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Gretsch Country Club Value Guide (1954 to 1969): 6192, 6193 and 6196
A vintage Gretsch Country Club from the 1950s and 1960s has mostly sold for about $2,000 to $4,000 on Reverb, with clean, original 1950s DeArmond-era guitars bringing more. Edgewater Guitars, based near Cleveland, Ohio, buys vintage Gretsch guitars nationwide. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or text us photos.
What is a vintage Gretsch Country Club worth?
Country Club era | Reverb sold prices (Good to Mint) |
|---|---|
1954 to 1957, DeArmond pickups | Seven sales from 2023 to 2026 at $2,835 to $8,695; the two 2026 sales were $6,450 and $8,695 |
1958 to 1959, first Filter'Tron years | Estimated range $2,096 to $3,983 (15 orders); recent sales $1,850 to $4,000 |
1963 to 1964 | Six sales from 2016 to 2023 at $2,400 to $7,995, the most recent $2,400 |
1965 to 1970 | Four sales from 2023 to 2026 at $1,399 to $4,395, the most recent $1,900 (May 2026) |
Where those numbers come from: Reverb's sold-price pages for the Country Club 1954 to 1957, 1958 to 1959, 1963 to 1964 and 1965 to 1970, viewed October 2026, used guitars in Good to Mint condition. Country Clubs change hands far less often than Fender or Gibson models, so each era has only a handful of sales, and Reverb shows no recent sales at all for 1960 to 1962. Treat these as reference points, not a price list. Reverb also does not separate the Cadillac Green 6196 from the sunburst and natural guitars.
Edgewater's cash offer on a guitar like that would typically land around 20% under those sold figures, and lower for refinished, modified or binding-rot examples. With this few sales, condition and originality decide the number, so the accurate answer for yours is a free appraisal.
6192, 6193 and 6196: the three Country Clubs
The Country Club is a 17 inch wide, single-cutaway hollow body archtop. It grew out of the Electro II, which Gretsch introduced in 1951, and took the Country Club name in 1954. The model number tells you the finish:
6192: sunburst.
6193: natural (blonde).
6196: Cadillac Green, added in the mid 1950s (sources say 1954 or 1955).
Standard production Country Clubs stayed single-cutaway for the whole vintage run, unlike the Country Gentleman, which went to a double cutaway in the early 1960s.
Country Club years and what changed
1954 to 1957: two DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups, the Melita bridge and block "humptop" fingerboard inlays.
1958: Filter'Tron humbuckers replaced the DeArmonds, a roller Space Control bridge replaced the Melita, and thumbprint (Neo-Classic) inlays on an ebony board replaced the humptop blocks. The stereo Project-O-Sonic versions also arrived this year (below).
Early 1960s: the body was made thinner for a few years, then deeper again by about 1963 to 1964. Sources differ on the exact years and depths, so do not date a guitar by body depth alone. A padded back and a built-in string mute also appear on early 1960s guitars.
1967: Baldwin bought Gretsch.
Around 1968: the Cadillac Green finish was dropped.
1970: production moved from Brooklyn to Booneville, Arkansas.
Early 1970s: the Country Club was renumbered 7575 (sunburst) and 7576 (natural), in 1971 or 1972 depending on the source.
1981: Gretsch guitar production ended.
Project-O-Sonic stereo Country Clubs
From 1958 Gretsch also offered the Country Club with its Project-O-Sonic stereo wiring, which split each pickup's output so the bass and treble strings could feed two amplifiers. The stereo guitars carry their own model numbers: 6101 (sunburst), 6102 (natural) and 6103 (Cadillac Green). They were made from the late 1950s into the early 1960s and are less common than the standard guitars. If the label shows a model number in the 6100s, send us photos of the label and the controls.
How to date a vintage Gretsch Country Club
Until mid 1966, Gretsch used sequential serial numbers on a label inside the body, visible through the f-hole. Gretsch's own serial chart gives approximate ranges:
Serial number | Year |
|---|---|
About 9000 to 13000 | 1954 |
About 13000 to 18000 | 1955 |
About 18000 to 21000 | 1956 |
About 21000 to 26000 | 1957 |
About 26000 to 30000 | 1958 |
About 30000 to 34000 | 1959 |
About 34000 to 39000 | 1960 |
About 39000 to 45000 | 1961 |
About 45100 to 53000 | 1962 |
About 53000 to 63000 | 1963 |
About 63000 to 77000 | 1964 |
About 77000 to 84000 | 1965 |
From mid to late 1966, Gretsch switched to a date-coded serial stamped on the headstock. The first one or two digits are the month, the next digit is the last digit of the year, and the rest is the production count, so 4712 reads as April 1967. Our Gretsch serial number guide covers the later codes. Check the hardware too: DeArmond pickups and a Melita bridge point to 1957 or earlier, Filter'Trons and a Space Control bridge to 1958 or later.
What hurts the offer
Binding rot: the celluloid binding on many vintage Gretsch archtops breaks down with age, crumbling or discoloring. It is a material problem, not owner neglect, and the fix is skilled work: the rotten binding has to be removed and replaced. Tell us about it up front; it lowers the offer but rarely ends the conversation.
Refinish: an original finish, especially original Cadillac Green, is what collectors pay for. A refinished guitar sells for less.
Pickups that do not match the year: Filter'Trons on a 1957 or earlier guitar, or DeArmonds put into a later one, are a non-original setup.
Replaced bridge, tailpiece or tuners: keep any original parts that came off; they help the value if they go with the guitar.
For the Country Club's better-known Gretsch siblings, see our Country Gentleman value guide, the Tennessean value guide and the Single Anniversary value guide. Weighing your options first? Read where to sell a vintage Gretsch or see how we buy Gretsch guitars.
What sellers say
"I gave Gavin a call about my Gretsch and he met me with cash the same afternoon. Highly recommended." Pierce Hoffmann, Google review
Frequently asked questions
How much is a vintage Gretsch Country Club worth?
On Reverb, most 1950s and 1960s Country Clubs have sold for about $2,000 to $4,000, with clean 1954 to 1957 DeArmond guitars selling higher, up to $8,695 in 2026. Edgewater's offer usually lands about 20% under sold prices, lower for refinished or binding-rot guitars.
What is the difference between a 6192, 6193 and 6196?
The finish. The 6192 is sunburst, the 6193 natural and the 6196 Cadillac Green. The stereo Project-O-Sonic versions are 6101, 6102 and 6103.
When did the Country Club get Filter'Tron pickups?
In 1958. Earlier Country Clubs have two DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups.
How do I date my Gretsch Country Club?
Before mid 1966, read the serial number on the label through the f-hole and compare it with Gretsch's year ranges. From late 1966 the serial is date-coded on the headstock: month first, then the last digit of the year.
Is binding rot a deal-breaker?
No. It is common on vintage Gretsch guitars and repairable by replacing the binding. It lowers the offer, but we still buy guitars that have it.
Where can I sell a vintage Gretsch Country Club?
Edgewater Guitars buys them directly, nationwide, with free appraisals from photos. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or request a free estimate online.
By Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars. Last updated: October 2026.
