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Strap Pin Question, '55 Country Club

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- Rated: 3 ↑
Feb 24, 2010 12:56 p.m. Bengal65:

I just aquired a '55 6192 Country Club. It's in excellent shape. I am aware that the upper bout by the neck did not come with a strap pin/post in '55. What I do have is an acoustic style white (Martin type) tapered end pin at the tailpiece.

What I'm wondering, is if the factory installed these or a music store or owner? Without it, it would be next to impossible to use a strap with this guitar. I've seen several pictures on the net in which a '55 had a strap pin that looks like the one that is in my '55.
- Rated: 48 ↑
Feb 24, 2010 11:42 p.m. Nobody:

I'm not sure anyone can answer unless you post pictures for us...just because we want to see pictures.

I'd expect KC to jump in here with real information.
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 12:07 a.m. afire:

I've seen that type of endpin on early Country Clubs and other models of that vintage. I believe it's probably original. I could be wrong, but upon reflection, I think that the plastic endpin may have been standard on guitars with only a single pin. The guitars I've seen it on have always been single pin models, while I can't recall ever owning a Gretsch with a single screw-on strap pin.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 4:37 a.m. Jim Selvaggio :

Agree with Afire. Bengal your CC single plastic pin is perfectly normal and is sometime seen on what Gretsch called their "upper" and "lower" class iinstruments. Please post a close up pic if possible. Just curious how its set up.
- Rated: 21 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 4:46 a.m. Sjolte:

My '54 Club has a single plastic strap pin too. It doesn't look too pretty the way it's fixed, though. It might just have fallen out and put in again, or it might not be original.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 7:14 a.m. nopedals:

IMHO a second strap pin falls within the narrow range of things that I would consider a permissible mod on a vintage guitar of that type and style. Folks commonly attached the strap to the headstock in those days, though.
- Rated: 3 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:03 a.m. Bengal65:

From what I'm finding, and thanks for the replies, the plastic end pin at the tailpiece area is a carry over from 1954 into 1955. Late in '55 into '56, they started using the hanger bolt with the screw on knob.
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 9:43 a.m. afire:

nopedals said: IMHO a second strap pin falls within the narrow range of things that I would consider a permissible mod on a vintage guitar of that type and style.

I agree with you there. I haven't had occasion to add a strap button on a vintage guitar, mainly because it's usually already been done at some point. But if I ever felt the need to, I would do it from the back through the heel cap, not through the heel itself or on the bass bout. That way, if somebody ever did want to get rid of the hole, you could just replace the heel cap, and voila.
- Rated: 53 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 11:35 a.m. KCeddieB:

It appears that all the Electromatic archtops had this feature. All my Streamliners have it, and the Electro II's and subsequent Country Clubs I've seen have them too. I can't swear they had them into the 60s and 70s, but the 50s models did.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 7:30 p.m. Jim Selvaggio :

KC, there is a second "straplock setup" feature that Gretsch did that appears once in a while. I have it on one of my Streamliners as well as one of my Clippers (shown, my 1957):

Note the tailpiece itself has NO hole drilled in it for a traditional Gretsch straplock and has a second base that is drilled out for the pin. Extra support and added looks. Very sharp.

Gretsch may have done this to help the pin stay put or cut down on strap wear against the body- who knows. Probably more of a design feature than anything else. Seldom seen.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 7:46 p.m. Jim Selvaggio :

KC what year is the instrument you posted please.
- Rated: 159 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:05 p.m. Setzer:

Yep Jim your right, early Clippers had the pin too:

This one had the double plate hinge but did not extend down past the outter one.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:09 p.m. Jim Selvaggio :

Pretty finish you have on that one Paul. So then actually you identified a third variation Paul- a double plate that does not extend past the pin? Can you pls post a close up if time allows? Nice job!
- Rated: 159 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:13 p.m. Setzer:

Thanks! I bought it that way. Somebody did a fine job going natural with it. Deep body with an awesome sound.

Back on the subject of end pins; did anybody see the ebay auction Rod's guitars of Tn had listed of a old metal DeArmond end pin with a hole through it? You where supposed to be able to snake the wire through it instead of the f hole. I thought that was pretty cleaver. I did not bid on it but it ended up around $10 plus SH.

I think I'll have some made up.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:14 p.m. Jim Selvaggio :

So three variations surrounding the plastic pin exist

1) single plate, pin. (KC) 2) Double plate, pin surrounded (Jim) 3) Double plate, pin not surrounded (Paul)

Never seen the DeArmond pin Paul- a new one on me. Paul, on yours, is there a small hole drilled for the "traditional" Gretsch strap lock?
- Rated: 43 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:25 p.m. atlantaspike:

My '52 Electro II has a setup like Setzer's FWIW.
- Rated: 159 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:25 p.m. Setzer:

Jim, I'm not sure and the guitar is no longer in my stable. I don't think it was. I think there was only a small hole for the ground wire/tailpiece and the three mount holes and the large plastic pin hole.
- Rated: 159 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:35 p.m. Setzer:

Here ya go Jim(clickable thumbnail):
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:41 p.m. Jim Selvaggio :

Thanks Paul and Atlanta- very interesting stuff.
- Rated: 159 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 8:47 p.m. Setzer:

Yw. Plenty of holes in my '56 Liner!
- Rated: 43 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 9:46 p.m. atlantaspike:

Mine also has "screw on the knob" strap pin on the upper bout. I have no reason to think it didn't come that way, but who knows.
- Rated: 53 ↑
Feb 25, 2010 10:09 p.m. KCeddieB:

Jim S. The tailpin photo above was from my '54 Streamliner (Jag Tan). Streamliners had these into the '58 model year. It's one of the way you can detect a 6120 conversion.

Not sure where I grabbed this photo of the double-end G-cut tailpiece... but here it is. I've not seen many.
- Rated: 46 ↑
Feb 26, 2010 12:11 a.m. 57 Chet :

I'd like to find a strap button for this ...

Any ideas?

There are old threads in the hole ...

Early 1940s Synchro
- Rated: 36 ↑
Feb 26, 2010 12:42 a.m. afire:

Wow. I've never seen any of these double plates, or at least never noticed them. I guess there's always something to learn around here. Very cool.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Feb 26, 2010 1:09 a.m. Jim Selvaggio :

Cool pic KC. Yep, seen a few conversions with that hole where the pin should be. Some were plugged, some still using the pin!

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