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1954 Gretsch 6192 Electro II/Country Club

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Serial #: 10772

Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6" Body depth: 3 3/8" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/.99

Materials: Arched spruce top, arched figured maple back and sides; solid maple neck; solid rosewood fingerboard; triple bound body, neck and f-holes; bone nut.

Hardware: All original gold plated hardware includes twin adjustable DeArmond Dynasonic single coil pickups; Gretsch logo tailpiece; open back Waverly tuners; Melita 'Synchrosonic' adjustable compensated bridge; master volume and tone controls; bridge and neck pickup volume controls; clear barrel knobs; adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct triple-bound tortoise pickguard.

Notes: When Gibson debuted its flagship L-5CES electric archtop in 1951, the Fred Gretsch Guitar Co. introduced its Electro II model as a competitor. Designated model 6192 in sunburst finish and 6193 in blonde, this model would be rechristened the Country Club in 1954, just after this rare and handsome Electro rolled out of the Brooklyn factory.

Boasting celebrity players like Al Caiola, Mundell Lowe and Mary Osborne, the 6192 was the company's top-shelf electric, and according to Gretsch maven Jay Scott, significantly outsold the L-5CES through the rest of the decade. A perennial favorite of jazz and pop players alike, the 6192 has remained in the Gretsch catalog to this day.

Gretsch craftsmen reserved their most highly figured wood for the model, the firm's most expensive electric instrument. With its full depth 17" arched maple body with Venetian cutaway, the 6192 was most closely equivalent to the Gibson ES-350, with its full length 25 1/2" scale. Equipped with twin adjustable DeArmond Dynasonic single coil pickups, the model is configured with master volume, master tone, and individual volume controls for both neck and bridge pickups.

This outstanding example is a rare final-year Electro II, with transitional features including the arched spruce top, Synchromatic headstock, block inlays from the third fret, Waverly open back tuners, clear control knobs and triple-bound tortoise pickguard, all seen for the last time this model year. The signature G cutout tailpiece premiered this year, with triple binding on both body and soundholes, and 24 carat gold plating throughout, all premium touches.

This gleaming guitar has been maintained in museum quality condition, with a highly figured bubble maple back, and gleaming all-original dark sunburst finish, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. All gold hardware is original and bright, including the 'G' cutout tailpiece and Pat. Pend. Melita 'Synchrosonic' bridge. The original multi-ply binding is tight to the body, and both neck angle and bridge height are excellent with a fine pro neckset. With its twin DeArmond Dynasonic single coil pickups, the guitar has a sweet, lively voice with excellent clarity and detail, and smooth, low action over a gentle C profile neck, with fine pro fretwork and a fresh high precision setup.

Nestled in its stylish Gretsch logo tweed hardshell case, this closet queen is a superb addition to any Gretsch collection, from the dawn of the modern electric guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: Bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

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