1955 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6121 - 1st Batch

Description: I’m only the 3rd owner of this 55 6121! Need to pay for my kids college more than I need this historic piece! It belongs in the hands of a Gretsch fanatic or a museum. Condition: has all factory features and no obvious aftermarket upgrades or modifications. Original gold chromed set-arm Bigsby vibrato. The pickups were barely audible, so they were rewound by pickup guru Tom Brantley Rewinds (Geddy Lee client). Rewound to stock and everything is working properly. New leads were added as the old material was breaking down. Now it cuts heads like a champ!! Original tweed thermometer style case in good condition for 70yrs of use. History; From Ed Ball (Gretsch expert & published Gretsch author). “This 6121 is serial number 16479. The Specimens I've documented from the debut 6120/6121 batch have pots dated from Sept. and Oct of 1954. This suggests these guitars were made before the 1955 calendar year started. So it is accepted that this guitar was probably manufactured in late 1954, but it is considered a 1955 model year example. This guitar is the 26th example from the batch... but those first 25 guitars made before it on the production line were a mix of 6120 hollowbody and 6121 solidbody guitars, so it's not clear exactly what number of 6121 this was, but it should be recognized as a very early example of this new for '55 design! The the neck was replaced by the Gretsch factory in Brooklyn NY sometime after 1959. I can be sure of this because of the presence of the "zero fret" (fret appearing just below the nut) which was added to Jet-style solidbody guitars around 1960. This was not unusual, as unfortunately the dove-tail neck joint Gretsch used was sometimes suspect, and would become loose. That issue, and the fact that the Gretsch life-time warranty covered all design failure free of charge, and meant that a lot of 1950s Grestch solidbody guitars (Duo-Jet models and 6121) went back to the factory for repairs. Upon receiving these defective guitars the factory would simply discard the original necks, and install a brand new one of whatever design they were making at the time. Thats why this 6121 lacks the western etched block inlay fretboard (standard in 1955) and instead has a neoclassic (aka thumbnail inlay design) which was introduced beginning in 1958. This is common enough. The Gretsch factory appears to have installed a Jet-style neck. If the guitar was sent in for the repair after 1962, when the 6121 model was discontinued, that may be why it received a neoclassical neck style. Ask all questions before purchase. Shipping on the buyers dime. I may be able to Personally Delivery for an additional fee. No refunds or returns. Please allow 2 business weeks for shipping.

Price: 15000 USD

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

End Time: 2024-10-03T20:32:36.000Z

Shipping Cost: 85 USD