A Piece of Rock History, Ready to Play Again
Some guitars are just guitars. And then there's the 1964 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman — the guitar that helped launch Beatlemania in America when George Harrison played one on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of that year. This is the real thing: a vintage, made-in-Brooklyn Gretsch from one of the most storied years in electric guitar history, now available from our GuitarSloth inventory.
The Country Gentleman was Gretsch's top-of-the-line Chet Atkins signature model — more expensive than anything in the range except the White Falcon. By 1964, it had settled into a distinctive spec of its own, different from the earlier "Harrison spec" 1962–63 models. The 1964 version sports Grover tuners with kidney-shaped metal buttons, a Super'Tron II in the neck position, and a Filter'Tron at the bridge — a pickup pairing unique to the 1964–1970 production run.
If you've ever wanted to own a genuine mid-1960s American hollow-body electric with real vintage character and an actual place in music history, this is that guitar. Vintage instruments like this one carry the marks of their years — that's part of what makes them what they are. See pictures for the specific condition of this unit.
The Body: Gretsch's Electrotone Hollowbody
The 6122 uses Gretsch's "Electrotone" double-cutaway hollow body design, introduced in 1962 — a thin-depth, closed-top construction with the f-holes painted on rather than cut through. That sealed top gave it better feedback resistance than a traditional archtop while still delivering the open, resonant hollowbody sound Gretsch was known for. The laminate maple body is approximately 17 inches wide and 2 inches deep, making it a substantial but not unwieldy instrument.
Four-ply binding runs the top and back of the body, with single binding on the headstock and fretboard. The gold hardware — Bigsby tailpiece, floating bar bridge, pickup covers, and knobs — gives the instrument its signature look. Gold plating on instruments of this age will typically show wear consistent with decades of play and handling; see the photos for this unit's specific condition.
Neck, Fretboard, and Feel
The three-piece rock maple neck is set into the body and carries an ebony fretboard with 22 medium frets plus a zero fret — a distinctly Gretsch touch that provides a consistent open-string tone to fretted notes. Neo-Classic pearloid thumbnail inlays mark the positions, and the headstock carries the inlaid pearl Gretsch "T-roof" logo along with the original "Chet Atkins Country Gentleman" nameplate.
The scale length is 24.5 inches — slightly shorter than a Gibson's 24.75" but noticeably different from a Fender's 25.5". The nut width runs close to 1 3/4 inches, giving this neck a notably wide, comfortable feel for chord work and single-note runs alike. Individual Grover tuners with kidney-shaped metal buttons replaced the Imperial-style machines from the previous model year.
Pickups and Electronics
The 1964 Country Gentleman is one of only a handful of Gretsch models to pair a Super'Tron II in the neck position with a Filter'Tron at the bridge — a combination that existed specifically from 1964 through 1970. The Super'Tron offers a fuller, warmer voice with more output, while the Filter'Tron at the bridge delivers that bright, articulate jangle Gretsch is known for. Together, they give the guitar a wider tonal range than either pickup alone.
The electronics include individual volume controls for each pickup, a master volume, and a 3-way selector switch. The double mute system — a mechanical string dampener operated by levers inside the guitar — is another signature feature of the 1964 Gent. Check the photos for the condition and functionality of these components on this specific unit.
Product Features:
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Body: Laminate maple Electrotone hollowbody, double cutaway, ~17" wide, ~2" deep, painted f-holes
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Neck: Three-piece rock maple, set neck joint
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Fretboard: Ebony with Neo-Classic pearloid thumbnail inlays, zero fret, 22 frets
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Scale Length: 24.5"
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Nut Width: Approximately 1 3/4"
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Pickups: Super'Tron II (neck) + Filter'Tron (bridge) — configuration unique to 1964–1970 production
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Bridge & Tailpiece: Floating bar bridge with gold-plated Gretsch-branded Bigsby vibrato
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Tuners: Individual Grover tuners with kidney-shaped metal buttons
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Hardware: Gold throughout
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Controls: Individual pickup volumes, master volume, 3-way selector, double mute system
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Year: 1964 — made in Brooklyn, NY
This is a used guitar from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual item you will receive.
This vintage 1964 Gretsch Country Gentleman shows honest wear consistent with its age and years of use. The guitar exhibits finish checking, binding wear, and other cosmetic signs of play, all of which contribute to its vintage character. There is a crack at the neck heel that has been thoroughly evaluated by both our in-house technicians and an independent luthier, all of whom have confirmed that it is stable. The electronics function as intended, and the guitar is fully playable. Please review the photos carefully, as they are the best representation of the instrument's overall condition.
All used gear is sold AS IS.
Brand: Gretsch
Model: 6122 Country Gentleman
SKU: U-1964COUNTRY-GENTLEMAN|79862
Condition: Used
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
