By Billy Murphy – From Vintage Guitar Magazine

Gretsch But isn’t this the very art and status of Gretsch; giving so many artists a voice? Not simply a twangy voice, or a sustaining voice or a diving Bigsby “is it out of tune or is it in tune ?” voice, but a voice for their words, tones, emotions, passion and image. Even God loves a Strat, but could Eddie Cochran have been the Eddie Cochran without a 6120? If there ever was an illustration to the adage, “The whole equals more than the sum of its parts,” it ’s a Gretsch guitar. With every blistering Setzer run, you not only hear Brian ’s talent, discipline and love, you also feel his guitar -its history and its journey; its womanly curves that Setzer none-too-coincidently hugs as his own.

But how did Gretsch get where it is on this evolutionary six-string food chain? In those beginning days, there were no marketing plans.There was no focus group research. Yet for some reason the Gretsch guitar,in its form and design, has become an icon. Who do we thank? Who do we even congratulate? Was it even a conscious result of the guitar – maker? Gretsch guitars reached their prominence in a time when the cart came before the horse, when guitars were made for the average man to play his average tune. Not like to- day, when guitars seem designed and built for that imaginary star who might someday be playing it. (more…)