FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

In 1958, Gretsch introduced two new models to commemorate the company's 75th anniversary. The 1958-60 Anniversary (one pickup) and Double Anniversary (two pickups) were based on the 6120 Chet Atkins model and, in fact, are nearly identical to this highly collectible guitar including the heavier "trestle bracing" designed to reduce feedback. The main differences were in the cosmetic details, but structural differences exist including zero fret, bar bridge and Bigsby tailpiece. The 1958-60 Double Anniversary models are nearly the sonic equivalent of the 6120 Chet Atkins model, but at a lower cost. By 1961, the Double Anniversary model lost the trestle bracing and was fitted with single coil HiLo pickups in place of the humbucking Filter'Tron units. It was produced relatively unchanged until it was discontinued in 1976. The Double Anniversary shown here was set-up with a Gretsch bar bridge and Bigsby B-6 tailpiece to more closely emulate a 1958-60 model 6120. This particular guitar also has a 5-piece maple/ebony neck instead of the usual 3-piece neck.

 Body:  Hollow with trestle bracing; laminated 1-piece maple top and back, laminated maple sides; single bound top and back

 Finish:  Sunburst, nitrocellulose lacquer

 Neck:  5-piece maple/ebony, set-in; stained maple headstock overlay with pearloid logo and metal nameplate

 Fingerboard:  Ebony; pearloid "Neo-classic" markers

 Number of Frets:  22

 Pickguard:  Acrylic

 Bridge:  Gretsch chrome steel bar on ebony base (non-original) with Bigsby B-6 tailpiece (non-original)

 Nut:  Plastic

 Tuners:  Waverly, open, nickel

 Pickups:  Two, Gretsch Filter 'Tron humbucking with adjustable pole pieces, chrome

 Controls:  Master volume, volume control for each pickup, 3-way tone selector, 3-way pickup selector

 Scale Length:  24 1/2 inches

 Neck Width at Nut:  1 11/16 inches

 Body Width at Lower Bout:  15 1/2 inches

 Body Depth:  2 3/4  inches

 Weight:  n/a