The Gretsch Anniversary model, released in 1958 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the company founded in 1883, features a 16-inch wide maple plywood body and maple neck, a specification that has been popular for many years. However, this particular instrument, from the first year of production, features an ebony fingerboard and 22 frets.
It's the popular two-tone smoke green model (model number 6125) with one pickup, one of four variations available (two colors x two pickup layouts). Furthermore, it boasts the heavy bracing internal structure, which was only used in this year's models, and is the first guitar from which Gretsch equipped its first in-house-made humbucking pickup, the Filter'Tron, making it a truly worthy example of a true vintage instrument.
While there are some minor scratches and paint chipping on the top of the headstock, the body is in clean condition with no noticeable paint peeling or sun fading. The body binding on the top side shows significant deterioration overall, but it's not peeling off completely and can be used normally.
Aside from the nut, frets, and volume pot, the rest appears to be in original condition. The frets appear to have been leveled before, and there are some shallow indentations on the lower end, but there are no dead spots at any position.
While there's a slight buzz on the 6th string, it's playable with appropriate tension even at low string action. The neck angle is correct, and the excellent playability is a key feature of this instrument.
The tuning pegs show some bending on the 3rd and 4th strings, but this does not affect their operation. This popular two-tone smoke green Anniversary model is becoming increasingly rare, and this 1950s model is clean, highly original, and completely different from the 1960s models with Hi-Lo'Tron pickups, as it shows no sun damage or uneven discoloration on the body.
This is a rare opportunity. Please consider it.