*SOLD* 1961 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Model w/ FLAME! Western Orange NO BINDING ISSUES
$8,499.99
Vendor: Gretsch
1961 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 in Western Orange! Nice Vintage Gretsch 6120 from 1961. Last of the great 6120's. Signpost pickguard, pre-standby switch, and thinner body. The guitar is in...
1961 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 in Western Orange!
Nice Vintage Gretsch 6120 from 1961. Last of the great 6120's. Signpost pickguard, pre-standby switch, and thinner body. The guitar is in excellent condition overall with no binding issues which is important for any Gretsch from this era. Very attractive faded Western Orange finish with rare lightly figured maple body. There is light wear/worming on the back of the body as shown. A particularly nice-playing/sounding 6120 with period Gretsch case.
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In 1954, the Fred Gretsch Company introduced its own artist-endorsed guitar in response to the success of Gibson’s Les Paul model. The virtuoso country artist Chet Atkins was chosen, and with his input, the model 6120 Chet Atkins Hollowbody was born.
The guitar included features requested by Atkins, such as a 24 ¾" scale length, a metal nut, and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. It also initially sported “kitschy” Western designs intended to appeal to country music fans, although Atkins disliked the extra cosmetic decorations. They were gradually removed as he and the guitar became more popular.
This early 1961 example has the typical characteristics of 6120 models produced that year. These include an ebony fretboard with neoclassical inlays (1958), Filter’Tron humbucking pickups (1958), a zero fret (1959), V-style Gretsch by Bigsby tailpiece (1960), and a bar bridge (1957). By 1961, the body depth had thinned to just 2.25" (from 2.75" in ’54, to 2.5" in ’60). Possibly due to the thinner body, the neck joint changed from a dovetail to a mortise and tenon. The reinforcing dowel was moved from the back of the heel to the side located in the cutaway. Later examples from ’61 would also be equipped with a standby switch before the model changed to a double- cutaway design in 1962.
The guitar included features requested by Atkins, such as a 24 ¾" scale length, a metal nut, and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. It also initially sported “kitschy” Western designs intended to appeal to country music fans, although Atkins disliked the extra cosmetic decorations. They were gradually removed as he and the guitar became more popular.
This early 1961 example has the typical characteristics of 6120 models produced that year. These include an ebony fretboard with neoclassical inlays (1958), Filter’Tron humbucking pickups (1958), a zero fret (1959), V-style Gretsch by Bigsby tailpiece (1960), and a bar bridge (1957). By 1961, the body depth had thinned to just 2.25" (from 2.75" in ’54, to 2.5" in ’60). Possibly due to the thinner body, the neck joint changed from a dovetail to a mortise and tenon. The reinforcing dowel was moved from the back of the heel to the side located in the cutaway. Later examples from ’61 would also be equipped with a standby switch before the model changed to a double- cutaway design in 1962.
Weight: 7.3 lbs
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