Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends
archtop.com
1959 Gretsch 6117 Double Anniversary
Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to info@archtop.com.
Serial #: 33261
Finish: tobacco sunburst finish, nitrocellulose type
Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6"
Materials: Maple top, back, sides and neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearl thumbprint inlays; three ply body, neck and f-hole binding; original bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original nickel plated hardware includes twin Patent Applied For Filter 'Tron pickups; chrome Gretsch logo tailpiece and open back tuners; gold Lucite pickguard with Gretsch logo; adjustable Space Control roller bridge with ebony base; independent "G Arrow" volume knobs for each pickup; master volume knob; three way pickup selector switch; three way tone selector switch.
Notes: Gretsch introduced the Anniversary model in 1958 to commemorate the firm's 75th (Diamond) Anniversary, which is symbolized by the gem design plaque on the peghead. This sunburst twin pickup version was designated with the model number 6117. A transitional model with features seen this year only, the '59 version was the last year for the Patent Applied For Filter 'Tron pickups, and the first year for the peghead nameplate. Other desirable features include thumbprint inlays, bound fingerboard, trestle bracing, and bone nut without zero fret, making this model functionally identical to the coveted pre-Bigsby Chet Atkins 6120.
The wonderfully named Space Control roller bridge is attached, as well as the original G-Arrow knobs and tailpiece. This example is in stunning museum quality condition, 100% original, without cracks, pick or buckle wear, and bright plating throughout. Its original sunburst finish shows only a few tiny nicks, and almost none of the typical weather checking one expects in an instrument of this vintage. The guitar has a fine versatile voice covering the gamut from bebop to rockabilly, and a highly playable neck. The original gray sharkskin Gretsch hardshell caseis in immaculatge condition, and still contains all its original factory adjustment brochures and schematics. An exceptional example of a historic model unavailable for over three decades.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original gray sharkskin Gretsch hardshell case. 
Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends