How do I identify my Gretsch model?

How do I identify my Gretsch model?

On most modern (after 1989) Gretsch guitars you will find it on the back of the headstock. Some models from 1962 – late 1960s also had serial numbers on the top of the headstock or on the pickguard.

Are Gretsch guitars worth the money?

Gretsch guitars have excellent playability and play importance on quality and the overall experience. Due to their quality control, Gretsch guitars are a great playing experience and a dream to play. Hence why their guitars typically cost more than the average budget guitar.

What is the most expensive Gretsch guitar?

A 1955-’62 Gretsch 6134 White Penguin made the list at No. 9, with an estimated value of $94,000 to $152,000. “A dressed-up solidbody showpiece first built for Jimmie Webster to play at trade shows, it was produced in small numbers.

How do I find my Gretsch serial number?

Gretsch serial numbers typically appear on the back of the headstock and begin with a two-letter prefix code indicating the country of origin and specific manufacturing facility, followed by numbers indicating year and month of manufacture and sequential order of manufacture.

What are the different models of Gretsch guitars?

Gretsch order their guitar catalogue into three groups: Streamliner, Electromatic and Professional. Each series works to increasingly high standards and more impressive specs. Streamliner guitars are perfect for those who want their first taste of Gretsch magic.

How do you read a Gretsch serial number?

How do you tell what year your guitar is?

For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. That letter indicates the decade. The second character will usually be a number. That number indicates the specific year.

Why is Gretsch so expensive?

So, in summary, the high-end guitars made by Gretsch or any manufacturer have the highest costs due to use of higher-end woods and components, but the majority of differences is the amount of hands-on labor to create a fine finished product.

Are Chinese Gretsch guitars good?

The guitars in this series are considered of great quality for their price point, which places them in the mid-range of the guitar market. They are gorgeous instruments with the true Gretsch character and sound.

What Gretsch guitar did Chet Atkins play?

Gretsch 6120
The Gretsch 6120 is a hollow body electric guitar with f-holes, manufactured by Gretsch and first appearing in the mid-1950s with the endorsement of Chet Atkins. It was quickly adopted by rockabilly artists Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, and later by Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer, Reverend Horton Heat, and many others.

Where are Gretsch guitars made?

So, where are Gretsch guitars made? Gretsch guitars are made overseas mostly, but custom shop guitars are still made in America. Gretsch Guitars are made in the United States, Japan, China, Korea, and Indonesia based on the make and model.

What does the serial number mean on a Gretsch guitar?

The serial number on your modern Gretsch guitar or bass contains specific information about where and when it was made. This allows you to accurately date a modern Gretsch guitar by its serial number. By modern, by the way, we mean since 2003, which is when Gretsch serial numbering took its current form.

When did Gretsch start making solid body guitars?

Electrotone and solid body instruments made from 1962 to 1965, once again used the impressed serial number method. Some Viking, Falcon and Country Gentlemen guitars made from 1958 to 1965, had the serial number impressed onto the nameplate on the headstocks. The table identifies Gretsch serial numbers used from 1939 to 1965.

Where do you find the model number on a Gretsch?

Early labelled Gretsches will usually have a printed serial number and a handwritten model number. On hollowbodies, the label is usually visible through the f-hole. On other models such as solidbodies, it should be inside a control cavity. From about 1949 to 1957 watch for a white rectangular label that reads:

How many guitars does a Gretsch Pro Line have?

Understanding the Gretsch model numbers goes a long way toward understanding what features a modern-era Gretsch possesses, once you can decode the code. Though it looks like Grestch makes a hundred models, the pro line really consists of about 5 – 7 basic guitars depending on how you count.