Nashville Classic guitar

[Steve Sanders]

When did the very first Nashvile Classic 6122-1959 guitar go on the market? I'm thinkging 2003. Also, when did the "corrected" version come on the market, the one with the re-designed upper bout? One more, when did the 6122-1959 change from the Nashville Classic to the new Country Gentleman with Chet's name back on there? Thanks, Steve

[ajbremer]

Also, I'd like to know - when the Nashville Classic was replaced with the CG, what changed, anything or just the name?

[Norm]

On release of the Fender/Gretsch G6122-1959 Nashville Classic in 2003…
I know a lot of players don’t like guitars made in Japan with good reason because there are a lot of bad guitars out there. But there are some that are good, well made guitars, too…Yamaha, D’Angelico and Gretsch for example.
I wanted to do the ’59 Country Gentleman, serial number 31444 (Chet’s guitar), for three reasons. First to remember Chet, second, because he cut most of his records with his old one, third, I thought a lot of players (including myself) would like to have one of those if it were available.
__Paul Yandell cgp

____________

On New Years Day in 2007 the Gretsch company announced the return of the Chet Atkins name to the 6100 line of signature guitars. The Nashville Classic became the 6122-59 and was called the Country Gentleman as were all the other variants. This was an idea motivated by the Atkins estate.

[rhudson]

The Nashville Classic has stair step tuners. The CG has kidney bean tuners. However, I think the last of the Nashville Classics just before the name change to CG also had the kidney bean tuners. There was a slight mod to the upper bout of the Nashville Classic shortly after it was released. I think it was prior to the 2004's.

[guitarchuck]

The Nashville Classic's with the incorrect body shape were from the first batch of 48 and they were probably numbered: JT0211600-647. (Made November 2002 and the came out in 2003)

[BillB]

Richard,
There is an exception on the tuners. I have a late 2006 Nashville Classic, and it has the kidney bean tuners. But I think '06 might be the only year that they came on the NC. 2006 is also the year that they made a few with natural finish, Gretsch orange, and the sunburst, which is what mine came with. There weren't many made in any of those finishes, but it was only that year, until the HOF orange came out.

Bill B.

[Vidar Lund]

My 6122 Nashville Classic has the Serial No. JT0307xxxx, thusly produced in July 2003. It has the Grover Imperial Stair Step tuners and the correct shape of the body with the rounded upper shoulder, as opposed to its predecessor the Country Classic with their squarer Baldwin Gretsch inspired shape. As Chuck says the "wrong" body guitars were released a few months into 2003, and certainly not as late as July that year.

[Carl Martin]

My blonde 6122-1959 serial number JT05052805 has stair step tuners.
Thanks,Carl

[MitchC]

Another change occured late 2008 / early 2009. Since introduction until then, they had waffle bracing. The 'newer' ones now have trestle bracing. I don't play at loud volumes so I didn't care what bracing mine had... 2011 Hall Of Fame.

Carl, don't think I've seen a blonde version ?! Could post a pic of yours please ?

[guitarchuck]

Mitch,
Here's a video of a friend of mine that has a blonde Nashville Classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPW09oa8cgQ