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BOOK: 50 Years Of Gretsch Guitars
Half a Century of White Falcons, Gents,
Jets & Other Great Guitars
By Tony Bacon - Backbeat Books, 144 pages
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
Guitar players almost always fall in love with one particular brand of guitar at some point in their lives, and it becomes more than just a love affair; it becomes an all-out fetish. You'll find players who can tell you every technical specification of every model of Gibson Les Paul ever issued, and you'll find similarly nitpicky folks who'll tell you why their beloved Fender Stratocasters are far superior. I know a guy who lives for Sears Silvertone guitars... and no, I don't mean the Danelectros, either. I know, I know, but that's the thing about guitars. When you're in love, who can tell you otherwise?
For me, it used to be all about the Gold Top Les Paul, until the day I played my first Gretsch. Now I'm ruined for everything else. For my money (and believe me, it costs plenty), there's nothing like the feel, the sound and the cool factor of just about any Gretsch guitar, from the most terrifyingly expensive vintage jazz models to the budget priced Junior Jet. Just the sight of a photograph of an old Duo-Jet with a Bigsby can make my mouth go dry and my heart beat faster. And I'm not alone. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Gretsch worshippers are everywhere (driving the prices up on E-Bay, I might add), and just about all of them are going to buy this book.
50 Years of Gretsch Electrics (Half a Century of White Falcons, Gents, Jets & Other Great Guitars) is the fascinating story of Gretsch in both words and glorious pictures you'll spend hours staring at, dreaming, and scheming (what can I sell to buy this White Penguin? Do I really NEED a car?). As if that's not enough, the last 38 pages or so comprise a guide for collectors filled with information to help correctly identify models. The bottoms of the pages are filled with numbered body-shaped silhouettes, representing all 26 different Gretsch body styles. The bulk of the pages are filled with specifications for every Gretsch model in order of body shape ID number. Definitely helpful in learning about your own guitar(s), and it enables the fetishist in you who wants to know every detail about even the ones you'll never be able to afford unless you win the Lotto. All of this is very good, but I have to admit to being a love-struck boy who spends most of his time gazing at the pictures. (Hey, I already read everything, word-for-word, like three times.) A great combination, which I must warn you can be a downer depending on your 'tude, is to go through the book, pic by pic, and search E-Bay to see what's shaking. Now and then you find something. Sound like a dangerous habit? It is, but a satisfying one. As the owner of three Gretsches and counting, I say why deny a good fetish? Let Tony Bacon's book enable you. You know you want it.
© 2005 - DJ Johnson