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The 10 Rarest Gretsch Guitars on Reverb Right Now | Reverb

The 10 Rarest Gretsch Guitars on Reverb Right Now | Reverb

The 10 Rarest Gretsch Guitars on Reverb Right Now | Reverb
August 09
12:52 2017

Since the 1930s, “That Great Gretsch Sound” has come in a variety of guitar shapes, sizes, colors, and model names.

While most of us are familiar with Gretsch’s “A–List” of classic guitar models (6120, Country Gentleman, White Falcon, Duo Jet, Sparkle Jet, etc.), there’s also a long list of lesser–known models that didn’t grab the spotlight from musicians like Chet Atkins or George Harrison playing them in front of millions of adoring fans.

Today, we’ll take a look at 10 of these more obscure, but still quirky–cool Gretsches that are currently for sale on the pages of Reverb.


Gretsch 6109 Peppermint Twist Corvette

Unlike Chevrolet, Gretsch priced its Corvette model near the bottom of its catalog. These budget–friendly, solidbody guitars were introduced in the early ’60s to compete with Les Paul and SG Juniors.

This rare 1961 model — named after the popular song and dance fad that originated in New York’s Peppermint Lounge — has the original Peppermint Red finish and distinctive peppermint–striped pickguard.


Gretsch 6106 White Princess Corvette

Another rare, short–lived variation of Gretsch’s budget–friendly Corvette lineup was the Princess model. Aimed at the female market, the Princess was offered in four pastel colors. A matching white amp and case were also available.

This 1962 white and gold Princess has somewhat of a solidbody White Falcon vibe to it, and the seller claims it was refinished years ago and plays and sounds great.


Gretsch 6126 Astro–Jet

The Astro–Jet was one of the most unique, space–age guitar designs ever dreamed up by Jimmie Webster and the Brooklyn Gretsch guitar gang. This high–end, solidbody featured two Super’Tron pickups, a Burns Vibrato, and an amoeba–shaped headstock with “4–on–2 tuning heads for exceptional style and dash.”

This 1965 specimen is in excellent condition and even comes with the original strap, polishing cloth, and manual.


Gretsch 6115 Rambler

Gretsch continued its car–themed model names when it introduced the downsized, three–quarter–scale Rambler hollowbody in 1957. Not many were produced in their modest five–year run, and this 1960 model — finished in a two–toned Lotus Ivory top with black back and sides — features a 13” wide body, a single HiLo’Tron pickup, and the original hardshell case.


Gretsch 6186 Clipper

Say the word “Clipper,” and many people think of an NBA team or an old Packard from the ’50s rather than a Gretsch electric guitar. Introduced in 1956, the single–pickup Clipper was at the lower end of Gretsch’s hollowbody line and had a production run of 18 years.

This well–preserved 1963 Clipper features a single HiLo’Tron pickup, fluted trapeze tailpiece, and a gorgeous sunburst finish.


Gretsch 6199 Convertible

One of the rarest, high–end Gretsch electrics of the 1950s, the Convertible targeted jazz players who wanted the best of both the acoustic and electric guitar worlds. The single DeArmond pickup and controls float above the 17–inch wide, 3 1/2–inch deep archtop’s surface in a large Lucite pickguard.

Jazz guitarist Sal Salvador became closely associated with the Convertible, and Gretsch changed the guitar’s name to the Sal Salvador Jazz Guitar in 1959. This extremely rare 1955 Convertible is in excellent condition and comes with its original tweed hardshell case.


Gretsch 6070 Country Gentleman Bass

Introduced in 1962 and mirroring the restyled double–cutaway hollowbody Chet Atkins Country Gentleman guitar, the Model 6070 was a good–sounding, high–quality bass.

Often called the “Country Gentleman Bass,” this 34–inch long–scale instrument has one Filter’Tron bass pickup, flip–mute, and — get this — an endpin allowing you the option of playing this Gretsch bass in an upright position.


Gretsch 6021 Town and Country

With its trademark triangular sound hole and extra large and deep body, the 17–inch wide Town and Country Jumbo was introduced in 1954 along with the Rancher. The Western–appointed Rancher proved to be more popular, and the Town and Country was quietly discontinued after a brief three–year run.

Gretsch guru Ed Ball estimates that probably no more than 350 Town and Country guitars were made, making this a super clean example of a most rare and desirable guitar.


Gretsch 6184 Corvette Hollowbody

Before Gretsch’s new lineup of entry–level solidbodies snagged the Corvette name in 1961, it belonged to its entry–level line of hollowbody guitars.

Introduced in 1953 (the same year as Cheverolet’s two–seater sports car), Corvettes were single–neck–pickup, non–cutaway guitars that could be ordered in a cool Jaguar Tan finish starting in 1955. This featured guitar is a 1956 in Jaguar Tan — the last year of production for hollow body Corvettes.


Gretsch 6130 Roc Jet

After watching Gibson successfully reintroduce single–cutaway Les Paul guitars in 1968, Gretsch decided to dust off and update its single–cutaway Jet model a year later.

Now owned by the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company (and renamed the Roc Jet), these chambered Gretsch solidbodies featured Super’Tron II pickups, a “G” cutout tailpiece, and the angular Baldwin–era pickguard. When was the last time you saw one of these for sale?

Source: The 10 Rarest Gretsch Guitars on Reverb Right Now | Reverb

About Author

Martin Nethercutt

Martin Nethercutt

Martin A Nethercutt is a writer, singer, producer and loves music. Creative Director at McCartney Studios Editor-in-Chief at McCartney Times Creator-in-Chief at Geist Musik President (title) at McCartney Multimedia, Inc. Went to Albert-Schweitzer-Schule Kassel Lives in Playa del Rey From Kassel, Germany Married to Ruth McCartney

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