| Synchromatic 400 Acoustic Archtop 6040 (sunburst), 6041 (blond). Collectibility Rating: Early archtop model: B, later models: C-. Introduced in 1940 to compete with Gibson's popular Super 400, the opulent Synchromatic 400 featured an 18" wide, non-cutaway body with maple back and sides; double bound cat-eye sound holes; stairstep "synchrosonic" bridge; "chromatic" harp tailpiece; pickguard with white and gold sparkle binding that almost covered the treble sound hole; white and gold sparkle fingerboard and body binding; 26" scale; gold plated parts; 5 piece neck of maple and rosewood; ebony fingerboard; slanted script "Gretsch" logo; crossed "Synchromatic" chili-pepper inlay ornament; and slashed humptop block inlays. It was a beautiful Art Deco masterpiece. In 1947, Gretsch introduced a flattop version called the Synchromatic 400F, similar to the 1940-1954 Synchromatic 400 except for its flat top, triangle sound hole, and improved ebony bridge and tailpiece. |
