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Despite the drawbacks, Gretsches from the mid 1950's have a certain "look" that is undeniably cool. Models most highly regarded are the single cutaway versions with western trim. Engraved position markers ("cow and cactus"), the "G" brand, and western pickguards is what makes Gretsches valuable and collectable. This especially applies to the 1954 to 1956 western models such as the 6120 Chet Atkins hollowbody, the 6121 Chet Atkins solidbody, the 6130 Roundup and the 6022 Rancher.
The 6136 White Falcon and 6134 White Penguin from 1954 to 1957 are also highly collectable instruments. These have DeArmond pickups, engraved pearl position markers, vertical Gretsch logo, "Cadillac" tailpieces and gold sparkle binding. Unfortuneately, after 1957 many of these attributes disappear, making later models less desirable.
The appeal of solidbody Grestch guitars seems to be more "show" than go. That is they are collectable for their unusual looks, rather than for playing or sound. Gretsch solidbody really aren't solid, but are semi-hollow construction. The most collectable solidbody models are those with western ornamentation closely related to the most desirable hollowbody models. The Duojet, which has no hollowbody equivalent, is also collectable. The custom color and sparkle top models are worth more than the standard black or red top models.
Gretsch acoustic archtops appeal primarily to collectors only, as players tend to steer clear of these models. Gretsch's reputation is based more on their electric guitars than acoustic. The quality of Grestch workmanship is not as good as Gibson and Epiphone instruments from the same period. Due to poor material and/or construction techniques, many older models haven't survived the test of time. The high-end acoustic archtops with "cat-eye" soundholes are visually appealing and collectible strickly for their unusual looks. Other models with convential "F" holes are much less desirable.
Gretsch flat tops tend to have inferior sound and playability compared to Gibson and Martin. The 6022 Rancher from 1954 to 1956 with "G" brand and engraved inlays is collectable, but mostly as an accessory to the other western models of the same period (6120, 6121, 6130). Other Gretsch models, though older and rarer, are less well known and are of little interest. The problem with Gretsch flat tops has to do largely with poor materials. Most use veneer (plywood) spruce tops with ladder bracing, opposed to solid spruce tops with "X" bracing that Gibson and Martin use.
The original Gretsch company based in Brooklyn, New York went out of business in 1981. Recently a Japanese company bought the Gretsch name and starting producing copies of the original 1950's Gretsch instruments.
Gretsch Model Numbers.
1955 Gretsch catalog.
55 Cat
1948 to 1975 Model Numbers
6000 Classic Hauser, inlaid peghead6001 Classic Hauser, plain peghead 6002 Folk, sunburst6003 Model 6003, 1951-1955 Grand Concert, 1955-1959 Jimmie Rodgers, 1959-1963 Folk Singer, 1963-1965 Folk, natural top, 1965-1975 6004 Burl Ives, 1952-1955 Folk, mahogany top, 1970-1975 6005 Ozark Soft String6006 Electro Classic6007 Synchormatic Sierra 6008 Wayfarer Jumbo6009 Jumbo Flat top6010 Sun Valley 6014 Synchromatic 100, sunburst, 1948-1949 Synchromatic 6014, sunburst, 1949-1955 Corsair, sunburst, 1955-1959 6015 Synchromatic 100, natural, 1948-1949 Synchromatic 6015, natural, 1949-1955 Corsair, natural, 1955-1959 6016 Corsair, Bordequx burgundy6020 12-string flat top 6021 Jumbo Synchromatic model 125F, 1948-19556022 Rancher 6023 Bikini guitar6024 Bikini bass6025 Bikini double neck 6028 Synchromatic 160, sunburst6029 Synchromatic 160, natural 6030 Synchromatic 6030, sunburst, 1951-1955 Constellation, sunburst, 1955-1959 Sho-Bro Spanish, 1969-1971 6031 Synchromatic 6031, natural, 1951-1955 Constellation, natural, 1955-1959 Sho-Bro Hawaiian, 1969-19716036 Synchromatic 300, sunburst, 1948-1951 Synchromatic 6036, sunburst, 1951-19556037 Synchromatic 300, 1948-1951 Synchromatic 6037, natural, 1951-1955 6038 Synchromatic 6038, sunburst, 1951-1955 Fleetwood, sunburst, 1955-1959 17" Eldorado, sunburst, 1959-19686039 Synchromatic 6039, natural, 1951-1955 Fleetwood, natural, 1955-1959 17" Eldorado, natural, 1959-1968 6040 Synchromatic 400, sunburst, 1948-1951 Synchromatic 6040, sunburst, 1951-1955 18" Eldorado, surburst, 1959-1968 6041 Synchromatic 400, natural, 1948-1951 Synchromatic 6040, natural, 1951-1955 18" Eldorado, natural, 1959-1968 6042 Synchromatic 400f flat top6050 New Yorker 6070 Hollowbody bass, long scale, 1 pu 6071 Hollowbody bass, short scale, 1 pu 6072 Hollowbody bass, long scale, 2 pu 6073 Hollowbody bass, short scale, 2 pu6075 12-string electric, sunburst 6076 12-string electric, natural6079 Van Eps 7-string, sunburst 6080 Van Eps 7-string, walnut6081 Van Eps 6-string, sunburst 6082 Van Eps 6-string, walnut6100 Black Hawk, sunburst 6101 Country Club, stereo, sunburst, 1959-1963 Black Hawk, black, 1968-1972 6102 Country Club, stereo, natural, 1959-1963 Streamliner double cutaway, sunburst, 1969-1975 6103 Country Club, stereo, Cadillac Green, 1959-1963 Streamliner double cutaway, cherry, 1969-19756104 Rally, green 6105 Rally, bamboo yellow/cooper mist6106 Princess 6111 Double Anniversary, stereo, sunburst 6112 Double Anniversary, stereo, 2-tone smoke green6115 Rambler 6117 Double Anniversary, sunburst Custom cat's eye soundhole model, 1965-1968 6118 Double Anniversary, 2-tone smoke green6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean 6120 Chet Atkins Hollowbody, 1954-1966 Nashville, 1967-1971 6121 Chet Atkins Solidbody6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen 6124 Anniversary, sunburst6125 Anniversary, 2-tone smoke green 6126 Astro-Jet6127 DuoJet Tenor, 1959 RocJet, Porsche Pumkin, 1969-1971 6128 DuoJet6129 SilverJet6130 Roundup, 1955-1959 RocJet, Mercedes Black, 1969-19736131 Jet FireBird 6132 Corvette Solidbody, 1 pu, no vibrato 6133 Corvette Solidbody, 2 pu, no vibrato6134 White Penguin, 1955-1963 Corvette Solidbody, 1 pu, vibrato, 1963-1968 6135 Corvette Solidbody, 2 pu, vibrato6136 White Falcon 6137 White Falcon, stereo6145 Jet Airliner lapsteel 6147 Jet Mainliner lapsteel6148 Jet Twin Console lapsteel, no legs 6148L Jet Twin COnsole lapsteel, 4 legs6152 Electromatic Student lapsteel 6156 Electromatic Standard lapsteel6158 Electromatic COnsole lapsteel 6182 Corvette hollowbody, sunburst6183 Corvette hollowbody, natural 6184 Corvette holowbody, Jaguar Tan 6185 Electromatic Spanish, sunburst, 1949-1955 Clipper, 2 pu, sunburst, 1972-19746185N Electromatic Spanish, natural 6186 Clipper6187 Electro II, non-cut, sunburst, 1951-1955 Corvette, ivory top, grey mist body, 1957 Corvette-style, cutaway, ivory top, grey mist body, 1958 Clipper, natural, 1959-1960 Viking, sunburst, 1967-1975 6188 Electro II, non-cut, natural, 1951-1955 Viking, natural, 1967-1975 6189 16" elctric cutaway, 2 pu, 1950-1955 Streamliner single cut, bamboo yellow/copper mist, 1955-1957 Viking, Cadillac Green, 1967-1972 6190 16" electric cutaway, 1 pu, sunburst, 1950-1955 Streamliner single cut, sunburst, 1955-1957 6191 16" electric cutaway, 1 pu, natural, 1950-1955 Streamliner single cut, natural, 1955-1957 6192 Electro II, cutaway, sunburst, 1951-1954 Country Club, sunburst, 1955-1971 6193 Electro II, cutaway, natural, 1951-1954 Country Club, natural, 1955-1971 6196 Country Club, Cadillac Green6199 Convertible, 1955-1958 San Salvador, 1958-1968
1971 to 1981 Model Numbers
7176 Southern Belle7505 Folk, sunburst7506 Folk, natural 7514 Sun Valley, sunburst7515 Sun Valley, natural7525 Rancher 7535 Deluxe7545 Supreme7555 Clipper7560 Double Anniversary, sunburst 7565 Streamliner, sunburst7566 Streamliner, cherry 7575 Country Club, sunburst7576 Country Club, natural 7577 Country Club, walnut7580 Van Eps, 7-string, sunburst 7585 Viking, sunburst7586 Viking, natural 7593 White Falcon, single cutaway7594 White Falcon 7595 White Falcon, stereo7600 Broadkaster solidbody, natural 7601 Broadkaster solidbody, sunburst 7603 Broadkaster hollowbody, bigsby, natural 7604 Broadkaster hollowbody, bigsby, sunburst 7605 Broadkaster bass, natural7606 Broadkaster bass, sunburst 7607 Broadkaster hollowbody, no bigsby, natural 7608 Broadkaster hollowbody, no bigsby, sunburst 7609 Broadkaster hollowbody, red7610 RocJet, black, 1971-1975 7611 RocJet, Porsche Pumpkin, 1971-1975 RocJet, black, 1975-1980 7612 RocJet, cherry7613 RocJet, walnut7615 Solidbody bass 7617 BST 1000, 2 pu, walnut7620 Country Roc, 1974-1979 BST 2000, walnut, 1979-19807621 Roc II7623 Corvette solidbody, 2 pu 7624 TK300, red7625 TK300, natural7626 TK300 bass, red 7627 TK300 bass, natural7628 Committee7629 Committee bass 7632 Deluxe Corvette7635 Roc I7655 Tennessean7660 Nashville 7667 Streamliner II7670 Country Gentlemen 7680 Deluxe Chet, red, 1973-1975 Atkins Super Axe, red, 1976-1980 7681 Deluxe Chet, walnut, 1973-1975 Atkins Super Axe, ebony, 1976-1980 7685 Atkins Axe, ebony7686 Atkins Axe, red7590 Super Chet, red 7691 Super Chet, walnut7705 Sho-Bro Hawaiian, 6-string 7710 Sho-Bro Hawaiian, 7-string7715 Sho-Bro Spanish 8210 BST1000, 1 pu, walnut8211 BST1000, 2 pu, red 8215 BST1000, 2 pu, walnut8216 BST1000, 1 pu, red 8217 BST1000, 2 pu, walnut8220 BST2000, walnut8221 BST2000, red 8260 BST5000
Japanese Model Numbers, 1989 to Present
400 Synchromatic, similar to Synchromatic 400 6010 Sun Valley, triangle soundhole 6020 Crimson Flyer, electric acoustic, cutaway, triangle soundhole 6022 Rancher acoustic 6030 Nightbird, electric acoustic, cutaway, triangle soundhole 6119 Tennessee Rose, similar to Tennessean6120 The Nashville 6120w The Nashville, western6121 Round Up 6122s Country Classic I, single cut, similar to 1958 Country Gentlemen 6122 Country Classic II, double cut, similar to 1961 Country Gentlemen 6128 DuoJet6129 SilverJet6131 Jet FireBird 6136 White Falcon I, single cutaway, no vibrato 6175 Electric acoustic fretted bass6176 Electric acoustic fretless bass 7593 White Falcon I, single cutaway, bigsby 7594 White Falcon II, double cutaway, bigsby
Gretsch Serial Numbers.
Only approximate year of manufacturer can be determined by Gretsch serial numbers before 1965. It is best to date your pre-1965 Gretsch by serial number and by specs. Although Gretsch's during this period seem chronologically ordered (and in many cases are), the numbers and labels often can not determine the exact year of manufacture due to spec inconsistences.
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