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1976 Gretsch George Van Eps 7 String, Model 7580
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Serial #: 5(X)6046 Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 2" Body depth: 2 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .79/.98
Materials: Arched spruce top, arched maple back and sides; solid 3 piece maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; triple bound body and neck; bound f-holes; polished bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes twin adjustable 14 pole Guild Filter 'Tron humbucking pickups; gold 7string Gretsch logo tailpiece; gold Schaller M-1 tuners;; master and individual pickup volume controls with G logo knobs; 3 way pickup selector switch; 3 way tone switch; adjustable truss rod. Recent vintage style gold Gretsch logo Lucite pickguard, adjustable compensated ebony bridge.
Notes: Son of legendary banjo virtuoso Fred Van Eps, George Van Eps was a pioneer of modern chord melody guitar, and the creator of the first modern 7 string archtop, a custom Epiphone Masterbilt Deluxe built to his specs in 1937. Epi never offered a 7 string instrument, so for over three decades devotees of the big low string had to have their guitars luthier built by D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, Albanus and others, including the odd custom Gibson.
This all changed in 1968 when Gretsch offered the first production 7 string guitar, designed and named after Van Eps himself. Adapting the 17" body, long scale neck, 'thumbprint' inlays, and control design of their upmarket Country Club model, Gretsch added custom built Filter 'Tron humbucking pickups, a 7 string G logo tailpiece, and an elongated headstock to accommodate the extra tuner. The models were available in both sunburst (6079) and walnut (6080) finish, and were fitted the first year with an unusual 'Floating Sound Unit' which suspended a tuning fork into the body, between the bridge and bridge pickup.
This fine example is from the last version of the model (7580) which was produced only until 1980. Carefully maintained, the guitar features all original dark sunburst finish and electronics, including master and individual pickup volume controls, 3 way pickup selector switch, and a 3 way tone control switch. With body and neck notably free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, the principal signs of use are some scattered thumbnail dents under the strings between the two pickups.
The original multi-ply binding is tight to the body, and both neck angle and bridge height are excellent. With its twin Filter 'Tron pickups lend a clear, rich voice with excellent clarity and detail, and then guitar has smooth, low action over a gentle C profile neck, with fine original fretwork and a fresh high precision setup.
A true rarity on the vintage market, his historic model is a delight for both player and collector alike, from the very dawn of the modern 7 string archtop 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 (.012-.080). 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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