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Lot Essay
The Gretsch company was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1883 by 27-year-old German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch. Originally launched as a musical instrument shop for the manufacture of percussion instruments, the company was making ukuleles and banjos by 1910 and in 1933 debuted a line of archtop guitars. By the 1950s Gretsch had shifted their concentration to electric guitars and it is within this realm where Gretsch instruments made a lasting impression in the market. With a crowded field of manufacturers producing electric guitars, Gretsch set itself apart by first concentrating on hollow-body and semi-hollow-body electric guitars. They embraced colour schemes and eye-catching ornamentation not found on Gibsons, Fenders or Rickenbackers. The endorsement by guitarist Chet Atkins and subsequent Chet Atkins models drew a loyal following, as did artists who performed on Gretsch hollow-bodies like Stephen Stills and Neil Young.
The Gretsch 6130 Round-Up was introduced in 1953, with customers receiving orders from 1954. The Western motif inlay at the 1st fret did not appear until 1955, the year of this guitar's manufacture. Dave Davidson, owner of New York’s Well Strung Guitars discussed the model with Guitar World in January 2025: The knotty pine top wasn’t something that could be ordered and some of the guitars just came that way while others didn’t, with no explanation from Gretsch. They had every bell and whistle that Gretsch could offer you besides the bejewelled knobs, which were reserved for the Falcon and Penguin. But it has the Western motif inlays, gold hardware and the belt buckle tailpiece with the lasso scene. They were originally priced at around $300, which was more than a $182 Stratocaster but less than a Goldtop Les Paul. Gretsch was trying to produce something to compete with Gibson’s Les Paul model but at a price point about $100 lower. Round-Ups are a lot lighter than a Les Paul because they’re chambered, but they did that to save money, not to make the guitars light. Gretsch pricing included the case, whereas Gibson charged additionally for their cases. Believe it or not, the Round-Up guitars remained in the catalogue until 1960. They weren’t actually pictured after 1955, but Gretsch did state they were still available.
The Gretsch 6130 Round-Up was introduced in 1953, with customers receiving orders from 1954. The Western motif inlay at the 1st fret did not appear until 1955, the year of this guitar's manufacture. Dave Davidson, owner of New York’s Well Strung Guitars discussed the model with Guitar World in January 2025: The knotty pine top wasn’t something that could be ordered and some of the guitars just came that way while others didn’t, with no explanation from Gretsch. They had every bell and whistle that Gretsch could offer you besides the bejewelled knobs, which were reserved for the Falcon and Penguin. But it has the Western motif inlays, gold hardware and the belt buckle tailpiece with the lasso scene. They were originally priced at around $300, which was more than a $182 Stratocaster but less than a Goldtop Les Paul. Gretsch was trying to produce something to compete with Gibson’s Les Paul model but at a price point about $100 lower. Round-Ups are a lot lighter than a Les Paul because they’re chambered, but they did that to save money, not to make the guitars light. Gretsch pricing included the case, whereas Gibson charged additionally for their cases. Believe it or not, the Round-Up guitars remained in the catalogue until 1960. They weren’t actually pictured after 1955, but Gretsch did state they were still available.