Description
Here’s a very rare two pickup Tennessean from 1961.
This is considered a ‘transitional’ model from the single pickup to the two pickup model and apparently Gretsch was considering dropping the 6119 and instead offer an all-new 6113 model. This reportedly created some issues with Chet Atkins regarding royalties, so the 6113 was shelved and the twin-pickup 6119 Tennessean that we know prevailed. Reportedly, there were only approximately 200 of these 6113 guitars made.
The 1961 6113 has no references to Chet Atkins and two Hi-Lo Tron pickups in place of the former single Filter Tron. It has a 15 3/4″ wide body and is also the only year of the 2 1/4″ thick body.
It features three controls (two volume on lower treble bout and one master volume on cutaway bout) plus two three-way tone selector switches on upper bass bout.
This guitar is in very good overall condition.
The pickups and controls all function as they should.
The bridge is not original and the switch tip knobs have been changed. There is one screw missing and one changed screw in the tuners.
Binding and neck joint are good.
There is a small area at the top of the back (by the neck) where there’s a slight separation but it appears to be stable and not separating further. This would be a pretty easy fix if desired.
Included with this 6113 is the original case which is in great condition.
Here’s a little more information from the internet on the 1961 Tennessean 6113:
“The 6113 is a little-known footnote in Tennessean history, with more than slightly hazy origins… As the 6119 Tennessean was transitioning from the early, single-pickup version to the Electrotone-bodied version in the early 60s, there was apparently some movement at Gretsch HQ to drop the 6119 and instead offer an all-new 6113 model. This reportedly created a bit of kerfluffle with Chet Atkins regarding royalties, so the 6113 was shelved and the twin-pickup 6119 Tennessean we know and love picked up where the stillborn 6113 left off. Very, very few 6113 models escaped the factory, but they are out there, confounding Tennessean fans.” (Gretschpages.com)
Ed Ball (the author of several fine books on Gretsch guitars) has researched this very rare ‘intermediate’ model and has confirmed that the first generation of 6113s were produced in 1961 at batch #419XX (100 units) without any reference to Chet’s endorsement. Another batch was produced at #421XX (a mixed batch with maybe just 50 Model 6113 guitars). The (apparent) final batch of these occurs at #426XX and is probably a smaller 50 unit group. More than one of these has been found with the “6113” indicator on both it’s warrantee certificate and OK card.