Ventura guitar serial numbers serial numbers#
Ventura guitar serial numbers serial number#

The numbers here are generally considered the most accurate numbers publicly available at the time. If it has a 'light bulb' headstock, it's probably pre-war. Numbers restarted after World War II, which can lead to considerable confusion on very old Gretsches. You can see this as you browse Gretsch-GEAR or chart the changes. Which means two examples from the same year could have different features, depending on which batches they came from. Guitars typically did not change much within a batch вЂ“ with some exceptions вЂ“ but they often changed from batch to batch. Gretsch guitars were built in batches, typically of 100, but sometimes 50. Nevertheless, if it has all the typical '57 features, it is considered a '57 model, not a '56. Just as a '57 Chevy may have been built in late '56 to hit the showrooms in the fall, a '57 6120 may have been constructed in '56. Gretsch annual changes corresponded to model years, like automakers, not necessarily calendar year. However, it is important to note several key points:

Ventura guitar serial numbers serial numbers#

We highly recommend Ed Ball's ' Gretsch 6120: The History of a Legendary Guitar.'Д«all is one of the key researchers who have determined the actual dates, years and features Gretsch serial numbers correspond to.ДЇrom the beginning of the Synchromatic era until 1966, Gretsch guitars were sequentially numbered and can be used to reliably date the guitar. If you'd like to learn more about Gretsch serial numbers,

What was built and when, and to harness the collective knowledge of thousands of To document the actual serial numbers, to determine once and for all The Gretsch-GEAR database exists to get it right:

Ventura guitar serial numbers serial number#

Subsequent research has unearthed quite a few inaccuracies in Scott's numbers, so any serial number guides cribbing from Scott are also incorrect. Which is a fine book, but is nearly two decades old. ' Gretsch: the guitars of the Fred Gretsch Company,' Most online guides (and quite a few print guides) are based on Jay Scott's groundbreaking book Unfortunately, correct information can be very difficult to come by. Gretsch used several different serial number schemes through the years.Д®ach of them can be used to accurately pinpoint the age of a guitar, if you have the correct information. Gretsch Guitars Understanding Gretsch guitar serial numbers