Gretsch PX 6125 Custom Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1962), ser. #48886, original hard shell case.

Gretsch PX 6125 Custom Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1962), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 48886, brown stain lacquer finish, Laminated maple body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, original hard shell case.

While not a particularly flashy guitar this is a super cool and unique Gretsch from early 1962, in a very rare factory-applied but non-stock finish for this instrument. Although labeled as a PX-6125 Single Anniversary model this is a custom ordered guitar in several ways, not least of which is the brown stain finish, then a livery used only on the Chet Atkins 6122 Country Gentleman and 6119 Tennessean models. It also carries a factory fitted Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and rocking metal bar Atkins bridge, which were never fitted stock to the 6125. In addition the headstock bears no "Anniversary" nameplate. This guitar would have been the result of a special order with a Gretsch dealer.

The "PX-6125" designation usually marked a two-tone green Gretsch Single Anniversary model. In 1962 this was Gretsch's low/midline archtop, more affordable than the Chet Atkins signature guitars. Priced to be attractive to amateur players, it had the same basic body, neck, and feel as the 1950s Chet Atkins model 6120 but only one Hilo 'Tron pickup, basically a single coil version of the Filter 'Tron humbucker. The controls are dead simple, a volume knob and 3-way tone switch (A/K/A "Mud switch") on the upper which players usually ignore. The single bound full-depth body has a dark brown stain finish and large open F holes. The round-backed maple neck is fairly slim with an unbound rosewood fingerboard inlaid with "Neo-classic" pearl half-moons along the upper edge; there is no Atkins-specified zero fret. Other hardware includes Waverly single-unit tuners with oval metal buttons and the unique Gretsch screw-off strap buttons, still a great idea that has never really caught on elsewhere.

It's difficult to say exactly why this guitar was ordered, but it was specially outfitted with a unique combination of features in early/mid 1962. The combination of Atkins-inspired features and a guitar with a single neck-position pickup was never offered as a stock model; the earlier 6119 Tennessean had its single Filter 'Tron in the bridge position. At the time the Atkins line had just gone to a closed "Electrotone" body; it's possible this player still preferred the older deeper single cutaway body with open F-holes. Or perhaps whoever ordered it simply could not afford the "Chet" they really wanted, so requested the Atkins-approved finish and vibrato on this less expensive model. In 1962 a stock Model 6125 listed at $225 (plus case); the 6119 Tennessean ran $350 and the Country Gentleman a whopping $595. Even if the custom finish and Bigsby added $50-75 to the price, perhaps this guitar still was still a more affordable option.

This unique "Chet Atkins Anniversary" is not only a really cool one-off guitar, it is also a very good player and in unusually well preserved condition. It even comes in the original higher-end two-tone Gretsch hardshell case, proof the original purchaser did not skimp on the outlay all that much! We are always fascinated by original custom-ordered vintage guitars, even ones that like this are not particularly fancy or high end. They always tell some sort of story, or were somebody's dream even if, as in this case it looks like they rarely played it after it was originally delivered!

Overall length is 41 1/8 in. (104.5 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

For being well over 60 years old this guitar shows very little wear and tear, looking really hardly played since new. The all-original finish is extremely clean with only minor scuffing and handling marks. The back of the neck is also very clean, even the headstock edges are less worn than many although the veneer on the face has checked somewhat. All hardware is original and complete, and all the binding is solid with no really notable shrinkage or rot. The Lucite pickguard has small typical stress cracks at both mounting screws, that is the only real damage. It seems like whoever custom ordered this guitar in 1962 got very little use out of it. Even the case is cleaner than usual, with the original 1960s Gretsch-branded strap still in the pocket. Overall this is simply a superb package of one-of-a-kind 1960s Gretsch goodness. Overall Excellent Condition.