Vintage Gretsch Guitar

Gretsch is a U.S. musical instrument manufacturer currently being distributed by guitar company Fender and drum craft company Kaman. It is known primarily for drums and electric guitars such as the White Falcon and Duo Jet.

History

Beginnings

Gretsch was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a young German immigrant. His Brooklyn shop was made for the manufacture of banjos, tambourines, and drums. In 1895, at the age of 39, Gretsch died, and the successful company was taken over by his son Fred. By 1916, Fred had moved the company into a larger 10-story building in the Williamsburg district, becoming one of the most prominent American musical instrument makers.

The "Best" years

One of the Gretsch Company's largest influences on electric guitar culture came, not from a guitar, but rather a drum set. The Gretsch Broadkaster drum set has the distinction of being the reason Leo Fender had to change the name of his pioneering solidbody electric guitar. Fender introduced the Spanish-style electric instrument in 1950 as the "Broadcaster". After receiving a cease-and-desist notice from the Gretsch company about the trademarked name, the Fender Broadcaster became the "Telecaster". A short run of intermediate, unlabeled guitars ("Nocasters") are extremely rare and highly valued on the vintage market.

Many feel that Gretsch's "best" years started in the mid 1950s, after Fred's son Fred Jr. had taken the reins. It was during this time the company introduced several distinctive models of electric guitars, including the 6120 and White Falcon.

However, the single biggest contribution to Gretsch's success was the addition of Chet Atkins as an endorser. Atkins was one of the pre-eminent guitarists of his day, and it gave Gretsch a fighting chance against Fender's Telecaster and Stratocaster, and the Gibson Les Paul. Gretsch ultimately sold thousands of guitars with Chet's name on the pickguard, most notably the 6120 Chet Atkins model, one of which was purchased in 1957 by a young guitar player named Duane Eddy. The worldwide success of Duane's "twangy" instrumental records, television appearances, and extensive touring helped expose the Gretsch guitar to a huge new market, that of the teenage rock and roll fan. George Harrison, years later, was to refer to this model as "the Eddie Cochran/Duane Eddy guitar". Other Chet Atkins models were the Country Gentleman (named after an instrumental hit for Chet) and the Tennessean , a lower cost version of the Country Gent.

Many rockabilly players following in the footsteps of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent's guitarist Cliff Gallup and Elvis Presley, who all chose Gretsch guitars. Although Elvis's guitarist, Scotty Moore, played instruments from Gibson, Elvis himself owned a Gretsch Country Gentleman - (recently manufactured as "Gretsch Country Classic" but now renamed Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, perfected with the assistance of Roger Field, a friend of Atkins) - that he played both on stage and in the studio. Gretsch quickly became a legitimate competitor to both Gibson and its main rivals, Fender and Rickenbacker. Gretsch's fortunes were greatly aided when, in the mid-1960s, George Harrison played a Gretsch Country Gentleman on the Ed Sullivan Show. In the following 12 months, the number of Country Gentleman guitars sold in a 12-month period jumped from the mid-fifties to over 2,000. George Harrison also played a Gretsch Tennessean. John Lennon briefly used an orange Gretsch Nashville (model #6120), although he is usually associated with his Epiphone Casino.

Beginning in 1966, Gretsch had weekly television exposure when the company supplied the guitars and drums for The Monkees. This had an effect analogous to Jimi Hendrix's adoption of the Stratocaster; Gretsch was unable to keep up with demand. Both Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground used a Gretsch Country Gentleman during the bands' lifetime (although not simultaneously - they shared the same guitar), as did Stone Roses guitarist John Squire. Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones used a 1963 model 6118 Double Anniversary from late 1963 - mid 1964, used on the Stones' version of I Wanna Be Your Man as well as the Rolling Stones' first album as well as a few tracks on 12 X 5, notably It's All Over Now. After he retired the Gretsch in July 1964, Jones began to use a Vox Mark III, which became his main guitar until June 1965. Pete Townshend of the Who also used an orange Gretsch 6120 (given to him as a gift by friend Joe Walsh) on their 1971 Who's Next album, including their hit,"Bargain". Neil Young also used many different Gretsches during his recording career, including White Falcons, 6120s, and Duo Jets.

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