From its beginnings as a maker of drums in 1883, the Gretsch company has developed and expanded into one of the best recognized makers of drums and guitars in the world. This selection of highlights showcases the company's legacy, featuring a diverse array of electric and acoustic guitars made by the company over the last 100 years.
Please enjoy exploring this carefully curated collection of instruments that have shaped the sound of popular music for generations. Every instrument you will see here tells a story of craftsmanship, innovation, and the enduring appeal of "that great Gretsch sound!"
For more information about the artifacts in the Gretsch Collection, please contact Dr. Matthew Hill, Curator at mhill@georgiasouthern.edu.
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Synchromatic guitar, model 400
Gretsch Company
"18" wide single non-cutaway body with bound cat's eye sound holes and triple-bound/ gold sparkle binding on top and back, gold harp tailpiece, gold tuners, Gretsch script logo, and tusk ornament on headstock. Synchromatic on ornament. Hump slash inlays on ebony bound fingerboard. Oversized bound pickguard. Added forward pickup and two knobs on the bottom treble bout."
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Synchromatic guitar, model 6031
Gretsch Company
Arch Top, Acoustic
"Synchromatic 16" wide non cutaway body with rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece, single bound body, rosewood peghead veneer, rosewood fingerboard with block inlay. No pickguard, replaced tuners. Original case."
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Synchromatic guitar, model X6039
Gretsch Company
"17" wide 3 3/8" deep cutaway body with bound large 'F' holes, headstock with 'Gretsch - Synchromatic' script logo, ebony fingerboard with slashed humptop block inlays. With gold 'G' tailpiece and 2 DeArmond pickups. 3 clear knobs on the lower treble bout, one knob on the cutaway bout."
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Town & Country guitar, model X6021
Gretsch Company
Arch Top
"17" wide flat top, triangular soundhole, arched back with maple back and sides, multi-bound top and back, unbound hump headstock with Gretsch 'T' roof logo, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, original tuners. Triangular rosewood bridge base with metal string-anchor plate mounted at a slant, 25 1/2 scale. Original case. "
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Viking guitar, model PX6187
Gretsch Company
'17" wide, 2" deep, bound double-cutaway body, 2 Super'Tron pickup, 2 'G/Arrow' knobs and 1 switch on the lower treble bout, 1 knob on the upper treble bout, two switches on upper bass bout, floating tuning fork bridge with a roller bridge, gold hardware with Bigsby v cut vibrato, gold Gretsch Viking pickguard, Neo Classic inlay, T-zone tempered treble-end fingerboard with dot inlays from 15th fret, zero fret, Gold Grove Tuners. Single flit up mute. Bound F holes, Viking plate, and Gretsch T roof logo on the headstock. Pad on back. Original case."
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White Falcon guitar, model PX6073
Gretsch Company
Custom Bass
"Short scale 16" wide single-cutaway body with painted on black outline f-holes, black binding,two2 gold Super'Tron style bass pickups,one1 gold knob on the top treble bout,two2 switches on top bass bout,one1 switch andtwo2 gold knobs on lower treble bout with flip-up mute, gold G tailpiece, white thumb/finger rests on both sides, bass roller bridge, four on a side large gold tuners and pad on the back. Gretsch original case, rag, and paperwork."
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White Falcon guitar, model PX6136
Gretsch Company
"17" wide gold sparkle bound single cutaway body, 2 Filter'Tron pickups, 2 'jewel' knobs on lower treble bout, 1 knob on upper treble bout, 1 switch on upper bass bout, roller bridge, Gold hardware with Gretsch 'Cadillac' tail piece, bound gold sparkle f soundhole, Gold Gretsch 'Falcon' pickguard. V-top headstock with gold sparkle binding and Gretsch t-roof logo with "The White Falcon" and SN# plate, gold Grover stairstep tuners, gold sparkle bound ebony neck with Neo-Classic inlay. Original case. Back of the headstock has lacquer cracks above each top tuning peg. All stock guitar like the guitar on Gretsch catalog No. 30. Very cool."
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White Falcon guitar, model PX6137
Gretsch Company
"17" wide gold sparkle bound double cutaway body, 2 Filter'Tron pickup, 2 knobs on lower treble bout, 2 switches, 1 switch on upper treble bout, 1 switch on lower bass bout, tuning fork/ roller bridge, 2 flip up mutes, Gold hardware with Gretsch G plate arm vibrato with straight tubular arm, bound gold sparkle f soundhole, Gold 'Falcon' Gretsch pickguard. V-top headstock with gold sparkle binding and Gretsch t-roof logo and "the White Falcon' plate on headstock, gold Grover tuners, gold sparkle bound ebony neck with Neo Classic inlays and t-zone tempered treble-end fingerboard with dot inlays from 15th fret. White pad on back. Stereo guitar with Gretsch stereo box included and all paperwork. Non-original case."
