Gretsch 6104 Rally Cadillac Green 1968

Gretsch 6104 Rally Cadillac Green 1968

Gretsch 6104 Rally, Cadillac green, made in USA circa 1968. This really has some swagger, it's so rad. The Rally was a fairly short-lived model, made from 1967-71. It sold for a few less clams than the bling-endowed Chet Atkins models, but it's got it's own thing going on: racing stripes on the truss rod cover and pickguard, half moon inlays, and a dashung coat of green: hell yeah. The Hi-Lo'Tron pickups are fairly low output, but still low on noise, so they're clear and percussive with a lovely woody attack. The neck pickup is dark and swampy, while the bridge pickup is a bit more angular and crisp; the middle position is especially enjoyable. This model had a treble boost from factory, but it's been wired out for now, so the switch near the Bigsby functions as a mute switch currently. This is a super cool guitar for fingerstyle playing, blues and country stuff, or chonky surf rhythm playing, it's very enjoyable. The binding is in pretty good shape too, which is hardly a given with 60s Gretsch gear. If you're after a gorgeous vintage hollow with plenty of personality, this one is Rally good. Aw heck.

Model: Gretsch 6104 Rally
Made: USA, 1968 approx, NYC
Serial: label missing
Finish: Cadillac green, gloss urethane
Body: laminate maple, fully hollow, 400mm across, thinline 44mm depth
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 24.8 scale, 42mm nut, slim C shape
Weight: 3.200kg
Mods: treble boost system disengaged
Pickups: Gretsch Hi-Lo'Tron humbucker x2 
Accessories: basic vintage hard case, functional but cosmetically rough

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs on the end, dimples on the edges, scuffs and some checking on the front and some checking lines on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear and a little bit of a split in the finish only along the centre join line of the neck, which you don't really feel during play. The back has checking on the horns and scuffs in the middle of the body, elbow area and back edge. The sides have scuffs and some checking in the elbow area and some checking lines near the jack and on the bottom horn. The binding has discoloured a lot and has a bunch of hairline cracks, as well as a couple of dents here and there around the body, but it's all holding together pretty well and is overall in pretty tidy shape. The front has scuffs near the knobs and along the back edge, some dimples, checking and scuffs in the elbow area, play wear around the pickups and some cracks in the pickup surrounds, a missing cap from the tone switch and some play wear on the guard and horns. The internal label is missing.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only