The Gretsch Music company is a famous American producer of musical instruments. The company was first founded when a German immigrant, Friedrich Gretsch, came to the United States in 1883. Soon after he came to the United States he opened up his first instrument shop and produced banjos, tambourines, drums, and other percussion instruments. After his death, his son took over the company and moved to New York City, where they became well known for being a quality company. The did not begin producing guitars until 1930. Today they produce high quality drums, guitars, and bass guitars and sell them throughout the world.
The Gretsch White Falcon is easily their most famous and most recognizable guitar that the company produces. The original White Falcon was produced back in 1954 and was specifically made to show off the skill work of the companies luthiers. It was essentially the nicest guitar the company ever made. After revealing it at a guitar show that same year, so many people wanted that Gretsch then put it into production. This hollow body guitar lasted the tests of time, and is still a well liked guitar today.
Today Gretsch makes a variety of different White Falcon models, with the least expensive one costing around $3,000 dollars. However the company claims that the one model that is the closest to the original, is their highest end version. This guitar is customer built by hand and costs $12,000 dollars. Gretsch wanted to do the best possible job of recreating that iconic guitar tone that they had with the original. Since the company that made the original pickups is not around, they commissioned a guitar pickup company, Seymour Duncan, to recreate the original pickups. The guitar is absolutely striking to see in person as the gold accents the white so nicely. You can purchases a variety of guitars for a lot less money, however if you have to have the original 1954 White Falcon but don’t have a original, this is the next best thing.
Photo from gretschguitars.com
