Gretsch Custom Shop Masterbuilt G6134CS 1959 Gold Paisley Penguin Relic

Gretsch Custom Shop Masterbuilt G6134CS 1959 Gold Paisley Penguin

The Gretsch Custom Shop is where the time-honored legacy reaches its creative apex. No instruments epitomize the extraordinary expertise and attention to detail of Gretsch’s most trusted hands like Custom Shop instruments. From modern versions of legendary Gretsch instruments to artist tribute models and specially requested one-off guitars, the Gretsch Custom Shop takes “That Great Gretsch Sound” to an entirely new plane, but also preserves and perfects it.

Truetone Music is proud to have a long and close relationship with Gretsch, especially with the Custom Shop.  Every year, we make a pilgrimage there to sit down with the Masterbuilders to cook up a batch of Custom Shop guitars.  Sometimes we go for vintage-styled recreations, sometimes we go for modernized tweaks.  Sometimes it's a classic color, sometimes it's a totally new color or even reclaimed wood.  Either way, they always knock it out of the park!

This G6134CS 1959 Penguin is a great example of this partnership.  We went to the Gretsch Custom Shop to put together a run of Penguins in various styles.  One of the most unique pieces to come out of this was this Gold Paisley Penguin Relic, created by Masterbuilder Gonzalo Madrigal, which defines that perfectly - he absolutely nailed it.  In some ways, it will be familiar to any Gretsch fan or anyone that's familiar with a late 50's Penguin, one of the most iconic electric guitars of all time.  Where this one stands out (besides the amazing build quality, playability and sound, of course), is the finish.  We asked for a Relic treatment to give it a vintage vibe, on Gold Paisley.  The goal was to create something special, unlike anything that's out there.  Success was found.

 

The guitar has a chambered mahogany body, reducing the weight, with a maple top. The neck is rock-solid Mahogany with a very comfortable C shape, topped off with ebony fretboard, vintage frets, and Mother of Pearl thumbnail inlays.  We kept it period correct on the tuners, bridge and other specs, including the Bigsby B3.  One difference to make this guitar even more unique is the use of the mid-50's vertical Gretsch logo on the headstock, even though this isa  1959 base model.  We did that to make the matching Gold Paisley headstock work, as that was an important part of the look we wanted. The white binding is a nice touch.  The added bonus is this: clear pickup rings and the clear pickguard.  This instantly makes this guitar cooler....not that it needs it!

  

For the pickups, it was easy, as we were going for what best provides the legendary Gretsch sound as heard on many guitars before: TV Jones Classics.  It doesn't get any more classic sounding than this.  This is the pickup that started it all, capturing that vintage twang and growl characteristic of the late 1950's Filter'Tron pickups. Originally designed from an analyzed 1959 "Pat. Applied For" Filter'Tron, the TV Jones Classic is one of the most popular and most versatile pickups out there.  It sits right between a typical Fender (bright single-coil) & Gibson (darker & thick humbucker) with a unique growl when you dig in. Clean, compressed treble and mids breath life over a tight and controlled low-end.

 

As a premier Gretsch Custom Shop dealer for many years, we've had a lot of amazing guitars come through Truetone.  This is one of the most special, unlike other Penguins seen.  Come to Truetone Music to experience it in person, or make it yours right here.