Gretsch White Falcon: Difference between revisions

Gretsch White Falcon
Gretsch White Falcon
	File:Grewhifalcus.jpg
Manufacturer	Gretsch
Period	1954-1980; 1996-present
Construction
Body type	Hollow
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Woods
Body	17" wide, 2 3/4" deep laminated maple body
Neck	Maple
Fretboard	Gold-sparkle fingerboard and headstock bindings
Hardware
Bridge	Ebony-based Space-Control Roller-Bridge
Pickup(s)	Two Dynasonic Single-coil Pickups/3-Position Toggle
Colors available
	White

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The Gretsch White Falcon (often referred to as simply the White Falcon) was an innovative and revolutionary guitar which was introduced in the early 50's, and is considered by many as "One of the defining instruments of Rock"[1]. It obtained profitable success with many famous guitarists acclimatizing it into their repertoire. Although coming in only one model, style, and color (as well as the steep expense), it has remained a prime example of Rock history. The unique style of Gold freeboards and 3 separate volume controls (Neck pickup, Bridge pickup, Master volume) allows the user to create a more controlled sound used to their desired craving.

The White Falcon is best known for its striking resemblance to a Violin, Falcon in mid-flight engraved in gold, and mammoth dimension. It measures 25.5 scale inches, which is, generally, much larger than the typical guitar. An authentic, signature, model 55' series currently runs for roughly $22,000.

Origins and History

In early 1954, Gretsch began designing an under-the-covers guitar in order to compete with other makes (such as the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul). Then, one year later, the White Falcon hit the market to acquire an unanticipated and previously unforeseeable success, due to its likeable design and exceptional sound production. Gretsch made an audacious move when designing the Falcon. It features gold fingerboards (previously unheard of), an immense size, a hollow body, and 3 pickup switch toggles to generate the player’s preferred sound.

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 asphyxiating 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 into the psychedelic period and the up-and-coming Hard Rock 70s’. Most who were inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and other musical greats were turning to Fender, rather than Gretsch. Thus, the White Falcon seldom received even the smallest structure of recognition during this period, and went completely overlooked.

To make matters worse, the deteriorating Balding Manufacturing experienced two destructive warehouse fires. Gretsch limped through the 70s’ and finally closed production in the 80s’. Falcons soon became instruments only collectors owned and swiftly became forgotten altogether. It wasn’t until the mid-90s’, when Fred Gretsch III reintroduced his family’s previous legacy and, due to this effort, conveyed the White Falcon into the limelight, once again.

Notable White Falcon Players

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

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 |period=1954-1980; 1996-present
 |bodytype=Hollow
-|necktype=Dovetail-jointed set
+|necktype=Bolt-on
 |woodbody=17" wide, 2 3/4" deep laminated [[maple]] body
 |woodneck=[[Maple]]
-|woodfingerboard=Ebony, with Gold-sparkle fingerboard and headstock binding
+|woodfingerboard=Gold-sparkle fingerboard and headstock bindings
 |bridge=Ebony-based Space-Control Roller-Bridge
-|pickups=Two Dynasonic Single-coil Pickups; Two FilterTron Humbucking Pickups/3-Position Toggle
+|pickups=Two Dynasonic Single-coil Pickups/3-Position Toggle
 |colors=White
 }}
-The '''Gretsch White Falcon''' (often referred to as simply the '''White Falcon''') was introduced in the early 50's. Its large size and distinctive white and gold color scheme made it an outstanding insrument.  It was very profitable for Gretsch, and found many famous guitarists using it into their repertoire. Through the years it changed considerably, with different pickups, controls, depth and other changes, but has remained a prime example of [[Rock (music)|Rock]] history. Its unique style and sound has always set it apart.
+The '''Gretsch White Falcon''' (often referred to as simply the '''White Falcon''') was an innovative and revolutionary guitar which was introduced in the early 50's, and is considered by many as "One of the defining instruments of [[Rock (music)|Rock]]"[http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/WhiteFalconDS/]. It obtained profitable success with many famous guitarists acclimatizing it into their repertoire. Although coming in only one model, style, and color (as well as the steep expense), it has remained a prime example of [[Rock (music)|Rock]] history. The unique style of Gold freeboards and 3 separate volume controls (Neck pickup, Bridge pickup, Master volume) allows the user to create a more controlled sound used to their desired craving.
-The White Falcon is best known for its large, 17-inch size, striking appearance, with gleaming white paint, copious gold trim, and a [[Falcon]] in mid-flight engraved in in the gold pickguard.
+The White Falcon is best known for its striking resemblance to a [[Violin]], [[Falcon]] in mid-flight engraved in gold, and mammoth dimension. It measures 25.5 scale inches, which is, generally, much larger than the typical guitar. An authentic, signature, model 55' series currently runs for roughly $22,000.
 ==Origins and History==
-In early 1954, [[Gretsch]] began developing the Falcon as a showpiece guitar - something to show off their abilities at the annual music shows and drum up interest in other Gretsch guitars. Demand for the Falcon was immediate an overwhelming, and Gretsch decided to add it to the line. When nearly all guitars were still using rather plain natural or sunburst finishes, the Falcon's gold and white was dazzling, as was its price tag: $600 in 1954 (4,150 in today's dollars).
+In early 1954, [[Gretsch]] began designing an under-the-covers guitar in order to compete with other makes (such as the [[Fender Stratocaster]] and the [[Gibson Les Paul]]). Then, one year later, the White Falcon hit the market to acquire an unanticipated and previously unforeseeable success, due to its likeable design and exceptional sound production. Gretsch made an audacious move when designing the Falcon. It features gold fingerboards (previously unheard of), an immense size, a hollow body, and 3 pickup switch toggles to generate the player’s preferred sound.
+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 asphyxiating 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 into the [[psychedelic Rock|psychedelic]] period and the up-and-coming [[Hard Rock]] 70s’. Most who were inspired by [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Eric Clapton]] and other musical greats were turning to [[Fender]], rather than Gretsch. Thus, the White Falcon seldom received even the smallest structure of recognition during this period, and went completely overlooked.
-Alongside other extremely popular models such as the 6120 Chet Atkins, the White Falcon helped define Gretsch's “Golden Years”.
+To make matters worse, the deteriorating Balding Manufacturing experienced two destructive warehouse fires. Gretsch limped through the 70s’ and finally closed production in the 80s’. Falcons soon became instruments only collectors owned and swiftly became forgotten altogether. It wasn’t until the mid-90s’, when Fred Gretsch III reintroduced his family’s previous legacy and, due to this effort, conveyed the White Falcon into the limelight, once again.
-With more than a decade of accomplishment, Fred Gretsch retired in 1967 and, for better or worse, sold his company to Baldwin Manufacturing. Baldwin had trouble understanding guitars in general and the shifting marketplace in particular and the White Falcon (and the company's other hollowbody guitars) fell out of favor in the [[psychedelic Rock|psychedelic]] period and the up-and-coming [[Hard Rock]] 70s. Most who were inspired by [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Eric Clapton]] and other musical greats were turning to [[Fender]], rather than Gretsch. Thus, the White Falcon struggled through the 70s.
-To make matters worse, Gretsch suffered two destructive warehouse fires in the early 70s. Gretsch limped through the 70s and finally closed production in the 80s.
-In the 80s, Falcons remained popular among some players who were entranced by the big bird's fabuluous look and sound, but it wasn’t until the mid-90s, when Fred Gretsch III revived his family’s legacy and brought the White Falcon into the limelight once again.
 ==Notable White Falcon Players==