Description
This is a brand new 55’ Spec 6130 Roundup model from the USA Gretsch Custom Shop. This is an amazing guitar and the “Knotty Pine Roundup” has a special place in the history of the electric guitar. With their earliest lines of electric solid body and hollow body guitars, Gretsch set out to capture the country western market, adorning several models with as much cowboy flair as they could. The Chet Atkins model 6120 and 6121 featured a few western appointments, but it was the 6130 Roundup model that started it all. From to the tooled leather banding inlaid into the perimeter to the cast brass belt buckle welded right to the top of the tailpiece, Gretsch spared no expense to woo the would be string pluckin’ cattlemen. Perhaps the most unique feature of the Roundup model was the pine top, specifically chosen for their figured knot patterns. The 6130 model would forever be known as the “Knotty Pine Roundup”. It’s been estimated that about 400 Roundups were made from 1953 to 1957 making them one of the rarest Gretsch models of the 1950’s. Like the original designers at Gretsch, Stephen Stern and company at the Gretsch USA custom shop have also spared no expense to produce this unique guitar, only this time to recreate it.
Every detail however small from the original Roundup has been painstakingly recreated with this remarkable reissue. The slightly wider leather banding, the custom made plain top knobs with knurling to match 50’s spec, the 3 ply black-white-black pickup risers and carefully engraved and beveled pickguard. The body carve and neck profile are spot on yielding a well balanced and lightweight guitar that’s very faithful to a 1955 version. At 2 inches, the body is slightly thicker then the ‘57’s and later models.
This guitar is master built USA Custom Gretsch quality through and through with an astounding level of precision and an attention to detail. The guitar plays extremely well with a slightly chunky “C” shaped neck with a rounded shoulder. The action is low and even all the way across the ebony fretboard. The Seymour Duncan DynaSonic pickups are spot on recreations of the original DeArmond pickups. They’ve got a wonderful chiming clean tone with big tubby bass and shimmering top end. With some gain they’ve got a snarl like no other with a mid-range that has plenty of bite without sounding harsh. They’re phenomenal pickups that truly capture the vibe of the vintage DeArmonds.
This guitar will ship as shown in the photos along with a nice assortment of Gretsch Custom Shop goodies including a boutique quality guitar strap by El Dorado, an embroidered canvas utility bag, a Gretsch Custom Shop patch and sticker, reissue style documents and polishing cloth, and the certificate of authenticity signed by Stephen Stern. The guitar comes with the 50’s reissue style “Western” Style hard case by TKL. We are a long standing fully authorized Gretsch guitar dealer. Cream City Music is home to the one and only Gretschworld showroom with one of the largest displays of Gretsch guitars in the world! Please feel free to call us with any questions about our store or about this outstanding guitar. This is an absolutely stunning one of a kind USA Custom Gretsch that would easily take crown jewel status of any guitar collection!
Specs:
Serial Number: UC15061245
Weight: 7 lbs 6.8 oz
Name: 6130 ’55 Roundup
Model: 9252002531
Color: Transparent Dark Western Stain
Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Tuners: Gotoh
Pickups: Seymour Duncan DynaSonic
Neck Shape: Fat "C" Shape
Nut: Bone
Wiring: Pre 1958 “Tone Pot” Circuit, Master Volume, Master Tone, Individual Pickup Volume (In Parallel), 3-Way Pickup Selector
Binding: White Nitro
Frets: Vintage
Zero: No Zero Fret
Fretboard Material: Rosewood
Fretboard Inlay Material: Pearloid Nitro
Fretboard Inlay Style: Western Inlaid Block
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Pickguard Engraving: Tortoise with Engraved Steerhead
Knobs: Gold Plain Top
Bridge: Synchro Sonic
Tailpiece: Gretsch “G” Cutout with Brass Belt Buckle
Top: Knotty Pine
Body: Chambered Mahogany
Hardware: Gold
Headstock Logo: Gretsch Logo with Steerhead
Case: Deluxe Gretsch 1950’s reissue style “Western” Hard Case by TKL
