Gretsch Country Club Model 6192 Custom Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Gretsch Country Club Model 6192 Custom Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 59344, Cadillac Green finish, laminated maple body and nedk, ebony fingerboard, original two-tone hard shell case.
In the early 1960s Gretsch had grown into a large operation but were still willing to entertain special customer orders. Gretsch guitars with unusual custom features from this era are rare but they do exist; we have had several interesting examples over the years. If you went to your Gretsch dealer with the dollars and a dream, they could at least sometimes get the company to make it for you.
This double-cutaway Country Club is a case in point, fascinating and likely unique instrument with a mix of features never cataloged. It is labeled Model 6192, designating a Country Club in a sunburst finish. While that model was also offered in this striking Cadillac Green finish (as Model 6196) this guitar has a major deviation from standard in its 17" wide DOUBLE cutaway body. The stock Country Club always retained a single cutaway format through the 1960s. In 1962 both the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and the White Falcon had recently adopted this new thin 17" wide, 2" deep double cutaway body; apparently someone wanted the features of the "Club" but in the new double-cut format. This Cadillac Green finish was not offered on any double cutaway model in 1963, only the single-cut Country Club.
The 593XX serial number suggests it was completed in mid-late 1963; one of a batch of 100 thin-body Country Clubs built in several finish variations. The shallow-body Club was a short lived production variation in itself; within a year or so the model reverted to its roots as a full-depth hollowbody guitar more aimed at the jazz market. This guitar appears to be almost a prototype for the Viking model, which appeared later in 1964 as a deluxe double cutaway model, but that guitar fitted Super'Tron pickups and some other variations.
Most other features are consistent with the '63 Country Club designation including a laminated maple neck with a triple bound ebony fretboard with "thumbprint" inlay. The body and headstock are also triple bound, the large open F-holes single bound. The electronics rig has two "patent number" Filter'Tron pickups and the standard 3-knob, 3-switch wiring rig including the recently-added standby switch on the lower bout. It also carries a single mute operated by a flip-up lever on the lower top. The hardware for this required a large opening in the back of the guitar, conveniently covered by a snap-on pad "cushioned for comfort during those long sets". This is thoughtfully made of a lighter green material for a two-tone effect.
Other hardware includes a gold-plated Bigsby tailpiece, "Space Control" roller bridge and Grover Imperial tuners with the pre-1964 Deco style buttons. Country Clubs did not come stock with a vibrato, but this one likely did. As if it was not already unusual enough the instrument has a couple of features typical of 1964-era White Falcons; either it was completed slightly later than the serial number indicates, or it went back to the factory after being finished for re-conditioning. The upper fingerboard has the "tempered T-Zone" dot pattern, but not the slanted frets it accompanied. There are also signs of it once having been fitted with the unique Gretsch-made White Falcon vibrato; just visible ahead of the Bigsby is a small hole patched on the top that is the characteristic of that fitting. That hardware appears to have been removed long ago in favor of the lighter (and more functional) Bigsby.
Whenever it was delivered this would have been quite an expensive guitar originally. In 1963 the Model PX- 6192 listed at $475 without the case (that adds another $58) and likely there was a significant upcharge for the custom features. Somebody must have had a very specific idea of what they wanted in a top-line Gretsch, and one hopes they were pleased with the result; this one definitely got played along the way. We think this is one of the coolest 1960s Gretsch guitars we have ever seen, a sleek gold-plated green double-cut with a truly one-of-a-kind style.
Overall length is 42 3/4 in. (108.6 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This unique Country Club has seen some play time and shows general wear overall. It has had the almost obligatory neck reset, and finish on the back of the neck was oversprayed darker likely as part of that process. The Cadillac Green body finish remains original with checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall, some small spots patched in. There is no heavy play wear loss but there is some significant flaking to the finish along the lower side, probably from exposure to moisture.
The binding is in far batter shape than many Gretsch instruments from this period; it shows minor cracking to one spot in the lower cutaway along the top edge but no other distress; overall this is better preserved than most. The gold-plated hardware appears original, with some general plating wear. A correct period Gretsch logo Bigsby tailpiece is fitted but as noted other tailpieces have been on in the past. There is a typical small crack to the Lucite pickguard at the lower mounting screw.
The small wire frets appear original, or if not an extremely accurate period style refret; the ebony fingerboard shows minimal wear. The nut has been replaced. This is a very good playing period Gretsch with the classic sound and a totally unique look. It rests in an original period deluxe two-tone grey hardshell case; this has writing on it "C.Gent Black" so likely this was switched from another guitar at some point, but it is the correct style and era case. Overall Very Good + Condition.
In the early 1960s Gretsch had grown into a large operation but were still willing to entertain special customer orders. Gretsch guitars with unusual custom features from this era are rare but they do exist; we have had several interesting examples over the years. If you went to your Gretsch dealer with the dollars and a dream, they could at least sometimes get the company to make it for you.
This double-cutaway Country Club is a case in point, fascinating and likely unique instrument with a mix of features never cataloged. It is labeled Model 6192, designating a Country Club in a sunburst finish. While that model was also offered in this striking Cadillac Green finish (as Model 6196) this guitar has a major deviation from standard in its 17" wide DOUBLE cutaway body. The stock Country Club always retained a single cutaway format through the 1960s. In 1962 both the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and the White Falcon had recently adopted this new thin 17" wide, 2" deep double cutaway body; apparently someone wanted the features of the "Club" but in the new double-cut format. This Cadillac Green finish was not offered on any double cutaway model in 1963, only the single-cut Country Club.
The 593XX serial number suggests it was completed in mid-late 1963; one of a batch of 100 thin-body Country Clubs built in several finish variations. The shallow-body Club was a short lived production variation in itself; within a year or so the model reverted to its roots as a full-depth hollowbody guitar more aimed at the jazz market. This guitar appears to be almost a prototype for the Viking model, which appeared later in 1964 as a deluxe double cutaway model, but that guitar fitted Super'Tron pickups and some other variations.
Most other features are consistent with the '63 Country Club designation including a laminated maple neck with a triple bound ebony fretboard with "thumbprint" inlay. The body and headstock are also triple bound, the large open F-holes single bound. The electronics rig has two "patent number" Filter'Tron pickups and the standard 3-knob, 3-switch wiring rig including the recently-added standby switch on the lower bout. It also carries a single mute operated by a flip-up lever on the lower top. The hardware for this required a large opening in the back of the guitar, conveniently covered by a snap-on pad "cushioned for comfort during those long sets". This is thoughtfully made of a lighter green material for a two-tone effect.
Other hardware includes a gold-plated Bigsby tailpiece, "Space Control" roller bridge and Grover Imperial tuners with the pre-1964 Deco style buttons. Country Clubs did not come stock with a vibrato, but this one likely did. As if it was not already unusual enough the instrument has a couple of features typical of 1964-era White Falcons; either it was completed slightly later than the serial number indicates, or it went back to the factory after being finished for re-conditioning. The upper fingerboard has the "tempered T-Zone" dot pattern, but not the slanted frets it accompanied. There are also signs of it once having been fitted with the unique Gretsch-made White Falcon vibrato; just visible ahead of the Bigsby is a small hole patched on the top that is the characteristic of that fitting. That hardware appears to have been removed long ago in favor of the lighter (and more functional) Bigsby.
Whenever it was delivered this would have been quite an expensive guitar originally. In 1963 the Model PX- 6192 listed at $475 without the case (that adds another $58) and likely there was a significant upcharge for the custom features. Somebody must have had a very specific idea of what they wanted in a top-line Gretsch, and one hopes they were pleased with the result; this one definitely got played along the way. We think this is one of the coolest 1960s Gretsch guitars we have ever seen, a sleek gold-plated green double-cut with a truly one-of-a-kind style.
Overall length is 42 3/4 in. (108.6 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This unique Country Club has seen some play time and shows general wear overall. It has had the almost obligatory neck reset, and finish on the back of the neck was oversprayed darker likely as part of that process. The Cadillac Green body finish remains original with checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall, some small spots patched in. There is no heavy play wear loss but there is some significant flaking to the finish along the lower side, probably from exposure to moisture.
The binding is in far batter shape than many Gretsch instruments from this period; it shows minor cracking to one spot in the lower cutaway along the top edge but no other distress; overall this is better preserved than most. The gold-plated hardware appears original, with some general plating wear. A correct period Gretsch logo Bigsby tailpiece is fitted but as noted other tailpieces have been on in the past. There is a typical small crack to the Lucite pickguard at the lower mounting screw.
The small wire frets appear original, or if not an extremely accurate period style refret; the ebony fingerboard shows minimal wear. The nut has been replaced. This is a very good playing period Gretsch with the classic sound and a totally unique look. It rests in an original period deluxe two-tone grey hardshell case; this has writing on it "C.Gent Black" so likely this was switched from another guitar at some point, but it is the correct style and era case. Overall Very Good + Condition.