Gretsch Company Artifacts & Musical Instruments
About the Collection
Collection preserves and showcases a diverse array of electric and acoustic guitars made by the Gretsch Company over the last 100 years. 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. 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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711 Songbird guitar, model Custom
Gretsch Company
Sam Goody Custom
"16" wide, bound double-cutaway body, 2 HiLo'Tron pickup, 2 'G/Arrow' knobs and one switch on lower treble bout, one knob on upper treble bout, two switches at the top bass bout, roller bridge, chrome hardware with Gretsch v cut Bigsby Vibrato, Gretsch pickguard, Neo Classic inlay with T-zone tempered treble- end fingerboard with dot inlays from 15th fret, zero fret, Special "G" sound holes, Gretsch T roof logo on headstock with "711 Songbird" plate. Original case."
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American Model guitar
Gretsch Company
"Gretsch American' small body acoustic flat top, round sound hole. Spruce top with mahogany back and sides Rosewood veneer slotted headstock with 'Gretsch American' embossed on in black of the headstock, original tuners, non-original case."
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Artist Orchestra guitar, model No.150
Gretsch Company
Arch Top Acoustic
"Spruce top, maple back and sides, Pearl-inlaid headstock, hand engraved bakelite ivory celluloid bound pickguard. Small f holes, block inlays. All original gold tail piece and tuners. With original case."
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Astro Jet guitar, model PX6126
Gretsch Company
"Solid asymmetrical double cutaway, and unique body shape with beveled edges, 2 chrome Super'Tron pickups, 3 knobs, 3 switches, roller bridge and Burns vibrato, Neo-Classic inlay,4 tuners on the bass side of headstock 2 on the treble side. With original case."
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Atkins Axe guitar, model 7685
Gretsch Company
"Solid body with pointed cutaway, 2 humbucking pickups, 4 knobs on the lower treble bout, switch on the top bass bout, bound style headstock, silver/ gray pickguard with black Gretsch logo, bound ebony fingerboard with small square inlays, chrome terminator bridge. Chrome Schaller 3 on a side tuner, Gretsch t-roof logo."
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Atkins Super Axe guitar, model 7680
Gretsch Company
High Roller Prototype
"Solid body with pointed cutaway, two humbucking pickups, four knobs on the lower treble bout, multi selector switch on the top bass bout, Van Eps style headstock, silver/ gray pickguard, bound ebony fingerboard with small square 'dice-style' inlays, chrome terminator bridge. Chrome Schaller 3 on side tuners, Gretsch t-roof logo."
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Beast guitar, model 8215
Gretsch Company
"Solid single cutaway, mahogany body, bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, Gretsch logo in script black on maple headstock."
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Broadkaster guitar, model 7609
Gretsch Company
16" wide bound double-cutaway body, 2 chrome humbucker pickup, 4 knobs on the lower treble bout, 1 knob on the upper treble bout, one switch on the upper bass bout, terminator bridge, dot inlays, Gretsch T roof logo. Original case
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Chet Atkins Country Gentleman guitar, model PX6122
Gretsch Company
"17" wide thin single-cutaway bound body, simulated f-holes, ebony fingerboard with Neo Classic, Gretsch T roof logo with 'The Chet Atkins Country Gentleman' and SN# plate on the headstock, gold Grover stairstep tuners, 2 Filter'Tron pickups, bar bridge, Gretsch Bigsby vibrato, gold pickguard with 'Gretsch' in black. Non-original case."
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Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen guitar, model 7670
Gretsch Company
"17" wide double cutaway bound body, simulated black f holes, ebony fingerboard with Neo Classic inlays on fingerboard, Gretsch T roof logo with no plate on the headstock, gold Grover tuners, 2 Filter'Tron pickup, metal bar bridge, V cut Bigsby vibrato, gold pickguard with 'Gretsch' in black. No mutes. Original case. This is an all stock guitar. First year of model number change from 6122 to 7670, no name plate on headstock and no mute."
