Gretsch

For the Russian journalist, see Nicholas Gretsch

The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916. Gretsch then became one of the most prominent manufacturers of American musical instruments.

Guitar production began in the late 1930s, and Gretsch guitars became highly sought after, most notably in the 1950s and 1960s. They lost favour with players during the 1970s and 1980s for various reasons, including a problematic relationship with the Baldwin Piano Company. Gretsch eventually slid into bankruptcy, but it was revived by Fred W. Gretsch in 1989. Gretsch, who is great-great-grandson to Friederich Gretsch, and is sometimes referred to as Fred Gretsch III, remains president of the company to this day.

Most modern-era Gretsch guitars are manufactured in the Far East, though US-made "Custom Shop" models remain available. In 2003 Gretsch entered into an agreement with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), under the terms of which Fred Gretsch III would continue to own the company, with FMIC handling most development, distribution and sales.^[1]

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 1950s and 1960s

1955 Chet Atkins 6120

Players and collectors of vintage guitars 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, including the 6120 "Nashville," the Duo Jet chambered "solidbody", the Country Club, and the 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 his endorsement gave Gretsch greater visibility in competition with Gibson and Fender. 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.

1964 Chet Atkins Tennessean 6119

Many rockabilly players had followed in the footsteps of Eddie Cochran, who also wielded a 6120 (though modified with a Gibson P-90 pickup in the neck position) and Gene Vincent's guitarist Cliff Gallup, who played a Duo Jet. Elvis Presley himself later owned a Gretsch Country Gentleman - (recently manufactured as "Gretsch Country Classic" but now renamed Chet Atkins Country Gentleman), playing it briefly both on stage and in the studio. Gretsch quickly became a legitimate competitor to both Gibson and its main rivals, Fender and Rickenbacker. Gretsch fortunes rose yet again in the early sixties when George Harrison played a Gretsch Country Gentleman [3] on the Ed Sullivan Show. Despite popular belief, he acquired two Country Gentleman guitars; his first was destroyed when it fell out of the trunk of their car on the roadway. He would later switch to a Gretsch Tennessean and his Country Gentleman made its last appearance in the music video of 'You're Going To Lose That Girl' in the movie 'Help!' The Ed Sullivan Country Gent was given to Ringo Starr by Harrison's wife, Olivia (http://www.thecanteen.com/hudson.html). His favorite Gretsch, however, was undoubtedly the black Duo Jet he had bought in 1961 as his first good electric guitar (replacing his Futurama), and saw action from Hamburg and the Cavern to appearances on early Beatles records up to 1963. Harrison then either gave away or loaned the guitar to a friend, until he reacquired it in the 1980s when he used it on his 'Cloud Nine' album. In fact, the guitar appears on the cover of that album. This same guitar was offered to Norman, owner of Norman's famous guitars. Norman didn't accept the guitar at the time because he believed no one would believe that the guitar was actually George's. He claims he is one the dumbest men alive for not accepting George's gift.

The British Invasion brought with it, in addition to an extensive use of Rickenbackers, further popularity to Gretsch models. In addition to the Beatles, Brian O'Hara of the Fourmost extensively used a Country Gentleman; it has been suggested that George Harrison gave him this guitar after acquiring the Tennessean. John Lennon at one point acquired a Nashville (double cutaway) The Animals' Hilton Valentine played a Tennessean on the classic House of the Rising Sun. 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. Gerry Marsden from Gerry and the Pacemakers can also be seen using a Gretsch guitar.

Beginning in 1966, Gretsch had weekly television exposure when the company supplied the guitars and drums for The Monkees, extending the demand for guitars. 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. As the sixties waned into the seventies, Gretschs were seen in the hands of Stephen Stills and Neil Young, who each played Falcon models on the Buffalo Springfield's lone hit, "For What It's Worth". Pete Townshend of the Who also used a '59 orange Gretsch 6120 (given to him by Joe Walsh) on their 1971 Who's Next and 1973 Quadrophenia albums, including their hits, "Bargain", "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "5:15".

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 and Vox 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 preteen-aged girls, the guitar (bright red in color, with a dubious "Monkees" logo on the pickguard) was not a sales success, since few of these girls played guitar, and even fewer had the cash to cover $469 price tag.

Sale, Gretsch family regains interest

Fred never found an adequate successor, and in 1967 Gretsch was sold to Baldwin Pianos,^[2] becoming a subsidiary.

The "Baldwin era" is not generally considered a high point in Gretsch history, though new models were introduced through the seventies and old favorites soldiered on. Solidbody guitars rose to prominence in rock, with the harder styles of the era favoring Stratocasters and Les Pauls, and hollowbodies fell in popularity. At the same time, buyers felt Gretsch quality slipped as production moved from Brooklyn to Arkansas. In 1979, after Fred Jr's death, Chet Atkins withdrew his endorsement in response to quality problems and Gretsch's unwillingness to pursue his vision of a nylon-string electric guitar. Factory fires in the early 1970s caused serious problems, and production was finally halted by Baldwin in 1981.

In 1989, another Fred Gretsch, nephew of Fred Jr., and his wife Dinah once again acquired their namesake company. The first new model was the very unGretsch-like Traveling Wilburys model, an Asian import which looked much like a Danelectro; the model was suggested by George Harrison, who wanted to honor his own Gretsch history (in addition to the fact that all five Wilburys are pictured with a Gretsch in the album artwork and promotional photos) with a unique graphically-treated guitar whose introduction would be timed to help promote the Traveling Wilburys album. While the guitar did little credit to Gretsch classics of the past, it served notice that Gretsch was back.

After numerous attempts to acquire facilities or contract production in the United States failed, Fred Gretsch and long-time Gretsch employee Duke Kramer, who advised Gretsch, turned to Terada of Japan, and production began anew. A range of reissues appeared throughout the nineties to mixed reviews. They were of generally high quality, but with notable non-vintage details and features; occasional US-built "Custom Shop" models were offered at significantly higher prices. A confusing array of lower-priced Korean-sourced Electromatic and Synchromatic lines paid homage to earlier Gretsch models, but varied even further from classic Gretsch design and features.

Resurgence

In the 1980s, rockabilly revival player Brian Setzer rekindled interest in the brand with his band The Stray Cats. His influence continued through the 1990s with The Brian Setzer Orchestra and its fusion of "hyperbilly" guitar and powerful big band arrangements. In 1990, he became the first player since Chet Atkins to be honored with a signature-model Gretsch, the Brian Setzer 6120, which is now one of an extensive line of Setzer signature models.

Johan Frandsen and Brian Setzer on stage at the Helsinki Ice Hall, Finland, July 2011

Jim Heath, aka Reverend Horton Heat has been an important Gretsch proponent in the modern era, and also has a signature model.^{[citation needed]}

The FMIC era

In late 2002, Gretsch and Fender reached an agreement giving Fender most control over marketing, production and distribution of guitars (although the Gretsch family still owns Gretsch Guitars).

Fender quickly set about improving the line by upgrading substandard electrical components and bringing modern production more closely in line with designs and practices of the classic era. Body and headstock shapes, which on reissues from the 90s and early 00s had varied from 50s-60s practice, were made more vintage-correct. Hollowbodies were returned to 3-ply construction rather than the 5-plies of the 1990-2002 period. Filtertron double-coil pickups were redesigned by TV Jones to sound more like vintage pickups. Duo Jets were more extensively chambered, again in accordance with vintage practice, and the trestle bracing of the 1959-1961 era was re-introduced on the Setzer line and other selected models.

An array of models based on vintage designs has been introduced, with widespread approval among players and even collectors. While such judgments are always subjective and sometimes contentious, many feel FMIC-era Gretschs exhibit the highest level of overall build quality, attention to detail, and consistency in Gretsch's long history.

Gretsch also introduced new models consistent with its heritage but aimed at modern players, with features like premium pickups manufactured by TV Jones, locking Sperzel tuners, and ML bracing designed by Mike Lewis of FMIC and Masao Terada of the Terada company in Japan, where all Gretsch pro-line guitars are now built.

In January 2007, upon an agreement with the Atkins family, Gretsch announced the return of Chet Atkins as an endorser. The Country Classic models became Country Gentlemen once again, the name "Chet Atkins Hollowbody" returned to the 6120 Nashvilles, and the Tennessee Rose became the Chet Atkins Tennessee Rose. In July 2008, a limited run of Chet Atkins 6120 Stereo guitars was introduced, based on a famous prototype from 1956 which featured in several landmark Atkins recordings, but was never produced in series.

Billy Zoom, of the Los Angeles punk band X, was honored with a limited-edition Gretsch Custom Shop Jet model in 2008; this guitar is based on Zoom's own vintage Jet, and includes more extensive internal chambering than any other modern Jet, exactly reproducing the construction revealed when Zoom's original guitar was CAT-scanned at a medical facility during development.

At the same time, FMIC has refined and improved the mid-priced Electromatic line by discontinuing the low-end bolt-neck models of the late 90s and early 2000s, which incorporated generic humbucking pickups and wraparound bridges. The Electromatic Hollowbody line has proven particularly successful, from the 5125 - 5129 series with its US-made DeArmond 2000 pickups (which honor the vintage Gretsch combination of powerful full-range single-coil pickups in a hollowbody guitar) and the similar 5120 series. The 5120, a single-cutaway model inspired by the 6120, has become the best-selling guitar in Gretsch history, with an active after-market in replacement pickups from TV Jones and other makers for players who feel they provide a more characteristic tone than the stock "Gretschbucker" double-coil pickups. The double-cutaway 5122 model, introduced in 2008 and inspired by the 6122 Country Gentleman, fills out the Korean-built Electromatic Hollow line.

The Electromatic line also includes Pro Jet and Double Jet chambered solidbodies based on Gretsch's venerable Duo Jet line; these are equipped with Gretsch mini-humbuckers unavailable on any other guitar. Final members of the Electromatic line are the Corvette series, thin mahogany solidbodies based on the identically named and same-shaped model of the early sixties – but with the newly designed Mega'Tron double-coil pickups exclusive to the Corvette line. Both G. Love and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy have been honored with signature-series Electromatic Corvettes, the G. Love introduced in January 2008 and Stump's "Stump-o-matic" in January 2009.

Current models

Hollow body electric

Single cutaway body style

Professional collection Model Name G6073 Electrotone Bass G6117T-HT Anniversary G6118 G6118T-125 G6118T G6118T-LTV G6118TJR Anniversary 125th Anniversary Anniversary with Bigsby Anniversary Lacquer/TV Jones Anniversary Junior G6119 G6119-1959 G6119-1962FT G6119-1962HT Chet Atkins Tennessee Rose G6119B G6119BO Broadkaster Bass G6120KS Keith Scott Nashville G6120RHH Reverend Horton Heat G6120-6/12 Nashville Double Neck (6 and 12-string) G6120 G6120AM G6120BK G6120BS G6120TM G6120DSV G6120-1959 G6120-1959LTV Chet Atkins Hollow Body G6120DSW G6120W-1957 G6120-CGP Chet Atkins Western Style Chet Atkins Stereo G6120-125 Chet Atkins 125th Anniversary Limited Edition (limited to 25 pieces) G6120DSW-R Chet Atkins Relic G6120SSL G6120SSLVO G6120SSU G6120SSUGR Brian Setzer Nashville G6120SHBK G6120SHA G6120SHB G6120SHT G6120SHP G6120SHL G6120SHBKTV G6120SHATV G6120SHBTV G6120SHTTV G6120SHPTV G6120SHLTV Brian Setzer Hot Rod G6122-1958 G6122-1959 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman G6126TCC Chris Cheney Signature Model G6130 Knotty Pine Roundup G6136DS G6136T-LDS G6136DC G6136T G6136T-LTV G6136CST White Falcon G6136DSBK G6136TBK Black Falcon G6136TSL Silver Falcon G6136I Bono Irish Falcon G6136-1958 Stephen Stills White Falcon G6136DL David Lee G6136WCST Chet Atkins Western Style G6136SLBP Brian Setzer Black Phoenix 6143, 6144, 6145 Spectra Sonic G6192 G6192T G6193 G6193T G6196 G6196T G6196TSP-2G G6196TSP-BY Country Club G7593 White Falcon I

Electromatic collection Model Name G5120 G5120BK G5120SB G5125 G5126 G5127 G5128 G5129 Electromatic Hollow Body

Double cutaway body style

Professional collection Model Name G6120DC Chet Atkins Nashville G6122-1962 G6122II G6122-12 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 12 (12-string) G6136DC G6136LSB White Falcon White Falcon Long Scale Hollow-Body Bass

Electromatic collection Model Name G5122DC Electromatic Hollow Body

Solid body electric

Single cutaway body style

Professional collection Model Name G6121-1955 G6121-1959 Chet Atkins Solid Body G6128 G6128T G6128DS G6128TDS G6128TCG G6128T-DSV Duo Jet G6128-TDS-R Duo Jet Relic (limited to 75 pieces) G6128TVP G6128T-TVP Power Jet G6128B Thunder Jet Bass G6129 G6129T G6129T-1957 Silver Jet G6129AU G6129TG G6129TL Sparkle Jet G6129BZ Billy Zoom Custom Shop Tribute Silver Jet G6131T G6131TDS G6131MY Jet Firebird G6131TVP G6131T-TVP Power Jet Firebird G6134 G6134T-LTV White Penguin G6134B Black Penguin G6138 Bo Diddley (rectangular) G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird ("futuristic" body shape by Bo Diddley and Billy F. Gibbons) G6199B "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird Bass

Electromatic collection Model Name G5210 G5215 Junior Jet G5220 G5225 Junior Jet II G5235 G5235T G5236 G5236T G5238 G5238T Pro Jet G5245T G5246T G5248T Double Jet 5250 5255 5259 Special Jet 5265 Baritone Jet G5566 Jet Double Neck (lead and baritone) G5700 G5715 Lap Steel G5810 G5850 Bo Diddley (rectangular) Mini Diddley (rectangular)

Double cutaway body style

Professional collection Model Name G6128T-1962 Duo Jet G6129T-1962 Silver Jet

Electromatic collection Model Name G5135 G5135GL G5135PS Electromatic Corvette G. Love Patrick Vaughn Stump Stumpomatic

Acoustic

Arch top Model Name Synchromatic Archtop G100 G100CE G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Synchromatic Archtop Cutaway Acoustic/Electric Professional collection G400 G400B G400C G400UV Synchromatic Archtop Synchromatic Archtop Cutaway Jimmie Vaughan Synchromatic G6040MCSS Synchromatic Archtop Cutaway

Flat top Model Name Professional collection G6022 G6022C G6022E G6022CWFF Rancher Rancher Cutaway Rancher Acoustic/Electric Rancher Falcon Cutaway Flat Top collection G5010 G5012 G5013 G5015 Rancher Junior G5020C G5022C G5023C G5025C Rancher Jumbo G5030 G5030C G5032 G5032C G5033 G5033C G5035 G5035C Dreadnought, Dreadnought Cutaway

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, also legendary studio and all around drummer Vinnie Colaiuta plays Gretsch. 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. Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, Debbi Peterson of The Bangles and Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers also use Gretsch Drums.

Replicas

Main article: The Beatles: Rock Band

Harmonix Music Systems released a replica Gretsch Duo-Jet Guitar controller with along side the release of "The Beatles: Rock Band".

Notes

1. ^ Guitars of the Fred Gretsch Company - Jay Scott
2. ^ Gjörde, Per (2001). Pearls and Crazy Diamonds. Göteborg, Sweden: Addit Information AB. pp. 35–37. 

Bacon, T. (2000). (Ed.). Fuzz & Feedback: Classic Guitar Music of the 60's. Miller Freeman Books. San Francisco. ISBN 0-87930-612-2.

External links

• Gretsch