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Average Price: $2,699

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$500

$1201+

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High-end

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Description

Experience the classic appeal and rich tones of the Gretsch Country Club, a semi-hollowbody electric guitar that stands as a testament to Gretsch's commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Designed for both seasoned professionals and aspiring musicians, this guitar offers a harmonious blend of vintage style and modern performance. With its sleek body and superior sound, the Country Club is a versatile instrument suited for a variety of genres, from rockabilly to jazz.

At the heart of this guitar are Gretsch Filter'Tron humbucking pickups, renowned for delivering a warm, full-bodied sound with exceptional clarity and presence. The semi-hollow design not only contributes to its distinctive tonal character but also ensures a comfortable playing experience. Its maple neck and ebony fingerboard provide smooth playability and a fast action, making it easy to navigate complex chords and solos alike.

The Gretsch Country Club is also equipped with an Adjusto-Matic bridge with a pinned rosewood base, ensuring precise intonation and exceptional tuning stability. Whether you're playing on stage or in the studio, this guitar offers a full spectrum of tonal possibilities that will inspire your creativity.

Key Features:

  • Semi-hollowbody construction for rich, resonant sound
  • Gretsch Filter'Tron humbucking pickups for clear, dynamic tones
  • Maple neck with an ebony fingerboard for smooth playability
  • Adjusto-Matic bridge with pinned rosewood base for stable tuning
  • Classic vintage styling with modern performance enhancements

Product specs

Brand Gretsch
Model G6196T Country Club with Bigsby
Finish Cadillac Green
Year 2004 - 2016
Made In Japan
Categories Hollow Body Guitars
Body Material Maple
Body Shape Single Cutaway
Body Type Hollow Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Tremolo Tailpiece
Color Family Green
Fretboard Material Ebony
Model Family Gretsch Country Club
Neck Construction Set-Neck
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 21
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"
Top Material Maple

FAQs

What kind of music is the Gretsch Country Club best suited for?

The Gretsch Country Club is versatile and excels in genres like jazz, blues, country, and rock. Its hollow body and dual humbucker pickups provide a rich, resonant tone with plenty of clarity and warmth.

Does the Gretsch Country Club come with a Bigsby tremolo?

Yes, the Gretsch G6196T Country Club model features a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece, allowing for smooth vibrato effects and enhanced musical expression.

What is the neck profile of the Gretsch Country Club?

The Gretsch Country Club features a set-neck construction with a comfortable maple neck, offering a smooth playing experience suitable for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

Is the Gretsch Country Club suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Gretsch Country Club is ideal for live performances, thanks to its robust build, resonant maple body, and versatile sound, which can cut through a mix in various musical settings.

How does the Gretsch Country Club handle feedback?

The semi-hollow design of the Gretsch Country Club helps manage feedback, making it more controlled compared to fully hollow body guitars, especially at higher volumes.

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Video thumbnail for Gretsch G6196T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Country Club Hollow Body with Bigsby | Gretsch Guitars by Gretsch Guitars

Gretsch G6196T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Country Club Hollow Body with Bigsby | Gretsch Guitars

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Video thumbnail for Guitar of the Day: 2005 Gretsch 6196 Country Club Cadillac Green | Norman's Rare Guitars by Normans Rare Guitars

Guitar of the Day: 2005 Gretsch 6196 Country Club Cadillac Green | Norman's Rare Guitars

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Normans Rare Guitars

Video thumbnail for Gretsch G6196T Country Club  •  SN: JT13031433 by Wildwood Guitars

Gretsch G6196T Country Club • SN: JT13031433

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Wildwood Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1967 Gretsch Country Club Cadillac Green | CME Vintage Gear Demo | Zach Avery by Chicago Music Exchange

1967 Gretsch Country Club Cadillac Green | CME Vintage Gear Demo | Zach Avery

Chicago Music Exchange

Chicago Music Exchange

Video thumbnail for 1954 Gretsch Country Club w/ Ian Bairnson - Phil's Vintage Guitars by Phil's Vintage Guitars Original

1954 Gretsch Country Club w/ Ian Bairnson - Phil's Vintage Guitars

Phil's Vintage Guitars Original

Phil's Vintage Guitars Original

Video thumbnail for Gretsch G6196T-59GE Country Club with Bigsby, Cadillac Green Metallic | Gear4music demo by Gear4music Guitars

Gretsch G6196T-59GE Country Club with Bigsby, Cadillac Green Metallic | Gear4music demo

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Gear4music Guitars

Video thumbnail for 2018 Gretsch "Country Club" G-6196-T 59VS by GregsGuitars

2018 Gretsch "Country Club" G-6196-T 59VS

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Video thumbnail for Gretsch Country Club from 1959 presented  live by Tobias Hoffmann and Vintage Guitar Oldenburg by Vintage Guitar Oldenburg

Gretsch Country Club from 1959 presented live by Tobias Hoffmann and Vintage Guitar Oldenburg

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Vintage Guitar Oldenburg

Video thumbnail for TTG "Guitar Of The Week" Gretsch G6196T Country Club in Cadillac Green - USED! by Twin Town Guitars

TTG "Guitar Of The Week" Gretsch G6196T Country Club in Cadillac Green - USED!

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Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gretsch Country Club.

Comparisons

  • Known as an affordable alternative to the White Falcon, offering similar build quality without the ornate aesthetics.

    Source
  • The 1958 Country Club, though top-tier, is overshadowed by Falcons and Gents, making it less in demand among collectors, especially with non-original parts.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Features a 'T-roof' logo, hump-block inlays, and a spruce top; lacks a kill switch, indicating a mid-1950s model.

    Source
  • Equipped with a trapeze tailpiece, contributing to its aesthetic appeal and tonal sustain.

    Source
  • The 1958 Gretsch Country Club introduced Filtertron pickups, marked with a "patent applied for" sticker, distinguishing them from replacements.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Reminiscent of the guitar George Ezra used on his debut album, hinting at its suitability for folk and indie music styles.

    Source
  • It's suggested that Ernie Ball .11s are a solid choice for similar models, indicating their versatility and reliability for the Gretsch Country Club's setup.

    Source
  • TVJones Classic/Classic+ pickups are recommended for those seeking the traditional sound, while TVJones Ray Butts pickups offer a closer approximation to the vintage 1958 tone.

    Source

Build quality

  • Inquiry about the binding condition suggests potential issues or concerns with aging or wear, common in vintage models.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners are considering .11 gauge Tomastik-Infeld flats for optimal compatibility with the Bigsby bridge, noting the improvement with wound 3rds.

    Source
  • Binding rot on vintage Gretsches can require a costly $1-2k repair, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of aging models.

    Source

User experience

  • A recent buyer describes owning a 1956 model as possessing a piece from the golden age of guitar manufacturing, highlighting its historical significance.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Finding original 1958 Filtertron pickups for a Gretsch Country Club can cost around $2500; period-correct copies are available at about 10% of that price.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Replacement pickups significantly reduce the value of a vintage Gretsch; originals with a patent sticker from the first Filtertron year command a premium.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 1 Rating

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Joe Bonamassa uses Gretsch Country Club

Joe Bonamassa

Guitarist, Singer

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Photo

As mentioned on Joe Bonamassa's website, "This is a 1954 Gretsch Country Club in rare factory blonde. Even though Cadillac green is more desirable these still seem cooler. I used this 1954 Gretsch Country Club on Sloe Gin album and The Ballad of John Henry."

See how Poison Ivy uses Gretsch Country Club

Poison Ivy

Guitarist, Composer

The Cramps

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo taken in the Cramps' house, Poison Ivy appears next to what seems to be a Gretsch Country Club.

See how Phil Wickham uses Gretsch Country Club

Phil Wickham

Guitarist, Singer

...
Verified via Photo

In a stylized and heavily edited photo shared on Instagram, Phil Wickham is seen with a Gretsch Country Club guitar.

See how Adam Schlesinger uses Gretsch Country Club

Adam Schlesinger

Guitarist, Bassist

Fountains of Wayne

...
Verified

The proof of Adam Schlesinger using a Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar can be seen in the image result from Pitchfork, showing him with the instrument.

See how Chris Spedding uses Gretsch Country Club

Chris Spedding

Guitarist

Sharks

...
Verified

Known from the following sources:

Guitar World, May 1981, "The No-Frills Attack of Chris Spedding" by Van Gosse

This interview was conducted in Spedding's messy but spartan downtown apartment in New York. He was wearing black leather — no one's ever seen him in anything else — and outrageous pink suede ankle boots. The walls were adorned with genteel forties pin-up drawings, and a large antique jukebox dominated the vestibule. A very minimal amount of guitar and technical paraphernalia was evident. Spedding plays only four guitars: an SG from the early sixties with a single (black plastic covered) pickup for all live stuff; a Limited Edition Flying V for back-up; a Gretsch Country Club with one Dimarzio wired to play; and a Les Paul for the odd studio shot. He has one amp for almost everything, an antique Fender Deluxe Reverb, one pedal, an Electro-Harmonix Digital Delay, "the cheapest." He bought a wah-wah pedal on a lark twelve years ago. That's the only other pedal he's ever used.

www.chrisspedding.com, "Guitar Gallery"

http://www.chrisspedding.com/gallery/guitar/cc64.jpg

Gretsch Country Club 1964

When I started doing sessions I realized the Gretsch sound wasn't versatile enough for studio work.

The Gretsch is on Pete Brown and his Battered Ornaments 'A Meal You Can Shake Hands With In The Dark'. (And also on Frank Ricotti 'Our Point Of View')

[...]

Fender Telecaster

I swopped it for a Gretsch Country Club around 1968 or 1969. You can hear the Telecaster on the Nucleus 'Elastick Rock', Battered Ornaments 'Mantle-Piece' and Jack Bruce 'Songs For A Taylor'.

[...]

http://www.chrisspedding.com/gallery/guitar/cc.jpg

Gretsch Country Club

Used on R.Gordon's video clip 'Rock Billy Boogie.

It was originally a 1970's model Country Club that I had customised to look like a 1950's Duane Eddy / Eddie Cochran model.

I never like it. I really wanted a genuine old 1950's model. I sold it to a store.

See how Anssi Kela uses Gretsch Country Club

Anssi Kela

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video (4.39), Kela told that he loaned a Gretsch Tennessee Rose from Ile Jokinen to record his album Nummela, but had to buy his own guitar for the tour. He bought it from Halkan's Rockhouse, in Stockholm. Kela's song Milla, was recorded on this guitar.

Notable thing is this Merle Travis -Bigsby, I have never seen this kind of Bigsby outside this.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gretsch Country Club, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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westlycarver

westlycarver

Gear IQ 182

westlycarver

westlycarver

Gear IQ 182

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