The Anniversary series debuted in 1958 as a celebration of 75 years since the company's founding. In what must be among the longest Anniversary celebrations ever, Gretsch kept on making Annies for more than 20 years, through the 1970s. More than 15 years after being reintroduced in 1990, they're still going strong.
For many, the ultimate Annies are the originals. For the first two years, Anniversary models were equipped with FilterTron humbuckers, making them very close to a low-budget 6120. All they lack is the bound f-holes and headstock of the more upscale models, and a stock Bigsby.
From the beginning, Anniversary models were "promotionally priced," a Gretsch euphemism for cheap. As the '60s begain, Gretsch began moving them farther downscale. In 1960, Rosewood fingerboards began to replace ebony and HiLoTron single-coils began to replace FilterTrons. By the end of 1961, the changeover was complete.
But even as Gretsch took the Anniversary down market, they came out with a high-end stereo version, the 6112. On Anniversaries, the already low-output HiLo's were split to provide the stereo output, making the system even less functional than it was on FilterTron-equipped guitars. Since the system was only offered in 1961 and 1962 and was never particularly popular, stereo Anniversarys are extremely rare. Note the closely-spaced pickups found on stereo Anniversaries.
During the Baldwin era, the Single Anniversary was quietly dropped, sometime in the late 60s or early 70s. The Double Anniversary soldiered on as the 7560, available only in a sunburst finish, until 1977.
— Nov 18, 2006 8:37 p.m.