Saying hello with my 1967 Country Gent

[jfgesquire]

Purchased in 1988, serial number starts 47xxxx.

I played it out regularly (100 times/year) for two years until I said to myself “what the heck are you doing?”

I met Chet in ‘93 and had the pickguard with me and he signed it. The very next year I got to meet him after a show at my County Fair and had the guitar with me - signature #2!

The guitar is all original except for the Imperial tuners, but I still have the originals. The binding is 100% intact, which on a 51 year old Gretsch is a miracle.

I was born in March of 1967, so I always said that the guitar was made just for me.

These pics are scanned from film photos, I don’t have any digital shots, but the guitar has not changed one bit.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

Fantastic, would love a birth or near birth year guitar!

I heard that the guitars kept in cases binding had issues but if left out not so much...maybe that is why?

 

[drmilktruck]

Congrats on such a beautiful guitar that means so much to you personally. Welcome to Gretsch Talk.

 

[jfgesquire]

Fantastic, would love a birth or near birth year guitar!

I heard that the guitars kept in cases binding had issues but if left out not so much...maybe that is why?

It's had a mixed life. I have no idea about its first 20 years. It looked well used but definitely not abused. It got A LOT of use the first 5 years I owned it, but has been a case queen since.

Even those that know Gretsch guitars think it's a reissue because the binding is near perfect. Not only did it not disintegrate, there are only a couple cracks in the binding on the entire guitar.

The only thing I notice is that the binding is very yellow-brown and I'm convinced it's from all the tobacco smoke from the bars I played in.

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[Gretschman2]

Welcome to the forum !! Nice looking Gent you have there.

 

[audept]

Welcome to the forum, jfgesquire! Beautiful guitar and the Chet signature makes it so special!

 

[Mjb11800]

Wow.
Now that’s something special. Beautiful guitar.
Welcome.

 

[wildeman]

It don't get much cooler than that.

 

[Wozob]

Welcome, nice Gent!

 

[musicman100]

Welcome

 

[thunder58]

Hey how ya doin my fellow New yawka and welcome to the forum . Beautiful guitar .

 

[markeebee]

Oh man. That's exactly the same as the Gent I had back in the 80s. I swapped it for a Casio guitar synth.

Must go now, the tears are splashing onto my laptop.

 

[loudnlousy]

Welcome here.
What a cool guitar.
Guitars from your birthyear are always special.
I got a 65 Gretsch Corvette. Love it.

 

[JC higgy]

Welcome to GT jfgesquire!

Beautiful aul geet sir.

Just keep an eye on that binding ,my 66 6120 was near perfect for over 20 years until i put it away for just over a year,when i took it out it had started to stain the finish and crack ,its not too bad but it smelt awful for a few days ,it hasn't progressed any since then as it hasn't been in it's case.
My 57 Gent has started a little too,but again, hasn't progressed cause i keep them out of their cases.

Strangely ,my 57 6120 is perfect!........I hope it stays that way.

 

[MTurner]

Welcome to both you and your beautiful guitar!