Lets Talk Country Classic (Gentleman)

[hjarnett]

I have a 2002 Country Classic on its way ,better pic's then is a 2002 pre fender? , what plant in japan are these made?

[admin]

Jerry: I believe it may have been made at the Terada Company factory. I am hoping someone with knowledge of Gretsch history will chime in here. My search has led me to believe that the Terada Company has been building Gretsch guitars since 1989.

[antipodean]

The Fender agreement with Gretsch started in late 2002, so it's likely your guitar is pre-Fender. I'm not sure what the whole "pre-Fender" buzz is about given the top-line Gretsch guitars are still made at Terada as Peter states, apart from a (very) few Fender CS models.

[lennon211]

I'd think that it would be a fine player. As far as any date of Fender acquisition, I haven't noticed any change in quality. The one thing that does seem to have changed more than anything else is that there is more of a focus on vintage-era details as the line of classic offerings has expanded.

[hjarnett]

well my gretsch never showed up today ups messed up now it looks like monday, other than chet, george and elvis any other known players of the gent? pic's please

[admin]

Jerry: On the bright side, you still have something to look forward to for next week.

With regard to other Contry Gentleman artists I believe the following qualify for having used the instrument for a time: Duane Eddy, Brian Setzer, Randy Bachman, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Eddie Cochrane, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bo Diddley and Roy Clark.

I wonder how many sightings with validating photograph evidence we could find?

[Zurdo]

that guitar doesn't look like a Gretsch??

[admin]

I agree and and have removed it.

[Zurdo]

GretscH Country Classic Junior....

I just saw this Gretsch, must be a new model ? 3/4 size...never seen one before. No Zero fret unfortunately.

[admin]

Jos: This is only relatively new as I believe it was introduced around 2003. It differs from the standard model in that the body is 14 inches across. I believe that the scale length of 24.5 inches is the same as the Country Gentleman/Classic.

[Zurdo]

thank you Peter, it is an interesting model, but the cutaways look too "Gibson" in my opinion.

[admin]

Like this one perhaps?

randy-bachmangretsch.jpg (9.23 KiB) Viewed 3338 times

[Zurdo]

that's a Gibson alright...or a copy of, (based on the toggle switch and the pickguard it looks like a copy).

[jch]

Those Country Classic jr's where made from 1998 to around 2005/06 IIRC.

There was also a White falcon jr, 6120 jr and an Annie jr.

[hjarnett]

Well my 02 Gretsch country classic showed up yesterday now i know why i have wanted one for years its great for early Beatle tunes and rockabilly i will try to get some pic's up later this week