2005 Gretsch G6122 Country Classic in Mint, Like New Condition
For many of the players that came out of the great guitar boom of the ’60s, the classic double cutaway Gretsch 6122 was the end-all electric guitar. So big, so luxurious and yet so ROCKIN’! From driving rhythm to ripping leads, the 6122 Country Classic has it all. This modern version of the classic double cutaway 6122 features a rock maple “action-flow” neck joined at the 18th fret for easy access to upper registers. Other features include a 17″ body with open “F” holes, twin High Sensitive Filtertron pickups, Adjusto-matic bridge, and Gretsch by Bigsby B6G vibrato tailpiece. Gretsch G6122 Country Classic at a Glance:
- Debuted in 1958 with considerable input from Chet Atkins
- Double cutaway laminated Maple body, 17″ Wide, 2.25″ Deep, open “F” holes.
- Twin High Sensitive Filtertron pickups, Adjusto-matic bridge.
- Gretsch by Bigsby® B6G vibrato tailpiece.
- Easy access to upper registers.
A Modern Classic The Gentleman debuted in 1958, but only after considerable input from Chet Atkins, and it was placed between the 6120 and Falcon in price. Originally it had a 17-inch single cutaway body that measured about 2 3/4″ thick, with fake f-holes inlaid into the mahogany-finished maple top. This modern version of the classic double cutaway 6122 features a rock maple “action-flow” neck joined at the 18th fret for easy access to upper registers. Other features include a 17″ body with open “F” holes, twin High Sensitive Filtertron pickups, Adjusto-matic bridge, and Gretsch by Bigsby® B6G vibrato tailpiece. The Evolution of a Classic The closed body on the original Country Gentleman was a concession to Chet Atkins, who was constantly hounding Gretsch to produce a semi-hollow guitar with a solid block through the center, like Gibson’s ES-335. Like Les Paul, Atkins wanted more sustain and less feedback. Atkins never did get the solid block of wood down the center, but Gents do have a partial block. Some early ’60s Gents also appear with real f-holes, though. After ’63, Gents changed again, gaining a “Country Gentleman” logo on the pickguard, a SuperTron pickup instead of a FilterTron by the neck, and different tuners, among other changes. The SuperTron was dropped in ’67, rosewood replaced ebony on the fingerboard sometime in the late ’60s and Gretsch, under Baldwin control, beginning dropping features to keep costs down. In 1970 the ebony fingerboard re-appeared, but the Gent was obviously a Baldwin creation by this time, with its oddly shaped pickguard, and in the early ’70s the model was re-designated 7670. Atkins owned the rights to the “Country Gentleman” name, and in 1978 he jumped ship to Gibson, taking the name with him. Gretsch renamed it Country Squire and soldiered on. The 7670 Southern Belle model makes an interesting side note to the Country Gentleman legend: As Gretsch foundered under Baldwin’s ownership, production was eventually moved to Mexico, where at least one Gent was reportedly made. In the ’90s, Gretsch reintroduced the 6122 as the “Country Classic,” with two models leading the way. The 6122S Country Classic I is a single-cutaway, while the 6122 Country Classic II uses a double-cutaway body. Both feature V-cutout Bigsbys, tone-knob style controls, an adjustamatic bridge and bound f-holes. One of the Gretsch Big Three The 6122 Country Gentleman is considered by many to be one of the holy trinity of Gretsch guitars, along with the 6120 and White Falcon. Although it lacks the cowboy cool of a G-branded 6120 or the dazzle of the Falcon, it has an elegance (and some would say playability) the others lack. The fact that George Harrison played one doesn’t hurt, either. Gretsch G6122 Country Classic Unique Features:
- Neo Classic “Thumbnail” Inlay Position Markers
- Bound Fingerboard and Headstock.
- Multiple Body Bindings.
- Gold-Plated Name Plate on Headstock.
- Gold Plexi Pickguard.
- Knurled Strap Retainer Knobs.
- Adjustable Truss Rod.
Gretsch G6122-1962, ’62 Country Classic Features:
- Colors: Walnut Stain.
- Body Style: Double cutaway hollow body.
- Sale Length: 25.5″ (648mm)
- Top: Arched laminated Maple
- Back and Sides: Laminated Maple Body, 17″ Wide, 2.25″ Deep
- Neck: 3-Piece Maple Joined at 18th Fret.
- Pickups: 2 High sensitive FilterTron pickups.
- Pickup Switching: 3-position toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup.
- Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Volume, 3-Position Toggle Master Tone Switch.
- Width at Nut:1-11/16″ (43mm).
- Fretboard: Ebony, 12″ Radius (305mm).
- Bridge: Ebony-Based Adjusto-Matic Bridge.
- Tailpiece: Gretsch Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece.
- Hardware: Gold-plated.
- Finish: Gloss urethane.
- Case: Includes G6242L Deluxe hardshell case, US MSRP $220.00.
- No. of Frets: 22.
- Machine Heads: Gold-Plated Grover 102-18G RotomaticTM Die-cast Tuners.