THE FRED GRETSCH COMPANY, BROOKLYN, CIRCA 1945

The Gretsch company was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1883 by 27-year-old German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch. Originally launched as musical instrument shop for the manufacture of percussion instruments, the company was making ukuleles and banjos by 1910 and in 1933 debuted a line of arch-top guitars. By the 1950’s Gretsch had shifted their concentration to electric guitars and it is within this realm where Gretsch instruments made a lasting impression in the market.

Within a crowded field of manufacturers producing electric guitars Gretsch set itself apart by first concentrating on hollow-body and semi-hollow-body electric guitars. They embraced new color schemes and eye catching ornamentation not found on Gibsons, Fenders or Rickenbackers. The endorsement by guitarist Chet Atkins and subsequent Chet Atkins models drew a loyal following as did artists who performed on Gretsch hollow-bodies like Stephen Stills, and Neil Young. The model 6120 and similar Gretsch hollow-bodies became a mainstay for guitarists of the early British Invasion: George Harrison, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Jerry Marsden, Brian Jones and Pete Townshend have all been seen performing on Gretsch electrics.