Ever since I started playing acoustic guitar 10 years ago, I have never given up hope that I would find my dream green guitar. Back in 2001, I almost bought a green Dillion at a pawnshop in Fort Wayne, IN, but was advised not to go to pawnshops for my first guitar. So my first guitar ended up being an Epiphone Hummingbird (and I still have that one in my Great Archive).

Still I found no green guitars all those years--until last week, when I found one on eBay. It will go well with my green violin!

It's a G6012AN Anniversary two-tone smoke green Rancher Sweet 16. It came with its original "Gretsch" case. It has two unusual features--a "stinger" headstock (back of headstock painted black), and a label that erroneously calls it a "Historic", even though the G6012 Rancher Sweet 16s were NEVER part of the Historic Series. The label has the right model number though--G6012AN. The serial number is JT03032356, indicating manufacture in Japan at the Terada factory, March 2003, number 2356 of the line (all guitars made there that year).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/SmithAlien747/My%20Dream%20Guitars/DSCF0625.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/SmithAlien747/My%20Dream%20Guitars/DSCF0677.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/SmithAlien747/My%20Dream%20Guitars/DSCF0678.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/SmithAlien747/My%20Dream%20Guitars/DSCF0679.jpg

SmithGuitar747

Congrats man! That's a simple, elegant beauty.

Congrats, very nice Ranger!


Matt

Wow, that is beautiful! Congratulations.

I've always loved that colour.

Wow, never seen one of those before! Looks great :)

Very pretty. What does it sound like, say, compared to a top end Yamaha FG?

Cheers

Mr Marlin

gorgeous guitar.

Man that is one sexy looking acoustic!!!

sweet acoustic love green guitars especially two tone gretschy green ones

congrats - beautiful guitar - never seen one like that before!

Whoa, what an unusual beauty! huge congrats :D hope she brings you many hours of joy!

Wow, that is beautiful! Congrats!!

That's certainly a looker, yep! One of these days I'll get the chance to try out a Rancher (I've never run across one, and the stores around here don't carry them). Until then, I'll play my Martins with a stupid grin on my face! Welcome aboard, by the way.

I've never played a Yamaha FG, so I cannot compare my Gretsch to the FG. I have played an Epiphone Hummingbird for 10 years though!

However, my green machine certainly has that Gretsch Rancher sound!

SmithGuitar747

Stunning! You could spend hours just looking at it. but as with all Gretsch guitars you just NEED to pick it up and play! I want one.:cool:

Oh my, THAT is a stunning guitar!
Wow, nice score.:p
Congrats and happy NGD!:D

Out of curiosity: does this guitar have a pickup, or is it fully acoustic?

Very cool!

This is fully acoustic (what I want, anyway, as I only play acoustic).

You're right, it is a stunning green guitar!

Good quality green fully-acoustic guitars are rarer than hen's teeth, and I have always wanted one, so I just had to jump on this eBay auction when I saw it.

SmithGuitar747

I Like it

Congrats !

Gretsch is the only shop that can pull that color off. What a unique, cool instrument.

I have a question about my new baby.

It came with one strap button--on the bottom of the lower bout. There is no second strap button (and no hole for it--it was manufactured with only one strap button).

I need to install a second strap button--and would like to put it on or near the heel (instead of tying one end of the strap to the headstock).

Where would be the best place to drill for the second strap button--near the heel, or in the heel itself? If in the heel, what angle--straight along the neck axis, or at an angle below this axis?

Thanks!

SmithGuitar747

Still wondering how it sounds.... Looks incredibly cool!

Smith: the intention of the single strap button is to use a strap that laces onto the headstock.

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a06/8k/lb/add-guitar-strap-acoustic-guitar-800x800.jpg

Smith: the intention of the single strap button is to use a strap that laces onto the headstock.

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a06/8k/lb/add-guitar-strap-acoustic-guitar-800x800.jpg

I'm trying to avoid having to tie one end to the headstock (and save the strain on the neck and headstock that way), and I would have to modify my existing guitar strap to be able to tie it to the headstock.

SmithGuitar747

Very pretty - I like the sea foam green a lot. I used to have a '47 Rancher, huge bass but not much in the way of highs. I remember asking Randy Bachman why he was so hung up on collecting Gretsch yet played Yamaha acoustics live and he didn't have anything nice to say about the Gretsch acoustics. To each his own cause myself I'd like a Falcon Rancher ...

My Gibby J185ec came with one strap/amp button. I tied around the headstock at the other end. AINT no way im drilling a hole in that gtar. I'd try the headstock tie thing first.

Never could figure how I would pay 2k for a laminated guitar. I loved the way the Ranchers looked but that laminated body vs the price, I just couldnt get past. That green is pretty sweet lookin though.

You can put it in the back of the heel, but if you use strap-locks (like I do) you'll need to give it a dedicated strap & install one of the strap-end parts of the lock backwards through the strap hole (or else you'll have a twist in your strap).

I tend to prefer to install them on the south side of the heel, so that my regular straps work with all my guitars:

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/6893/snap065z.png

I thought this guitar was going to be my last guitar, my keeper-forever one, since it was my dream green guitar. But unfortunately, due to unforeseen financial pressures (I'm a grad student), I needed to sell it on eBay this week. At least it went to someone, overseas in Austria, who really appreciates these guitars! He bought it at my full asking price (Buy It Now), beating out the other, low-balling bidders.

I'm needless to say bummed about this. But I won't give up until I find another green Gretsch Rancher like this one (or a Rancher dreadnought to hold me over until then)! No other colour or style of guitar could ever do it for me.

So my search begins again...

SmithGuitar747

Bummer. There are other great guitars out there.... Even green ones!

Bummer. There are other great guitars out there.... Even green ones!

Are there other good quality green acoustics out there (pure acoustic), of the quality of the Gretsch one? The only green guitars I've seen on eBay and elsewhere are either electric (which I don't play) or very low-end green acoustics for children and beginners (and these are gaudy).

Failing that, I would try again for a Rancher or Sierra acoustic. I love the triangular soundhole and other features that set Gretsch Ranchers and Sierras (and the like) apart from all the other brands of acoustics, which look so boringly similar (round soundholes, etc).

Thanks!

I have no idea, really... Depends on what one thinks is "quality."

Here's an Ovation-
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/deidelberg/Ovation%20Custom%20Legend/IMG_0787.jpg

http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Used-USED-OVATION-CUSTOM-LEGEND-GREEN--220-092911-106934267-i2178065.gc?&source=4WFRWXX&CAWELAID=1040195276

And an Ibanez-
http://www.americanmusical.com/ProductImages/XLarge/88979.jpg