I'm rebuilding my old Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122.  I bought
it in 1969.  It had already been refinished (poorly), and the
Bigsby and mutes had been stripped.  It had obviously been around
the block yet was in great mechanical and playing shape.  I used
it to earn my living for a couple of years and have played it off
and on since then. I also dropped it, hacked it and did some crude
repairs in that time.

Recently I searched the web for Gretsch resources and found
GretschPages.com.  I looked up my serial number and found that my
Gretsch was made in 1964.  Same model that George Harrison played
around that time.  I decided I should show it some respect by stripping
the crappy refinish off, refinishing it, restoring the electronics
and adding some hot new TV Jones drop-in replacement pickups.

The front/neck of the old Country Gent. Look at the nasty pickup cutouts.
I cut them out when I was young and stupid to put a Fender pickup in.  Ouch.
Luckily the new surrounds cover all that up.  

The back of the guitar down to bare wood.

After dye and lacquer but before adding the GOLD Bigsby.  Tuners,
knobs, switches and bridge are all original.  Neck is straight and
bindings are almost perfect.  I mixed scarlet and amber dye to
produce what I call "Grand Marnier Red".

Another shot after dye and lacquer. I need to get a proper truss rod cover.

Full shot with the new B6.

Closer shot with new B6.  Reminds me of Fort Knox.