1955 Duo Jet

[(jps)]

There is one at my local Sam Ash, plays and sounds great, but is missing it's original pickguard and has lots of wear/worming, mostly on the back of the body. Most of the plastic is shrunken and is missing a screw or two, IIRC. The original (tweed?) HSC is included. What would be a realistic price for one in this kind of condition? Supposedly, this is a one owner instrument.

[(collin)]

Guitar Center recently had a '56 with a couple minor issues for $3500 and it sold. I'd imagine you could add a fee hundred to this price and still get a fair deal.

The '56 at GC was listed for a couple months at least.

[(jps)]

SA is asking $4600, which I think is too high. Going by what you just said, I am glad I didn't walk out with it.

[(jdogric12)]

Is the binding eaten away yet?

[(collin)]

SA is asking $4600, which I think is too high. Going by what you just said, I am glad I didn't walk out with it.

That's not astronomical (and these are a Beatle guitar..), but unless it's really clean, I would have passed at that price too.

[(Ivan3000)]

Maybe Josh would want it?

[(collin)]

Maybe Josh would want it?

It's not the right year.

[(jps)]

Is the binding eaten away yet?

No, the binding is in quite nice shape, actually. The binding on my former (currently Jim Boyle's) 1961 6117 is also in excellent condition. The guitars that I have seen with binding rot has been from the mid to late '60s, was there any change during that period with regard to materials/construction on Gretsches, perhaps?

[(sloop_john_b)]

Yep, you don't really see binding rot before February 1964.

[(collin)]

Yep, you don't really see binding rot before February 1964.

And from what I gather, that's due to a change in the case, not the guitar (change happened when they went from blonde to black/grey cases).

[(crstory)]

What would you consider the "right" year(s) for the duo jet. I read a book written by Dan Duffy who was QC analyst for Gretsch when they were in Brooklyn. He mentioned how the quality was much better before the Beatles. Great book if you are a fan of Gretsch which I definitely am.