Gretsch PX 6122 Country Gentleman Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Gretsch PX 6122 Country Gentleman Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Brooklyn, NY, walnut grain lacquer finish, laminated maple body and neck, ebony fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
There are "Beatle guitars" and there are "BEATLE GUITARS"; the 1963 PX-6122 Country Gentleman is one of the latter. When George Harrison appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 seen by millions of instant fans playing this instrument, the 1963 Country Gentleman became forever linked to the band's legend. This is a very good player's example of a "Harrison Spec" Gent, with all the correct features but for some reason not bearing a serial number in the expected spot on the headstock plaque. We can't say for sure why; it is possible the plaque was lost or replaced at some point but all features of the instrument are correct for a 1963 build date including the hardware and visible pot code on the electronics rig.
The Country Gentleman in any form is one of Gretsch's classic models, designed in consultation with Chet Atkins before becoming associated with Harrison and subsequently a host of others. It features the thin double-cutaway closed "Electrotone" body introduced in 1962 with simulated f-holes. After the Beatles' Ed Sullivan show appearance, the Country Gentleman was immediately enshrined as a classic 1960s guitar used by countless English and American beat groups. Orders went through the roof at Gretsch, and we generally feel that the limited number of instruments produced BEFORE the Beatles' arrival are unsurprisingly more carefully built than those rushed out after February 1964.
This guitar carries the "Harrison spec" features including two gold-plated Filter'tron pickups, a solid bar bridge and "Gretsch by Bigsby" tailpiece and the quirky double "flip-up mute" system. Harrison's first 1963 "Gent" had the earlier dial-up mute system; the one seen by millions on the Ed Sullivan show had this "flip up" rig. In 1964 Gretsch altered the model to mount a Super'tron pickup in the neck position; other differences seen on subsequent models include a single rather than double mute system, pickguard with added "Chet Atkins" logo and round "kidney buttons" on the Grover Imperial tuners.
The Country Gentleman stood at the top of the Chet Atkins signature line and was always a deluxe and expensive guitar, a solid but not huge seller. After the Beatle connection exponentially many more Gents were sold in the mid-'60s despite the high price tag, and they are still common today. Genuine 1963 models are comparatively rare and have been sought after by collectors for decades. This example has seen some minor alterations but remains a fine sounding and playing guitar even outside of its Beatle connections.
Overall length is 42 9/16 in. (108.1 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
For a 1960s Gretsch, this guitar is largely original and in excellent playing condition. There are NO signs of binding deterioration at all, AND the neck angle is good, apparently never reset, both points problematic on many period instruments from Gretsch. The guitar shows light wear and some minor alteration/restoration points, and there is the mystery of the missing serial number but intact headstock plate. There is no other number on the instrument; after 1966 the number was moved to the back of the headstock, so this plate may be from that period. Two previous owners have left their names inside, one in magic marker dated 2021 and another set of initials wood-burned into the top brace.
Overall the finish is relatively clean, with small dings, scuffs and dents over the instrument but no heavy wear. The headstock has some checking and a slight oily residue, which appears to have leached from the Grover tuners over the years. The binding on the entire instrument shows NO cracking, crumbling, or outgassing at all. The heel cap may be a replacement, or at least was re-attached. The gold plating has some typical wear overall, most notable on the bridge top and Bigsby tailpiece. For some reason someone carefully milled off the arm stop on the Bigsby, so the arm is free to swing 360 degrees around. A third Gretsch strap button has been added on the back of the heel, which is not original spec but convenient as that is a better balance point than the upper horn. The red felt under the mute levers is replaced, as is the foam on the mute pads.
The guitar currently mounts two correct original Filter'tron pickups; some small holes hidden under the ring indicate something else may have once been in the bridge position, but no other evidence remains. As these pickups plug in to the wiring and are detachable these is no other evidence of alteration. The pickguard has one small crack at the upper mounting screw, and the gold paint backing up the clear Lucite has some subtle swirling lines. The original frets have been dressed and the zero fret lowered; the guitar plays very well and has that "Great Gretsch sound" in spades. The original deluxe Gretsch case is included; it is quit clean inside and out with only minor wear. Overall Excellent - Condition.
There are "Beatle guitars" and there are "BEATLE GUITARS"; the 1963 PX-6122 Country Gentleman is one of the latter. When George Harrison appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 seen by millions of instant fans playing this instrument, the 1963 Country Gentleman became forever linked to the band's legend. This is a very good player's example of a "Harrison Spec" Gent, with all the correct features but for some reason not bearing a serial number in the expected spot on the headstock plaque. We can't say for sure why; it is possible the plaque was lost or replaced at some point but all features of the instrument are correct for a 1963 build date including the hardware and visible pot code on the electronics rig.
The Country Gentleman in any form is one of Gretsch's classic models, designed in consultation with Chet Atkins before becoming associated with Harrison and subsequently a host of others. It features the thin double-cutaway closed "Electrotone" body introduced in 1962 with simulated f-holes. After the Beatles' Ed Sullivan show appearance, the Country Gentleman was immediately enshrined as a classic 1960s guitar used by countless English and American beat groups. Orders went through the roof at Gretsch, and we generally feel that the limited number of instruments produced BEFORE the Beatles' arrival are unsurprisingly more carefully built than those rushed out after February 1964.
This guitar carries the "Harrison spec" features including two gold-plated Filter'tron pickups, a solid bar bridge and "Gretsch by Bigsby" tailpiece and the quirky double "flip-up mute" system. Harrison's first 1963 "Gent" had the earlier dial-up mute system; the one seen by millions on the Ed Sullivan show had this "flip up" rig. In 1964 Gretsch altered the model to mount a Super'tron pickup in the neck position; other differences seen on subsequent models include a single rather than double mute system, pickguard with added "Chet Atkins" logo and round "kidney buttons" on the Grover Imperial tuners.
The Country Gentleman stood at the top of the Chet Atkins signature line and was always a deluxe and expensive guitar, a solid but not huge seller. After the Beatle connection exponentially many more Gents were sold in the mid-'60s despite the high price tag, and they are still common today. Genuine 1963 models are comparatively rare and have been sought after by collectors for decades. This example has seen some minor alterations but remains a fine sounding and playing guitar even outside of its Beatle connections.
Overall length is 42 9/16 in. (108.1 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
For a 1960s Gretsch, this guitar is largely original and in excellent playing condition. There are NO signs of binding deterioration at all, AND the neck angle is good, apparently never reset, both points problematic on many period instruments from Gretsch. The guitar shows light wear and some minor alteration/restoration points, and there is the mystery of the missing serial number but intact headstock plate. There is no other number on the instrument; after 1966 the number was moved to the back of the headstock, so this plate may be from that period. Two previous owners have left their names inside, one in magic marker dated 2021 and another set of initials wood-burned into the top brace.
Overall the finish is relatively clean, with small dings, scuffs and dents over the instrument but no heavy wear. The headstock has some checking and a slight oily residue, which appears to have leached from the Grover tuners over the years. The binding on the entire instrument shows NO cracking, crumbling, or outgassing at all. The heel cap may be a replacement, or at least was re-attached. The gold plating has some typical wear overall, most notable on the bridge top and Bigsby tailpiece. For some reason someone carefully milled off the arm stop on the Bigsby, so the arm is free to swing 360 degrees around. A third Gretsch strap button has been added on the back of the heel, which is not original spec but convenient as that is a better balance point than the upper horn. The red felt under the mute levers is replaced, as is the foam on the mute pads.
The guitar currently mounts two correct original Filter'tron pickups; some small holes hidden under the ring indicate something else may have once been in the bridge position, but no other evidence remains. As these pickups plug in to the wiring and are detachable these is no other evidence of alteration. The pickguard has one small crack at the upper mounting screw, and the gold paint backing up the clear Lucite has some subtle swirling lines. The original frets have been dressed and the zero fret lowered; the guitar plays very well and has that "Great Gretsch sound" in spades. The original deluxe Gretsch case is included; it is quit clean inside and out with only minor wear. Overall Excellent - Condition.