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Kinda looks like a refinish to these eyes, but it's awfully hard to judge unless you're holding it in person, and I could be completely wrong. Is this your guitar, or something you're considering purchasing? And the bridge is a modern one.

It's one that I'm considering purchasing.

What's the asking price? Do you think the finish looks original?

It's $2000, it's hard to say if the finish is original or not.......it looks shiny in the pics. but looks duller in real life. It could have been re-finished years ago? The guitar sounds and plays really well. Is the case from 1971?

Binding looks very good and very white. The Gents i have seen from this period at the very least have yellowing binding or on the way to putty. Did they clear coat in this period? Lovely looking guitar, you cant beat a Black Country Gent!

For a '71 Gent with some replaced parts and unknown finish originality, I'd try talking them down a bit farther. But if it plays and sounds great to you, then maybe it's worth $2000 to you. There's always some value in knowing what you're getting versus searching for a better deal online and rolling the dice at what's going to show up at your door.

Thanks for the sound advice, I'm gonna go for this one.........I've tried a few out and this one has a nice low action and slim neck. It really sings through the amp........I'm gonna use it and enjoy it. You only live once! thanks guys.

Afire: Great analysis and advice (generally as always).

Frank J: Enjoy, it looks great to me. And if it sounds great too then that's just fantastic. No one here will ever question a thought out Gretsch purchase. I'm just one guy but I like the added stairsteps and the black finish. Refin? Maybe but if so those F hole white edge touches look to me to be pretty pro.

One final authenticity question. The pickguards stopped saying "Chet Atkins" and "Country Gentleman" by this time? Afire I'm like you, 70s can throw me when it comes to the nitty gritty...,

The patina from the side view looks like a re-finish and it seems like there's no laquer coat/coats over, and the binding looks like either newer than the body, or it has been scraped to look newer. Again, the binding does not look laquered.

The overall finish is nothing like my '76 Gent, which has very yellowed binding. The case looks a lot older than mine. (mine is original '76 case ) and my pickguard still says 'Country Gent' and 'Chet Atkins', which would lead me to believe that your's is not original. (or it's a 'transition model'.)

Overall, it's still a very nice looking guitar, but price is high-ish IMO, and would be worth arguing down because of difficulty in dating the guitar exactly. It seems a bit of a Parts-o-Gretsch, but still very beautiful with the Imperials. I paid $1500 USD for mine.