❌SOLD❌ Gretsch Nashville 6120DSW Archtop Electric Western Orange, 2003

Based on early 1950’s models, the Gretsch Nashville 6120DSW 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.

This particular Gretsch Nashville G6120DSW was built during 2003, and Gretsch had not yet been able to license the Chet Atkins name, which happened in 2007. Consequently, this isn’t a Chet Atkins model in name, and the ‘Signpost’ on the pickguard says ‘Nashville’ instead of ‘Chet Atkins’.

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.

This guitar is in very good, original condition and plays very well. Wear to the finish and frets is very light.

The Gretsch Nashville 6120DSW 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. There is another subtle difference between this 2003 model and the current 6120DSW equivalent; the neck joint is a little heavier and the fingerboard support is thicker than on current, more ‘vintage spec’ versions.

The key differences for this model 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 finish is the classic Gretsch Western Orange Stain, and is in great condition.

This is a really nice guitar to play, very comfortable and clean sounding.

The original Gretsch – branded hard shell case is included.