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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.

G6122-1962 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

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[1] (named after an instrumental hit for Chet) and the Tennessean [2], 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, all of whom 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 [3] 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 short-scaled Rickenbacker 325.

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.

Gretsch electric twelve-string and The Monkees

According to the audio commentary by Michael Nesmith for the episode "I've Got A Little Song Here" on The Monkees: Season One DVD set, prior to The Monkees, Nesmith liked twelve string electric guitars. At the time, only Rickenbacker mass-produced them. Nesmith, however, preferred the bluesy twangy sound of a Gretsch over the distinctive pop sound of a Rickenbacker. According to Nesmith, there was a luthier in Los Angeles that converted six string electric guitars into twelve string guitars. Nesmith bought himself a Gretsch Country Gentleman to convert into a twelve string, and that is the guitar he used in the pilot episode of The Monkees, "Here Come The Monkees". (Note: Upon close examination of the film footage, the guitar Nesmith identifies as a Country Gentleman is actually a Gretsch Tennessean. When the pilot episode aired, the music scenes were re-shot. As a result, Mike is holding the original Gretsch as the band is setting up, but has the famous blonde Gretsch once they start playing.) Once the pilot was sold as a series, and Gretsch made the deal to supply the group with instruments, Nesmith contacted Fred Gretsch, and asked if he could make him a twelve-string electric guitar. Gretsch agreed, and the result is the famous blonde electric twelve string that Nesmith used during the Monkees' entire run, on the series, in the recording studio, and in concert. Meanwhile, Fred Gretsch liked the finished instrument so much, he put the electric twelve string into production. One of the first was given to George Harrison and was later known as the "George Harrison Model" (Harrison, preferring his Rickenbacker twelve-string, gave the guitar to a friend).

From 1966 through 1968, Gretsch also produced the Gretsch 6123, which was a Monkees signature electric six string guitar.[4]However, since the Monkees' target demographic was tween-aged females, the guitar (bright red in color, with a dubious "Monkees" logo on the pickguard) was not a sales success, since few of these females played guitar, and even fewer had the cash to cover $469 price tag.

Sale, Gretsch family regains interest

Unfortunately, Fred never found an adequate successor, and in 1967 Gretsch was sold to Baldwin Pianos,¹ becoming a subsidiary. Gretsch's name lost prestige as its models were seen as cheapening and their signature styles fell out of fashion. Factory fires in the early 1970s caused serious problems, and production was finally halted by Baldwin in 1981. In 1989, the Gretsch family once again acquired their namesake company, and production began anew. Models throughout the 1990s were high-quality but expensive, and mostly consisted of classic reissues.

Resurgence

In the 1980s, rockabilly revival player Brian Setzer rekindled interest in the brand with his band the Stray Cats—he now has his own signature model. Although Chris Isaak explains that he never played a White Falcon, but a one of a kind white coloured Gibson,² his emergence into mainstream rock & roll radio only added to the fuel. His band, Silvertone, boasted a signature Gretsch sound which attracted the likes of renowned film director David Lynch, who subsequently used Isaak's music in the films Blue Velvet (1986) and Wild at Heart (1990) as a soundtrack to Lynch's surreal '50s atmosphere. In 1997, the Australian punk/rockabilly band The Living End rose to popularity, with guitarist Chris Cheney using a number of Gretsches, including a White Falcon, Duo Jets and his own custom Gretsch Guitar. This was not the first use of Gretsch guitars in punk ; since the late 1970s, Billy Zoom of X has used a 1955 Gretsch Silver Jet. He now has his own signature model, the G6129BZ Billy Zoom Custom Shop Tribute Silver Jet. Mick Jones from The Clash played a White Falcon in the video for London Calling. In rock, Malcolm Young of AC/DC played a double cut Jet Firebird (with the top finish stripped off and one pickup removed), and White Falcon (as seen in the video "Back in Black") during the band's career. In the 1990s, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden used a Duo Jet, and could be seen in the video for "Black Hole Sun". In the music video for "Malibu" by Hole, lead singer Courtney Love can be seen playing a Gretsch. Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong consistently uses a Country Club, which has been customized with various coats of black spray paint, at live performances. Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, John Frusciante played a vintage 1955 White Falcon for two songs on the Californication album. Frusciante played his White Falcon on songs Otherside and Californication, he also used to use this guitar when these songs were played live, but has since used a Stratocaster. John's White Falcon can be seen on the Californication music video, Off The Map DVD and Slane Castle DVD. Being a big fan of the group Bow Wow Wow at the time of Californication since Mathew Ashman played a Falcon, he thought it fit to buy one. Dave Grohl Uses a white falcon with the Foo Fighters in the video for Monkey Wrench and also uses a red Gretsch Fire Bird. U2 lead singer Bono's signature guitar is an "Irish Falcon", green in colour with the phrase 'The Goal Is Soul' printed on the pickguard in black text. Billy Duffy of The Cult has prominently used the White Falcon over decades. Depeche Mode guitarist Martin Gore plays a Gretsch in most live performances. Reid Paley uses a 1955 Gretsch hollowbody electric that was made a few blocks away in his Brooklyn neighborhood. Jack White of the White Stripes and the Raconteurs also uses Gretsch guitars. In the White Stripes he is now using a very rare 1957 Gretsch White Penguin. One of the rarest guitars in the world, it can be seen in the video for the song "Icky Thump." For the Raconteurs, he designed a Gretsch clone, which he has dubbed the “Triple Jet”. It is a double-cutaway Duo Jet with a third pickup added along with many other features including a solid copper top and a built in MXR Micro Amp. It also has a Gretsch logo that was only used on a few guitars in 1912. The guitar was built by luthier Randy Parsons of Seattle.

Fender

Finally, in 2003, Gretsch and Fender reached an agreement giving Fender most control over production and distribution of guitars (although the Gretsch family still owns Gretsch Guitars) — and a foothold in the hollowbody guitar market traditionally dominated by Gibson. The Gretsch family continues its involvement in the drum business, which is now part of the Kaman Music Corporation of musical instrument companies.

Current models

Hollow body electric

Single cutaway body style

Double cutaway body style

Solid body electric

Single cutaway body style

Double cutaway body style

Acoustic

Drums

Main article: Gretsch Drums

Gretsch Drums were/are also in high demand with drummers playing both jazz and rock. During the 1950s and 1960s, many renowned Jazz drummers, such as Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, and even Billy Cobham (during the early 70's in the early Mahavishnu days.) They were all playing the now classic "round badge" kits. Micky Dolenz also used Gretsch drums during the filming of the Monkees TV series. Phil Collins used a Gretsch drum kit for many years while touring with Genesis. Charlie Watts (the Wembley Whammer) of the Rolling Stones has played Gretsch drums for forty-five years. Brad Wilk from Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine has also used Gretsch Drums.

Notable artists using Gretsch equipment

Main article: List of Gretsch players

Notes

External links

• Gretsch
• The Gretsch Pages
• Gretsch in the Drumming Database
• Gretsch Guitars (Fender)
• Gretsch Drums (Kaman)
• Gretsch at Harmony Central
• The History of Gretsch Guitars by Jim Miller