1970s Dorado by Gretsch Model 5968 MIJ Dreadnought Acoustic - Project / Repair

Up for sale is an early-1970s Dorado by Gretsch Model 5968 dreadnought acoustic guitar, manufactured in Japan (Matsumoku).

This instrument is being offered strictly as an As-Is / Structural Project Guitar for luthiers, builders, or hobbyists looking for a solid vintage bench project. It exhibits classic 1970s Japanese craftsmanship with great wood and genuine aged tone, but requires bench time and structural repair to address neck joint separation and geometry before it can be tuned to pitch and safely played.

IMPORTANT SALE TERMS & QUEUE NOTICE

• Sold Strictly AS-IS: This guitar is sold as a project instrument requiring lutherie repairs. All known issues are documented below. No returns, refunds, or post-sale price adjustments will be granted.
• Shop Queue Notice: If this item does not sell within our shop window, it will be pulled from Reverb, placed into our active lutherie restoration queue, fully repaired/setup on the bench, and re-listed at full market value ($350+). Grab it at the project price while it’s available.

REQUIRED ATTENTION (PROJECT SPECS & DEFECTS)

• Neck Joint & Heel: Visible gap at the heel seam at the end of the heel seam.
• Fingerboard Extension: Slight gap under the upper fingerboard extension where it meets the top, with evidence of prior glue intervention/squeeze-out top-side. Needs to be cleaned out, properly clamped, and re-glued to the soundboard.
• Cosmetics: Shows honest cosmetic play wear throughout, including fine surface scratches, small divots, and finish checking/blemishes on the top near the binding edge.

HARDWARE, SPECS & ELECTRONICS BREAKDOWN

• Top Wood: Spruce with laminated back and sides
• Fingerboard: Bound rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays
• Binding: Fully intact white body and neck binding with natural age yellowing/discoloration
• Truss Rod Status: Tested and functional; turns and responds to adjustment in both directions
• Bridge & Saddle: Original height-adjustable rosewood bridge with metal saddle system and black bridge pins
• Tuners: Original 3-on-a-plate sealed gold tuners with pearl buttons
• Electronics Status: Purely acoustic / No electronics

THE YPSI GUITARS TAKE

The 1970s Matsumoku-built Dorado guitars punch way above their weight class in tone once the structural work is handled. The top wood is seasoned, the pearl block inlays give it a great 70s vibe, and the truss rod is fully working. If you've got the bench skills to reset or re-clamp the neck joint and clean up the fingerboard tongue glue, this will make a outstanding vintage player or a solid flip.

AS-IS DISCLAIMER CLAUSE

PLEASE NOTE: This instrument is sold strictly AS-IS, WHERE-IS, as a project guitar requiring repair/lutherie work (including potential neck reset/joint overhaul). All known cosmetic and structural defects have been fully documented and described above. By purchasing this instrument, you acknowledge that it is a project build and agree that no returns, partial refunds, or post-sale price adjustments will be granted under any circumstances. Please ask all questions prior to purchasing. Ships fully insured.