NGD, flea market find 1958 Gretsch 6003

[drive-south]

I bought a 1958 Gretsch 6003 "Jimmy Rogers" model flat top acoustic this morning at a flea market. Its in great shape except for the pickguard which is curling. The case is original and also in great shape. This has mahogany back & sides, and brw fibgerboard and bridge.
It needs a little love but should be well worth the $250 I paid. I'll need to replace the tortoise pickguard. I'll post a picture later.

[zombywoof]

The Burl Ives guitar. I brought home one of those home a few years ago on loan for a test drive. This one had a very cool looking "dalmatian" tortoise shell pickguard. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise as I was not expecting the guitar to sound near as good as it did. You done really good on the price as the guitar I was playing around carried a price tag of $600 which I felt was a bargain.

[JP Richardson]

Here's a little about the model 6003

6003 Grand Concert/Jimmy Rogers/Folk

Probably the single most distinguishing characteristic of the 6003 is the sheer number of names the same guitar was given. 6003 nomenclature seemed to change according to the prevailing winds, who you asked and the phases of the moon. Among the various names given the flattop: Whatever it was called, the 6003 was a mainstay of the Gretsch line for years and quietly sold quite a few copies. As a guitar, it was what it was... a fair to middling Martin copy with a solid spruce top and mahogany sides. As near as can be determined, 6003 production probably began in 1951, although it's difficult to be sure. It was left out of the '51 catalog in favor of the 6004 Burl Ives. These early 6003 models are either known as the "Grand Concert" or simply the 6003. By 1955 it was holding strong with the "Grand Concert" moniker. It cost $100, when the Rancher was nearly twice as much at $175. From roughly 1959 to 1963 the 6003 was known as the Jimmie Rodgers or the Jimmie Rodgers Folk Singer model. It was listed in the '63 catalog as the 'Folk Singing', but by 1965 it had become simply "Folk". At the end of 1971 it switched to the 7506 model designation.
Can you help with additional information on this model? Let us know.
6003 Grand Concert/Jimmy
JP///

[drive-south]

Thanks for the info. I strung it up last night as it had no strings on it. Action was an unknown gamble. It turns out the action is fine. The guitar plays great..I strung with custom light JPs but will switch to lights as soon as I get a few parts for it including new bridge pins and new guard.

[DenverSteve]

Great score. Waiting for the photos.

[Scootch]

It's so nice to hear when an old guitar gets bought by someone that will take care of it.
Really, I worry about them sometimes.

Congrats. From my little bit of research, that's a heckuva deal

[Steve DeRosa]

You've got a real survivor there, D.S. - speaking as an old Gretsch guy (owner since 1964, my grandparents lived three blocks from the Brooklyn factory and just down the street from the warehouse) very few acoustics of any kind were being made from the mid-50's on, and for a variety of reasons even fewer survived; given that Gretsch instruments were made with kiln-dried woods - BTW, the only first-tier manufacturer to do so at that time - and in spite of the fact that the wood has probably stabilized over the last 60 years, I'll go against my customary practice and recommend some sort of mild (in-case) humidification just to be on the safe side...

Use it well and often...

[Mr Fingers]

Would love to see the pics. Gretsches are so uneven in terms of quality that it's definitely Russian Roulette. Even at a tiny price you can still end up with junk. Or a winner! Would love to see what you got. Sounds promising! And nice to know that the neck and bracing are sound. Often enough... not.

[drive-south]

[drive-south]

I'm trying to get pics up. I still havent figured out how to use imgur.

[drive-south]

20170919_122314 by Mark Jacques, on Flickr[/IMG]

20170919_122305 by Mark Jacques, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]20170919_122247 by Mark Jacques, on Flickr[/IMG]

[drive-south]

I gave up on IMGUR. Created a Flickr account and so far no luck.

[Tico]

Great find!!!
Congratulations.

[RustNeverSleeps]

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[drive-south]

Thanks for the assist. Hope you enjoy the pics.