Gretsch PX 6129 Silver Jet Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954)
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Gretsch PX 6129 Silver Jet Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 13949, silver sparkle top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, laminated maple top, rosewood fingerboard, original tweed hard shell case.
This is a an excellent player's example of one of the coolest and most striking Gretsch guitars ever, a 1954 Silver Jet. It has had some play wear and discreet restoration but remains in fine playing condition with a killer sound. The 1950s Silver Jet is a relatively rare and sought after model, a variation on the black topped Duo Jet. Silver Jets were only built in very small numbers compared to other Jet models.
This one dates to mid 1954, the model's first full year of production. One distinctive feature is the small unmarked pickguard, seen only on the earliest Jets. Typical features for 1954 are the twin DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, fully adjustable Melita bridge, unmarked metal knobs and openback Waverly tuners. The neck on this guitar is round backed, BIG and chunky, quite the largest we have ever felt on a vintage Jet. It reminds us of the just postwar Gibson J-45s; it plays great but is not for the connoisseur of skinny necks!
The eye-catching silver sparkle top is made of the Nitron plastic material Gretsch used to cover drum shells, triple bound in ivory celluloid. Even in the Populuxe 1950's this model could be seen as gaudy...the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with black and red painted tops were quite popular but the silver-topped variant was more of an eccentric choice. Legend has it that the model was considered overly extravagant by some others in the industry; Gibson president Ted McCarty (the man behind the gold-topped Les Paul, the Flying V and the Explorer) is reported to have exclaimed "Gibson would NOT do that" upon seeing one at the 1954 trade show.
This model listed for $255.00 in 1955-amazingly Gretsch didn't originally charge extra for the eye-catching silver sparkle top; after all they already had the Nitron plastic over in the drum department! Perhaps even in the Populuxe 1950's this was gaudier than most players wanted to go; the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with painted tops sold in far greater numbers. The Silver Jet remains one of the most recognizable and collectible of Gretsch guitars; along with the White Falcon it represents the Gretsch aesthetic at its most exuberant.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 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 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This Jet remains in fine playing shape overall, showing some wear and well done restoration. The finish has some general play wear with some fairly heavy belt buckling to the back of the body and areas rubbed down to the wood on the back of the neck. The silver sparkle top is in very fine condition with no shrinkage or discoloration and all the binding is completely intact, with no celluloid deterioration anywhere. The piece of triple binding just above the neck heel has been patched in neatly but visibly.
At some point the bridge pickup was replaced by something slightly larger, probably a Filter'Tron or Gibson humbucker. An original period DeArmond Dynasonic was restored to the guitar, it looks like a long time ago. The sparkle top has been very neatly patched just along the front edge of the pickup wit the correct Gretsch drum material, a clean job only really noticeable on fairly close inspection. A few small screw holes were also filled the same way, including two under the bridge. All work is to a high standard; the patched in strip has aged slightly more amber than the rest of the top, otherwise would not be that noticeable. Obviously a few solder joints were redone, but the internal components remain original.
The neck has been expertly reset and refretted with larger fretwire than original 1950s Gretsch spec, but not overly huge. The celluloid heelcap was replaced at the same time. All parts remain original except the bridge pickup (which is the correct vintage piece) and a later but correct style repro knob on the master volume pot. The oft-missing fragile small plastic pickguard is intact, with some scratching but no cracks. This is a great gig-ready and really fine playing 1950's Silver Jet, a rarity worn enough to actually use but still looking fantastic with the original vibe undisturbed. , includes the original tweed HSC in VERY worn but still functional condition. Very Good + Condition.
This is a an excellent player's example of one of the coolest and most striking Gretsch guitars ever, a 1954 Silver Jet. It has had some play wear and discreet restoration but remains in fine playing condition with a killer sound. The 1950s Silver Jet is a relatively rare and sought after model, a variation on the black topped Duo Jet. Silver Jets were only built in very small numbers compared to other Jet models.
This one dates to mid 1954, the model's first full year of production. One distinctive feature is the small unmarked pickguard, seen only on the earliest Jets. Typical features for 1954 are the twin DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, fully adjustable Melita bridge, unmarked metal knobs and openback Waverly tuners. The neck on this guitar is round backed, BIG and chunky, quite the largest we have ever felt on a vintage Jet. It reminds us of the just postwar Gibson J-45s; it plays great but is not for the connoisseur of skinny necks!
The eye-catching silver sparkle top is made of the Nitron plastic material Gretsch used to cover drum shells, triple bound in ivory celluloid. Even in the Populuxe 1950's this model could be seen as gaudy...the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with black and red painted tops were quite popular but the silver-topped variant was more of an eccentric choice. Legend has it that the model was considered overly extravagant by some others in the industry; Gibson president Ted McCarty (the man behind the gold-topped Les Paul, the Flying V and the Explorer) is reported to have exclaimed "Gibson would NOT do that" upon seeing one at the 1954 trade show.
This model listed for $255.00 in 1955-amazingly Gretsch didn't originally charge extra for the eye-catching silver sparkle top; after all they already had the Nitron plastic over in the drum department! Perhaps even in the Populuxe 1950's this was gaudier than most players wanted to go; the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with painted tops sold in far greater numbers. The Silver Jet remains one of the most recognizable and collectible of Gretsch guitars; along with the White Falcon it represents the Gretsch aesthetic at its most exuberant.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 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 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This Jet remains in fine playing shape overall, showing some wear and well done restoration. The finish has some general play wear with some fairly heavy belt buckling to the back of the body and areas rubbed down to the wood on the back of the neck. The silver sparkle top is in very fine condition with no shrinkage or discoloration and all the binding is completely intact, with no celluloid deterioration anywhere. The piece of triple binding just above the neck heel has been patched in neatly but visibly.
At some point the bridge pickup was replaced by something slightly larger, probably a Filter'Tron or Gibson humbucker. An original period DeArmond Dynasonic was restored to the guitar, it looks like a long time ago. The sparkle top has been very neatly patched just along the front edge of the pickup wit the correct Gretsch drum material, a clean job only really noticeable on fairly close inspection. A few small screw holes were also filled the same way, including two under the bridge. All work is to a high standard; the patched in strip has aged slightly more amber than the rest of the top, otherwise would not be that noticeable. Obviously a few solder joints were redone, but the internal components remain original.
The neck has been expertly reset and refretted with larger fretwire than original 1950s Gretsch spec, but not overly huge. The celluloid heelcap was replaced at the same time. All parts remain original except the bridge pickup (which is the correct vintage piece) and a later but correct style repro knob on the master volume pot. The oft-missing fragile small plastic pickguard is intact, with some scratching but no cracks. This is a great gig-ready and really fine playing 1950's Silver Jet, a rarity worn enough to actually use but still looking fantastic with the original vibe undisturbed. , includes the original tweed HSC in VERY worn but still functional condition. Very Good + Condition.