For the few of you who have met me during my short time on the forum, you know that I work for "that big guitar chain". Occasionally, I have the opportunity to buy in vintage gear. We've had '57 LP Gold Tops, 54, 56, 64 and 70's Strats, other Les Pauls, 61 SG's. But we never get Gretschs. Today, we got an awesome one.

We just bought in a 1962 Gretsch Corvette. It's not in mint condition, but it's near perfect considering age. It's amazing to play and it's about 90% original. The tuners were replaced with proper modern reproductions about 5 years ago and the truss rod cover was also replaced with a modern reproduction.

It is for sale, but I really just wanted to share the info and a pic because I just got done playing it and I'm ecstatic!
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5255/img20120523184536.jpg

I didnt know you worked for "that big guitar chain". No hard feelings here. Thanks for the pic. Cool job, play a bunch of things most never get to see.

It is for sale, but I really just wanted to share the info and a pic because I just got done playing it and I'm ecstatic!
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5255/img20120523184536.jpg

where is it for sale? Is there a link? What are you asking? (I like vintage Corvettes a lot.)

PS I found it on the GC website - do you have other photos? Case?

where is it for sale? Is there a link? What are you asking? (I like vintage Corvettes a lot.)

PS I found it on the GC website - do you have other photos? Case?

Yes. I can get you detailed photos. I am the Dept Manager at GC in Cedar Rapids, IA.

I will be in from 1-9pm CST tomorrow if you want to call.

319-378-1720

If you want to contact me via email instead it's Chris.Shaffer@guitarcenter.com

It's $999. The tuners are not original but are period-correct as is the condition with the truss rod.

No case, but it's priced accordingly. The case had literally fallen apart.

You can also email my personal email as I don't receive work email on my phone, but I will get this one: chrisashaffer@gmail.com

Thanks for the interest! I really just wanted to share it with Gretsch fans!

Actually this wouldn't be considered a 1962 model year example. Those had the truss rod adjustment (and cover) located on the body at the base of the fretboard. They moved that feature to the headstock for the 1963 model year. I would guess the serial number is later than #450xx, and if so, it's a '63 example.

Actually this wouldn't be considered a 1962 model year example. Those had the truss rod adjustment (and cover) located on the body at the base of the fretboard. They moved that feature to the headstock for the 1963 model year. I would guess the serial number is later than #450xx, and if so, it's a '63 example.

Well, you can debate that will Guitar Center Hollywood. We don't determine the year in-store; it's done by our vintage room in HW.

Either way, it's a nice specimen for a great price.

edit - Also, I have found multiple examples around the web (not saying that makes it so) of 1962 Corvettes with the truss rod cover at the top.

It's entirely possible that there were multiple runs of this guitar with both setups.

yeah... the info on many Gretsch models is pretty inaccurate. We are just now collecting enough data to calibrate the serial number chronology and related feature evolutions. Just because the owner of a guitar (or a dealer) says it's a 19xx, doesn't mean that's the case. But it really doesn't matter in this case, as the value isn't affected one way or the other. If you're curious you could always check the pot codes, as they establish the earliest a guitar could have possibility been made. Good luck with your sale!

Well, you can debate that will Guitar Center Hollywood. We don't determine the year in-store; it's done by our vintage room in HW.

Either way, it's a nice specimen for a great price.

edit - Also, I have found multiple examples around the web (not saying that makes it so) of 1962 Corvettes with the truss rod cover at the top.

It's entirely possible that there were multiple runs of this guitar with both setups.

The fellow whose post you basically dismissed wholesale happens to have the largest database of Gretsches on earth and is also a published author many times on Gretsches. I would think he knows what he's talking about.

Like the one Rory Gallagher used...
http://www.rorygallagher.com/#/archives/guitars/gretsch_capo

Not knowing much about R Gallagher I find it very telling that he dumped the hi lo tron (the worst vintage single coil pick up ever) for a P90 or something similar.

That sort modification is about the only way someone could possibly convince me that the Corvette is a Gretsch guitar worth having, for the only thing going for it is that the single pick up is in the bridge position.

Not knowing much about R Gallagher I find it very telling that he dumped the hi lo tron (the worst vintage single coil pick up ever) for a P90 or something similar.

That sort modification is about the only way someone could possibly convince me that the Corvette is a Gretsch guitar worth having, for the only thing going for it is that the single pick up is in the bridge position.

The HiLoTron is a great pickup in a hollow body, giving you the chimy tones of George Harrison & the Animals. In a solid body not so much. I have two single pickup Corvettes, one with a SuperTron in the bridge, the other with a Power Tron. I'm working on a third with a MagnaTron. The vintage Corvette is the best Gretsch neck for my hands. A little wider, deeper, flatter, D-shaped.

The fellow whose post you basically dismissed wholesale happens to have the largest database of Gretsches on earth and is also a published author many times on Gretsches. I would think he knows what he's talking about.

I didn't dismiss his comment. What I said was that the year wasn't determined by me; it's done by GC Hollywood.

What I also suggested, based on my own experience with many vintage instruments, is that there is a lot of inconsistencies with older runs where 95% from a certain year will have a feature and just a select few will be different.
Forgive me if I don't make a big deal out of one person whom I've never met, on a forum of all places, saying the year is wrong.

yeah... the info on many Gretsch models is pretty inaccurate. We are just now collecting enough data to calibrate the serial number chronology and related feature evolutions. Just because the owner of a guitar (or a dealer) says it's a 19xx, doesn't mean that's the case. But it really doesn't matter in this case, as the value isn't affected one way or the other. If you're curious you could always check the pot codes, as they establish the earliest a guitar could have possibility been made. Good luck with your sale!

Also, just so we're clear: GC thoroughly checks all of those things when buying a vintage piece and determining value.

Let me also add that pot codes are only a way to narrow down the timeframe in which the guitar was built. The reason for this is that companies would buy in bulk and wouldn't necessarily change pots to match the year. This means a 63 could have 62 or even 61 pots.

Both Fender and Gibson are notorious for this.

There are also features of well known models such as 50's Les Pauls that are widely accepted as a way to identify a year that are not actually definitive, such as whether a certain year had PAFs or P-90s.

where is it for sale? Is there a link? What are you asking? (I like vintage Corvettes a lot.)

PS I found it on the GC website - do you have other photos? Case?

Yeah !! Go Drmilktruck! It looks so nice, i m still waiting for mine to arrive at postal service. This one looks pretty cool ,seems in a good shape . For those who don't know these babies: be curious and try one! It s very surprising!

GCGhost... this is a chat forum, so forgive us of we "chat" about your guitar. It comes with the territory. You are of course correct about pot codes, but the reality is that a guitar can not be assembled before it's pots are manufactured, so although that date (on the pot) is not a definitive way to tell how late the guitar was made (because of bulk buys etc, etc.) it can help identify how early it is (or isn't). So if your Vette has a pot code from early 1963, then it seems reasonable to suggest the guitar is not a '62. That's all I'm saying.

Actually, and unlike Fender and Gibson who's production records still exist, there are no factory records in existence on Gretsch guitars from the 50s and 60s. They were reported to have been lost in the factory fire in 1973. So nobody can say with certainty "when" any batch of Gretsch guitars was shipped. So we tend to ignore calendar dating, and focus on model year dating (which is based on features). Luckily, Gretsch updated features on most of their models almost every year, so once you know the feature evolutions of a model, the serial number doesn't really matter, you can still determine the guitars model year. Also, much like auto manufacturers release their new cars for the next model year in the last few months of the previous calendar year, so did Gretsch with it's guitars. Another reason to reference "model year" instead. So it's highly possible that your Vette was actually made in late 1962. It may even have late '62 pot codes... but that truss rod cover on the headstock is a documented 1963 feature. So not knowing the serial number and batch origination (which you haven't shared) we have no reason to not think this is a '63 specimen, based on the features we can see on the guitar. But as I mentioned, it really doesn't matter on this particular guitar, it's just an opportunity to share information on the Corvette model for our Gretsch-Talk community.

Not knowing much about R Gallagher I find it very telling that he dumped the hi lo tron (the worst vintage single coil pick up ever) for a P90 or something similar.

That sort modification is about the only way someone could possibly convince me that the Corvette is a Gretsch guitar worth having, for the only thing going for it is that the single pick up is in the bridge position.

It's been a while since I read the story, but as I remember it, his brother found the Corvette for him in a pawnshop with the P90 already installed in it.

Not knowing much about R Gallagher I find it very telling that he dumped the hi lo tron (the worst vintage single coil pick up ever) for a P90 or something similar.

That sort modification is about the only way someone could possibly convince me that the Corvette is a Gretsch guitar worth having, for the only thing going for it is that the single pick up is in the bridge position.

Your right about the hilo! But don t condamn it! Here it what i experienced : a new alnico magnet( From amodern hilo), two new cts250k pots, a sg jr style wiring. The result is really nice: better versatility, still gretsch tone but less glassy , better output . I m in love with that guitar. You have to know that i already had a gibson es335, a gibson lespaul prodeluxe 79' , a gibson sg, a strat american std, a tele american std...so i know what are standard sounds! The result is really good , and allowed me to keep a part of the original electronic parts.

GCGhost... this is a chat forum, so forgive us of we "chat" about your guitar. It comes with the territory. You are of course correct about pot codes, but the reality is that a guitar can not be assembled before it's pots are manufactured, so although that date (on the pot) is not a definitive way to tell how late the guitar was made (because of bulk buys etc, etc.) it can help identify how early it is (or isn't). So if your Vette has a pot code from early 1963, then it seems reasonable to suggest the guitar is not a '62. That's all I'm saying.

Actually, and unlike Fender and Gibson who's production records still exist, there are no factory records in existence on Gretsch guitars from the 50s and 60s. They were reported to have been lost in the factory fire in 1973. So nobody can say with certainty "when" any batch of Gretsch guitars was shipped. So we tend to ignore calendar dating, and focus on model year dating (which is based on features). Luckily, Gretsch updated features on most of their models almost every year, so once you know the feature evolutions of a model, the serial number doesn't really matter, you can still determine the guitars model year. Also, much like auto manufacturers release their new cars for the next model year in the last few months of the previous calendar year, so did Gretsch with it's guitars. Another reason to reference "model year" instead. So it's highly possible that your Vette was actually made in late 1962. It may even have late '62 pot codes... but that truss rod cover on the headstock is a documented 1963 feature. So not knowing the serial number and batch origination (which you haven't shared) we have no reason to not think this is a '63 specimen, based on the features we can see on the guitar. But as I mentioned, it really doesn't matter on this particular guitar, it's just an opportunity to share information on the Corvette model for our Gretsch-Talk community.

Well said, and point taken!:)

I have an early hi lo from 1960 that I'm happy to sell to any Hi blow lover here. I can give you a picture of the guitar it was happily removed from!

I take it on board that Harrison in particular had hi lows. Still, as a guy who spent a lot of time in the studio, the crud sound live can be dealt with when one has things like Neumann KM-88s, U47s, etc. Vox amps are also helpful to make the bad sound good.

What I need to do at some point is go on youtube and check out concert footage with the Tennessean and see if it cuts the mix or not. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't cut.

But my unsubstantiated view for now is that the Tennessean is what drove George away from Gretsch. I'll bet when he saw the single cut he thought he was (finally) getting an Eddie Cochran model. Boy was he disappointed I reckon :) Enter Epiphone Casino.

Here's another nice example...

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gretsch-corvette-6132-1962-cherry-red

Pm sent

What is the serial number of this guitar? (You can asterisk the last two or three digits, if you want to.)

What is the serial number of this guitar? (You can asterisk the last two or three digits, if you want to.)

Sorry I missed this message somehow.
I will get the serial tonight from work and let you know.

Pm sent

I don't seem to have a pm from you. Did you have further interest in this guitar?

Not knowing much about R Gallagher I find it very telling that he dumped the hi lo tron (the worst vintage single coil pick up ever) for a P90 or something similar.

That sort modification is about the only way someone could possibly convince me that the Corvette is a Gretsch guitar worth having, for the only thing going for it is that the single pick up is in the bridge position.

I completely disagree. I have a modern white Corvette into which I've put Hilotrons. admittedly, I had them rewound a little hotter, regardless, they sound completely stunning. They're quite bright, but are easily tamed - and I can get a huge array of tones out of it. The pickups love a good overdrive.

My G Love Corvette was always my go-to guitar. I've hardly touched it since I got that white Corvette back. Hilotrons are my new favourite pickup, and I have 15 guitars (8 Gretsch, all with different pick ups). Hilotrons RULE !!! P90's are so boring.

Marlin

I've had the pleasure of the late great Rory Gallagher playing slide on his corvette just yards in front of me on a few occasions, and that guitar sang, whatever pickup was in it!!

I don't seem to have a pm from you. Did you have further interest in this guitar?

Ho sorry, i ve made a mistake ;)

I completely disagree. I have a modern white Corvette into which I've put Hilotrons. admittedly, I had them rewound a little hotter, regardless, they sound completely stunning. They're quite bright, but are easily tamed - and I can get a huge array of tones out of it. The pickups love a good overdrive.

My G Love Corvette was always my go-to guitar. I've hardly touched it since I got that white Corvette back. Hilotrons are my new favourite pickup, and I have 15 guitars (8 Gretsch, all with different pick ups). Hilotrons RULE !!! P90's are so boring.

Marlin

+ 1 . My second old vette is arrived from Brooklyn a weeks ago, with its old hilo... And original wiring: old works perfectly and sound good!

I completely disagree. I have a modern white Corvette into which I've put Hilotrons. admittedly, I had them rewound a little hotter, regardless, they sound completely stunning. They're quite bright, but are easily tamed - and I can get a huge array of tones out of it. The pickups love a good overdrive.

My G Love Corvette was always my go-to guitar. I've hardly touched it since I got that white Corvette back. Hilotrons are my new favourite pickup, and I have 15 guitars (8 Gretsch, all with different pick ups). Hilotrons RULE !!! P90's are so boring.

Marlin

I ve just bought another old vette , a 64', the hilo as the wiring are originals, and sounds good, i m just going to change the original magnet the old one is a bit tired. I keep repeating vettes are good guitars, really underated, i could compare it to olds melody maker, epi's olympic, and are better than actual gibson jr production ( the olds honduras mahogany neck and one piece body really make the difference). Hilo is a unique but versatile pu . It has a really good retro sound when directly plugged in a crancked amp. It's not a heavy metal pu anyway.