Gretsch Princess Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Brooklyn, NY, white lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard.
The very rare Princess is one of Gretsch's more arcane, and in some ways most endearing of 1960s creations. This model is a fancy variation of the standard Corvette solid body marketed specifically to female guitarists, in a company move both forward-looking and, in execution, perhaps slightly patronizing!
"Now, for the first time, a guitar that is unmistakably 'hers' ... feminine in size, light in weight" read the 1963 catalog, which went on to laud the Princess in terms usually reserved for fashion, or appliances. The model was only available for a couple of years, in very small quantities. This one has a serial number that has enough paint chipping around it that it is not clearly readable, but the pots date to mid-1964.
Originally offered as a package with a matching amp and a gold-edged soft case, the Princess is still in its own right a fairly nifty little guitar. The carved mahogany solid body is finished in heavy white lacquer (like a White Falcon) and topped off with a gold-backed Lucite pickguard and gold-plated hardware, including a gold-trimmed back pad.
It is by far the classiest of the corvette family! The pickup is a single Hi-lo 'Tron, mated to specific white/gold amp-style tone and volume knobs. The floating bar bridge and short tailpiece are the same as the standard Corvette fittings: gold-plated. The neck is fairly chunky with a dot-inlaid unbound rosewood fingerboard.
Unique in intention and execution, the Princess represents an early attempt to introduce a female-specific electric guitar, and if perhaps in hindsight a bit off the mark, at least remains a very attractive and quite playable instrument.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
Very fine overall; some small edge chipping of the white lacquer but the finish is quite nice in most areas, without much checking or fading. All hardware is original and intact; the gold plating is fairly well worn on most metal surfaces except for on the tuners.
The only major flaw is a clean crack through the pickguard, right in the center below the pickup. This does not affect function, but is visible. The neck angle on this particular guitar is quite good and this rates as one of the best playing Corvette-family Gretsch guitars we have had, as well as an unusually stylish early '60s solid body. Excellent Condition.
