A classy all original Country Club which just oozes vintage Gretsch charm and style. Nice, clean example with no binding issues. 2 7/8” body depth topped off with a pair of great sounding original Filter’trons.

Officially introduced in 1954 as Gretsch’s then top of the line model, the Country Club was an evolution of the earlier Electro II model. There were several revisions over the following decade or so. The 1954 to ’58 model featured a pair of DeArmond pick-ups, which were then replaced with Gretsch’s new Filter’tron pick-ups in 1958 along with a change to the newer style thumbnail inlays. The spec was changed again in 1960 when the body depth was slimmed down from 2 7/8” to the thinline 1 7/8” depth. The 1963 version then returned to the original 2 7/8” body depth, with the additional of a mute and a padded back. In 1965 the padded back and the mute were dropped returning the Country Club essentially to the ’58-60 spec.

This example has the revised ’65 specs and with the exception of the button Grover Imperial tuners, as opposed to the earlier stairstep Grovers, is configured in the more desirable late 50’s spec.

There’s a certain charm about vintage Gretsch’s and this one has it in abundance. The overall condition is excellent for a 58 year old guitar. All parts are original and there are none of the binding issues that can plague some Gretsch’s from this period. There has been a professional neck reset in the past which has resulted in a good neck angle enabling a nice low action. Aside from this the guitar is completely original with no breaks or repairs.

Sonically the pair of original Filter’trons cover as lot of bases in all three positions. This a versatile guitar and depending on your amp set up can go from rockabilly, to jazz, to country, to pure down and dirty rock n roll. It has a lot of character.

Vintage Gretsches are somewhat undervalued right now and represent something of a bargain. All it will take is a couple of high-profile players to make them more visible again (like in the 80’s) and increase their value to where they probably should be. In the meantime here is an opportunity to own a very nice vintage guitar for pretty much the cost of a reissue. What’s not to like?

Comes with the original Gretsch case and also a spare tune-o-matic bridge, though the original roller bridge intonates very well and does a great job.

**Please ask about shipping outside the UK**