Gretsch guitars catalog

[Gretschmann]

Hello everybody,
I am happy to be here!
I'm wondering if somebody has hirez scan of the 1951 and/or 1955 Gretsch guitars catalog to share?
Maybe a good place to download?
Thanks.

[David B]

Found this scan of the 1955 catalogue: https://acousticmusic.org/wp-content...55-Catalog.pdf

TV Jones has colour photographs of the entire same catalogue on Facebook at Log into Facebook | Facebook

[hotpepper01]

Found this scan of the 1955 catalogue: https://acousticmusic.org/wp-content...55-Catalog.pdf

One could have the 18" custom build Eldorado X6041 for just 490 USD way back in 1955. Its on page 9, that is the Freddie Green guitar.

[Gretschmann]

Found this scan of the 1955 catalogue: https://acousticmusic.org/wp-content...55-Catalog.pdf

TV Jones has colour photographs of the entire same catalogue on Facebook at Log into Facebook | Facebook

Thanks, I know this web site but I'll check TV Jones pictures.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

One could have the 18" custom build Eldorado X6041 for just 490 USD way back in 1955.

To put that in perspective, a 1955 Chevy 150 coupe cost $1600 new.

[wintermoon]

$5477 today, chunk, chunk, chunk

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

$5477 today, chunk, chunk, chunk

So that's what the S400 should cost in the coming Gibson archtop resurrection line, eh?

I don't have Gibson price lists from '55 or '56, but the '57 S400C was $600 and the CN was $625. Add $75 for a cutaway on the Eldorado in '55 and it was within a few dollars of the S400C.

[wintermoon]

So that's what the S400 should cost in the coming Gibson archtop resurrection line, eh?

I don't have Gibson price lists from '55 or '56, but the '57 S400C was $600 and the CN was $625. Add $75 for a cutaway on the Eldorado in '55 and it was within a few dollars of the S400C.

$550 and $575, add $25 natural, + $60 case, $30 case cover

[st.bede]

To put that in perspective, a 1955 Chevy 150 coupe cost $1600 new.

There is something to think about there but since 1974ish wages in relationship to cost of living have not kept up, except for a small bump during the end of the tech boom. It is more complex then that but that is general view.

I do think it is strange that some mass produced guitars cost as much as they do. Labor is the most expensive aspect of most business (as it should be.. it is peoples’ lives for god sakes. How many hours for someone else’s wealth production, should someone lose? I think family and society should hold more value, but that is a complex debate). I still wonder how much profit there is in a typical $1000 dollar guitar.

On the other hand, guitars seem cheap compared other similar level instruments.

IDK

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

On the other hand, guitars seem cheap compared other similar level instruments.

Oh boy are we spoiled!! Any decent saxophone is a 4 figure buy. A decent but far from mint Selmer Mk 6 goes for $10-20k depending on condition, and someone's asking $75k for Bob Berg's old one. Good violins and basses go for amazingly high numbers.......and then there are the $50k bows you "need" to play them.

But we have dozens of choices of new guitars good enough to gig with for under $500. If push came to shove, I could handle anything that came along with a $200 Tele or Strat. Throw in a Champ 40 and go to the gig!