MichaelHargis

1959 Gretsch 6186/345 Clipper Stereo Varitone
Serial Number: 32476
Absolutely Beautiful Hollow Body Guitar
Big "THANK YOU" Walter (Luthier) at Yuma Fret Works!!!!!

So, we married a 1959 Gretsch Slim Line Hollow Body Model #6186 "Clipper" shell to Hardware and Electronics of a 90's Epiphone Limited Edition ES-345 Stereo Varitone
The ES-345 Stereo Varitone was first released in 1959 and was quickly embraced by rockers and bluesmen alike for its classy look and incredible range of tones.
Fans of the Stereo Varitone include Keith Richards, B.B. King and Freddie King, whose classic “Hideaway” was recorded with and 345 Stereo Varitone.
The key to the new Epiphone Limited Edition ES-345 is Epiphone’s legendary VariTone™ control, which enables players to invent a wide range of tonal colors
and pickup variations with easy recall. Vintage ES-345s are nearly impossible to find today and even harder to find is an original stereo ES-345,
but we’ve taken care of that as well. The Custom Built 6186/345 features both mono and stereo outputs, making this Gretsch the ultimate axe.

1959 Gretsch 6186/345 Clipper Stereo Varitone in outstanding condition!

This Custom Built 6186/345 has classic gold 3-way all metal toggle switch, and has all metal Mono and Stereo Output Jacks, a gold "Non-Branded" Lic. B700G Bigsby Tremolo, gold Wilkinson Vintage with Tulip Buttons and 14:1 ratio tuners, and last but not least,
a vintage style bell-shaped 2-layer truss rod cover with "Stereo" engraved in white.(coming soon)
Neck is a very comfortable 1 3/4" wide at the nut, for those with big hands/fingertips. Scale is 24.75". Frets are in great shape.
Vintage Style Epiphone Electronics feature Epiphone' famous Alnico Classic 57's Humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions
and like the original, basic tone variations are accomplished with vintage style Black tophat volume and tone knobs with metal inserts and pointers.
But the ES-345' original power really begins with the VariTone.
The VariTone uses a six-way rotary switch which engages 5 pre-set notch filters and a bypass. In position one,
the VariTone is completely bypassed. As you rotate the rotary switch into positions 2-6, the center frequency of the notch filter shifts from around 1.9kHz down to 130Hz, providing a player with a wide tonal palette unavailable on most other instruments. Positions 2 through 4 offer tonal shaping
while still maintaining great clarity. But keep turning and you'll find Positions 5 and 6 shape-shift the Alnico Classic Humbuckers into a single-coil style pickup but without the thin quack usually associated with traditional single coil pickups. Add it all up and between the 6-position VariTone circuit and the 3-position toggle switch, you have 18 unique tones available, then there is the Tone and Volume adjustments and BOOM! Mind Blown.

The body is remarkably clean for a 59-year-old guitar. The binding (usually an issue with vintage Gretschs) is aged,
yellowed and spider-webbed with surface cracks, but is complete, not rotting, and not pulling away.
Overall condition is very very good with a little player wear.

FEATURES
Neck Shape 1959 D-profile
Nut Width 1 3/4 inches
Neck Joint Glued-In, Set Neck
Scale Length 24.75"
Fingerboard Material Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12"
Pickguard white pin-up

Hardware Gold
Machine Heads Wilkinson Vintage Green Tulip Buttons; 14:1 ratio
Neck Pickup Alnico Classic 57 Humbucker (Epiphone)
Bridge Pickup Alnico Classic 57 Humbucker (Epiphone)
Controls
1-Neck Volume
1-Neck Tone
1-Bridge Volume
1-Bridge Tone
6-Position Rotary VariTone notch filter (Epiphone)
- Position-1: Bypass
- Position-2: 5db at 1950hz
- Position-3: 12db at 1100hz
- Position-4: 16db at 620 hz
- Position-5: 18.5db at 360hz
- Position-6: 21db at 120hz
Knobs
Outputs Mono - Both pickups 1/4"
Stereo - Two 1/4" outputs (Neck & Bridge Pickups)
Pickup Selector 3-way Toggle Switch, Epiphone All-Metal
Bridge Gretsch Gold-Rosewood Adjusto-Matic AOM Guitar Bridge
Tailpiece Lic. B700G Bigsby Tremolo Gold/black (unbranded) *from a 1997 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion*
Truss Rod Adjustable
Also come with the original hardshell case which is in Good (used) condition and the original neck strap (very brittle!)
Brand:Gretsch Body/Epiphone Hardware and Electronics
Model 6186/345 Clipper Stereo Varitone
Finish "Sunburst" w/ Gold Hardware
Year:1959
Made In:United States