In the April 2015 issue, Premier Guitar put a spotlight on a 1962 Gretsch 6196 as part of its Vintage Vault series.
The instrument, on display at Dave’s Guitar Shop in La Cross, Wisc., has features often associated with Gretsch guitars from 1962, including a “cushioned for comfort” back pad that hid a hole designed to provide easy access to the interior wiring, a built-in string mute, and a standby switch. Additionally, the guitar includes gold Filter’Tron humbuckers, Space Control bridge, and ebony fretboard with Neo-Classic inlays (standard since 1958). Instead of the stock “G” tailpiece, this vintage guitar is equipped with a non-original Bigsby vibrato.