Gretsch Model 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Item #7245
Gretsch Model 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 61690, dark mahogany finish, laminated maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
This is a nice example of a "Beatle-year" Model 6119 Tennessean with the closed 'Electrotone' body, one of Gretsch's most popular and classic 1960's models. Although the least expensive instrument in the Chet Atkins signature line, by the standards of the day the Tennessean was still a relatively upscale guitar. Like all Atkins models it is fitted with a "Gretsch by Bigsby" vibrato, one of Chet's requirements. The 6119 used two single-coil Hi-lo'tron pickups in place of the double-coil Filter'Tron units used on the higher-end Country Gentleman. Still, this model cost the not inconsiderable sum of $350.00 in 1962, the year it replaced the earlier full-hollowbody, single-pickup 6119. This example features stenciled-on "F-holes" with a white border that was added to them within a year or so, as the earliest all-black version was pretty inconspicuous. Early '60's Tennesseans like this one lack the engraved headstock plaque added in 1964 which carried the model name. The 6119 remained the only traditional single-cutaway guitar in the Atkins line, both the Country Gentleman and 6120 having become double-cutaways at the time.
This particular guitar has an excellent neck angle (often a sore point of this model) and is a compatatively rare instrument, as the production of all Gretsch guitars and particularly the Tennessean went way up in the Beatle-saturated world of 1964-67. Many 1960's artists made extensive use of this popular model, including George Harrison, who acquired a Tennessean virtually identical to this one in late 1963 and used it most notably in the film "HELP!" and the Beatles '65 world tours. David Crosby of The Byrds played a very similar guitar in 1965-6; Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) toured and recorded extensively in 1963-4 with an early Tennessean as well The Animals' Hilton Valentine recorded all the band's early material including "House of the Rising Sun" with this exact style. The sound is brighter than many other Gretsch models, due to the combination of single-coil pickups and thin body but with plenty of depth when required. A classic 1960's Gretsch with a peerless beat group pedigree!
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is mostly original and in fine condition overall with a few small issues; The tuners have been replaced with 1960's Grover Sta-Tites; the original Waverly tuners could be re-installed with minimal disturbance to the headstock- there are some extra compression rings visible on the headstock face on close examination. All other finish and hardware is original; there is some typical bnding deterioration to the single layer on the top edge; nothing too severe but noticable. The neck finish and the frets are excellent, as the neck angle. One of the nicest playing and sounding examples we have had. Includes a good original grey HSC. Very Good + Condition.
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This is a nice example of a "Beatle-year" Model 6119 Tennessean with the closed 'Electrotone' body, one of Gretsch's most popular and classic 1960's models. Although the least expensive instrument in the Chet Atkins signature line, by the standards of the day the Tennessean was still a relatively upscale guitar. Like all Atkins models it is fitted with a "Gretsch by Bigsby" vibrato, one of Chet's requirements. The 6119 used two single-coil Hi-lo'tron pickups in place of the double-coil Filter'Tron units used on the higher-end Country Gentleman. Still, this model cost the not inconsiderable sum of $350.00 in 1962, the year it replaced the earlier full-hollowbody, single-pickup 6119. This example features stenciled-on "F-holes" with a white border that was added to them within a year or so, as the earliest all-black version was pretty inconspicuous. Early '60's Tennesseans like this one lack the engraved headstock plaque added in 1964 which carried the model name. The 6119 remained the only traditional single-cutaway guitar in the Atkins line, both the Country Gentleman and 6120 having become double-cutaways at the time.
This particular guitar has an excellent neck angle (often a sore point of this model) and is a compatatively rare instrument, as the production of all Gretsch guitars and particularly the Tennessean went way up in the Beatle-saturated world of 1964-67. Many 1960's artists made extensive use of this popular model, including George Harrison, who acquired a Tennessean virtually identical to this one in late 1963 and used it most notably in the film "HELP!" and the Beatles '65 world tours. David Crosby of The Byrds played a very similar guitar in 1965-6; Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) toured and recorded extensively in 1963-4 with an early Tennessean as well The Animals' Hilton Valentine recorded all the band's early material including "House of the Rising Sun" with this exact style. The sound is brighter than many other Gretsch models, due to the combination of single-coil pickups and thin body but with plenty of depth when required. A classic 1960's Gretsch with a peerless beat group pedigree!
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is mostly original and in fine condition overall with a few small issues; The tuners have been replaced with 1960's Grover Sta-Tites; the original Waverly tuners could be re-installed with minimal disturbance to the headstock- there are some extra compression rings visible on the headstock face on close examination. All other finish and hardware is original; there is some typical bnding deterioration to the single layer on the top edge; nothing too severe but noticable. The neck finish and the frets are excellent, as the neck angle. One of the nicest playing and sounding examples we have had. Includes a good original grey HSC. Very Good + Condition.
