Hi you all,

Here's a 1961 Gretsch 6118 Anniversary; the pickups (hilotrons, still in the case!) have been replaced by TV Jones Filtertrons, guitar has been refretted, otherwise original (apart from the bridge I think). Do you think this would be an interesting catch?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n145/58dutchie/annix.jpg

Beautiful, What's the price?

Beautiful, What's the price?

Price is $ 3390,- (in Europe)...too much?

$3400 is around 2400 euro today. That doesn't make it an exceptional bargain IMHO, but puts it in the regular range of what a shop would probably ask for it.

To me, the whole reason to get a vintage would be the sound of the vintage pickups (ok, and looks, but tone is more important). The TV Jones' would be a value detractor for me; I'd have the seller put the hilotrons back in before I'd spend that kind of money on it.

Nice guitar! The bridge is original. Look at this: http://www.guitarworld.de/gwpages/gear,a,show,g,159-double-anniversary-6118.html

It´s a 1961 as well and it IS 100% original (besides the missing HiLos).

It seems high to me. Even if it was 100% original the price seems high for a 1961 Annie. If you like the arrangement with TV Classics you could pick up a nice newer version for less than half this price.

If you guys read, he said "the Hilo's are in the case". It's a little high, but if it's in excellent shape, go for it.
The vintage to me, have better sound or tone as you may call it. At least to me it beats the tone of a newer Annie. I had a 60's Single Annie, I wished that I never sold it. It was the sweeetest sounding guitar that I ever had!

Nice guitar! The bridge is original. Look at this: http://www.guitarworld.de/gwpages/gear,a,show,g,159-double-anniversary-6118.html

It´s a 1961 as well and it IS 100% original (besides the missing HiLos).

Well, that IS the very guitar I'm talking about (same serial number!)! Looks even better in those pics!!! I'm really very tempted now to make the deal...:)

Clip of the guitar we're talking about!
http://youtu.be/TbOtfC-I25E

That´s funny! I didn´t know that Magman was thinking of selling his treasure...

If you like it and want a vintage, go for it!

I am not an expert on TV Jones anything, but I can tell you that in my 1960 Anniversary, the Hi Lo Tron sits basically on TOP of the guitar--there is only a centimeter or so by 3 or 4 cm slit opening.

Filtertrons on my 1964 6120 Nashville have an opening about the size of the pick up itself.

In other words, I am saying that I would expect they had to cut bigger holes into that guitar to put in those filtertrons. I would ask. If so this is a big effect on price.

I replaced hilo's on a 6119 with Megs from a 5135 'Vette and didn't have to do any cutting?

The bridge should be a space control, the aluminum bigsby bridge that's on it is after-market. The pickguard should be green, the one that's on it is either wrong or a repro, and my guess is that knavel is correct, the top has been compromised to accommodate the TV Filters. This guitar is a "player" folks. In a US auction it might fetch $1500-1800.

I started to talk about the pickguard in my above post but then realized that I can't tell if the guitar is the standard green or not from the photo. But I agree with you that between the 6119 in the other thread and this guitar, this one is the preferred one as it will be a more gig-worthy guitar. Two pick up guitars always are for any sort of rock music, trust me from a number of years of heavy gigging experience on that point.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but is the price disparity really that extreme between the US and Europe? Those guitars aren't anything close to that price over here.

Ace... yes.