2019 Gretsch G6118T-LIV

Gretsch G6118T-LIV, 2019, S/N: JT19051794

The Gretsch G6118T-LIV is a faithful reproduction of the Gretsch 6118 Double Anniversary. This particular example was made in Japan at the now world famous Terada facility. This hollow body is constructed of maple plywood, the top is arched with trestle bracing like the original, with a solid maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard. The finish is Lotus Ivory for the top and Charcoal Metallic for the back, sides and neck. The top and back are bound in white with a single line of black purfling for the top. Locking tuners, an inlaid Gretsch logo, a Gretsch Anniversary commemorative plate and a two-ply truss rod cover adorn the headstock. There are semi-circular fretmarkers at the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth and seventeenth frets, with a total of twenty two frets. The nut width is 1 11/16” and the spacing at the bridge is 2 1/16.” The neck is a traditional “U” shape much like the original examples from the late 1950’s. 

There are two volume controls to dial in the volume of each, with a master tone control and a master volume control to control everything without disturbing the other settings. A three way pickup switch completes the picture. The pickups are Gretsch Filter’Tron Humbuckers. They each have reverse-painted silver plastic pickup rings and a reverse-painted pickguard with the Gretsch logo at the base is nearby. 

Two modifications have been made to this particular example. It was originally equipped with a Bigsby tailpiece and a Gretsch style arched chrome saddle. The Bigsby has been replaced with a simple wire tailpiece in chrome and the arched saddle is now an ABR-1 style saddle. 

This Gretsch shows only a few signs of light use, with a few light scuffs around the pickups on the bass side of the top. The guitar sounds great plugged in, the Filter’Trons deliver clear and well balanced tone without sounding bright or thin.