Buy gretsch white falcon8/25/2023 ![]() There’s a ‘cool’ factor, there’s an aesthetic factor, there’s a macho factor, and I think Gretsch saw a parallel there. “Guitars and cars have always gone together,” says Ed Ball, author of Ball’s Manual of Gretsch Guitars: 1950s. Guitars and cars have always gone together Ed Ball If Fender’s and Gibson’s electric guitar designs embraced the styling of hot-rod culture, then the White Falcon – Gretsch’s “Cadillac of guitars” – embodied the zeitgeist of the 1950s.Īdorned in gold, and finished in a dazzling white automotive-style paint, it mirrored with equally lavish elegance the angular, futuristic geometry of dream cars through its Cadillac V emblem tailpiece, V-contoured headstock and truss-rod cover, and Grover Imperial stair-step tuners. “The ’58s are built like a brick,” Ed Ball says. This 1958 6136 features Gretsch’s reinforced trestle bracing system, introduced that year. “I’ve got a blackguard Tele and some other ’50s guitars, but there’s something about the White Falcon that conjures up that amazing time of rock and roll.” They really capture the ’50s era well, and there’s nothing else like it. I can’t imagine them being produced in any other era than the ’50s. The earlier ’50s ones generally have a body depth of 2¾ inches, but when Gretsch reduced it to 1 7/8 inches, the feel of the guitar completely changed. “I did have a ’60 thinline, but it didn’t seem to have the same magic. There’s something about the White Falcon that conjures up that amazing time of rock and roll Anonymous British collector The other three in his collection – a ’58 mono 6136, a ’59 6136 and a ’59 stereo 6137 – were acquired from the United States. “So I bought it and was smitten from then on. “It totally lived up to my expectations,” the collector continues. The White Falcon is a magnificent work of art, it is not a magnificent guitar.The Madagascar ebony fretboard has feather engraved block inlays and goldsparkle binding. Most owners will not want to admit the flaws in such an expensive instrument they bought. That's an honest assessment from someone who owns a Falcon. Hands must always be cleaned and powdered, long sleeves must be worn before I go near the Falcon. I'd rather pick up my ratty Joe Strummer Telecaster than pick up the heavenly Falcon. The darn thing is so spectacular, I hesitate to play it much. ![]() Hands down the White Falcon is the greatest looking musical instrument ever made. Put it this way, top line Rickenbackers are far more expensive than the top line Gretsch White Falcons.Ĥ. I got mine brand new from a dealer in Oklahoma.stunned at the affordable price. Deal with a Grestch dealer, not the big musical instrument stores/internet dealers. You'd be surprised at how affordable they really are. It needs reverb from the amp and some slap back echo to get that identifiable Gretsch sound.ģ. A Rickenbacker has an identifiable sound. A Strat in the two/four pickup position has an instantly identifiable sound. There is not distinct tone from a Falcon. Many various inconveniences on such an expensive guitar. The gold plating is the worst of any gold plated guitars I own (It fades and disappears fairly quickly and also gets rust spots fairly quickly. There is little difference when switching between neck/bridge pickup configuration and neck pickup. The volume pots cut tone when you use them. The floating bridge can be problematic for many players. The tone switch is always called a mud switch for a reason. It is a masterfully constructed guitar.but even it has flaws. No way in hell can a Gretsch White Falcon live up to our dreams of owning one. ![]() ![]() There's an old saying: "It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive." Meaning, the dream of having something is far better than the actual having it.
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