1957 Gretsch 6196 Country Club Cadillac Green
Very good condition featuring laminate maple hollowbody construction, multi-bound top and back body edges, two oversized bound F holes, two DeArmond Dynasonic pickups with tortoiseshell grain plastic pickup spacers, three volume controls and one tone control with enlarged knurled steel knobs with Gretsch G and arrow pointer logos, three-way pickup selector switch with knurled metal switch tip, black enameled Bigsby tailpiece, gold plated Nashville tune-o-matic style bridge with wooden bridge base and two height adjusting thumb wheels, elongated gold plexi pickguard with black Gretsch logo and steel mounting bracket, set two piece maple neck, multi-bound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl humptop inlays starting at the first fret, bone nut, multi-bound Gretsch peghead shape, pearl Gretsch logo, multi-ply black and white plastic pointed truss rod cover, three per side individual Grover Imperial tuning machines with five square buttons and one stair step button, multi-ply black and white plastic heel cap, two metal strap buttons, Cadillac Green finish and late 1950s Gretsch branded hard shell case.
This 1957 Gretsch Country Club is in overall very good vintage cosmetic condition showing moderate lacquer checking and signs of play wear throughout. The black enameled Bigsby tailpiece is a vintage unit that was added to this instrument along the way. There are visible holes from the old tailpiece. Five of the tuner buttons are later replacements from a late 60s set of Grover tuners and are the large square type (see photos). Both strap buttons are replacements. The bridge unit is a later replacement. A neck heel crack has been professionally repaired and is rock solid. The fingerboard has been planed and professionally refretted with tall vintage style wire. All the work done to this instrument was performed by the world class luthier Andy Jellison at his shop in Nashville, TN. The neck profile on this guitar is that of a thinner C shaped carve with larger shoulders and a flat center and it feels excellent and comfortable in hand. This Gretsch plays outstanding and effortlessly up and down the fingerboard with low action and smooth tension. The neck is very straight and the truss rod is fully functional. All the electronics in this 6196 are fully original and functional. The original Dynasonic pickups sound flat out fantastic and I haven’t played another Gretsch 6196 from this era that sounds anywhere near as good as this one. Sure, this guitar has been around the block a few times in its 64 years and had a few bumps, bruises and changes along the way, but this instrument has profound character and is ready to tell quite a few more stories. I would steer to say that you would be hard pressed to find a cooler, better playing and better sounding Cadillac Green Country Club than this one especially in this price range. This instrument is ready to be played and enjoyed right out of the case. A gem of a guitar shipped out safely and promptly from our little shop here in Clarksville, Tennessee, to your front door.