Gretsch 6185 Electromatic Spanish
| The 6135 Electromatic Spanish was one of Gretsch's first attempts at a hollow-body electric. The Electromatic series debuted in the late 30s or the early 40s, depending on who you ask, and about the same time as the Synchromatic. Little is known about the first ones out of the shop because so few were made while the country was gearing up for war. Some reports indicate that a few may have been made by the Kay company in late 1938 or 1939, others say they didn't begin until Gretsch started making them in 1940.
Regardless, it's clear to see that Gretsch had a lot to learn when they first released the Electromatic Spanish. It was fitted with a single-coil pickup and separate volume and tone controls in a very odd placement on the upper bout. The body featured maple sides and a spruce top, joined to a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. Grover StaTite tuners and non-bound F-holes completed the package. In the late 1940s some significant changes came to the 6135 Electromatics Spanish, starting with a new DeArmond pickup. The original tailpiece was switched out for a Gretsch trapeze, the volume knob was moved the lower bout, and the word "Electromatic" was engraved on the headstock. Body and neck construction remained the same but more dot inlays were added up the fretboard. Originally the 6135 only came in a sunburst finish; by 1951 they had added a blond finish as well. From there it remained pretty much the same until 1955, when a restyling transformed it into the Corvette series. Although the earliest versions of the Electromatic Spanish were not the greatest guitars by today's standards, they were pretty good instruments for those early years. They produced a rich, jazzy tone which set the stage for the legendary Gretsch sound we know today. |
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