specs:
1959 model 6121 specs:
1961 model 6121 specs:
Discontinued in 1963.
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6130 Roundup Solid Body.
Collectibility Rating: B+.
Very simular in features and appearance to the 6121 with solid body 13 1/4 inches wide. Has knotty pine top (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). The color also sometimes is more brown and less orange, but this is not always the case.
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Late 1953 Roundup 6130 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.
- Discontined in late 1955 due to the redundance with the 6121 model.
- A single batch of 6130 Roundups was made in 1957.
- 6130 discontinued after this, not made after 1957.
1957 Roundup 6130 specs:
Discontinued in 1957.
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6128 DuoJet,
6129 SilverJet, 6131 Jet FireBird solid body.
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: C (SilverJet: C+), Double cutaway models: D.
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Les Paul shaped and sized, this model competed directly with Gibson's
Les Paul model. It is the identical body as the 6121 and 6130 without
the western theme. The body is 13 1/4 inches wide, maple top, two pickups.
- Single Cutaway, top finished in black (most common) or Cadillac Green (rare).
- Sparkle silver top available (model 6129 SilverJet).
- Red top available (model 6131 Jet FireBird) with black pickguard.
- Clear acyrlic pickguard, back painted in silver (except on 6131).
- Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
- Three knobs on lower bout, one on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
- Melita bridge.
- "G" tailpiece.
- Celluloid block inlays.
- 24 3/4" scale.
- Chrome plated parts.
1954 DuoJet Introduction specs:
-
1957 DuoJet specs:
- "Humptop" inlays replace blocks.
- 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).
- Bigsby vibrato.
- Zero fret.
1958 DuoJet specs:
1959 DuoJet specs:
1964 Jet Firebird 6131 double-cut
-
1961 DuoJet specs:
- Double cutaway symmetrical body.
- Standby switch added.
- Burns vibrato replaces Bigsby.
- SilverJet model dropped, sparkle tops available as custom DuoJet finish.
- Sparkle top available in different colors: gold, champagne, burgundy, tangerine, silver.
- Sparkle finishes discontinued.
- Super'Tron pickups.
- Treble booster switch.
- Gretsch bigsby vibrato.
1963 DuoJet specs:
1966 DuoJet specs:
1968 DuoJet specs:
Discontinued in 1971.
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6134 White Penguin Solid Body.
- Single Cutaway, body finished in white.
- Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
- "Cadillac G" tailpiece.
- Three knobs on lower bout, one on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
- Melita bridge (gold).
- Clear acyrlic pickguard with engraved penguin, back painted in gold.
- Pearl block inlays with engraved birds.
- 24 3/4" scale, vertical Gretsch peghead.
- Gold sparkle binding.
- Gold plated parts.
Collectibility Rating: Single cutaway models: A, Double cutaway models: A-.
Essentially a white, fancy DuoJet. Solid body 13 1/4 inches wide, maple top, two pickups.
1954 White Penguin Introduction specs:
-
1957 White Penguin specs:
- "Humptop" inlays replace blocks.
- 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).
- Standard horizontal Gretsch logo.
- Zero fret.
- Double cutaway symmetrical body.
- Standby switch added.
1958 White Penguin specs:
1959 White Penguin specs:
1961 White Penguin specs:
Discontinued in 1964.
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1969 Corvette 6135
(picture Kevin Barry).
-
Corvette 6132 (1 pickup mahogany), 6132 (1 pickup cherry red),
6133 (1 pickup platinum grey), 6134 (1 pickup cherry red sunburst vibrato),
6135 (2 pickup cherry red sunburst vibrato).
- 13.5" wide asymmetrical double cutaway slab body with bass horn slightly longer
- 1 hi-lo tron pickup
- 2 knobs
- rosewood bridge
- trapeze tailpiece
- rectangular plate neck to neck
- no binding
- 24.5" scale
- dot fingerboard inlays
- narrow peghead
- mahogany (6132) or platinum grey (6133) finish.
- Beveled body edges with sharper cutaway points
- 3/8" diameter bar bridge
- Larger pickguard that covers routing for metal plate.
- Cherry red sunburst finish and 1 pickup no vibrato model (6132).
- Cherry red sunburst finish and 1 pickup with Burns flat arm vibrato model (6134) introduced.
- Cherry red sunburst finish and 2 pickups with Burns flat arm vibrato model (6135) introduced.
- Platinum grey finish model (6133) discontinued.
Collectibility Rating: D--.
1961 Corvette introduction specs:
1963 Corvette specs:
-
1964 Corvette specs:
- 2 tuners on bass side of peghead, 4 tuners on treble side.
- Few models made with glitter gold or silver finish.
- 1 pickup models (6132, 6134) discontinued.
- Bigsby horseshoe vibrato replaces Burns vibrato.
- Super tron pickups.
- Model renumbered 7623 and 7632 (Deluxe Corvette).
1966 Corvette specs:
1968 Corvette specs:
1970 Corvette specs:
1976 Corvette specs:
Discontinued 1978.
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Princess 6106.
Collectibility Rating: D--.
1963 Princess introduction specs: Corvette style assymetrical double cutaway body with beveled edges, 1 hi-lo tron pickup, 2 knobs, 3/8" diameter bar bridge, short arm palm vibrato, trapeze tailpiece, padded back, 22.5" scale, dot fingerboard inlays, gold plated parts, optional body/pickguard colors (white/lavender, blue/white, pink/white, white/gold). Available only in 1963.
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Astro-Jet 6126.
Collectibility Rating: D--.
1965 Astro-jet introduction specs: Double cutaway assymetrical body with pointed horns and beveled body edges, 2 Super tron pickups, 3 knobs, 3 switches, rollter bridge, Burns straight arm vibrato, thumbprint fingerboard inlays, 4 tuners on bass side of peghead and 2 tuners on treble side, red top finish and black back and sides.
Discontinued 1968.
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Bikini 6023 (guitar), 6024 (bass), 6025 (double neck).
Collectibility Rating: D.
1961 Bikini introduction specs: Removable neck-body shaft and foldup "butterfly" back and wings, hi-lo tron pickups, dot fingerboard inlays, black finish.
Discontinued 1963.
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Synchromatic 160 Acoustic Archtop 6028 (sunburst) and
6029 (blond).
Collectibility Rating: D.
-
Introduced in 1939 with
17" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides, double
bound cat-eye sound holes, stairstep bridge, harp tailpiece, bound
pickguard that almost covers the treble soundhole, 4-ply
fingerboard binding, 26" scale, chrome plated parts, 5 piece neck of maple
and rosewood, rosewood fingerboard pre-war, ebony fingerboard post-war,
script "Gretsch" logo, "Synchromatic" above E-string posts, single bound
peghead, large block inlays. Blond finish with tortoise binding available
in early 1940's. Available until 1943 when production stopped
for World War II. Production resumed in the fall of 1947 with gold plated
parts. Discontinued in 1951.
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Synchromatic 200 Acoustic Archtop.
Collectibility Rating: D.
-
Introduced in 1939. 17" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides,
double bound cat-eye sound holes, stairstep bridge, harp tailpiece, double
bound pickguard that almost covers the treble sound hole, bound
rosewood fingerboard, 26" scale, gold plated parts,
script "Gretsch" logo, "Synchromatic" above A and B-string posts, single bound
peghead, humptop block inlays. Available in sunburst or blond.
Discontinued in 1949.
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Synchromatic 300 Acoustic Archtop 6036 (sunburst), 6037 (blond).
Collectibility Rating: D+.
-
Introduced in 1939. 17" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides,
double bound cat-eye sound holes, stairstep bridge, harp tailpiece,
bound pickguard that almost covers the treble sound hole, 5-ply
fingerboard binding, 26" scale, gold plated parts, 5 piece neck of maple
and rosewood, ebony fingerboard,
script "Gretsch" logo, "Synchromatic" above A and B-string posts, multiple
bound peghead, gold sparkle slashed humptop block inlays. Blond finsh
available in 1941.
Cataloged as Synchromatic 6036, 6037 in 1951. Specs changed to double bound F-holes, "G" tailpiece, slashed humptop block inlays, "Synchromatic" on peghead. Discontinued in 1955.
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Synchromatic 400 Acoustic Archtop 6040 (sunburst), 6041 (blond).
Collectibility Rating: Early archtop model: B, later models: C-.
-
Introduced in 1940. 18" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides,
double bound cat-eye sound holes, stairstep bridge, harp tailpiece, pickguard
with white and gold sparkle binding that almost covers the treble sound
hole, white and gold sparkle fingerboard and body binding, 26" scale, gold
plated parts, 5 piece neck of maple and rosewood, ebony fingerboard,
slanted script "Gretsch" logo, crossed "Synchromatic" chili-pepper inlay
ornament, slashed humptop block inlays. Available in sunburst or blond.
By 1948 the crossed peghead ornament is gone.
In 1951 Cataloged as Synchromatic 6040, 6041 with the following specs: F-holes, "G" tailpiece, crossed peghead logo returns. Seventeen inch version created and called models 6038 (sunburst) and 6039 (blond), and models 6030 (sunburst) and 6031 (blond).
In 1955 replaced by the Eldorado with the same specs EXCEPT now single cutaway. Seventeen inch wide version renamed the Fleetwood models 6038, 6039. Models 6030, 6031 renamed the Constellation.
In 1959 specs change to thumbprint inlays, "Gretsch" only on peghead. Discontinued in 1970.
Flat top version available called Synchromatic 400F. Simular specs to 1940-1954 Synchromatic 400 except flat top, triangle sound hole, arched back, natural top, sunburst back and sides. Available 1947 to 1955.
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New Yorker 6050 acoustic archtop.
Collectibility Rating: early models with block fingerboard inlays: D, later
models: D--.
- 16" wide non-cutaway body
- Adjustable rosewood bridge
- Trapeze tailpiece
- Tortoise grain pickguard
- Tripe bound top and single bound back and fingerboard
- Block fingerboard inlays
- Stenciled "Gretsch" T-roof peghead logo thru circle and "New Yorker" vertically
- Rounded top of peghead with rounded corners
- Sunburst finish
- Single bound top and back
- Unbound fingerboard with dot inlays
- T-roof logo with "New Yorker" and lightning bolt vertically on peghead
- Rounded peak peghead with sharper corners
- Some with rectangular peghead or "Gretsch" plaque on peghead
1946 New Yorker Introduction specs:
1949 New Yorker specs:
1955 New Yorker specs:
1968 New Yorker specs:
Discontinued 1970.
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125F Jumbo Synchromatic, 6021 Town and Country Flat top.
- "Synchromatic" on peghead above A and B-tuners.
- 26" scale.
- Natural top, sunburst back and sides.
- Optional translucent white finish with tortoise binding.
- Town and Country replaces 125F.
- 25 1/2" scale.
- No "Synchromatic" on peghead.
Collectibility Rating: D-.
17" wide body, maple back and sides, triangle sound hole, arched back, height adjusting bridge on a triangle rosewood base, metal string anchor plate, single bound rosewood fingerboard.
1947 Synchromatic 125F Introduction specs:
1954 Town and Country specs:
Discontinued in 1959.
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Rancher 6022 Flat top.
- Body finished in Amber Red or Orange.
- Tortoise pickguard with engraved steer head.
- "G" branded into top on bass side.
- Celluloid block inlays with engraved cows and cactus.
- Longhorn steer head peghead inlay.
Collectibility Rating: C.
This could be one of the worse sounding and constructed flat tops by any of the US manufacturers during the 1950's. BUT due to its totally unique western "look", it has some collectible value.
The western version of the Town and Country 6021. 17" wide body, maple back and sides, laminated spruce top, ladder bracing, triangle sound hole, arched back, height adjusting bridge on a triangle rosewood base, metal string anchor plate, 25 1/2" scale, single bound rosewood fingerboard, gold plated parts.
1954 Rancher 6022 Introduction specs:
-
Mid 1956 Rancher 6022 specs:
- Clear acyrlic pickguard, back painted gold.
- Humptop block inlays with no engraving.
- Horseshoe peghead inlay.
- Thumbprint inlays.
- No "G" brand in top.
- Zero fret.
- Pointed pickguard.
- "G" brand on treble side instead of bass side of body.
- Block inlays engraved with cows and catus.
- Standard pin bridge.
- Horseshoe peghead inlay.
- 3 piece saddle, semi-circle bridge pin configuration.
1959 Rancher 6022 specs:
1969 Rancher 6022 specs:
1971 Rancher model 6022 renumbered to 7525.
1973 Rancher model 7525 discontinued.
1975 Rancher 7525 Re-introducition specs:
1978 Rancher 7525 specs:
1980 Rancher discontinued.
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Burl Ives 6004 Flat top.
Collectibility Rating: D-.
1952 Burl Ives introduction specs:
14 1/4" wide, round sound hole, mahagany back and sides, teardrop
pickguard, double bound top, single bound back, 9 ply soundhole ring,
rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, T-roof logo with "Burl Ives"
on peghead and inside label, natural finish.
1955 discontinued.
Gretsch Introduction
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