For a few minutes there, maybe around 2013, give or take, Gretsch released an Anniversary model called the 6118T-LTV, not to be confused with the 6118T-125 or any of the more recent 6118 models with trestle bracing. The guitar I'm referring to had a two-tone smoke green lacquer finish, TV Jones Classics, and trestle bracing. I might have a line on one of these but would like to hear from anyone who owns or has owned one, just to get your opinion. Anyone?
I've been casually looking for one of these for years. I thought they came out a bit earlier though, around 2006? I might be wrong. Also keen to know what they're like, and in particular how the lacquer is aging... they seem pretty rare.
I just came back from playing the new 6118T-60 Vintage Select and the 6118LTD 135th Anniversary. They both have trestle bracing and are both really, really nice guitars. The 135th has Filter'trons, so is a little beefier sounding, and pluses (IMO) of a tone pot, etc., but the VS has a thing, and its really close in sound and response to my 1960 Annie conversion. It seems a bit lighter than the 135th, and both have the same necks. The 60 VS has the neck pickup back toward the bridge about an inch from where it normally is. They did do this in 1960, but I never thought it was a good idea. It has the TV Jones Hilo'trons (actually HTs) and the pole screws are on the bridge side. By turning the pickup around it would put the pole screws only a tiny bit behind the harmonic, so it should sound the same as if the pickup was right at the end of the fingerboard. It's VERY tempting. New price is pretty high though.
I played one of those vintage selects a while back and loved the TV Hilos. If they were a lacquer finish I'd probably be saving my pennies for one.
I really like the two-tone green color of these and ran across one for sale. Seller is asking ballpark to current listings in Reverb. But does this look like corrosion to you? Tuners and pickups?
That’s looks more like gold back, jaguar tan top, and gold pickguard. The pickup looks to be a PowerTron too. So I bet it’s a 125th anniversary edition rather than a 125th green Annie.
Oh well. Went back to look at the ad again and it's gone, LOL! That one was not destined to join my collection.