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Would someone please let me know what model or models of Gretsch guitars that Crosby played during his time with The Byrds?

In the early Byrds, Crosbyis playing a Gretsch
Tennesean, which reportedly was originally singer Gene Clarks' guitar.Then, by '66 , Dave was using
a Country Gentleman, which he used till he left the group in later '67.He has also been seen in pics , from probably late 65[based on his cape and haircut] playing a double cutaway White Falcon.He has said he still owns all the guitarshe ever had, save for a couple acoustics that were stolen from him near the end of his drug days in the mid 80s.

I wonder if his choice of Gretsch instruments stemmed from Harrison or whether it was based on other American influences?

Peter,
The Byrds were all folkies before getting
into the electrified scene.McGuinn and Crosby
Both admit freely that the Beatles and their
Ricks and Gretsches were part of the total visual
appeal package, and"Of Course that's why we did it".The Hofner bass was the only Beatle instrument
not picked up by the Byrds.I'm sure that as a teenager in the late 50s, McGuinn, although a folkie, got into American Rock and Roll guys like Elvis and Eddie Cochrane, and Gene Vincent.So
Grestches Were to be seen in American music.But as
we all know, it took the Beatles to "personalize"
and get an "identification" thing going with those now Famed guitars.McGuinn even said that when he first met the Beatles, he was comparing notes with Harrison on their early influences, and ,it turns out "Be Bop A Lula" was the first
song they both learned for a rock and roll song.

Oh, I just recalled a humorous bit regarding Crosby and Gretsches.I always thought he "wore"
the Country Gent really well; it looked great on him.I got to meet him briefly in '89, and besides getting him to sign a couple things for me, I thought to ask him what He was using for guaged strings on the Gent.Keep in mind that up till
around '66 or so, custom "light guage" string sets
did Not exist. Almost every new guitar you'd have pickedup back then would have had at least a medium guage set from the factory on it.So when
Ernie ball came out with the 1st lite strings, many guys went nuts, cause their fingers wouldn't hurt so much anymore.Well, good rhythm guitar just
doesn't feel solid without a little "beef" under your fingers,so when I asked Crosby what kind of string guages he used[also considering a Gretsch
will Not stay in tune with.010s or lighter]he gave a knowing look, grinned and said,"Oh, man,
like Airplane cables!!"He held up his left hand, as though arthritic.We had a good laugh.

As a follow-up and aside Don, why should Gretsch guitars not stay in tune with 10s?

Dr. wrote:

In the early Byrds, Crosby is playing a Gretsch Tennessean, which reportedly was originally singer Gene Clark's guitar.

Quote:Although at first the group had just one electric guitar between them - a Gretsch played by Clark - a $5000 loan and a one-off single deal with CBS enabled the Byrds to arm themselves with their dream instruments.

The Guitar Magazine [UK], June 1997, page 37 Then, by '66, Dave was using a Country Gentleman, which he used till he left the group in later '67. He has also been seen in pics, from probably late '65 [based on his cape and haircut] playing a double cutaway White Falcon.

August 1965. Also mid-1967.

The Hofner bass was the only Beatle instrument not picked up by the Byrds.


McGuinn even said that when he first met the Beatles, he was comparing notes with Harrison on their early influences, and, it turns out "Be Bop A Lula" was the first song they both learned for a rock and roll song.

Quote:. . . says McGuinn, "[The Beatles] would send a limo over to bring us to their house in the hills when they were in L.A." On one such occasion, Harrison and McGuinn made a surprising discovery as they noodled together on their guitars.
"I remember going through early influences with George," says McGuinn, "and somehow we got on the subject of 'What was the very first thing you learned on guitar?' And I played him mine--it was a lead riff from Gene Vincent's "Woman Love,' I think. And George said, 'That's exactly what I learned first!' We both learned to pick out lead stuff first and got into chords later, 'cause we didn't have any chord books."

Guitar World, February 1996, page 58

Peter, as a rule the Gretsches don't do well with
the .010s because the tuners most commonly seen on them. Grover Imperial 150s, have a different gear ratio that just works better with 11s or heavier. There Are Gents out there with the more standard Grover Rotomatic gear, which fares better with lighter strings.
OK, I defer to Terry for finding a [likely] one off pic of Hillman w/ a Hofner.I'd bet he borrowed That one.And as to the quote I made about
Roger and George discussing Be Bop A Lula, that was from an article I read with Roger back in the 70s; the quote Terry gives is much more recent.

Terrry,the pic of Byrds "wide eyes open" is NOT,
repeat, NOT Croz w/ a white Falcon.I know this because the Bigsby is a 2 roller unit, not the single roller type Gretsch used. Besides, even without the Bigsby, I know it's his blonde 335 he has there.

Dr. wrote:

OK, I defer to Terry for finding a [likely] one-off pic of Hillman w/ a Hofner. I'd bet he borrowed That one.

Could very well be. Photo looks like early 1967, too -- you know, probably right after Hillman's house burned to the ground with his possessions while McGuinn stood around filming the whole thing. Notice how, in early 1967, Hillman suddenly shows up on TV playing a strange Fender P-bass with a 2+2 headstock, as well as an anomalous Hofner bass onstage -- basses seen only briefly in The Byrds.

And as to the quote I made about Roger and George discussing Be Bop A Lula, that was from an article I read with Roger back in the '70s; the quote Terry gives is much more recent.

Yes, but we all know how "accurate" some rock & roll memories are. Notice that, by 1996, McGuinn only thinks it was "Woman Love"; so he's evidently not 100% certain. However, Gene Vincent does seem to be the common denominator.

Terry, the pic of Byrds "wide eyes open" is NOT, repeat, NOT Croz w/ a White Falcon.

Sure looks like Croz to me. <g>

But thanks for the heads-up on the guitar. I'm certainly no "Gretsch-o-holic"; so 335 it is, if you say you know for sure.

This is definately a double cutaway White falcon

the headstock is white with a gold logo and the guard is gold
notice the knob layout...definately NOT gibson.

I have 2 more photos from this show/tour and they are WHITE FALCON all the way.

In the Stephen Stills/Manassas video that came out recently,hillman is playing a stripped(bare wood ) White Falcon (he's also looking very bored )
It took me a couple of watchings to see just what it was/is .

The eyes wide open shot is indeed the
ES-335,but not the others.

You can see the Gibson Bigsby on it as Don pointed out.

NEWS UPDATE!!!

Byrds on 'Ready Steady Go!' November 1965

This photo of them with Crosby playing that double cuyaway White Falcon Gretsch is from that show

Info is from 'I Want to take you Higher'-the Pychedelic Era

IBSN# 0-8118-1700-8 or
ISBN# 0-8118-1725-3

I am reminded of a review of CSNY I read sometime ago in which they had three Gretsch White Falcons onstage at the same time. Does anyone have a photo of this?

Maybe,but that would be Stephen with his new Signature and one of his 1950's single cutaways ,Neil with his stereo and his 6120 single cutaway .

I have the Manassas LP centerfold with a filtertron White Penguin,single cutaway-Falcon and Country Gent and hillman with a Duo-sonic.
Almost all of the gear in the photo is /was Stephens.

You want CSN (and sometimed Y ) photos...I got them.