The Gretsch Pages

The 6189, 6190 and 6191 Streamliners descended directly from the early '50s Electromatic and were — along with the lower-priced Clipper — the primary models shoring up the bottom end of the Gretsch line.

That doesn't mean they were shoddy guitars, though. The '55 to '57 Streamliners were built on the exact same body as the 6120 Chet Atkins of the era, and are effectively a single-pickup version, without the tremolo, binding or other frills.

Gretsch didn't exactly advertise that fact, though, because Streamliners were much cheaper than the 6120 when new. They still are.

With the advent of other low-priced models such as the Anniversaries and the Tennessean in '58, the Streamliner's days were numbered. It was discontinued in late 1958.

See Also:

• 6103 Streamliner
• 6102 Streamliner
• 6191 Streamliner
• 6189 Streamliner

Comments

1. KCeddieB wrote:

   Since the 50's Streamliner model reflects the same construction, and demensions as the more saught after 6120 models, their playability would be the same, at least as far as a single pick-up version would take you. The fact that a fair number of these guitars have been made into 6120 conversions, would suggest that there are less original and clean examples out in the market as a result... which might imporove their collectibility in future years, particularly as 6120 prices soar.

   — Nov 12, 2006 9:25 p.m.

2. Skater wrote:

   I've owned dozens of guitars over the years. My second guitar was a 6190 I still own and my only one used for jazz. Sound, playability, & comfort of it are excellent. Thinner body, thinner neck than Gibson, less feedback, & 50+ year old tone. Doesn't have the flash & dazzle of other guitars but this is a serious jazz instrument. It might not be a collectors guitar but it's certainly a players guitar. Very fast neck on mine.

   — Nov 25, 2007 10:07 p.m.

1955:

The sunburst-finished 6190 Streamliner, like the 6189, was a no-frills, single-pickup guitar built on the same body as the 6120.

Body Width

15½"

Body Depth

2¾"

Body Style

Single Cutaway Hollowbody

Colors

• Sunburst

Fretboard Wood

Rosewood

Fretboard Markers

Block

Nut

Bone

Tuners

Waverly

Neck Pickup

DeArmond Dynasonic

Controls

• Neck pickup volume
• Master Tone (knob)

Bridge

Melita

Tailpiece

G-Cutout

1956:

1956 brought a larger truss rod cover to the 6190.

Body Width

15½"

Body Depth

2¾"

Body Style

Single Cutaway Hollowbody

Colors

• Sunburst

Fretboard Wood

Ebony

Fretboard Markers

Block

Nut

Bone

Tuners

Waverly

Neck Pickup

DeArmond Dynasonic

Controls

• Master Volume
• Master Tone (knob)

Bridge

Melita

Tailpiece

G-Cutout

1957:

Changes in 1957 were minor, and typical for the year: Orange and gray labels appeared, along with G-and-arrow knobs.

Body Width

15½"

Body Depth

2¾"

Body Style

Single Cutaway Hollowbody

Colors

• Sunburst

Fretboard Wood

Ebony

Fretboard Markers

Humped Block

Nut

Bone

Tuners

Waverly

Neck Pickup

DeArmond Dynasonic

Controls

• Master Volume
• Neck pickup volume

Bridge

Melita

Tailpiece

G-Cutout

1958:

Features for the 1958 6190 Streamliner mirrored other Gretsch guitars. A Space Control bridge, Neo-Classic fret markers, a tone switch and single FilterTron replaced the earlier specs. Facing an ever-diminishing spot in the line-up as the higher-profile Tennessean and Anniversary models took it's spot, the original Streamliner called it quits after 1958.

Body Width

15½"

Body Depth

2¾"

Body Style

Single Cutaway Hollowbody

Colors

• Sunburst

Fretboard Wood

Ebony

Fretboard Markers

Neo-Classic

Nut

Bone

Tuners

Waverly

Neck Pickup

"Patent Applied For" FilterTron

Controls

• Master Volume
• Master Tone (knob)

Bridge

Space Control

Tailpiece

G-Cutout