Gretsch · 6122 · 1957–1971 (as model 6122)
Chet Atkins had far more say in the Country Gentleman than in his first Gretsch models, and it became the guitar he used on his records. Gretsch shipped a first batch of 50 late in 1957 as a 1958 model, with a sealed 17-inch body, fake f-holes to fight feedback, a mahogany-look stain and the new Filter'Tron humbuckers. Only the White Falcon cost more. In late 1961 it went double cutaway and gained a padded back and string mutes. Then George Harrison played a 1963 Gent on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, and Gretsch couldn't build them fast enough. Specs kept moving through the 1960s, from mutes to tuners to pickups, and production moved to Arkansas in 1970, where quality got inconsistent. Single cutaway Gents are scarce, and Vintage Guitar reckons the 1963 version with stairstep tuners and flip-up red felt mutes may be the one collectors want most. For playing, a Brooklyn-built double cutaway is the sweet spot, and Gretsch's Japan-made reissues cover both shapes.
Until 1965 the serial is on the headstock nameplate, and Gretsch's yearly table shows when that number was used. Single cutaways run from late 1957 to 1961, the double cutaway arrived in late 1961, and big mute knobs (1961–1963) gave way to small levers from 1963.
Many owners pulled the string mute mechanisms, and binding on Gretsches this age has often crumbled. Edward Ball, who wrote the book on the 6120, says guitars built after the 1970 move to Arkansas are inconsistent.
Buying guide
Buy a mid-1960s double cutaway Gent from a US seller, where 1965–67 guitars ask $3,200–5,525 delivered, and the 1967 with its original hard case at $3,499 is our pick. About 22 are listed and most ask $4,925–7,900 delivered, while 1958–62 guitars ask $7,690–9,650 and a 1963 runs anywhere from $3,625 to $9,081. Before 1965 the serial is on the headstock nameplate, so ask for that along with close-ups of the binding, the mutes and the neck joint, and walk away from a G-prefixed model number, which marks a Japan-made reissue. Skip the $21,590 1962, nearly $12,000 over any other Gent here, and compare photos on the 1965 Gents that three Japanese dealers list under near-identical titles.
$3,199.99delivered
The lowest delivered Gent here, a 1965 Walnut with a case from a US seller. The title doesn't say the case is original, so ask for the nameplate serial and photos of the mutes and binding.
Gretsch 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 1965 Walnut Brown Guitar & Case #2691
$3,499.00delivered
A 1967 with its original hard case in the title, about $300 more than the cheapest Gent and $1,400 under the band. Ask for the action at the 12th fret and close-ups of the binding before you pay.
Gretsch 6122 USA Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 1967 w/ OHSC
$8,690.00est. delivered
Titled 1958, the first full year of the Gent, and sold as having all the earliest features, at less than the 1962 with dial-up mutes asks. Check the nameplate serial and the sealed top with fake f-holes in the photos, and confirm the returns policy before you pay.
1958 Gretsch 6122 Country Gent 1st full year produced w/all earliest features !
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$3,199.99delivered
$3,199.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1965 Walnut with a case. In the US.
Seller: admusicresale
100% positive
Used$3,499.00delivered
$3,499.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,499.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1967, titled with its original hard case. In the US.
Seller: mtcbay
99.8% positive
Used$8,690.00est. delivered
$8,495.00 + $195.00 shipping
Buy It Now$8,495.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1958, the first full year, with the earliest features. In the US.
Seller: raretoyzz
100% positive
Used$3,625.00est. delivered
$3,500.00 + $125.00 shipping
Buy It Now$3,500.00
Our take
Titled 1963, far under the other 1963s here at $7,943–9,081. Check for stairstep tuners and flip-up mutes. In the US.
Seller: jwkujo
100% positive
Used$5,524.95est. delivered
$5,399.95 + $125.00 shipping
Buy It Now$5,399.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1967, titled with its original hard case. In the US.
Seller: wolfnsx
98.8% positive
Used$5,793.00est. delivered
$5,613.00 + $180.00 shipping
Buy It Now$5,613.00
Our take
Titled 1966, with a dealer stock number. Ships from Japan.
Seller: guitar.garage
100% positive
Used$6,405.78delivered
$6,405.78 · free shipping
Buy It Now$6,405.78
Check the seller
Two other Japanese dealers list a 1965 Gent under near-identical titles at $6,330–6,390. It may be one guitar, so compare photos.
Seller: eastislandcrew
100% positive
Used$21,590.24delivered
$21,590.24 · free shipping
Buy It Now$21,590.24
Priced high
Titled 1962, nearly $12,000 over any other Gent here. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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