Update 2022: this is back in for resale so I've updated the post where necessary...
This classy Gretsch carved-top archtop guitar is really a treat -- the owner told me that he'd crowdsourced some information on this model and that it appears to be a Gretsch Model 50 from around 1935. This one's nicer in trim than the usual period Gretsch archtop, has a slimmer and faster neck (which, at a glance, appears to have been thinned-down a bit) with huge steel-bar reinforcement inside, and has a more-bitey/snappier tone to it. Handling is fast and easy.
The top is carved, solid spruce while the back and sides are ply, figured maple. I love the shield-like headstock celluloid inlay and everything is mostly original, though the non-adjustable bridge is possibly a replacement (though Gretsch did use non-adjustable ones early-on) and some of the tuners (and 5 of the tuner buttons) are replacements.
Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, cleaning, new saddle insert, setup.
Top wood: solid spruce
Back & sides wood: ply maple
Bracing type: tonebar
Bridge: ebonized maple
Fretboard: ebonized maple
Neck wood: maple
Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on) String gauges: 52w-11
Neck shape: medium C
Board radius: 10"
Truss rod: non-adjustable
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: lower/medium
Scale length: 24 3/4"
Nut width: 1 11/16"
Body width: 16"
Body depth: 3 1/2"
Weight: 5 lbs 2 oz
Condition notes: there's the usual finish wear-and-tear throughout and there are lots of small nicks, dings, and scratches. The bridge is possibly a replacement and parts of the tuners are, too. I think the neck has been thinned-down a bit and "speed necked" on the rear. It does play like a modern neck -- or maybe a very late '50s or early '60s Gibson-style neck.
It comes with: an old chip case.
The f-holes on these first-generation, carved-top Gretsch guitars are sooooooo thin and nicely-cut.
To make the non-adjustable bridge more useful after the neck reset, I cut a slot in it and fit a synthetic saddle with compensated top-edge to it. Now action adjustments at the bridge can be handled via shimming the saddle up and down or replacing it with one of a different height.
I'm not sure if the neck was speed-necked or if it came this way from the factory. Either way, it looks and feels great.
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