❌SOLD❌ Gretsch G6120 DSW Archtop Electric Guitar Orange, 2009

Based on early 1950’s models, the Gretsch G6120 DSW Chet Atkins model is probably the iconic Gretsch with its G brand in the top and ‘Western’ motif inlays. A fully hollow guitar with tone bars and a soundpost for support, the DSW designation indicates that Dyna Sonic pickups are installed, and the Western decorations are used.

The Gretsch 6120 was very popular and influential after its prototypes were presented in 1954 to Chet Atkins, then a rising and very respected guitarist, session player and producer. Atkins went on to use Gretsch guitars exclusively for many years, and shifted to an endorsement deal with Gibson around 1980 after Gretsch, owned by Baldwin, folded. The 6120 was also favoured by many other top 1950’s artists, notably including Duane Eddy.

Here we’re looking at a Gretsch G6120 DSW built at the Terada plant in Japan and dating to June of 2009. It’s in great, original condition and was recently set up at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop.

The Gretsch G6120 DSW is structurally similar to many other 6120 variants, but is closest to the early 1954-1955 models, before humbucking pickups appeared. The body is a 3-ply Maple laminate, with a 3-piece Maple neck – the neck has two pieces of Maple with a thin Walnut center strip. The bound fingerboard is Rosewood, as is the bridge base.    This model also features a Brass nut,  an attempt to equalize tone between fretted and open strings. 

The top is braced with a pair of longitudinal tone bars and there’s also a sound post coupling the top and back, underneath the bridge. The key differences are in the electronics – the DSW carries a pair of ‘DynaSonic’ single coil pickups built by Seymour Duncan to replicate 1950’s deArmond models. This pickup design is quite elaborate, with spring-loaded carriers for the polepiece magnets very visible on the back. The wiring is typical pre-Filter’Tron Gretsch with a single pickup selector, master volume, individual volumes, and a master tone pot. On this model, the gold-plated knobs sport an arrow like the 1955 models, rather than the later G-Arrow design. A Bigsby is installed with the vintage flat handle and the bridge is an Aluminum unit, produced by Bigsby for use with their tailpieces, on a Rosewood base. These bridges tend to be very twangy!   The Rosewood base has been glued to the finish. 

The finish is the classic Gretsch orange, and is in great condition.

This is a really nice guitar to play, very comfortable and clean sounding. It is presently strung with flatwounds.

The original Gretsch – branded hard shell case is included.