We don’t care about anything else right now because here’s the most beautiful guitar in the world, and suddenly nothing else matters! Damn, this one pops! Straight out of the collection of a serious player and Gretsch collector (well, of course), here comes a stunner: a 2012 Gretsch Penguin G6134CS Red Sparkle Masterbuilt by none other than Stephen Stern.

So, what’s the deal? The Fender Custom Shop, born in ’87 in Corona, California, was already world-famous. But among the handful of master builders back then, only two really knew their way around archtop hollow-bodies: Chris Fleming and Stephen Stern. So, what about Stern? He trained with two absolute legends—Jimmy D’Aquisto and Robert Benedetto—before joining Fender in ’93. When D’Aquisto passed in ’95 and the Benedetto deal wrapped up, Stern was free to dive into Gretsch full-time. By 2005 he was running the Gretsch Custom Shop, and with a small dedicated crew, basically became THE guy at the Gretsch Custom Shop and many will tell you he’s the undisputed master of custom Gretsch guitars.

The guitar we’re talking about here is something else entirely: a 2012 Gretsch G6134 CS Penguin Red Sparkle Masterbuilt by Stern. Totally unique. With its sleek appointments and crazy Red Sparkle finish, it blends killer craftsmanship, insane detail, and pure playability. It’s so far above any production model that you’ll wonder why the hell you didn’t own one sooner. The chambered body gives it lively acoustics, and plugged in it’s pure Gretsch chime.

And the look? Unreal. Glossy finish, perfect neck, spotless frets and fingerboard, hardware practically untouched. Sure, there might be a few tiny scratches or hints of playwear, but honestly, once the Red Sparkle blinds you, you won’t notice a thing. The pickups roar with that modern Gretsch power, with all the tonal shades you want thanks to the switches and that buttery Bigsby. The SYNCHRO-SONIC™ bridge was swapped for a vintage Rocking Bar (the original is still in the case), and it sounds so much better. Bottom line: this is a bomb. Way above the Japanese builds, ridiculously comfy to play, and guaranteed to blow away the first 43 rows of your fans with that wild look.

If you’re hunting for a rare, jaw-dropping Masterbuilt Gretsch—stop. This is the one. And with Mike Lewis who left this world in 2024 and Stephen Stern out of Gretsch since late 2023, there won’t be any more like this. This beauty comes with its  tolex hard case, hangtags, and a COA signed by Stephen Stern.