Gretsch Model 6119 Tennessean Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Brooklyn, NY, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, ebony fingerboard, original blue/grey hard shell case.
A very early example of the "Gretsch Esquire", the stripped-down hotrod of the company's late 1950's line. The original Model 6119 Tennessean was the lower end model in the Chet Atkins series, and is basically the same instrument as the more famous Model 6120 but with plainer trim and a single pickup. With a bright cherry-red finish, single PAF Filter'tron at the bridge and Bigsby on a 16" trestle-braced archtop body this guitar is a flashy statement in stripped-down elegance. This is a very early 6119 from the first year of issue with the Atkins aluminum nut instead of a zero fret. The controls consist of a single volume knob on the cutaway and a tone switch on the upper bout. A rare Gretsch from the company's peak period, and a great playing guitar.
Overall length is 41 7/8 in. (106.4 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 3/4 in. (7 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.). Very clean and original, with an excellent professionally refret with correct period style wire and a very good neck angle that has never been reset. Complete and unaltered except the model number and serial number scratched out on the internal label. No binding deterioration visible anywhere. An extremely good playing and sounding example. Excellent Condition.
