What's the conventional wisdom on Gretsches, circa 1981 - there is a Nashville (6120DC) on craigslist for $2100. Do they have issues worth considering? Are they as good as their 60s counterparts, or are they frowned on in the way that a lot of post 60s Fenders are?
LinkLally, there were reportedly many fine guitars built during the Baldwin years and many GDP'ers have attested to that in recent years as the Baldwin-era publicity began to worsen as the new guitars have increased in quality. That being said, however, the guitars from that era were more proned to having issues. Remember that, when Baldwin moved the guitar production to Arkansas, it isn't as if they rounded up all of the luthiers in Brooklyn and relocated them to Arkansas. Instead, Baldwin hired locals in the area where the new factory was established. So, there were some inconsistencies on the Baldwin-era guitars.
More problematic for the Baldwin era was the design anomalies that the company inflicted on the Gretsch lineup. While avid Gretsch enthusiasts such as you find on the GDP have affection for these underdogs of the guitar world, the simple fact is that they weren't guitar designs that appealed to most people.
Notwithstanding all of that, if you are able to get your hands on the CraigsList guitar (assuming that it is nearby) and play it, see if you like it. In the final analysis, that is what matters most. The guitar will most likely not have the value that other vintage Gretsch guitars would have, but factor that into the purchase price and you may have yourself a fine player of a guitar.
I have two Arkansas Gretsch guitars, a '73 Gent and a '74 7588, and both are very nice. Neither has the presence of binding rot; neither needs a neck reset. The Burns gear box works well on both models. I'm curious what specific issues others may have run into on the Arkansas-made Gretsches.
Chet himself was very complementary to the guys doing the design and concept work in Arkansas, namely Dean Porter and Clyde Edwards. Wasn't Billy Duffy's original Falcon was made in Booneville? Not sure if I'd rank that one unpopular to the masses.
well 1981 was the absolute final year for Gretsch before their 1990 rebirth... just like most Gretsch, you have to play it to see what you think. I would want to see it for under 2K, tho.
the bad opinion of baldwin era guitars continues to baffle me. i can find no negative issues with any of these guitars ie binding rot etc etc imo the 60 s gretsches are far more iffy. Never seen a baldwin era gretsch that needs a neck re set. Imo opinion its the 60s gretsches that look weird. Most of the baldwin gretsches were going backto a more 50s look. Surely the greatest period of gretsch.
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Gang,
What's the conventional wisdom on Gretsches, circa 1981 - there is a Nashville (6120DC) on craigslist for $2100. Do they have issues worth considering? Are they as good as their 60s counterparts, or are they frowned on in the way that a lot of post 60s Fenders are?
Thanks.
Link.
the link's broken...
LinkLally, there were reportedly many fine guitars built during the Baldwin years and many GDP'ers have attested to that in recent years as the Baldwin-era publicity began to worsen as the new guitars have increased in quality. That being said, however, the guitars from that era were more proned to having issues. Remember that, when Baldwin moved the guitar production to Arkansas, it isn't as if they rounded up all of the luthiers in Brooklyn and relocated them to Arkansas. Instead, Baldwin hired locals in the area where the new factory was established. So, there were some inconsistencies on the Baldwin-era guitars.
More problematic for the Baldwin era was the design anomalies that the company inflicted on the Gretsch lineup. While avid Gretsch enthusiasts such as you find on the GDP have affection for these underdogs of the guitar world, the simple fact is that they weren't guitar designs that appealed to most people.
Notwithstanding all of that, if you are able to get your hands on the CraigsList guitar (assuming that it is nearby) and play it, see if you like it. In the final analysis, that is what matters most. The guitar will most likely not have the value that other vintage Gretsch guitars would have, but factor that into the purchase price and you may have yourself a fine player of a guitar.
Agree with Ric12's point of view.
IMO, for $2100, I would get a FMIC "JT" Pro Line Gretsch.
They are overall far better instruments in every way.
In this case, and just my opinion, vintage is not "better".
I have two Arkansas Gretsch guitars, a '73 Gent and a '74 7588, and both are very nice. Neither has the presence of binding rot; neither needs a neck reset. The Burns gear box works well on both models. I'm curious what specific issues others may have run into on the Arkansas-made Gretsches.
Chet himself was very complementary to the guys doing the design and concept work in Arkansas, namely Dean Porter and Clyde Edwards. Wasn't Billy Duffy's original Falcon was made in Booneville? Not sure if I'd rank that one unpopular to the masses.
well 1981 was the absolute final year for Gretsch before their 1990 rebirth... just like most Gretsch, you have to play it to see what you think. I would want to see it for under 2K, tho.
the bad opinion of baldwin era guitars continues to baffle me. i can find no negative issues with any of these guitars ie binding rot etc etc imo the 60 s gretsches are far more iffy. Never seen a baldwin era gretsch that needs a neck re set. Imo opinion its the 60s gretsches that look weird. Most of the baldwin gretsches were going backto a more 50s look. Surely the greatest period of gretsch.