Gretsch’s Limited Penguin Returns in Pale Blue Pearl

Gretsch’s G6134T-58 Penguin arrives this summer in Pale Blue Pearl, the latest turn for a model that has previously appeared in paisley, Champagne Sparkle, and quilted maple. The finish is set against silver sparkle binding, a combination that stays firmly within the brand’s golden-era ornamentation.

The build follows Professional Series spec: chambered mahogany body with a maple arch top, glued-in mahogany neck in a Standard U profile, 24.6-inch scale, Space Control bridge on a pinned ebony base, and a 12-inch radius ebony fingerboard with Neo Classic thumbnail inlays. The Bigsby B3GP string-through vibrato adds mass, with the guitar expected to sit between 8 and 9 pounds.

The pickups are the more consequential detail. The pair of TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity Filter’Trons are made to Butts’ original specifications, with DCR readings of 4.2K at the bridge and 3.8K at the neck. They lean toward a TV Classic voice but with a tighter low end and more high-frequency detail. Street price is £3,699 / $3,799, including a hard-shell case.