Gretsch PX 6122 Country Gentleman Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Item #3234
Gretsch PX 6122 Country Gentleman Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Brooklyn, NY, walnut grain lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is one of the rarer Gretsch instruments we have ever encountered; a Chet Atkins Country Gentleman from the very first production batch dating to the end of 1957. Although the model was officially introduced for 1958, there is one documented run of 50 of the new top-line Atkins model from the end of the previous year, with serial numbers in this 264XX batch. The Country Gentleman was a very upscale high-end guitar, with a list price on introduction of $525.00. The "Gent" was produced only in limited numbers in the 1950's at all -- there appear to be only 5 total 50-unit batches issued before 1960.
This was the guitar Chet Atkins himself requested from Gretsch -- he was actually less than thrilled with many elements of the previous Atkins-signature Hollowbody Model 6120. For the new instrument, he specified the thin-line 17" wide body, deep walnut finish, and "closed" f-holes, while keeping the Bigsby tailpiece, metal bridge and nut, and the shorter 24 1/2" scale from the 6120.
Atkins particularly disliked the DeArmond Dynasonic pickups Gretsch was exclusively using, and requested the company use new humbucking units recently designed by his friend Ray Butts in his signature instruments. Gretsch was happy to oblige, and bought the license from Butts to make the new pickups in house, thereby bypassing DeArmond entirely. This guitar mounts two of the very earliest "Filter 'Tron" pickups (Gretsch's name for the new units) that feature plain covers with no patent stamping and solid, unsculpted pickup rings --both features changed the next year.
The guitar's top is solid with no f-holes, and there is much heavier bracing inside than previous Gretsch guitars, features requested by Atkins designed to increase sustain and reduce feedback. The back-painted Lucite pickguard carries the earlier "Signpost" style Atkins Signature logo, soon deleted on this model, leaving just the plain block Gretsch logo on the bottom edge. The model name and serial number are carried on a gold-plated plaque screwed to the headstock, which also carries top-end Grover Imperial tuners. The Bigsby tailpiece on this guitar is a style specific only to 1957, with a cast arm distinguished by an integral travel stop built in. Gretsch aficionados call this rare unit the "Duane Eddy Arm", as it was the type fitted to his iconic 1957 Model 6120.
A Country Gentleman with all these specific features is a very rare guitar; the early style "Gent" is also the instrument preferred by Atkins himself for both recording and live use throughout the late 1950's and 1960's. This guitar also happens to be one of the best playing Gretschs we have ever had, a very classy instrument by any standard and just a lovely instrument all around.
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 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 well-preserved overall; much of the original finish is quite clean with some light checking and minimal play wear. There is general heavy checking to the finish on the back of the neck, which exhibits some fairly heavy flaking and a few spots chipped off a rather thick original sealer coat. The body is very nice with some slight shrinkage to the plastic f-hole inserts.
The hardware is original, except the bridge is the correct metal bar style but of more recent vintage and pinned to the body with two small screws. There is some wear overall to the gold plating, which has a lovely muted patina. The jack on the rim has been neatly relocated and is currently fitted with a cleanly made aluminum jackplate. The guitar shows signs of being used and played but no heavy wear, and sounds and plays spectacularly well. Includes a very fine OHSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
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This is one of the rarer Gretsch instruments we have ever encountered; a Chet Atkins Country Gentleman from the very first production batch dating to the end of 1957. Although the model was officially introduced for 1958, there is one documented run of 50 of the new top-line Atkins model from the end of the previous year, with serial numbers in this 264XX batch. The Country Gentleman was a very upscale high-end guitar, with a list price on introduction of $525.00. The "Gent" was produced only in limited numbers in the 1950's at all -- there appear to be only 5 total 50-unit batches issued before 1960.
This was the guitar Chet Atkins himself requested from Gretsch -- he was actually less than thrilled with many elements of the previous Atkins-signature Hollowbody Model 6120. For the new instrument, he specified the thin-line 17" wide body, deep walnut finish, and "closed" f-holes, while keeping the Bigsby tailpiece, metal bridge and nut, and the shorter 24 1/2" scale from the 6120.
Atkins particularly disliked the DeArmond Dynasonic pickups Gretsch was exclusively using, and requested the company use new humbucking units recently designed by his friend Ray Butts in his signature instruments. Gretsch was happy to oblige, and bought the license from Butts to make the new pickups in house, thereby bypassing DeArmond entirely. This guitar mounts two of the very earliest "Filter 'Tron" pickups (Gretsch's name for the new units) that feature plain covers with no patent stamping and solid, unsculpted pickup rings --both features changed the next year.
The guitar's top is solid with no f-holes, and there is much heavier bracing inside than previous Gretsch guitars, features requested by Atkins designed to increase sustain and reduce feedback. The back-painted Lucite pickguard carries the earlier "Signpost" style Atkins Signature logo, soon deleted on this model, leaving just the plain block Gretsch logo on the bottom edge. The model name and serial number are carried on a gold-plated plaque screwed to the headstock, which also carries top-end Grover Imperial tuners. The Bigsby tailpiece on this guitar is a style specific only to 1957, with a cast arm distinguished by an integral travel stop built in. Gretsch aficionados call this rare unit the "Duane Eddy Arm", as it was the type fitted to his iconic 1957 Model 6120.
A Country Gentleman with all these specific features is a very rare guitar; the early style "Gent" is also the instrument preferred by Atkins himself for both recording and live use throughout the late 1950's and 1960's. This guitar also happens to be one of the best playing Gretschs we have ever had, a very classy instrument by any standard and just a lovely instrument all around.
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 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 well-preserved overall; much of the original finish is quite clean with some light checking and minimal play wear. There is general heavy checking to the finish on the back of the neck, which exhibits some fairly heavy flaking and a few spots chipped off a rather thick original sealer coat. The body is very nice with some slight shrinkage to the plastic f-hole inserts.
The hardware is original, except the bridge is the correct metal bar style but of more recent vintage and pinned to the body with two small screws. There is some wear overall to the gold plating, which has a lovely muted patina. The jack on the rim has been neatly relocated and is currently fitted with a cleanly made aluminum jackplate. The guitar shows signs of being used and played but no heavy wear, and sounds and plays spectacularly well. Includes a very fine OHSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
