Gretsch Model 6189 Electromatic Streamliner Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 20319, Bamboo Yellow top, Copper Mist back and sides finish, laminated maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original tweed hard shell case.
This is a stunningly well preserved example of a lovely and rare Gretsch, a 1956 Model PX-6189 Streamliner. This was a higher/mid-line instrument, pro-grade but not near the top of the line. BUT at this moment in Gretsch history was offered with one particularly attractive finish option with a cool combination of features. From 1955 the Steamliner was listed in three finishes; a standard sunburst, natural and this much more striking two tone rendition as the PX-6189, by far the most sought after version. Gretsch described this livery as "Bamboo Yellow top, Copper Mist back and sides"; the look is about as 1950s as it gets and was ubique to Gretsch at the time.
Structurally this guitar is a close sister to the 1956 Chet Atkins Model 6120, sharing that more celebrated guitar's body dimensions and feel but with only a single pickup and no Bigsby tailpiece. That pickup is the classic DeArmond Dynasonic used on all Gretsch guitars up into 1958, giving it a bright and punchy sound for a full-depth archtop. The clear Lucite pickguard is back-painted to match the back and sides, the tailpiece and "arrow" chrome knobs are typical Gretsch fare for the period and the bridge is the fully adjustable Melita unit used on their higher end guitars.
The 15 3/4" wide body is double bound top and back with large double bound F-holes. The neck has a bound rosewood fingerboard with the classic "humped block" pearloid inlay pattern that was another Gretsch trademark. The wide headstock faced in plastic; the Gretsch "T-roof" logo is incised horizontally over a vertical "Electromatic" inscription. The tuners are openback Waverlys with metal buttons, common to Gretsch at the time. The profile is a fairly chunky deep "C" shape and the scale is noticeably longer than the 6120 at 25 1/2".
While not a top-line guitar this particular 1956 Streamliner is one of Gretsch's most attractive period guitars, and that's saying as lot! The "Bamboo yellow" top over the metallic purplish back and sides topped off with shiny chrome trim channel the look of a 1950s two-tone car. The simpler hardware accentuates the clean lines compared to many more cluttered-looking instruments from the company. This is about as nice an example as we can imagine, a lovely instrument in every way and a real time capsule guitar from 1956 Brooklyn to the 21st century.
Overall length is 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This truly lovely original two-tone Brooklyn Gretsch remains all original, about the nicest of these we have seen. There is NO binding distress anywhere. The guitar shows some light wear but no repairs or other alterations other than a very well done neck reset, resulting in an excellent angle. There are some small chips to the finish around the heel from this, but for the most part it is a very clean job. The rest of the beautiful 2-tone finish remains VERY clean with just some tiny dings and scuffs; the back of the neck has some tiny shallow dings but no notable play wear. The striking colors are superbly well-preserved with hardly any fade to either the top or metallic lacquer back.
All hardware appears original and complete; it looks like the main wiring trunk from the pickup to the controls may have been replaced (not unusual as the insulation often crumbles and shorts out) but all the components are original. The original small wire frets have some light wear in the lower positions but the instrument plays very well. This is a superb and super striking looking guitar, an exceptionally nice 1950s Gretsch! It includes the original tweed Gretsch HSC showing some external wear but completely solid. Overall Excellent + Condition.
