Gretsch PX 6129 Silver Jet Solid Body Electric Guitar (1955)
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Gretsch PX 6129 Silver Jet Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1955), made in Brooklyn, NY, serial # 16378, silver sparkle top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, laminated maple top, rosewood fingerboard, tweed hard shell case.
This is a an excellent player's example of one of the coolest and most striking Gretsch guitars ever, a late 1954/early '55 Silver Jet. It shows a decent amount of play wear overall but remains in fine playing condition with a killer sound. The 1950s Silver Jet is a relatively rare and sought after model, a super flashy variation on the more common black topped Duo Jet. Silver Jets were introduced at the end of 1953 and the model runs up into the 1960s but was only built in very small numbers compared to other Jet variants.
This Jet was made in late 1954, the model's first full year of production. It is considered a "1955 model year" guitar on the "Ball system" scale with the signature features for that transitional moment. These include twin DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, the fully adjustable Melita bridge, then-new "arrow-top" metal knobs, the just-introduced back-painted silver Lucite pickguard and openback Waverly tuners with metal buttons. The neck on this guitar is round backed, medium-chunky, not as large as we have encountered on vintage Jets. The bound rosewood fingerboard has rectangular perloid block inlay, the bound headstock has the "T-roof" Gretsch logo and older-style small truss rod cover.
The eye-catching silver sparkle top is made of the same 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 in the 1950's this was gaudier than most players wanted to go; the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with solid color 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. Billy Zoom of X famously made great use of a Silver Jet very much like this for years, and it remains a distinctive guitar for the bold strummer unafraid to stand out from the pack!
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 flashy Jet remains in fine playing shape, showing some general wear and tear but nothing too tragic. The all-original finish has some general wear including fairly heavy dings, dents and scrapes to the back and sides but no large loss from belt buckle action. There are dings and dents to the back of the neck as well but no notable areas rubbed down to the wood, the headstock has noticeable wear on the face and the back edge. The silver sparkle Nitron top is in very fine condition with no shrinkage or discoloration and all the binding is completely intact, with no celluloid deterioration anywhere.
The hardware remains just about all original including the original DeArmond Dynasonic pickups and internal wiring. The celluloid riser under the bridge pickup has been replaced with an excellent replica, these often outgas endangering the pickup coil. The screw-on strap buttons are correct Gretsch style but look like reissues, the hardware in general shows moderate wear with plating loss to the tailpiece, some scratching to the underside of the pickguard and slightly bent shafts on the two uppermost tuners. The original small wire frets are intact showing some light wear in the lower positions.
The neck has been reset as is common with these; it is not the neatest job we have ever seen (there is a bit of gapping on the treble side of the heel and visible touch up on the bass side) BUT the angle is excellent, with a superb break angle over the saddles. This Jet could easily handle a period Bigsby tailpiece (which requires a sharp neck angle) better than many of these. 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. It resides in a modern fitted tweed HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a an excellent player's example of one of the coolest and most striking Gretsch guitars ever, a late 1954/early '55 Silver Jet. It shows a decent amount of play wear overall but remains in fine playing condition with a killer sound. The 1950s Silver Jet is a relatively rare and sought after model, a super flashy variation on the more common black topped Duo Jet. Silver Jets were introduced at the end of 1953 and the model runs up into the 1960s but was only built in very small numbers compared to other Jet variants.
This Jet was made in late 1954, the model's first full year of production. It is considered a "1955 model year" guitar on the "Ball system" scale with the signature features for that transitional moment. These include twin DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, the fully adjustable Melita bridge, then-new "arrow-top" metal knobs, the just-introduced back-painted silver Lucite pickguard and openback Waverly tuners with metal buttons. The neck on this guitar is round backed, medium-chunky, not as large as we have encountered on vintage Jets. The bound rosewood fingerboard has rectangular perloid block inlay, the bound headstock has the "T-roof" Gretsch logo and older-style small truss rod cover.
The eye-catching silver sparkle top is made of the same 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 in the 1950's this was gaudier than most players wanted to go; the Duo Jet and Jet Fire Bird with solid color 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. Billy Zoom of X famously made great use of a Silver Jet very much like this for years, and it remains a distinctive guitar for the bold strummer unafraid to stand out from the pack!
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 flashy Jet remains in fine playing shape, showing some general wear and tear but nothing too tragic. The all-original finish has some general wear including fairly heavy dings, dents and scrapes to the back and sides but no large loss from belt buckle action. There are dings and dents to the back of the neck as well but no notable areas rubbed down to the wood, the headstock has noticeable wear on the face and the back edge. The silver sparkle Nitron top is in very fine condition with no shrinkage or discoloration and all the binding is completely intact, with no celluloid deterioration anywhere.
The hardware remains just about all original including the original DeArmond Dynasonic pickups and internal wiring. The celluloid riser under the bridge pickup has been replaced with an excellent replica, these often outgas endangering the pickup coil. The screw-on strap buttons are correct Gretsch style but look like reissues, the hardware in general shows moderate wear with plating loss to the tailpiece, some scratching to the underside of the pickguard and slightly bent shafts on the two uppermost tuners. The original small wire frets are intact showing some light wear in the lower positions.
The neck has been reset as is common with these; it is not the neatest job we have ever seen (there is a bit of gapping on the treble side of the heel and visible touch up on the bass side) BUT the angle is excellent, with a superb break angle over the saddles. This Jet could easily handle a period Bigsby tailpiece (which requires a sharp neck angle) better than many of these. 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. It resides in a modern fitted tweed HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.