Gretsch PX-6123 Monkees Rock'N'Roll Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967)
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Item # 6620
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Gretsch PX-6123 Monkees Rock'N'Roll Model Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in Brooklyn, NY, red lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
The Gretsch Monkees model guitar is a fairly rare relic of one of the more off-the-wall of 1960's Gretsch endeavors-an endorsement deal cut with Screen Gems to provide instruments for the originally fictional group to play on their TV show. When the "The Monkees" debuted in the fall of 1966, the band were shown playing only Gretsch guitars and Vox amps-but nothing that exactly resembled this particular instrument. The "Monkees Rock"N"Roll Model" was specifically designed to be a relatively affordable but flashy guitar to hopefully appeal to the group's giant teenage audience, at least some of whom were assumed to be aspiring to play in similar groups themselves! Having seen a massive spike in demand for the company's guitars after Beatle George Harrison appeared with one on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, Gretsch likely saw the Monkees TV exposure as another marketing coup, but this one actually planned in advance! Although it didn't quite work out that way, the Gretsch-Monkees link did create this fairly unique instrument, and lead to a lasting association between the company and the group.
Monkee Guitarist Mike Nesmith primarily appeared on the show with an unusual custom Gretsch 12-srting, although he used several other of the company's guitars on screen as well. The actual Monkees Model appeared in only 4 episodes, part of the last batch filmed in the autumn of '67: "Monkees Mind Their Manor", "Some Like It Lukewarm", "The Monkey's Paw", & "The Christmas Episode". The guitar itself is a fire-engine red double cutaway thinline hollow body, with two Super'tron pickups and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. While similar overall to the Rally, Streamliner and Blackhawk models that followed it into production, it carries several unique features. The back-painted Lucite "Monkees" logo pickguard and truss rod cover are the most prominent-and in later years were often removed by later owners. The double "thumbprint" inlay pattern on the fingerboard was not unknown, but usually appeared only on left-handed instruments! The control array along the lower bout is unusual as well-other Gretsch guitars mounted the selector and tone control switches on the upper cutaway bout. The Super'Tron pickups have white surrounds, and the headstock bears a plaque proclaiming the Monkees connection.
The Monkees model never appeared in Gretsch literature, but a limited number were produced from late 1966 through the summer of 1967. Longtime Gretsch employee and unofficial keeper of the flame Duke Kramer recalled 300 being produced, although no official record survives. This particular guitar has had only a couple of owners over the past five decades, and has not seen extensive use. This is the actual guitar pictured to illustrate the model in several books; "The Gretsch Book" by Bacon & Day, "50 Gretsch Electrics" by Tony Bacon, "Classic Guitars Of The '60's" by the same author and "Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia". Additionally, this is one of the few (if there is even another) extant Monkees model guitars documented as played by an actual Monkee! In 2013 it was on display at the "Gretsch Gear" booth at a Monkees convention, and Peter Tork asked to give it a try; a film of this unique moment is visible at this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2AgiPNKReM
This is likely one of the nicest surviving Gretsch Monkees Model guitars extant; a very cool piece of 1960's guitar and pop culture history an extremely good sounding and playing guitar to boot!
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is in very good and all original condition overall, with little play wear and only some minor repairs. The deep red finish is very nicely preserved with no fade and only a few small areas of touch-up-one on the top and a couple on the back of the neck. The bone nut was replaced at some point, but all other fittings and hardware are original including the "Monkees" logo pickguard and truss rod cover, which are rare to find as they were often removed during the years that the group's star had fallen from grace. The laminated neck center seam shows a very slight repair around the middle of the neck; very neatly done but visible on close inspection. As is typical of a large percentage of Gretsch guitars from this period (1967 being a particularly common year) the celluloid binding has begun to deteriorate around the edges, and shows shrinkage and cracking in several areas, most especially by the neck heel. The celluloid has not crumbled severely, but has cracked through in a number of places. There has been some protective coating added to the bound fingerboard edges for conservation and to enhance playability, and the guitar certainly plays fine in its current state. The neck has never been reset and the angle is better than many; the frets are in excellent shape and this must rate as a stellar example of this somewhat whimsical but cheerfully nostalgic Gretsch rarity. Excellent - Condition.
The Gretsch Monkees model guitar is a fairly rare relic of one of the more off-the-wall of 1960's Gretsch endeavors-an endorsement deal cut with Screen Gems to provide instruments for the originally fictional group to play on their TV show. When the "The Monkees" debuted in the fall of 1966, the band were shown playing only Gretsch guitars and Vox amps-but nothing that exactly resembled this particular instrument. The "Monkees Rock"N"Roll Model" was specifically designed to be a relatively affordable but flashy guitar to hopefully appeal to the group's giant teenage audience, at least some of whom were assumed to be aspiring to play in similar groups themselves! Having seen a massive spike in demand for the company's guitars after Beatle George Harrison appeared with one on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, Gretsch likely saw the Monkees TV exposure as another marketing coup, but this one actually planned in advance! Although it didn't quite work out that way, the Gretsch-Monkees link did create this fairly unique instrument, and lead to a lasting association between the company and the group.
Monkee Guitarist Mike Nesmith primarily appeared on the show with an unusual custom Gretsch 12-srting, although he used several other of the company's guitars on screen as well. The actual Monkees Model appeared in only 4 episodes, part of the last batch filmed in the autumn of '67: "Monkees Mind Their Manor", "Some Like It Lukewarm", "The Monkey's Paw", & "The Christmas Episode". The guitar itself is a fire-engine red double cutaway thinline hollow body, with two Super'tron pickups and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. While similar overall to the Rally, Streamliner and Blackhawk models that followed it into production, it carries several unique features. The back-painted Lucite "Monkees" logo pickguard and truss rod cover are the most prominent-and in later years were often removed by later owners. The double "thumbprint" inlay pattern on the fingerboard was not unknown, but usually appeared only on left-handed instruments! The control array along the lower bout is unusual as well-other Gretsch guitars mounted the selector and tone control switches on the upper cutaway bout. The Super'Tron pickups have white surrounds, and the headstock bears a plaque proclaiming the Monkees connection.
The Monkees model never appeared in Gretsch literature, but a limited number were produced from late 1966 through the summer of 1967. Longtime Gretsch employee and unofficial keeper of the flame Duke Kramer recalled 300 being produced, although no official record survives. This particular guitar has had only a couple of owners over the past five decades, and has not seen extensive use. This is the actual guitar pictured to illustrate the model in several books; "The Gretsch Book" by Bacon & Day, "50 Gretsch Electrics" by Tony Bacon, "Classic Guitars Of The '60's" by the same author and "Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia". Additionally, this is one of the few (if there is even another) extant Monkees model guitars documented as played by an actual Monkee! In 2013 it was on display at the "Gretsch Gear" booth at a Monkees convention, and Peter Tork asked to give it a try; a film of this unique moment is visible at this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2AgiPNKReM
This is likely one of the nicest surviving Gretsch Monkees Model guitars extant; a very cool piece of 1960's guitar and pop culture history an extremely good sounding and playing guitar to boot!
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is in very good and all original condition overall, with little play wear and only some minor repairs. The deep red finish is very nicely preserved with no fade and only a few small areas of touch-up-one on the top and a couple on the back of the neck. The bone nut was replaced at some point, but all other fittings and hardware are original including the "Monkees" logo pickguard and truss rod cover, which are rare to find as they were often removed during the years that the group's star had fallen from grace. The laminated neck center seam shows a very slight repair around the middle of the neck; very neatly done but visible on close inspection. As is typical of a large percentage of Gretsch guitars from this period (1967 being a particularly common year) the celluloid binding has begun to deteriorate around the edges, and shows shrinkage and cracking in several areas, most especially by the neck heel. The celluloid has not crumbled severely, but has cracked through in a number of places. There has been some protective coating added to the bound fingerboard edges for conservation and to enhance playability, and the guitar certainly plays fine in its current state. The neck has never been reset and the angle is better than many; the frets are in excellent shape and this must rate as a stellar example of this somewhat whimsical but cheerfully nostalgic Gretsch rarity. Excellent - Condition.