1959 Gretsch Country Gentleman
Early single-cutaway Country Gentleman with the fully established painted f-hole specification. These pre-Beatles examples represent the model before George Harrison made it world-famous.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Maple (thinline single-cutaway — painted f-holes) |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | HH |
| Bridge | Space Control bridge, Bigsby B6 |
| Tuners | Grover Imperial |
| Finish Options | Walnut Brown |
| Est. Production | 250 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two Filter'Tron humbuckers. The Country Gentleman's distinctive semi-hollow design is fully established.
What Changed in 1959
The Country Gentleman is finding its audience. Single-cutaway body with painted f-holes and Filter'Trons — the definitive specification. George Harrison would discover this model in the coming years.
Collector's Notes
Pre-Beatles single-cutaway Country Gentlemen are excellent instruments. The painted f-holes and Filter'Tron combination is the definitive setup. Brooklyn factory quality is outstanding.
How to Authenticate a 1959 Gretsch Country Gentleman
Gretsch serial numbers use a system where the first digits indicate month/year — verify against known Gretsch serial tables for 1959. Numbers are on the headstock back. Filter'Tron humbucking pickups should be present (replaced DynaSonics around 1958). Verify originality. Check binding condition carefully — Gretsch binding from this era is notorious for deterioration and shrinkage. Replacement binding is difficult to match correctly. Open f-holes. George Harrison association increases counterfeiting risk. Thumb-print inlays. Check for original muffler pads and Bigsby. Verify all hardware (bridge, tailpiece, tuners, knobs, switches) matches documented specifications for 1959. Laminated maple body — tap test for correct hollow-body resonance. Original case with Gretsch logo adds provenance.