GRETSCH CLIPPER MODEL 6185/6186/6187/7555 Description
- single round cutaway maple body, arched top, two f-holes, double bound top and back, maple neck, 21-fret ebony fingerboard with white dot inlay, blackface peghead with logo, three-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, adj. ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece, raised pickguard with logo, one or two exposed DeArmond pickups, volume/tone control, chrome hardware, available in Natural (Model 6187) or Sunburst (Model 6186/6185/7555) finish, 24.5 in. scale, mfg. 1958-1975.
The original prototype of this model had a deeper, full body, but by the Clipper's introduction, the body had a thinner, 335 style thickness to it. In 1959, Natural finish (Model 6187) was introduced. In 1960, a HiLo'Tron pickup was introduced. In 1961, Natural finish was disc. In 1963, a palm vibrato was offered as standard, though few models are found with one. In 1968, vibrato was no longer offered. In 1971, this model was renumbered 7555. In 1972, two pickups were introduced (Model 6185).