Gretsch is an American company that manufactures guitars, basses and drums.

The company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a

27-year-old German immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the United States. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and
drums until his death in 1895. In 1916, his son, Fred Gretsch Sr. moved operations to Brooklyn, New York where Gretsch went on to
become one of the most prominent manufacturers of American musical instruments.

Most modern-era Gretsch guitars are manufactured in the Far East, though American-made "Custom Shop" models are available. In 2003,
Gretsch entered a business agreement with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC). Under the terms of that agreement Fred W.
Gretsch would retain ownership while FMIC would handle most of the development, distribution and sales. [1]

Contents
[hide]

1History

o 1.1Beginnings

o 1.21950s, 1960s and 1970s

o 1.3Gretsch electric twelve-string and The Monkees

o 1.4Sale, Gretsch family regains interest

o 1.5Resurgence

o 1.6FMIC era

2Current models

o 2.1Hollow body electric

 o 2.2Solid body electric

o 2.3Acoustic

3Drums

4Replicas

5References

6Bibliography

7External links

History[edit]
Beginnings[edit]
A G6122-1962 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman model.

Gretsch was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a young German immigrant. His Brooklyn shop was designed for the manufacture
of banjos, tambourines, and drums.[2] In 1895, Gretsch died at the age of 39, and the then successful company was taken over by his son
Fred Sr. 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.

1950s, 1960s and 1970s[edit]

1955 Chet Atkins 6120.
Bono playing a Gretsch Irish Falcon.

By the mid-1950s, after Fred's son Fred Jr. had taken the reins, the company introduced several distinctive models, including
the 6120 "Nashville," and the Duo Jet chambered "solid body", which was played by Bo Diddley. Chuck Berry also played the Duo Jet when
he recorded his first major hit, Maybellene and is pictured on his LP After School Session. Two other models were introduced - the Country
Club, and the White Falcon.

Guitar production by the Gretsch Company began in the early 1930s, and Gretsch guitars became highly sought after, most notably in the
1950s and 1960s. They lost favor with players during the 1970s and 1980s for various reasons, including a problematic relationship with
the Baldwin Piano Company. Gretsch eventually went bankrupt, then was revived in 1989 by Fred W. Gretsch, a great-grandson of Friedrich
Gretsch. Fred W. Gretsch remains president of the company.

During this time, Chet Atkins became an endorser of Gretsch. 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.
[citation needed]
The worldwide success of Eddy's "twangy" instrumental records, television appearances, and extensive touring, helped expose the
Gretsch guitar to the teenage rock and roll market. George Harrison, years later, would refer to this model as "the Eddie Cochran/Duane
Eddy guitar". Other Chet Atkins models were the Country Gentleman (named after an Atkins instrumental hit) and the Tennessean, a lower
cost version of the Country Gentleman.

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 later owned a Gretsch Country Gentleman(recently[when?] 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 a 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. [4] Alf
Bicknell, chauffeur for The Beatles, strapped the Country Gentleman (George Harrison's second) to the back of the car. The guitar did
not fall out of the trunk/boot.[5]

The British Invasion brought further popularity to Gretsch models. In addition to the Beatles, Brian O'Hara of The Fourmost 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)

Eric Clapton used a double cutaway 6120 during his early days with the Yardbirds.

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. It was used on their
version of "I Wanna Be Your Man" as well as the Rolling Stones' first album, a few tracks on 12 x 5. It was also used on the Rolling
Stones first American Tour in June 1964.

Gerry Marsden, of Gerry and the Pacemakers, can also be seen using a Gretsch guitar.

Steve Marriott of the Small Faces played a Tennessean, a Duo Jet and a White Falcon during his time in that group.

Beginning in 1966, Gretsch had weekly television exposure when the company supplied the guitars and drums for The Monkees,
increasing the demand for its guitars.

Both Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground used a Gretsch Country Gentleman during the band's lifetime
(although not simultaneously; they shared the same guitar),[citation needed] as did The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire.
 In the 1960s, Gretschs were seen in the hands of Stephen Stills and Neil Young, who both played White 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".