GRETSCH VINTAGE 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean '59

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Founded in 1883, Gretsch has supplied a wide range of musical instruments over the years. In the 1950s, they began developing electric guitars, and continue to produce attractive guitars to this day.

The '6119 Tennessean' was released in 1958 as part of the Chet Atkins signature series, alongside the Country Gentleman. Initially introduced as a single-pickup version of the 6120, it underwent minor changes in the 1960s, including simulated (dummy) f-holes, a dark cherry color, and a two-pickup configuration. This particular model is a 1959 single-pickup version, and its orange color, inherited from the 6120, is quite striking.

【body】
The overall weight is approximately 3.25 kg. The body is made of maple. Like the 6120 from the same period, it has a 2-3/4 inch thick hollow construction with trestle bracing, which is excellent for suppressing feedback and sustain. The orange stain color has a nice faded look that gives it a great 1950s vintage feel. The Bigsby B-6 unit also has a nice finish. There is some weather checking commensurate with its age, deterioration of the body binding due to age, cracks in the pickup rings, signs of use such as minor scratches, and slight tarnishing of the metal parts, but it can be said to be in relatively good condition while still having the feel of a vintage guitar.

【neck】
The neck is made of maple. The fingerboard is made of ebony, a transitional specification. There is some weather checking on the headstock, engraved numbers on the back of the headstock, paint peeling from use on the back of the neck, and signs of wear on the metal parts, but like the body, it is in relatively good condition. The tuners have been replaced with Grover V98 open-back tuners, and although there is some slight variation in the winding tension, they function properly. The frets have been replaced once and are not very worn, so playability is good. The nut width is 43.0mm. It features a relatively clean neck shape.

[Electrical System]
The controls are a simple tone switch/master volume. It is equipped with one original Filter'Tron pickup. The control components are also in excellent condition, just as they were back then.

The clear tone characteristic of 50's Filter'Tron guitars, combined with the rich resonance of the maple hollow construction, creates a light yet substantial sound. The instrument itself has a wonderful acoustic resonance, offering excellent note separation in chord work and a glossy, crisp tone in single notes. It's a sound that perfectly suits the music scene of the late 1950s, such as rock and roll, country, and rockabilly, possessing the flamboyant style and vintage depth that is characteristic of Gretsch.

Accessories: Non-original hard case

Weight: 3.25kg
Body Material (Top/Side&Back): Laminate Maple 1 piece/Laminate Maple rim (2-3/4inch)/Laminate Maple 1 piece, Hollow, 406.4mm (16inch)
Neck Material/Scale Length: Maple 2 piece/622mm (24-1/2inch)
Bridge/Tailpiece: Bigsby Straight Bar Bridge, silver/Bigsby B-6, silver
Fingerboard/Fret Marker/Radius: Ebony/Pearloid thumbprint/10inch (254.0mm)
Nut Width/Fret Size (Width): 43.0mm/2.2mm (replaced)
Neck Thickness (1F/7F/10F): 21.0mm/23.0mm/23.5mm
Pickup (Neck/Bridge): Gretsch Filter 'Tron Humbucker/4.2kΩ
*The DC resistance value of the pickup is measured through the control section.

Heartman Vintage Guitars is a specialty store for vintage guitars and basses operated by Ikebe Musical Instruments.