The first year of the 6191 Streamliner was 1955. It was a single cutaway hollow-body with a double bound top and back, spruce top, maple sides and neck, and a 22-fret rosewood fretboard. A single DeArmond Dynasonic pickup produced the tone, while the standard "G" tailpiece, block inlays, waverley tuners, and chrome hardware completed the package. The master volume knob was positioned on the lower bout while the tone knob sat on the cutaway.

In 1957 Gretsch opted for an ebony fret board over the rosewood and added double bound f-holes. In 1958 they began the transition that would eventually replace the Streamliner with the Anniversary model. The two most significant changes for that year were the new FilterTron pickup, to replace the DeArmond, and the addition of the space control bridge. The guitar remained pretty much the same through the 1959 model year after which it was discontinued. Though it had a short run, it enjoyed a lot of success as the "top-of-the-line" model among the Gretsch low-end collection.

The 6191 Streamliner enjoyed a brief comeback in 1969 when it was reintroduced as a thin line double cutaway. But as with most Gretsch re-issues, the second incarnation was different enough from thes original to make it an entirely new guitar. For fans of vintage Gretsch axes, the 1950s Streamliner's were a unique instrument with their own place in the Gretsch history. And who are we to argue?