Editing Gretsch (section)

==History==
===Beginnings===
[[File:Gretsch G6122-1958.jpg|thumb|right|160px|A G6122-1962 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman model.]]

Gretsch was founded in 1883 by [[Friedrich Gretsch]], a young German immigrant who opened his own musical instrument shop on 128 Middleton Street in Brooklyn, New York that year. His shop was designed for the manufacture of [[banjo]]s, [[tambourine]]s and [[drum]]s, with the company experiencing some success catering to marching bands.<ref name="BriefHistory">{{cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/brief-history-of-gretsch-guitars/ |title=A brief history of Gretsch guitars|website=Guitar.com|first=Brandon|last=Stoner|date=2022-10-10|access-date=2024-12-01}}</ref> The operation moved to South 4th Street in 1894. In 1895, Gretsch died at the age of 39 and the company was taken over by his wife and fifteen-year-old son Fred.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where Are Gretsch Guitars Made? – From Workshop to World Stage Source |url=https://primesound.org/gretsch-guitars-made/ |website=primesound.org |publisher=Alicia Steen |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>

Fred Gretsch expanded the business, incorporating it and adding Gretsch Building #1 at 109 South 5th Street in 1903, Gretsch Building #2 at 104-114 South 4th Street in 1910, and a new ten-story Gretsch Building #4 at 60 Broadway in 1916.<ref name="BriefHistory"></ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bedfordandbowery.com/2014/12/these-luxury-lofts-are-home-to-rock-history-and-a-rocket-related-mystery/|title=These Luxury Lofts Are Home to Rock History and a Rocket-Related Mystery|date=30 December 2014|website=Bedfordandbowery.com|access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref> The company ultimately owned or operated six properties in the immediate area, including a warehouse on Dunham Place. Gretsch Building #4 was owned by the Gretsch family until 1999.

The first Gretsch branded guitar was produced in 1928, but was one of 3000 instruments in the Gretsch catalog, with it still being primarily a drum company.<ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

[[WWII]] marked a transitional period for Gretsch when Fred Gretsch Sr. handed over the family business to his son, Fred Gretsch Jr., after retiring in 1942. Soon after taking over, Fred Jr. left to serve as a Navy commander, leaving the business in the hands of his younger brother, William Walter "Bill" Gretsch. Bill Gretsch died in 1948 and the company was again run by Fred Jr.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Swearingen|first=Cynthia|date=2019-10-01|title=A Brief History Of Gretsch Guitars|url=http://vintageguitarmasters.com/gretsch-guitars/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Vintage Guitar Masters|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

In the post-war period, Gretsch brought a greater focus on electric guitars. Fred Jr and Gretsch employees Christopher 'Duke' Kramer and Jimmie Webster worked with [[Chet Atkins]] to overhaul the look and sound of Gretsch electric guitars.<ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

===1950s & 1960s===
[[File:Gretsch 6120 G- Brand 1955 vintage.jpg|thumb|right|200px|1955 [[Chet Atkins]] 6120.]]
[[File:Bono-guitar-U2 360 Tour.JPG|200px|thumb|[[Bono]] playing a Gretsch Irish Falcon.]]
[[File:NesmithLive2018.jpg|right|thumb|Former [[The Monkees|Monkees]] guitarist [[Michael Nesmith]] plays his signature model Gretsch Model 6076]]

By the mid-1950s the company introduced several models, including the [[Gretsch 6120|6120]] "Nashville," and the [[Gretsch 6128| 6128]] Duo Jet chambered "solid body", which was played by [[Bo Diddley]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/14362/gretsch-jet-firebird/ |title=Gretsch Jet Firebird |last=Hilmar |first=Jim |date=2013-12-31 |website=Vintageguitar.com |language=en-US |access-date=2018-02-23}}</ref> Two other models were introduced - the Country Club, and the [[Gretsch White Falcon|White Falcon]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-15|title=Gretsch History|url=http://chasingguitars.com/gretsch-history/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=ChasingGuitars|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=March 2021|first=Dave Hunter 24|date=2021-03-24|title=Classic Gear: Gretsch 6196 Country Club|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/classic-gear-gretsch-6196-country-club|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Guitar Player|language=en}}</ref><ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

In 1954, Webster suggested adding the sparkle finishes from Gretsch drums onto their guitars, resulting in the Gretsch Sparkle Jet. He was also inspired by the American cars of the era in introducing new finishes to their guitars.<ref name="135Years"></ref><ref name="JimmieWebster">{{cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/jimmie-webster/ |title=All About… Jimmie Webster| website=Guitar.com|first=Huw|last=Price|date=2018-08-24|access-date=2024-11-26}}</ref><ref name="HallOfFame">{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/01/14/gretsch-exhibit-opens-country-music-hall-fame/78253102/ |title=Gretsch Exhibit Opens At Country Music Hall Of Fame|website=[[The Tennessean]]|first=Juli|last=Thanki|date=2016-01-14|access-date=2024-05-12}}</ref>

During this time, [[Chet Atkins]] became an endorser of Gretsch and they sold guitars with Atkins' name on the pickguard.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gretschpages.com/guitars/6120-models/ |title=Gretsch 6120 models: Gretsch-GEAR: The Gretsch Pages |website=Gretschpages.com |access-date=2018-02-23}}</ref> Atkins' endorsement, along with the use of Gretsch guitars by rock n roll artists such as [[Eddie Cochran]] and [[Duane Eddy]], helped increase sales of Gretsch guitars.<ref name="HallOfFame"></ref>

After [[The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show|The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show]], Gretsch sales soared overnight, due to George Harrison playing a Gretsch Country Gentleman for the performance.<ref name="135Years"></ref><ref name="HallOfFame"></ref>

===Sale to Baldwin, Gretsch family regains interest===
Fred Gretsch never found a suitable successor, and in 1967 Gretsch was sold to [[Baldwin Piano Company|Baldwin Pianos]],<ref name="Gjörde35">{{cite book|last=Gjörde|first=Per|title=Pearls and Crazy Diamonds|publisher=Addit Information AB|year=2001|location=Göteborg, Sweden|pages=35–37}}</ref> becoming a subsidiary of that firm. Mid-1969, Baldwin moved Gretsch instrument manufacturing operations from Brooklyn to a plant in DeQueen, Arkansas.<ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

In 1983, Baldwin's holding company and several of its subsidiaries were forced into bankruptcy. At the time it was the largest bankruptcy ever, with a total debt of over $9 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/27/business/baldwin-a-casualty-of-fast-expansion-files-for-bankruptcy.html|title=BALDWIN, A CASUALTY OF FAST EXPANSION, FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY|first=Michael|last=Blumstein|date=27 September 1983|access-date=2021-09-08|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 1984, former Baldwin CEO Richard Harrison bought the Baldwin music divisions and brought back former Gretsch employee, Duke Kramer, to run the Gretsch division.<ref name="acousticmusic-org">{{Cite web |url=https://acousticmusic.org/research/history/large-shop-guitar-builders/gretsch/ |title=Gretsch|website=Acousticmusic.org|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref name="BriefHistory"></ref>

In 1985, the Gretsch company once again came under the leadership of the Gretsch family when Fred W. Gretsch, great-grandson of Friedrich and nephew of Fred Gretsch Jr, assumed presidency of the company.<ref name="135Years"></ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/FredGretsch.html|title=About Fred Gretsch, Jr., Music Pioneer|website=The Richmond Hill Historical Society|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> The first Gretsch guitars after Fred W Gretsch became president were released in 1988. They were a series of [[Traveling Wilburys]] commemorative guitars, which bore little resemblance to prior Gretsch models. In 1989, Gretsch restarted large-scale production of new guitars based on classic Gretsch models.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gretschpages.com/history |title=Gretsch History: The Gretsch Pages |website=Gretschpages.com |access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref><ref name="acousticmusic-org" />

In 1999, the [[Bigsby Electric Guitars]] brand was sold to Gretsch. In 2019, Gretsch sold the Bigsby brand to Fender.<ref name="Bigsby">{{cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/opinion-analysis/the-unsung-story-of-bigsby-guitars/ |title=The Story of Bigsby Guitars: the solidbody electric guitar's hero|website=Guitar.com|first=Justin|last=Beckner|date=2024-08-08|access-date=2024-12-03}}</ref>

===Fender control===
In late 2002, Gretsch and the [[Fender (company)|Fender Musical Instruments Corporation]] reached an agreement giving Fender control over marketing, production, and distribution of guitars, with the Gretsch family retaining ownership of the company.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Baxter/APTgroup|url=http://gretschpages.com/history/|title=Gretsch History|publisher=The Gretsch Pages|access-date=2012-12-20}}</ref>