Up for sale, a 1953 Gretsch Synchromatic Electro II 6192 "Country Club" in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A top of the line Gretsch model and an extremely early example, the Electro II features a spruce top, which was only used on this model prior to 1954, along with figured maple back and sides and a full 17" lower bout. Rechristented the Country Club in '54, the Electro II was a direct competitor to Gibson's L-5CES and a worthy adversary.
Notably expressive acoustically, this Gretsch has plenty of volume and projection, with a big, barking tone. The original DeArmond Dynasonic pickups deliver glassy top end, great note clarity, and fat but tight bass response. The spruce top gives the guitar a distinct percussive quality, and complex chord voicings are reproduced with stunning clarity. The guitar weighs in at a mere 7lbs 4oz. The guitar has been strung with fresh roundwound Thomastik 12s and dialed in for optimal action by our techs here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar.
The maple neck has a full baseball bat C shaped profile with great shoulder and consistent depth as you travel up the fretboard. The profile shows palm wear through the nitro lacquer Sunburst finish on the treble side edge between frets 5-9 and central to the profile behind frets 4-6. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard is bound and features pearl block inlay on the full 25 1/2" scale. The original slender frets are intact, having been freshly leveled and crowned and currently showing no wear. The original carved bone nut measures a full 1 3/4" in width, and the headstock is fitted with original Grover tuners with butterbean buttons.
All of the electronics work as intended, with the original pair of DeArmond Dynasonic pickups with gold covers. While the bridge pickup retains its original windings, the neck pickup has just been freshly rewound, perfectly matching the output and tonal properties of the bridge pickup. The controls are simple and straightforward, with individual Volume knobs for each pickup and a Master Tone control, all fitted with original mini DeArmond transparent speed knobs. The original Brazilian rosewood stairstep bridge is intact, with room for adjustment on both thumbwheels and comfortable action in all registers. The original gold Gretsch-branded harp tailpiece and bound tortoise pickguard are both intact, and the body binding is in exceptional shape with no deterioration.
The original nitro lacquer Sunburst finish shows no touchup or overspray, and the guitar exhibits wear on the bass side of body on the upper bout edge and where the knee rests at the treble side waist, with wear down to the bare maple. There is light wear through the sunburst on the upper bout edges of the top too, with finish checking on the body and some expected small finish chips and nicks from careful use. A strap button has also been added to the neck heel. This Gretsch is crack-free, extremely original, and a rare, early example strung with fresh Thomastik strings.
The original hardshell case is present and structurally sound, and the exterior has been painted brown over some flower graphics no doubt added in the 1960s. The case retains all original latches and handle.
