Gretsch 6124 Single Anniversary

My 6124 was built in 1963 at the 60 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York factory. It has 22 frets. It is a laminate top, but very thin. The only electronic controls are volume and a three-way selector switch. The guitar came with a Gretsch HiLoTron pickup at the neck position, but I exchanged it for a TV-Jones Classic Filtertron. If you're reading this, you don't have to ask if the electronics are active or passive. To tell the truth, I don't know what kind of wood the body/neck are made of, but I would suspect that they are maple. It has a sunburst finish which is aging quite well. And laquer of course. The body style is 'archtop'. It is a single cutaway design. The body depth is 2.75" and it is 16" wide at the lower bout. The original bridge was a rosewood POS. I'm serious. It was the worst bridge I'd ever seen and it gave up the ghost shortly after my acquisition. The tailpiece was a standard 'G' cutout long tailpiece. It is chrome. It lives in a tackle box now. The tuners were of the semi-scallop design and were original. Those went the way of eBay. The guitar now has chrome oval button tuners. It has a somewhat long scale to it. But I never measured it. When I bought it I was 16 years old. I thought I'd never be able to afford an orange Gretsch, so I settled for this one. It was $700 and included the original case and amplifier! It was a cool Gretsch amplifier made at around the same time as the guitar. I bought it at Danny's Music in Everett, Washington.

This guitar is the easiest playing older guitar I have ever played. It's action is very low and it's a loud one. I use 11 gauge round wound D'Addario strings. Now, mind you, this is a single pickup guitar. It's not super versatile, but it's got loads of gusto. It sounds very good to me. The HiLoTron was a little on the puny side, but the FilterTron is fantastic. It's got warmth and depth and all sorts of stuff in between. I use this instrument mostly for jazz, finger styles, and acoustic.
I don't use effects. I do use a Fender Blues DeVille and a Fender Blues Junior.
It's never been a noisy guitar.
The tonal variety is limited as I stated before. There's a pickup selector switch for attenuating the highs and most of the mids. In one direction it muddies things up a bit, and in the other direction it makes it sound like your underwater. I don't use the switch very often. It's neat to play with though.
It's a very clean sounding guitar. This is not something you play speed metal with.
I have really come to love this guitar. It's been through a lot and it never ever gives me trouble. I've replaced many parts on it. It sounds better than it ever has.
I can't think of a single thing I dislike about the guitar.

I have no idea how well the guitar was set up at the factory. When I received it, it was set up to play, but by no means a custom setup.
The pickup wasn't adjusted at all when I got it. The new TV-Jones pickup is set up to my wants.
The construction of this instrument is very well done. There's nothing coming apart and it's as solid as ever. Everything is installed correctly.
There was of course wear and tear from the years, but it's got geed character. Thankfully, it made it through the sixties, seventies, and eighties unscathed. That's a feat in it's own right. No flower decals from smelly hippies. There were no names carved in it from some pot-head. There's no holes from where someone poorly installed a Gibson style humbucker. I'm glad for that.

This guitar has withstood un-climate-controlled storage for years in California, world travel, parties (spilt beer), gigs, and several moves. And that's just since it's been with me. Yeah, I'd say it would withstand live playing.
The hardware will last. And even if it doesn't, I'll replace it.
The finish is lacquer. It's not as durable as the new poly finished and chips rather than dents. The finish will last beyond my years with a little care.
The strap buttons are nickel plated brass. I lost one a long time ago, so one if a reproduction, but it looks close to the original.
I can depend on this guitar more than I can depend on much of anything else.
I probably wouldn't use it to gig with and no backup. The reason isn't dependability. I would just have to have something else on hand for variety's sake.

I've never dealt with Gretsch directly. I don't think they'd be much help anyhow. They're too busy now to bother with the old stuff.
All repairs and upgrades were done by yours truly.
There's no warranty.

I have been playing for many many years. I own 10 other achtops, some other strings instruments, and drums.
There is nothing I wish I had asked before buying this guitar. I knew what is was when I saw it.
If it were stolen or lost, I would be distraught. I don't know what I'd do. I'd have to seek vengeance on whoever was ignorant enough to have stolen something that's as much a part of me as my picking fingers. May God have mercy if that should happen.
What I love about this guitar is that I don't have to have an amplifier to hear myself, I know it inside and out, and it's a trooper. My favorite features are the Bigsby I pieced together from spare parts, and the bridge I formed myself out of ebony.
I don't compare this guitar to many because there aren't many around. It's not like I can go to my local music store and ask them if they have any older Gretsch guitars.
I chose this guitar because, at the time, it's what I could afford and it sounded good to me.
I don't wish anything from this instrument. It's fine just the way it is.

This is a sunburst model with neck-adjacent HiLoTron pickup and wood floating bridge, standard tailpiece and tuners, as offered from the factory. Its tone control is a 3-position switch, and it has an end mounted jack. The fretboard has 21 frets, and there is no zero fret.

I play some jazz, some pop, whatever comes to my head. I'm not much of a lead player, and I use a lot of bar chords with open strings ("lazy" bar chords). Rarely use a pick. I use a Fender SuperReverb, light on the reverb, no distortion, wide equalization with a bright setting. this guitar is perfect for my playing style. Noisy? You bet, with that HiLoTron pickup. I wish it had a hum bucking type. With new strings, the guitar sounds very nice however, even when unplugged, although its dynamics can't compete with an acoustic.

When purchased in 1967, the instrument was in showroom condition, even though I knew it was pre-owned, probably traded for a double pickup. The case was (and is) a Gibson thinwall that happened to fit; the shop owner didn't have a Gretsch case. Action was incredible, especially compared to the Kay guitar I was replacing.

I'm a hobby guitarist, and haven't performed since the 70's. The guitar certainly did stand up to regular gigs in my band days, no reason it shouldn't continue to. The guitar is in very good overall condition, probably because it hasn't been used all that much in the last few decades. There is some minute cracking on the head, and some chopped paint.

I took it for it's only servicing since purchase to Creymer in Aurora, IL in 2003. He replaced the well-worn nut, adjusted the neck and bridge, and serviced a few frets. The guitar felt like new again. I've always used flatwounds and was not pleased with what I had, so he recommended Thomastik-Infeld JS-112's, and I've been using them ever since. His price was fair, too.

I've had a guitar since 1964, starting with a Silvertone acoustic, then a Kay triple-pickup (you needed about 40lb of pressure to fret those strings). This guitar was a God-send. I also purchased and still own a Fender SuperReverb ($420 then). The immediate thing everyone noticed was the vast improvement in tonal quality compared to the Kay, although it isn't as pure as some guitars I've played. But "Greta" is my baby and I'd never give her up.

This is my baby! An original 1960 Gretsch 6124 Anniversary made in the USA. Hi/lo pick-up (first year for this), selector switch, volume - pretty basic. Awesome Bigsby tremolo. Sunburst pattern body. The only thing I wish differently is that it should have 2 pickups.

This thing sounds great! That great Gretsch rockabilly sound, but with some versatility of being more 'mellow' with the selector switch. Stays in tune well.

I like the action. Some say the old Gretschs are harder to play. I would say they 'take some getting used to'. The finish has stayed strong in it's 45 years, and besides some typical belt rash and finish wear on the neck, it still looks good! A little crazing here and there, but I like character. Mine is currently in the shop getting a new nut

This guitar can play anywhere and in any weather. This is a 'professionals' guitar - very dependable!

I've never dealt with company given it's age.

I've been playing 17 years. If I lost this guitar I'd be heartbroken, not only because it's 'my Grestch' but because my Dad bought it for me. Gretsch guitars are top rate. For me, the only thing that could top this guitar would be a 1959 6120!

1960 Single Anniversary Gretsch...single hi-lo pick up, first year change for pick in this model...in your basic god ugly caddy two tone green, with the original Gretsch stainless strap saddle and the roller bridge with the brass adjustable string saddles. The neck is fast and it came with three strings.

These old Gretsch pickups are what make the instrument collectible, but it takes an eleven on your amp to drive them. Once you get that sound though, it's a mind blower. I use a Crate G40L Stereo Chorus with this instrument because it has a lot less 60 hz noise than trying to run it through my Fender. With the single anniversary models, there's one volume control. The switch is your tone control so you have to fine tune your sound on the amp.

This thing is so far gone from the factory I think the guy that built is probably no longer among us. Once I undid all the things that had been done to this instrument, it responded well, and I could get that patented rockabilly Duane Eddy-Eddie Cochran-Roy Orbison sound out of it. The neck needed to be reset, and 44 years of cigarette smoke hadn't done the finish any favors. The tuners are the originals and needed to be lubed and polished. The headstock had taken a nosedrive at some point and the laminate facing had cracked, but Custom Fix in Boulder repaired it for $70.

The damn thing is 44 years old...come on...It doesn't leave the studio!!! Strap buttons are the original industrial strength Gretsch units...man, they did not want this guitar to fall. They don't make them like this any more.

Get real...the Brooklyn factory probably burned down years ago and I don't speak Japanese. If you have to worry about a warranty on a vintage guitar, get out of the market.

It does what an ugly green Gretsch should do...sound outrageous.

1958 tobacco sunburst, Single anniversary with a filtertron pickup (original) Ebony fretboard.These are all laminated top guitars. Used to be that a 6124 by its definition was a sunburst single anniversary but that may have changed. The controls are master volume, volume and a toggle switch that is: up= much mud and all the lows cut, middle= full tone on - sounds like both trble & bass at 10- way cool,down= much ( more?) mud, sounds just like the up position. 22 fret, thumbnail inlays, small original fre wire. Single cut 16" lower bout with a heavy ( 2X4) brace glued to the top. Finish is checked.

Amazing- I researched Gretsch guitars because I couldn't figure out how Setzer could play the damn things so loud w/out feedback. found out that the 58 & 59 Anniversary & Streamliners shared the same body, pick-ups and bracing as the venerable 6120 of that era but without the fancier cosmetics- in truth ony the very rare double anniversary has the same electronics as the 6120. But it has the killer tone- Duane Eddy, Setzer and Harrison- I put a vintage Bigsby on- Look out!

These were never known as very "accurate" guitars as relates to fit & finish but it has its own funky charm

It is a road worthy guitar, stays in tune pretty well with all original tuners and the changed tailpiece

You buy these old ones for certain reasons - but do your homework before dropping any cash- This has the right mojo

This is a 1993 reissue gretsch. Same basic construction as the '58 version. One neck pickup, which is fine for this instument. In fact I played 2 different double anniversarys and the single pickup version had better tone to me.
This one is the sick green color. It doesn't get a high ratings for features but what it has is virtual features, meaning you can't get this sound with an effect unit or a solidbody. Peoples reactions to the color are positive (after the initial stunned look, ha ha)especially once they hear the great tone...
The features have already been covered in the prievious post, mine came with a HD OHSC (case).

I first hear one in '79, a friend had one and my first reation to it was the color, (like everyone else) then he played a few passages...it just floored me.
The neck on mine is dead flat even with 11-52 strings. You can hear the vibrations of the low strings if you let it ring. I'm not a jazz player but bought this just for it's sonic virtures. The vintage purists may scoff at the fact that this cannot possibly sound as good as a '58, but let me tell you that besides not having the construction defects as a vintage unit, ie binding problems, (these are being made with better glues etc.) the guitar is extremely well crafted. I think these are made in Korea. I doubt that the paint is nitrocellulose, looks more like an acrylic of some type, it does not effect the sound mainly because on hollowbody open shell electrics (trapeze bridge) the pickup overcomes any finish influences by large. The tone is jazz mud, jazz clean and open bypass from the filter circuit. This has the filterton pickup.
It will get an Atkins or Setzer sound really well in addition to other subtle tones, it handles slide playing well. If you intend to learn slide, try one of these, it lets you hear everything and you can't touch the closest sounding guitar like a ES-335 for this price. I see these on the web ranging from $800-$1500, a new ES-335 runs about $2500, so that is something to consider.

I bought mine used from a player, he had already been down the path of 100 setups, he did a good job. I could not find any defects except a few very minor scuffs eaisly buffed out.

Everything seems great, I used to own a Gibson ES175 and this thing plays and sounds much better even with one pickup, no kidding.
The one odd feature is the knurled stap buttons. They are stubby cylinders and you have to work the o in the strap into them insure a positive lock. With this unit, I'll play sitting most times, but not for that reason. With large bout acoustics 16" and electric archtops such as this, I have much more control sitting and feel comfortable in this respect.

The warranty is 1 year for the original owner, which seems a little cheap. Since this one is almost 10 now it should be okay.

I have been playing 25 years and own 4 electrics, an acoustic and this unit. I would not recommend this as a primary instrument unless you are a jazz stylist or acoustic player. For what it does, it does it great.

This is a Gretch Single anniversary, made according to the serial number in november of 1967.
Sunburst, sincle hi-lo tron pickup with one volume and one tone control.
Half moon fret markers. Very pretty sunburst.

Surprisingly strong hi-lo tron single pickup. I've played some with much weaker pu's.
I play the anni through a fender princeton chorus dsp.
It sounds very smooth and jazzy; and with amp adjustments, somewhat like a tennessean.
For what it is; a "9"

I purchased the gretch new in 1967 when I was a teenager.
It's been with me all these years, mostly in the closet.
Recently, I'm back into guitar and have purchased three new ones in the last 12 months.
The gretch was perfect out the factory but it didn't play like my previous anniversary that I traded in because it had a small crack on the back. That first anniversary was a 50's model with only a volume control and a three-way switch.
I kept the mini-vibrato from the first gretch when I traded it in.
The 67 gretch was a little more difficult to play but last year I had
it set up by the best luthier in Ontario and now it's a wonderful unit.
The guitar is near mint

It's lasted nearly 35 years with only light playing.
I wouldn't let it leave the house.
Older gretch guitars are prone to binding problems, but so far this one is perfect.

I've been playing for over 40 years and submit this review because I noticed there were no 6124 reviews on harmony central
It's been a great guitar but if it were stolen or lost there are other guitars I would consider.
I do love it; but it'd kind of a one trick pony.
I have a california strat, les paul jr special, mexican telecaster and a no=name acoustic.
Do I with this guitar had something else? Yes , I wish it was a 6120