Gretsch PX-6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 37345, "Western Orange" lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
A very nice 1960 model year example of the "Gretsch Esquire", the stripped-down hotrod of the company's late 1950's line. The original Model 6119 Tennessean was the lowest priced 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 orange-red finish, single Patent-Applied-For 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 6119 from early 1960 features a slightly slimmer 2 5/8" body but is otherwise nearly identical to earlier examples. The controls consist of a single volume knob on the cutaway and a tone switch on the upper bout. This guitar has same feeling and much of the sound of the iconic Model 6120, just without the neck pickup. We find them to be a great sounding Gretsch-far more useful with the single pickup at the bridge than the more common fingerboard placement on most archtops. Aside from this, the 6119 is something of a rarity, at least compared to 6120's and later 1960's Tennesseans. A unique Gretsch from the company's peak period, and a great playing guitar.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 5/8 in. (6.7 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.). Nicely played-in, but well cared for-a very good player's example with no modifications and some light average wear. There is a decent amount of finish wear to the back and sides of the neck but the body is quite clean and nicely unfaded. The pickguard was cracked at some point long ago and solidly but conspicuously repaired with a lower re-inforcing plate and four screws. The celluloid block on the side of the heel shows a coule of thin cracks, no other binding issues. Recently refretted with period-correct style wire, an excellent player with a good neck angle and all-around just a really cool guitar, with the original Gretsch HSC. Excellent - Condition.
