Gretsch White Falcon

Gretsch White Falcon
File:Grewhifalcus.jpg
Manufacturer	Gretsch
Period	1955-1980; 1996-present
Construction
Body type	Hollow
Neck joint	Set
Woods
Body	17" wide, solid spruce archtop, laminated maple back and sides with gold sparkle-white-black-white layered binding
Neck	Maple
Fretboard	Ebony with pearl inlay and gold sparkle-white-black-white layered bindings; 25-1/2" scale
Hardware
Bridge	Ebony-based Space-Control Roller-Bridge
Pickup(s)	Two Dynasonic Single-coil Pickups (1954-1958); two FilterTron Humbuckers (1958-Present)/3-Position Toggle
Colors available
White

The Gretsch White Falcon was a visually unique guitar which was comercially introduced in 1955. Although coming in only one model, style, and color as well as retaining a steep expense, it has remained a prime example of Rock history.

The White Falcon is best known for its large 17-inch size and striking appearance, with gleaming white paint, copious gold trim, and a Falcon in mid-flight engraved on the gold pickguard.

Origins and History

In early 1954, Gretsch marketing strategist Jimmie Webster designed a guitar to compete with the top-of-the-heap Gibson Super 400. Webster gained his inspiration by walking through the immense Gretsch factory and watching the construction of the staggering diversity of musical instruments the company produced. From the banjo production line, Webster recalled the engraved pearl inlays that adorned the fretboard and headstock. Many of Gretsch's drums were covered with thick sparkly gold plastic that could also be used as binding on guitars. The combination of these eye-catching features with an immense 17" wide by 2-3/4" deep white body and highest quality gold-plated hardware rendered the Cadillac of guitars, the White Falcon.

The White Falcon was unveiled at the NAMM show in July of 1954. It was displayed as "the guitar of the future," but Gretsch had no plans to actually manufacture the model. The volume of questions sales reps received about the striking instrument led to a reevaluation of this position, and the White Falcon hit stores in 1955. As the company's new high-end guitar, Gretsch marketed it as "the finest guitar we know how to make—and what a beauty!" A high caliber player could walk away with the White Falcon for $600 at that time ($4123 in today's dollars); this price tag was the second largest on the market, after the $690 Gibson wanted for its Super 400CESN.

So popular was the White Falcon that this epoch in Gretsch guitar history is frequently referred to as “The Golden Years” or “The Great Years” because of its dizzying success. With over a decade of accomplishment, Fred Gretsch retired and, for better or worse, sold his company to Baldwin Manufacturing. Baldwin would, however, have trouble understanding guitars in general; especially the White Falcon, which disastrously failed to evolve smoothly out of the rockabilly era. Most who were inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and other musical greats were turning to Fender, rather than Gretsch.

To make matters worse, the deteriorating Baldwin Manufacturing experienced two destructive fires at its new Arkansas plant in 1973. Gretsch limped through the 70s’ and finally closed production in the 80s’. Falcons soon became instruments only collectors owned and swiftly became forgotten altogether. In 1989, Fred Gretsch III resumed control of the family business and began making guitars again. These instruments are based on classic Gretsch designs, including the venerable White Falcon.

Models and Features

From its introduction in 1954 through today, the White Falcon has always been known for its white finish, ebony fingerboard, 17" wide hollow body, gold-plated hardware, engraved gold pickguard, and gold sparkle binding. Throughout its history, some features have changed as technology and style evolved.

1954-1958, model number 6136: Vertical gold headstock logo with winged "G;" pearl block fretboard inlays with avian-themed ingravings; two DynaSonic single coil pickups; control configuration consisting of master tone, master volume, volume for each pickup, and three-way toggle pickup selector switch; trapeze tailpiece with "G" and Cadillac-inspired "V"-shape; Melita bridge; 2-3/4" deep single-cutatway body.

1958-1962, model number 6136: Horizontal "T-roof" headstock logo sans wings; "Neo-classic" thumbprint fretboard inlays; two FilterTron humbucking pickups; control configuration consisting of master volume, volume for each pickup, three-way toggle pickup selector switch, and three-way toggle tone switch; Space Control bridge. A stereo model (6137) was intruduced; this model featured an extra set of pickup selector and tone switches and had the bridge pickup moved closer to the neck.

1962-1964, model numbers 6136 and 6137 (stereo): Two-inch deep double-cutaway body with dual string mutes; standby switch; zero fret; white leather pad on the back.

1964-1972, model number 6136 and 6137 (stereo): Bigsby vibrato with telescoping "dog leg" arm; "T-zone tempered treble" slanted upper frets.

1973, model numbers 6136 and 6137 (stereo): Bigsby tailpiece with "V" cutout, reminiscient of the original "Cadillac" tailpiece. This is the last model year for "vintage" White Falcons.

1974-1981, model numbers 7593 (single-cutaway) and 7595 (double-cutawaty): Angularly-shaped pickguard without "Gretsch"; rectangular block fretboard inlays; Baldwin "B" trapeze tailpiece; truss rod cover, string mutes and standby switch removed. In 1981, Gretsch ceased manufacturing guitars.

1995-present, model numbers 6136 and 7593: Models are now available commemorating every phase in the design of the White Falcon. Features are reproduced accordingly. Modern Falcons are also available in black and silver, and include a Stephen Stills signature model (based on the 1958 incarnation), as well as a green Bono Irish Falcon that incorporates the original vertical headstock logo and ingraved block inlays with the post-1958 electronics configuration and features "The Goal Is Soul" silkscreened onto the pickguard.

Notable White Falcon Players

• Billy Duffy - The Cult
• Steven Stills
• Neil Young
• John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers

File:Otherside2003.jpg

John Frusciante playing a White Falcon at Slane Castle. He primarily used the vintage guitar (which he reportedly purchased for $30,000) on the tracks "Otherside" and "Californication" from the album Californication.

• James Hetfield of Metallica
• Leo Moran of The Saw Doctors
• Davy Carton of The Saw Doctors
• David Grohl and Pat Smear of the Foo Fighters
• Chris Cheney of The Living End
• Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes

External links

• The Gretsch Pages: 6136 White Falcon

• The Gretsch Pages: History

Sources

Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia by Tony Bacon, Dave Burrluck (Contributor), Paul Day (Contributor), and Michael Wright (Contributor). Thunder Bay Press, 2000. ISBN 1-57145-281-8