Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Peter...My thanks publicly for making this happen. I think it's true that many of us are Gretsch fans also, and this is going to be a cool place to discuss Gretsch guitars, both old and new, as well as the people who have played them, and the music made by them on Gretsch instruments. Given that Rickresource is such an outstanding forum with quality people, I'm sure we're going to have a lot to talk about in a positive, constructive way.

Personally, I own a two-tone Cadillac Green Gretsch Anniversary, and a new Silver Jet. Both cool guitars.

May I recommend a terrific Gretsch dealer to everyone? Rocky Schiano, who owns Street Sound Music In Brooklyn, NY, is a great guy, with amazing deals on Gretsch guitars. His customer service and selection is top shelf all the way, not to mention his prices. Give Rocky a call if you're looking for a Gretsch. He always has about two hundred Gretsches in stock at all times. Rocky does most of his business on eBay, but his brick & mortar store is open Fridays and Saturdays only.

Excellent. I have been thinking that my next guitar might be a Duo Jet...

One day I will get a Duo Jet. I used to have a 1961 6117 Double Anniversary that is now in the far more capable hands of Jim Boyle.

I have five:
`53 Gretsch Corvette Electromatic
`65 Tennessean
`57RI Silver Jet w/Bigsby
`55RI Duo Jet w/ block inlays and fixed arm Bigsby, which I replaced w/a movable arm
`55 era 6120 Western Chet Atkins with Bigsby.

Everything except the Tennesseean has Dynasonics

I'd really like to get a Gretsch White Falcon bass... but I'd want it in a nice flamed maple instead of white...

cjj wrote:I'd really like to get a Gretsch White Falcon bass... but I'd want it in a nice flamed maple instead of white...

But then it wouldn't be a White Falcon!

paologregorio wrote:I thought Gretsches looked cool since before I started playing music. I think Duane Eddy was the first person I ever saw an illustration of playing a Gretsch, and then when I started really paying attention, I noticed that Billy Zoom of "X" and Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats played Gretsches. I didn't realize the Beatles played them as well until I re-examined a few Beatles album covers.

And there's a Gretsch tie-in with us Byrdmaniax, too. Crosby played one.

As for me, I have thought seriously about a Gretsch in my future simply because Chet Atkins played them for many years.
JimK

rickenbrother wrote:

cjj wrote:I'd really like to get a Gretsch White Falcon bass... but I'd want it in a nice flamed maple instead of white...

But then it wouldn't be a White Falcon!

Ah...yup!

Jim...McGuinn played one too with The Byrds. If you listen to "Have You Seen Her Face," he's playing a Gretsch on that track, and he used it onstage toward the end of Crosby's tenure with the band, and at Monterey Pop. The "Hey Joe" video clearly shows McGuinn playing a Gretsch Tennessean. Roger still owns it, I believe, and also used it with the Gram Parsons version of the band.

What Roger said to me was, "The Rickenbacker didn't fit too well with the country music we were playing at the time, but the Gretsch did."

Roger also used a Telecaster with The Byrds. A little known fact.

I'm pretty excited about this forum...a lot of my favorite bands/artists have used Gretsch...the Beatles, Stones, Who, Pretty Things, Eddie Cochrane, Duane Eddy, the Animals, Chet Atkins to name a few. I have three Gretsch guitars in my collection: RI '62 Country Gent, '62 Tennessean, '57 Duo-Jet with the aged binding and inlays. I also play Gretsch drums.

Thanks to the "powers that be" for opening this forum up!

P.S. that's 1000 posts for me.

drumbob wrote:Jim...McGuinn played one too with The Byrds. If you listen to "Have You Seen Her Face," he's playing a Gretsch on that track, and he used it onstage toward the end of Crosby's tenure with the band, and at Monterey Pop. The "Hey Joe" video clearly shows McGuinn playing a Gretsch Tennessean. Roger still owns it, I believe, and also used it with the Gram Parsons version of the band.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Quite right.
JimK

I recently purchased one of those new 5120's I went with the orange....it could probably stand better tuners and pickups, but for about 600 dollars it is a really fun guitar. Does anyone else have this model? Did you upgrade anything?

Troy

lennon211 wrote:P.S. that's 1000 posts for me.

Congrats, Matt!

I absolutely LOVE Gretsch guitars! My second guitar (first GOOD guitar) was a '60 6124 Anniversary (still have) and I've owned well over a hundred since then. I even was fortunate enough to get Chet Atkins to sign my '61 6120! Of course it was George Harrison who first started my love of Gretsch guitars (AND turned me on to Chet's music as well!)
Thanks for this Forum. It's the best of both worlds-getting to discuss my two favorite guitars!

I am the new owner of a lefty white falcon and i can't even wait for it to arrive...my dream guitar.