Solid-Bodied Gretsch Corvette Guitar

The Stable-bodied Corvette (not to be baffled with the Corvette hollow-human body arch-leading electrical, developed from 1955-1959) was Gretsch’s respond to to the Les Paul Jr. by Gibson. Released in 1961, the Corvette Strong-physique was a tiny, mild-body weight, cozy electrical guitar that was just correct for the budding musician.

This killer guitar, with a strong mahogany entire body, reliable mahogany established neck, and a rosewood fret board with pearl dots, originally came with a solitary Hi-Lo ‘Tron pickup. The earliest illustrations experienced a trapeze tailpiece. By 1963, the Corvette was sporting a Burns’ flat-arm vibrato tailpiece. (Of course! That Burns! Fantastic aged Jim Burns from England), and came with a selection of both one or two of all those Hello-Lo ‘Tron pickups. By mid-1963 to 1964, Gretsch modified the normal 3/3 headstock (3 tuners on just about every facet) to a scooby-rific 4/2 headstock design and style (4 tuning keys on 1 aspect, two on the other). Most Corvettes ended up concluded in “cherry” purple mahogany and had black select guards. Some came with crimson and white striped select guards and a extra opaque purple complete to the body. This model is known as the “Twist” model. Early Corvettes had been also readily available in platinum grey complete with black decide on guards, but this coloration was formally discontinued in 1963. Also in 1963, Gretsch started beveling the edges of the guitar’s entire body and sharpened the cutaway points.

Versions of the Gretsch Corvette ended up the Silver Duke (1964-66) which was sparkle silver, the Gold Duke (1964-66) – you obtained it – in sparkle gold, and lest we forget about, the Princess (1963-64 – designed for the women) which was accessible in numerous colour mixtures these kinds of as white with purple sparkles, blue with white sparkles, pink with white sparkles, and white with gold sparkles – phew! The Princess also differed from the others in that it experienced a Palm vibrato tailpiece alternatively than the Burns’, gold-plated hardware in lieu of the typical nickel/chrome hardware, and a shiny tummy-pad on the again.

By 1968, you could no for a longer time get one pickups on the Corvettes, the Burn’s vibrato was replaced with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, and the Hello-Lo ‘Tron pickups ended up changed with Super ‘Tron pickups. Production of the Gretsch Corvette wound down in the early 70’s. (The Corvette did make a temporary reappearance from 1976 to 1978 with distinctive specs – humbuckers, and many others. It was not the exact same.)

The Gretsch Corvette (1961-early 70’s) can still give you some bang for your buck in modern vintage industry. You get the classic audio and vibe, with wonderful playability for less than you’d spend for a Paul, Jr.