1956 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6121 Orange

Any Gretsch 6121 is rare. There are a few 57's on the market but I think this is the only "G Brand" 6121 out there. It is transitional in that it has the hump block inlays like a 57 but it has the G Brand like a 56. It is the last of the 6121's with the very cool tooled leather covering the rims. It is all original except for two screws in the tuners. The DeArmond pickups are fat and loud. The neck is fat and wide. The finish is bright and vibrant. There is neck wear and moderate wear to the back of the guitar. The top is very clean. The upper frets are original but it looks like the lowers have been replaced. Nicely done. The leather around the rim is excellent. Bindings are perfect. Weight is 7 lbs 13 ounces. Very nice cowboy case. Gretsch guitars from the 50's are seriously undervalued. The uneven quality of 60's Gretsch's has kept the much better 50's models from appreciating as much as they might have. I think the quality from the early 50's through 61 is as good as anything Gibson put out during the same period. The cowboy stuff doesn't exactly scream rock and roll but these guitars can rock with the best of the Gibsons.