The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Vintage Gretsch Guitars: just bought a 1957 streamliner

just bought a 1957 streamliner

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- Rated: 3 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 1:03 p.m. nopedals:

The guitar arrived today. Definitely a "closet classic." Hardware and finish are shiny and new looking. Zero wear on the back of the neck. Case candy includes a pitch pipe, case key, and Gibson Mona atring packaging (the strings on the guitar are flats, the packaging does not specify). Also a truss rod wrench. A couple of chips, and, of course, the headstock cracks, or it could pass for NOS.

Some of the frets are coming up very slightly. Took a couple of photos and dropped it off at the luthier (who was stunned at the condition of the guitar). I will post the photos later. Bridge sits very high, something like 1/4 to 1/2 inch of thread to work with.

Don't know if it is trestle braced, but there are two parallel braces just inside the F holes. Neck profile a little smaller and clubbier than my 6038; the 6038 is full scale, and was a much more expensive guitar in the day, and you can definitely see a difference in quality.
- Rated: 30 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 1:18 p.m. JazzBoxJunky:

No trestle bracing? Interesting, I think we may know where the cutoff point is then. Yours may be one of the very last without a trestle. Mines just a little bit later and it has it, and when the serial number thing was working on this site, there was another one loggen right around yours that was trestled, interesting.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 3:42 p.m. JackDaniels:

There is at least one in this batch that is trestle braced. I don't remember which number is JBJ's, but I do have at least one in this same batch with trestles. So it would appear this is the batch were the transition was made.

Joe
- Rated: 41 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 5:40 p.m. bwallace1:

nopedals said: there are two parallel braces just inside the F holes.

that sounds like trestle bracing to me.brent
- Rated: 3 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 6:13 p.m. nopedals:

I really just did a cursory feel. IIRC trestles go on top of the braces, so it is probably not trestle braced. I will let you know for sure when I get the guitar back.

Tried to insert an image, but nothing happens when I click on the icon. Here are the URLs; maybe someone more ept can get the images to show.

http://h1.ripway.com/ehagen/streamliner/full.gif

http://h1.ripway.com/ehagen/streamliner/back.gif
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 6:19 p.m. Walter Broes:

Sounds like you have regular parallel bracing in there, Trestle bracing connects the top and the back of the guitar.
- Rated: 30 ↑
Sep 5, 2008 6:38 p.m. JazzBoxJunky:

Just checked, mine is #25674 (11 numbers later). Mine also has a pretty high bridge as well, could easily take a Bigsby.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 7:54 p.m. nopedals:

Just thought I would report back, now that my guitar is back. It is not trestle braced. Sounds great though. I play jazz at low volume, so feedback is not really an issue.

I can compare it with my model 6038 back to back now. Although the 6038 has an earlier serial number (2300s vs 2500s), it has neo inlay. The 6038 has a wider board, longer scale, and a less clubby profile. It also has fancier binding, with a fair bit of space between the fret ends and the edge of the board. It was, of course, a much more expensive guitar. The streamliner plays very nicely, though. The Gibson parallels would be an L5C and an ES-175.

The headstock repair is not invisible, but the guitar is structurally fine, and is definitely a keeper.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 8:10 p.m. jackrd:

Nopedals

I looked at your purchase and thought you should know that today, I was bidding on a 1957 streamliner with a chipboard case. According to the specialist at the auction, it was from a junk shop and seemingly never set up. The melitta bridge was still wrapped in paper. It has the original tags, guarantee, etc. 2 inches near the bottom of the back binding was decaying. Still, it looked as nice as yours. I stopped bidding at 1,800. Why? Because the bidding is at $100 increments up to 2K, when it then goes up to $200. Since I was the bidder at 1,700, then raised to $1,800, I would have had to bid $1,900. At that point, with the buyers premium of 18.5%, tax and shipping, this guitar would have reaced, at my estimate, in keeping with what guys have been telling you on this board about your deal, a price that was all its value. My thinking is no original case, and about $2,500 is too high. So, based on your guitar, with the condition and price, you got a great deal. (Keep in mind that auctions typically are at about 50% of what a dealer will charge so they can make their profit at the store when they sell it....) Trestle bracing or not, enjoy that one!!!
- Rated: 16 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 8:15 p.m. Jim Selvaggio:

That is a great deal!!

The Lifton case is correct issue (although you will also see them with Ess and Ess speckled cases).

Some mention of Lifton's here:

http://gretschpages.com/forum/vintage-gretsch-guitars/i-have-found-a-vintage-grets...
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 9:32 p.m. nopedals:

Thanks for the case link discussion. I have ponied up dough in the past for correct cases for high end Gibsons, and have been on the lookout for the 50s high end full depth 17 inch case for my 6038, but figured I was competing with white falcon owners.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 10:45 p.m. Nobody:

Really lovely Streamliner and a fabulous find. Look at that shine!

Again, this gives me heartburn when I think back to those 'liners being sold by a GDPer a couple years back...that Jag Tan baby.
- Rated: 26 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 11:23 p.m. KCeddieB:

Hey Jim,

So you stripped the finish of that 2-pu Streamliner... and what did you refin it to? The suspense is killing me! Also do you recall what batch that was from... based on your description I figure it could be from one of four in '56.
- Rated: 30 ↑
Oct 13, 2008 11:26 a.m. JazzBoxJunky:

Hey Eddie, not to change the subject or derail, but how was that vintage Annie Tenor you snagged?
- Rated: 26 ↑
Oct 13, 2008 2:55 p.m. KCeddieB:

JBJ... Ouch, sore subject. Got screwed... no guitar, cash gone, still in therapy!
- Rated: 10 ↑
Oct 13, 2008 6:12 p.m. Daddy-O:

What a nice guitar. If you ever what to sell it let me know
- Rated: 30 ↑
Oct 14, 2008 9:04 a.m. JazzBoxJunky:

Oh man Eddie, sorry to hear that, as I remember that auction looked legit, guess ya never know.