I think it must have fallen off a truck, because my mom knew this guy who worked at the factory and -- yadda yadda, yadda -- some big guy in shades dropped it off at my house. Needless to say, I was the only kid around with a red electric archtop. I'm sorry to say that I would later, in a Clapton-induced fit of stupidity, trade it in toward a late 1960's SG Standard which had been "Groverized". I wish I had that one back!

At the time I first got this little treasure I liked it for several reasons: it was big, it was red and George played a Gretsch. Then I started to realize that half the other garage band and English Invasion guitarists were using Gretsch's. Heck, Brian Jones played a Gretsch! David Crosby played a Gretsch! Hell, even the immortal Gerry Mardsen played a Gretsch! Later, I would come to find out and appreciate that Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran and Ritchie Valens had too played Gretsch's.

The clincher came when I discovered the music of that guy who had his name on all those orange Gretschs! I can also clearly remember the day standing in my local music shop staring at the Big White Bird on the wall thinking to myself "a thousand dollars! I'll never have a thousand dollars!" "That Great Gretsch Sound" was not just an empty ad slogan -- these guitars do have an amazing tone. DeArmond pickups are strong and twangy, Filter-Trons offer a dry growl or a smooth warm depending on which position the tone selector switch is set to, and the Hi-Lo-Tron which -- while not the highest output pickup -- offers a lovely, clean brilliance of their own.

The modern Japanese-made Gretschs don't sound exactly like their older cousins, but have a sound of their own which I find to be sort of a marriage of the twangier DeArmond sound and the later, crunchier Filter-Tron sound. Also, Gretschs can be great overall guitars when you get the right one, particularly electrics made between 1953 and 1964. 1965 saw the Baldwin takeover occur and the start of a decline in the quality of their product. (This is not universally true, as you do find some excellent instruments which were made during this period.)

There was a resurgence in the quality of Gretsch guitars which started in 1973. Many of the higher-end models made by Gretsch from 1973 through 1981 are quite good instruments and are unfairly overlooked, resulting in some great guitar values. This is particularly true of the Axe, Super Axe, White Falcon and Super Chet. The model 6120, Tennessean and Country Gent from this period are also great guitar values.

The modern Japanese-made Gretsch's are also excellent instruments. Anyone who has ever played one can recognize their superior playability, sound and quality of construction. My mission with Golden Age is to offer for sale both vintage and recent used Gretsch guitars of the highest quality; ones which meet my strict standards of condition, playability and sound. I also hope to promote greater interest in these fine icons of our musical past. Anyone who has a question about Gretschs or who would just like to "talk Gretsch" is welcome to contact me. I love hearing from other Gretschaholics!

-- John Paul Reynolds