This is a 1961 Gretsch from my personal collection: the 6120 Chet Atkins model. This is the Gretsch model which Brian Setzer is best known for (1960), and Pete Townsend used a 1960 Gretsch 6120 (Joe Walsh gifted Pete the guitar in 1970), to record many of The Who’s most popular hits.

This guitar has all of the desirable 1960 features, plus the 59 style Bigsby which Setzer uses. It is 100% original with the white cowboy case and strap. True left thumbnail inlays, 3-piece neck, desirable headstock shape with no “wings.”

As Edward Ball states in his classic book, Gretsch 6120 – The History of a Legendary Guitar: “Townsend’s 1960 Gretsch 6120 appears extensively on the albums Who’s Next (1971) and Quadrophenia (1973). Townsend points to tracks like “Bargain” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as examples that reveal the 6120 model’s sound.”

This is one of the cleanest vintage guitars I’ve owned over the years, it looks like a reissue except most of the heel cap binding broke off (it’s in the case but cracked), and the nearby binding piece at the top of the body is showing signs of wear(see photos). Again, typical binding-related wear associated with vintage Gretsch guitars. There is a minor nick on the headstock front by the A tuner. I just put new strings on it, and the guitar would benefit from a new nut, but that’s about it.

It also comes with an original leather-trimmed cowboy case and strap. These cases were sold separately, which means that not every 6120 has one. This is a very nice option to have on a vintage 6120.

1961 was the last year for the single-cutaway 6120 model. It was also the year where the body depth was narrowed to 2 1/4. The slimmer body approached the body depth of the Gibson ES-3xx guitars, which is probably why renowned Gretsch 6120 collector Christopher Guido’s favorite year was the shallow body 1961, which comprise 10 of his 32 vintage Gretsch 6120s (page 134 of Edward Ball’s book noted above).

This is probably one of the finest left handed vintage Gretsch guitars on the planet!

$28K

This is a 1961 Gretsch Country Club, 6196, Cadillac Green, out of my personal collection. The guitar is 100% original, in EXC overall condition with OHSC, has 1 nick on the bass side, a few signs of cracking on the neck binding, but nothing major and typical of vintage Gretsch guitars from this era.

This guitar has outstanding provenance, as I purchases it from renowned luthier, Joe Glaser, in Nashville. Joe got it from the family of Dr. Jim Coleman, who was Joe’s personal physician as well as Chet Atkins’ doctor. Email correspondence and verification is provided.

This guitar has always played and sounded great, just put new strings on it. As my dear friend and incomparable luthier, Scott Freilich, once told me: “59-62 were the best years for Gretsch. PAF Filtertrons sound great, the necks were very similar to Gibson necks from that era, and that was about the peak of their workmanship.”

$18K

This is from the limited edition of 250 made at the Gibson Bozeman plant in Montana in 2005. It is # 29 of 250 and includes a signed label by Paul McCartney. Includes all paperwork and COA, plus the Ultra Light Custom Hardcase with built-in humidifier and yellow insignia.

This is the acoustic guitar which Paul used to record “Yesterday,” and also played the song on the Ed Sullivan show in 1965.

The guitar was purchased by the original owner and stored for the past 20 years. It still has the original strings! String height: 6/64 treble, 8/64 bass at the 12th fret with plenty of saddle left (it’s never been touched). The guitar is a true time capsule – it’s like buying a new one if that was possible.

Additional features include:
• Solid mahogany back/sides, Sitka Spruce top, and Rosewood fingerboard
• Vintage 1964 tapered dovetail neck joint and adjustable bridge saddle
• 25.5” Scale/1.68” Nut Width
• “Mother of Pearl” parallelogram fingerboards inlays with historic “Dot” headstock inlay
• “Mother of Pearl” vintage Epiphone logo on headstock
• Tortoise pickguard with original foil “E” logo
• Nickel Hardware
• Custom lightweight fabric-covered guitar case with McCartney’s signature and model name embroidered on the front
• Individually Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

This has to be the cleanest 2005 Epiphone FT-79 Texan on the planet, and it’s Left Handed. I’ve only seen one other Lefty out of the run of 250. This is a must-have guitar for the Beatles/Paul McCartney fan!

Was $5995 Now $4995

This is a 2019 Tweed Bassman made by Greg Germino. It is in Mint Condition and comes with Vintage/Period Correct Tubes (Tung Sol USA power, GE Rectifier, GE preamp) and Vintage/Period Correct Speakers (Jensen P10Qs with codes 220105, 5th week of 1961).

It’s #001 of 2 Tweed Bassmans made by Greg, he’s not making these anymore, focusing on his Plexis. It is an amp of the highest quality, totally hand-wired craftmanship and phenomenal attention to detail. Germino amps have an outstanding reputation and are used by many pro players over the past 12 years:

Audley Freed (Sheryl Crow)
Jimmy Herring (Wide Spread Panic)
Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke)
Coy Bowles (Zac Brown Band)
Danny Lewis (Gov’t Mule)
Keith Nelson (Buckcherry)
Gary Hooker (Brad Paisley)
Earl Slick (David Bowie)
Emerson Swinford (Rod Stewart)
Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
Brian Dennis (Little Big Town)
Greg Martin
Phillip Sayce, and many more

The amp will be shipped in the original shipping box for maximum safety and protection.

Was $4995 Now $4500

This is a Left Handed 2013 Gibson L-4CES Jazz Box, Mint/As New and Un-played, Crimson Series from the Gibson Custom Shop, OHSC, COA and all paperwork.

This L-4 is basically an L-5, it even has the same tailpiece as an L-5 but without the L-5 engravement. What makes it even more rare is that just like an L-5, it has a Mahogany (one piece) back and Mahogany sides. It also has the same Ebony fretboard of an L-5, and  Includes a letter from the Gibson Custom Shop verifying the Ebony Fretboard. It also has a Florentine cutaway, giving it a 60s look (started in 1961), and even has some mild figuring on the top.

If you are a lefty and looking for a Gibson jazz box, you know they are extremely hard to find. Gibson hasn’t made a jazz box in years, and they certainly aren’t going to start now with their emphasis on rock guitars, primarily the Les Paul.

The guitar is as clean as you will find, looks brand new and un-played with no fret wear or any other wear. This really is a dream Gibson jazz box for the left handed player!

Was $11,995 Now $10,500

For Sale: 1961 Left Handed Sonic Blue Fender Strat with OHSC, EXC Condition!

1961 Left Handed Sonic Blue Strat, beautifully refinished by Kip Elder at Starr Guitars. The guitar was originally Sonic Blue. Note the writing on the masking tape on the back of the pickguard (SB Left hd S-550). This differs from the masking tape writing from 2 of the 3 1961 Strats I’ve had: T-981 and Rush S-397.

The Strat had been refinished to a Surf Green with matching headstock. Of course, that was a typical Surf Guitar appointment (Jaguars and Jazzmasters) and not a correct look for a Strat. The current owner wanted to have the guitar refinished to its original color, Sonic Blue. Vintage Strats in the custom color, Sonic Blue, particularly from 1961, have historic importance: John Lennon and George Harrison both bought 2 matching 1961 Sonic Blue Strats, and Ike Turner also owned one.

So I recommended to the owner to have the guitar sent to Kip Elder at Starr Guitars in Winter Park, FL (I have no affiliation with them). Kip has been entrusted as chief luthier for the legendary Hard Rock vault guitars – see video with Jimi’s white SG Custom and Lefty Flying V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nUCGy9mZIM
Kip’s specialization is actually finishing work. He worked on several of my friend’s vintage and newer Gibsons (refrets, set-ups, refinishing, etc.) with outstanding results, so I thought Kip would be the perfect choice for the job.

As you can see from the pics, the guitar turned out great. The shading beneath the pickguard and hardware is spot on. The finish has a mild relic treatment, and the back of the neck has a smooth, worn-in feel to it, like my 63 Strat. The owner is very happy with the way the guitar turned out. I am too!

Guitar Dates/Specs:
Neck Plate: 68913
Neck DatNe: 10/61
Pot Codes: 304 6134
Weight: 7 lbs, 9 oz.

Comes with the original brown tolex hardcase and trem arm. The interior has been relined with non-original fabric, but the exterior is untouched.

The guitar has been professionally refretted with a new nut installed. The original frets and nut are inside the case pocket. Also, 4 pickup adjustment screws have been replace, with the originals inside the case pocket.

Was $25K  Now $23K