The Cadillac-green finish on certain
1957 Jets had previously only been
available on Gretsch Country Club 6196
models, while the armrest also appeared
on White Penguin 6134 models that
were produced immediately after the
batch this specimen came from.
Photo courtesy of Billy Straus
not-so-coincidentally, was produced in batch 263XX immediately after the second mini batch
of Cadillac-green Jets.
Because of their relative
rarity—only 50–75 specimens
are believed to have been
produced—and their elegant
aesthetic, these green-and-gold
Jets are also holy grail guitars to
many Gretsch collectors. Other
Jets with later serial numbers
and model-year features have
surfaced in this finish, but they
are almost certainly one-off
custom orders. These mini-
batch examples, with their
classic ’57-model-year “hump-
block” fretboard inlays are the
original, and a greatly sought-
after prize.
Ed Ball is an authority on
vintage Gretsch guitars. His book
Gretsch 6120: The History of a
Legendary Guitar was published
by Schiffer Books in 2010.
