NSD? New Shirt Day! I pulled this 3 year old Penguin shirt out of my closet i hadn't yet worn (still had tags) and thought "Oh weird: this is two-toned similar to my 6118 i just got." So i looked at the tags and guess what:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0Sc4nCK-RKY/T6_8q9yqoAI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ijVqSXkQSi4/s550/DSCF6071.jpg

Now that is synchro-nicity!

I also just got this 6118 from a non-local Craigslist ad a few weeks ago. earoach bought that 6118 on eBay i was asking about a few weeks ago (http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/gretsch-discussion-forum/67656-good-price-6118-something-im-missing.html) from under my nose but i ended up working out because i got a 2003 MIJ, FMIC 6118 w/ sound post bracing and thin top. I don't like the trestle bracing so it worked out perfectly. The guitar was incredibly grimy and smelled of smoke but after 2 hours of cleaning and polishing it looks pretty great (and now my shirt actually fits):
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TrbxV-JKg9Q/T6_8rvZ6nOI/AAAAAAAAAr8/8OUj2UXLCjo/s550/DSCF6058.jpg

Looks great--glad you finally got a 6118 without any, ahem, complications.

Btw, I have a 2003 6117T with a soundpost, and I love how open the guitar sounds acoustically.

She's a beauty...congrats!!!!

Thanks all! Got a chance to sit down with her last night, and as beautiful as she is with that gorgeous green two tone look, she sounds even better. This one will be a keeper. And I introduced Annie to my wife last night, and they get along fine!!

Very interesting without the pickguard, Broadcast. That's a really clean look. Might have to look into that. What did you do about the screw holes?

Nice axe (and shirt). Re: the smoke smell - UV rays help to get rid of the smell. Go outside and sit in the sun with your guitar for an hour for a couple of days. The smell will be gone in no time (this actually works).

Nice axe (and shirt). Re: the smoke smell - UV rays help to get rid of the smell. Go outside and sit in the sun with your guitar for an hour for a couple of days. The smell will be gone in no time (this actually works).Thanks for the tip. I'll do that with the case. I just wiped the guitar down with a little vinegar and it got all the surface smoke off. It still smells a little inside the body.

Another thing that works for a stinky smelley smoky etc. case. Put it outside when it is freezing under shelter like a patio cover the freezing weather removes the stink in a day or two.

That looks great ! By coincidence I got TWO white tee shirts that match my two WFs and two black tee shirts that match my two Black Falcons. :-)

Oh man Polish, she is a beauty. Congrats, the Double Green Anni is my favourite Gretsch.