Gretsch Guitars

I acquired this vintage Gretsch without much knowledge of the guitar.

There is supposed to be a sticker on the inside of the guitar that displays serial number, but I guess over the years, the adhesive failed and there is no tag for ID.

I have spent many hours researching this guitar on-line and, talking to Gretsch Rep and I found it is a 1954. That is the only time that they used that tailpiece and it’s unlikely that someone replaced it with another.

Condition:  Here's a video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEdYLp0KCMM

The guitar is 100% authentic except for the tuners and may have possibly had a fret job in its lifetime, but not sure. Tuners are nice, locking tuners that feel high end, but have no stamp/Logo on the gold plating. The reason say this is because those Jumbo frets are in too good of condition for the age of the guitar and I do not want to misrepresent this instrument in any way.

Lacquer shows typical (embedded) cracks running all in the same direction (lengthwise) and is typical of it’s vintage. No checker-board patterns per say in the finish. Light scratch in one small area on the back of guitar…looks like where it sat on guitar stand. Then there is the same light scratching on the very bottom…guitar stand wear.

The front of the headstock where it joins the neck looks VERY SLIGHTLY different in the finish. …and I say VERY slightly. I don’t know if the was a crack repair at one time, but the backside of the neck doesn’t reflect the same difference. This being said, It ALMOST looks like a small crack was fixed, but hidden and finished very well. Almost completely unnoticeable unless you reflect in a direct light.  It might just be where a Rope-Type shoulder strap was used before the Gold Plated Strap Pins were installed.

A Luthier looked at this and told me it was a nonissue, but might want to show it in the photo at auction.

It comes with a nice case (thick foam padded, cloth exterior) and will be packed safely in a guitar shipping box and within its own case when shipped. I will pay for the insurance of amount at end of auction.