Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

JordanM82

JordanM82

New member
Well, this guitar was recently given to me by my wife's grandmother. It belonged to her husband and was his #1 guitar since the 60's. I am trying to ID and determine estimated value of the guitar because I would like to pay her for it (frankly speaking, she could use the money). So the first step is trying to ID this guitar AND to get some recommendations on someone maybe in the Dallas area who may be able to properly estimate value.

Here is what I know, it was purchased (used) in 1964 in almost mint condition. It has no serial number on the outside of the guitar that I can see (I haven't taken the control cavity covers out to look in there yet but it's possible it's inside the cavity). Honestly guys, I know jack about vintage guitars and even less about Gretsch guitars so some direction here would be appreciated as I see plenty of places online that claim to be able to estimate value but I am not sure who I can really trust.

See the pics below to help ID, if there are other angles I should photo that would help please let me know and I will update...

Thanks gents,
Jordan
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

That's a Gretsch G6128 Duo Jet. This particular one is a hard tail (Bigsby was an option) with FilterTrons and a tone switch.

FilterTron's put it at 1958 or later. Single cut-away puts it at pre-1961.

Damn, that was easy.

You're really lucky.
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

I need to clean it up and get it playing again when I get back to Texas... I can't wait to hear how it sounds... Most importantly tho, I need to make sure Grandma get's what she deserves for the guitar so I need to determine the value... Also, The neck joint looks like it has lifted from the body, I tried to capture a picture of that as well. Is that normal, should it look like that or will that need repair?
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

JordanM82 said:
I need to clean it up and get it playing again when I get back to Texas... I can't wait to hear how it sounds... Most importantly tho, I need to make sure Grandma get's what she deserves for the guitar so I need to determine the value... Also, The neck joint looks like it has lifted from the body, I tried to capture a picture of that as well. Is that normal, should it look like that or will that need repair?
Click to expand...

- http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gretsch2.html#6121 -
 
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Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

GoldenVulture said:
- http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gretsch2.html#6121 -
Click to expand...

Nope, it's a DuoJet, not a Chet. A Chet would not have a black top, and it would have the "G" brand on the body.

This is probably a '58, because it has FilterTrons and thumbnail inlays, but no zero fret. FilterTrons and thumbnails started in '58 and the zero fret started in '59.

I'd have to see a better pic of the neck joint, but I think what you're concerned about is actually just how a Gretsch neck joint looks. They have a gap between the fretboard and the body under the last few frets.

http://gretschpages.com/forum/moder...t-on-tennessee-rose-theres-a-gap/16423/page1/
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

I can't really tell you its value but I have to think its got to be at least 2 to 3 grand. Putting a value on these things is difficult. The market for vintage gear is way down fro a few years ago. Its a great guitar and I think you should keep it. IUts a cool guitar and belongs in the hands of a player.




If you really want to be more precise you can pull the numbers off the pots & date it that way, but I think its somewhere between 58 & 61 as Ratherdashing pointed out.

Here is a quick overview of how to date it using the numbers on the pots.

How the Source-Date Code Works.

The source-date code on a pot is a 6 or 7 digit code impressed into the casing of the potentiometer. For speakers this code can be 5, 6, 7 or 8 digits long, and it's ink-stamped or paint-stamped on the "bell housing" of the speaker.

In either case, the code works the same. The first 3 digits on a pot, or the first 2, 3 or 4 digits on a speaker are the source or manufacturer code.

The remaining 3 or 4 digits are the date code. In 3 digit dates code, the 1st digit is the last digit of the year. On 4 digits date codes, the 1st and 2nd digits are the last two digits of the year. In either case, the remaining 2 digits are the week of manufacture (01 to 52). With this in mind, remember if the last two digits of the source-date code are greater than 52, you're not looking at the source-date code!

you can read more about it here...
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/pots.html
 
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Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

Alright so it looks like it is indeed a '58 Duo Jet based on everything I have been pointed to and read.

I am definitely keeping it, no way I would come across something like this and just sell it. I can't wait to get it home and see how it sounds. The thing has obviously been played like crazy by my wife's grandfather (who passed 2 years back now) and needs some work to get back to full on playing condition (maybe even a refret) but in my opinion it is 10000% worth it... We start the drive back to Dallas tomorrow and hopefully by Saturday evening I will have his thing plugged into my blackheart and be making my wife tell me to turn it down...

Thanks for all the info so far gents, much appreciated...
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

JordanM82 said:
Alright so it looks like it is indeed a '58 Duo Jet based on everything I have been pointed to and read.

I am definitely keeping it, no way I would come across something like this and just sell it. I can't wait to get it home and see how it sounds. The thing has obviously been played like crazy by my wife's grandfather (who passed 2 years back now) and needs some work to get back to full on playing condition (maybe even a refret) but in my opinion it is 10000% worth it... We start the drive back to Dallas tomorrow and hopefully by Saturday evening I will have his thing plugged into my blackheart and be making my wife tell me to turn it down...

Thanks for all the info so far gents, much appreciated...
Click to expand...

You'd better keep it, you lucky bastard! That is a once in a lifetime find, and one of the finest instruments Gretsch ever put out. '58 was a great year for the DuoJet and Gretsch in general.

It will likely never have the collectible value of a Strat or LP from the same year anyway, so get that thing back into fighting form and play the heck outta her!
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

ratherdashing said:
Nope, it's a DuoJet, not a Chet. A Chet would not have a black top, and it would have the "G" brand on the body.

This is probably a '58, because it has FilterTrons and thumbnail inlays, but no zero fret. FilterTrons and thumbnails started in '58 and the zero fret started in '59.

I'd have to see a better pic of the neck joint, but I think what you're concerned about is actually just how a Gretsch neck joint looks. They have a gap between the fretboard and the body under the last few frets.

http://gretschpages.com/forum/moder...t-on-tennessee-rose-theres-a-gap/16423/page1/
Click to expand...
It was further down the page.
[FONT=verdana,arial,helv,helvetica][SIZE=-1] 1958 DuoJet specs:

  • Filter'tron humbucking pickups replace DeArmonds.
  • Thumbprint (neoclassic) inlays replace humptop inlays.
  • Bar style bridge.
  • Two switches on upper bass bout (tone and pickup selection).
  • Two knobs instead of three on lower treble bout (three total).
  • Bigsby vibrato.
[/SIZE][/FONT]
Click to expand...
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

Lucky man. If that was mine, it would become my #1 guitar for ever.
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

Looks like it's in great shape, too.

Awesome man, big thanks to grandpa-in-law. I'm sure he's glad it's out of it's case.
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

That's great. The neck issue may not be too much of an issue unless it really starts to separate more. The glue on old Gretsch's seems to do all kinds of odd things. If it's loosens up more it might just need to be reglued and clamped which should take care of it.

I a 66 that has glue that's loosened up on lots of the binding but the neck is pinned with a wooden dowel so it doesn't have any issue there.
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

Heritage Auctions has two '57s with hardtails in their archive from this year, one in black at ~$4600 with a replaced tailpiece (broken original in case) and one in cadillac green at ~$5900 (lots of holes from mods, etc.). These were in the same auction, and the black one looks like it was in really good condition.

There's a '59 with a bigsby that has a replaced, screwed down bridge in slightly lesser condition at @~$5600.

Prices include buyer's premium.

OP's has a bit of wear, but the binding isn't degrading too bad, so I imagine it should fit in the same $4-6000 range at a good auction?
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

phil_104 said:
Lucky man. If that was mine, it would become my #1 guitar for ever.
Click to expand...

That is 100% the intent here... I am going to play the freaking S*** out of this guitar... on stage, in studio, doesn't matter this thing is getting played...
 
Re: Inherited Vintage Guitar Identification Help!

23850498.jpg
 
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