Gretsch Guitars

Featured Gretsch Guitars:

That Great Gretsch Sound

‘That Great Gretsch Sound’ has been filling music venues around the world for well over 130 years now. Founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by German immigrant, Friedrich Gretsch, the Gretsch Musical Instrument Company is one of the oldest instrument manufacturers around – very few instrument brands can boast such a long history. Not only that, Gretsch were the largest musical instrument manufacturer at the beginning of the 20th century although mainly focusing on drums and banjos. Gretsch guitars wouldn’t be introduced until the 1930s.

Gretsch’s sustainability and success can be attributed to a number of factors over the years…

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

With the untimely death of founder Friedrich Gretsch in 1895 at the age of only 39, the family continued trading with Friedrich’s son, Fred Gretsch taking over the company aged just 15 years old! Fred Sr. retired in 1942 passing responsibility down to his son, William “Bill” Gretsch with Fred Gretsch Jr. taking over in 1948. The “Golden Age” of Gretsch guitars was from the mid-1950s to the mid-‘60s which saw the development of their classic models; Gretsch Country Club, Gretsch Country Gentleman, Gretsch 6120, Gretsch Chet Atkins, Gretsch White Falcon archtops and the Gretsch Duo Jet and Gretsch Pro Jet solidbodies. With the support of popular artists such as Chet Atkins, Eddie Cochran, George Harrison and Duane Eddy, Gretsch guitars found a loyal following among country and rock guitarists.

In 1967, Fred Jr. was forced to sell the company and the brand fell out of favour.

The rockabilly revival in the late ‘70s and ‘80s led by Brian Setzer and The Stray Cats saw renewed interest in the instruments of their peers. In 1985 the Gretsch brand returned to the family under Fred W. Gretsch, the founder’s great grandson. Since then the brand has become a major player with numerous artist endorsements and models catering to a wide range of players from beginners to professionals.

UNIQUE SOUND

The characteristic Gretsch sound is like no other – managing to bridge the gap between bright twang and deep throaty growl. Imagine if you could take two tonally opposite guitars, a Fender Tele and Gibson hollow-body, extract the best qualities of both and put them in one instrument – that’s the kind of magic that make Gretsch guitars so distinct.

The “godfather of modern rockabilly and psychobilly”, The Reverend Horton Heat, is one artist who loves the versatility of Grestch guitars and has commented on fans who think he’s used guitars like Teles and ES-175’s on his recordings when in fact he very rarely strays from Gretsch.

The unique sound comes from a combination of wood (typically maple), the design and electronics. Gretsch’s standard pickup since the 1940s is the single-coil DynaSonic (originally the Gretsch-DeArmond Fidelatone). Gretsch led the way in the development of the humbucker with the Filter’Tron, a pickup designed in 1954 for Chet Atkins, a few years before Seth Lover and Gibson designed and patented theirs.

THE LINE UP

Gretsch offer a huge selection of models from budget to high-end so whether you are a  home/studio player, semi professional or professional player there is a Gretsch for you.

Gretsch Custom Shop: Hand-built in the USA by a small team of dedicated craftsmen. The very top quality including relics, custom artwork and finishes, and imaginative re-workings of Gretsch classics.

Gretsch Professional Series: Hand crafted in Japan to the highest standard possible the professional series has four main catergories.

• Gretsch Vintage Select: These instruments are inspired by those early ’50s and ’60s “golden era” guitars. Models like the Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition 1959 Chet Atkins feature vintage specifications including classic stylings and finishes, classic TV Jones pickups, period-correct tailpieces and bridges, classic control layouts and switching, and even aged binding and inlays.
• Grestch Players Edition: These instruments are designed for professional players who want ‘That Great Gretsch Sound’ with some innovative appointments. Models like the Gretsch G6136T-BLK Player’s Edition Black Falcon feature a thinner 2.25″ body, pinned rocking bar bridge, locking tuners and String-Thru Bigsby.
• Grestch Limited Edition: Instruments like the Gretsch Limited Edition G6136T-DCHFL Falcon Dark Cherry Stain include striking finishes and upgraded features and appointments. Stunningly individual with a rich tone, these small-batch runs are designed for players seeking a more individualised edge.
• Gretsch Artist Signature Series: The best form of recognition for any guitar manufacturer is a popular artist choosing to play their instruments. One such partnership was forged in 1954 when Gretsch Ambassador, Jimmie Webster struck a deal with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins to design his very own production model. A decade later George Harrison appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show playing a Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gent consequently sparking Beatlemania in U.S. In the 1980’s, Brian Setzer was strutting his stuff playing an original Gretsch 1959 6120. Bo Diddley, Billy Gibbons, Eddie Cochran, Stephen Stills, Billy Duffy, (our very own Guitar Village customer) Darrel Higham plus many more are proud to be part of the Gretsch family. The Gretsch Artist Signature Series celebrates these partnerships perfectly with guitars like the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature Western Maple Stain displaying unprecedented attention to detail both sonically and visually.
  Endorsements like this have inspired generations of guitarists craving ‘That Great Gretsch Sound’.

Gretsch Electromatic Series: Made in Korea. Aimed at the mid-range market these guitars get their name from the first electric guitars Gretsch introduced in 1939. The Gretsch Electromatic series offers more affordable versions of many of the professional series featuring many of the key characteristics such as thumbnail or hump-block inlays, large bound f-holes, late ’50s bound headstock. The most popular model in this range is the Gretsch G5420T.

Gretsch Streamliner Series: Made in Indonesia. Named after Gretsch’s budget series of guitars released in the mid-fifties. The Gretsch Streamliner series is a remarkable looking and sounding series of guitars that are very affordable.

Guitar Village are proud to be a Gretsch UK dealer with a huge range across the board to suit all budgets.

THE HISTORY AND MAGIC OF GRETSCH GUITARS

Find out more about Gretsch’s rise to prominence – A HISTORY OF GRETSCH GUITARS

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