Gretsch make the most stylish guitars ever. That's not an opinion, it’s a fact! Their timelessly classy curves, art deco details and hot rod-inspired colours have been a lynchpin for the more aesthetically minded guitarist since forever. As we know, popular music is a visual medium as much as it is sonic, and whilst Grestch have their own famous tone that’s loved the world over, people listen with their eyes. To be a Gretsch legend, you not only have to sound awesome, you have to look iconic and you have to understand the power of a good pose as much as a well-aimed riff.
Chet Atkins is almost like the grandfather of electric guitar, given how pervasive his influence has been on those who came after him. Chet wrote hits, he collaborated with other musicians (Glen Campbell and Tommy Emmannuael are two diverse examples) and he taught the world how to be fingerpick. Gretsch honoured him with several of his own ‘Country Gentleman’ signature guitars, many of which are a permanent part of the catalogue. He’s rightfully revered as one of the greatest guitar players ever, in it’s because of his accessibility rather than his gobsmacking chops. As quintessential to Gretsch as Slash is to Gibson.
The original badboy cowboy swagger belongs to Duane Eddy, whose outlaw persona shines through every low down note he’s ever played. Utilising a low slung Gretsch baritone guitar, his twangy, echoey tones (achieved with the help of a 2000 gallon water storage tank) shot to the top of the charts, with seminal tunes like Peter Gunn (you definitely know it) eventually earning Duane a Grammy award. Too mean for surf, Duane is a whole subgenre of attitude unto himself.
What Strings Come On A Gretsch Guitar?
In a competition to determine who has the biggest quiff, Morrisseyr would have to get in the ring and duke it out with Brian Setzer, such is the height of his carefully brylcreemed barnet. This guy is rockabilly through and through, and together with his band the Stray Cats, has done more to put that sound on the map than nearly anyone else.
Setzer’s playing is like his clothes - flash yet accessible, loud yet tasteful - and his numerous signature Gretsch guitar models have appeared in a veritable rainbow of colours over the years. What do they all have in common? They are all big, loud and impressive. What else is there?
Bleach-blonde hair, cut-off denim jacket and a low-slung White Falcon: Billy Duffy was easily the popular face of Gretsch in the 80s. Like a guitar-toting He-Man, Billy brought power, class and finesse to a hard rock world filled with neon superstrats and hairspray. His commitment to the White Falcon continues to this day, as he clearly understands just how powerful and totemistic the image is. An enduring legend.
Are Gretsch Guitars Good? Who Makes Them & Where Are They Made?
Riff machine Malcolm Young was probably the most no-nonsense rocker who ever lived. Sticking to the back area of the stage, he kept his head down, his guitar loud and his riff arm in perpetual motion. In early days, Young actually used a White Falcon before moving on to his famous (and increasingly knackered-looking) double cut Jet. His brother grabbed most of the attention, but Malcolm was the rock-solid engine room that spat out those unforgettable riffs. His sound was loud and crunchy but never too distorted, which may be something of a tone-secret for those who wish to follow in his footsteps. Respect!
When you have an actual rhythm named after you, you know you’re onto something! Bo Diddley was a suave, mercurial character who knew how to pen hits and take names. He’s famous for playing a rectangular Gretsch - which is awesome in itself - but he also rocked a Jupiter model, which later on became Reverend Willy’s own Billy-Bo signature guitar.
Chris Cornell was an absolute powerhouse: an artful writer, a brilliantly unorthodox guitarist and a supersonic vocalist. Throughout his Soundgarden years and solo albums, he often used a selection of Gretsch guitars, including sparkle-finish Duo Jets.
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, perhaps his finest album, was recorded using only a Gretsch Silver Jet and a Jazzmaster for nearly all of the rhythm parts and riffs. Anyone doubting the rock power potential of Gretsch should give this record a spin and learn.
What’s interesting to note in this brief list of great Gretsch players is how diverse it is. There’s a wealth of genres and timelines represented here, and each player is using their Gretsch in pretty different ways. Given how specific sounding they are known to be, it’s interesting to see how well Gretsch guitars fit into these disparate musical environments. From the early era twang of Duane Eddy to the grunge fuzz of Soundgarden, it seems that there’s far more to Gretsch than just indecently good looks. If you haven’t yet encountered this brand in a big way, maybe now is the time to embark on your own Gretsch odyssey.If you’re into guitars, you’ve probably seen some of the iconic Gretsch guitars like the Chet Atkins’s Country Gentleman model, or the White Falcon which was often used by Neil Young.
While often synonymous with those large hollow / semi-hollow body guitars we see used in jazz, blues, and country, these days they have dozens of models available to suit any player looking for that classic Gretsch sound.
Gretsch Upgrades, Mods And Tone Tips
In this guide, we’ll be reviewing our picks for the best Gretsch Guitars to help you decide which one is the perfect fit for your collection.
The Gretsch brand has been around since 1883 when Friedrich Gretsch started building a variety of instruments including banjos, drums, and tambourines. They really made a name for themselves in the guitar market in the 1950s when they worked with famous country guitarist Chet Atkins and created their now-classic 6120 hollow body model. In the mid 60’s George Harrison of Beatles, fame became known for playing Gretsch guitars, which really made them a household name and boosted their success even further.
All electric guitars before this period were using single-coil pickups which had significant hum issues. Although it is up for some debate, Gretsch engineer Ray Butts may have created the first-ever “humbucker” pickup by stacking two single coils together, eliminating the hum issue that pickups had up to this point.
Where Are Gretsch Guitars Made? Are They Good?
In 2002 Gretsch began a business partnership with Fender in which Gretsch still holds ownership, but Fender now produces and distributes their guitars. These guitars are usually made out of the Fender plant in Corona California. The deal has been great for the brand, utilizing Fender’s massive global resources to give them a global reach.
Starting off with an all-around excellent guitar, we’re taking a look at the G6522T Electromatic. It’s our choice because of its looks, value, and the wide range of killer tones available.
We start with a laminated maple body, which is bright and resonant. The center block through the center of the body gives you the feel and sound of a hollow body guitar, without all the feedback issues. In addition to the feedback reduction, the tailpiece and bridge are also screwed directly into this center block which will provide you more sustain than you’d expect from a semi-hollow.
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The neck on this is also made of maple, housing a laurel fingerboard, and 22 medium-jumbo frets. A thin-U shape, 12” radius, and 24.6” scale length, this neck feels comfortable and sturdy while staying easy to play.
One of our favorite features are the 2 Hot BroadTron pickups Gretsch used here. They’re quite a bit louder and more full than your traditional Gretsch pickup which works great for higher-gain tones, but they clean up really well with the volume control which makes them feel like they can tackle any job. Simple controls including 2 volume knobs and 1 tone knob make it basically impossible to dial in a bad sound.
In the hardware department, we’ve got a Bigsby B70 tailpiece and vibrato for smooth and melodic bends. We also have a set of die-cast tuners and an anchored adjust-o-Matic tailpiece.
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The Gretsch G5622T Electromatic is a guitar that can cover many sounds, whether modern or vintage and has a great look and feel. Coming in at just under $800, it’s hard to deny the value here. We’d recommend this guitar for the player who likes the classic Gretsch vibe, but also wants to excel at playing some great high-gain tones.
For somebody starting to learn guitar, we can’t recommend this one enough. Coming in at under $300, it really packs a punch for the price.
With a solid nato body, this guitar is lightweight and resonant which is perfect for smaller or younger folks. The neck is also made of a nato and features a laurel fretboard and a thin-U neck profile. 22 medium-jumbo frets, and a 12” radius, along with a 24.75” scale length were used to make this a guitar that takes very little effort to play.
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Gretsch used a pair of their BroadTron pickups in this, which work really great. They are definitely some of the better stock pickups you can find in guitars these days. The BroadTron pickups are fully capable of warm gritty dirt
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