Gretsch Guitar Company Introduces Historic
Series Guitar Line
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Gretsch 3303
Grand Concert
(Click for a close-up)
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December 22, 1999
In the most extensive guitar introduction of its 116 year history, the Gretsch
Guitar Company introduced the new Gretsch Historic Series of acoustic and electric
guitars. Taking popular designs from the 1930s through 1950s, these guitars offer
classic styling with modern playability and features. Initially the line will
contain 26 guitars in ten styles.
The ten styles include five acoustic styles, the Hawaiian, Grand Concert,
Dreadnought, Sierra Jumbo and Resonators. Many of the models are equipped with
Fishman acoustic pickup systems. Three archtop electric Synchromatic models are
featured along with the acoustic electric Streamliner and Jet Mainliner lap steel.
"The Gretsch Historic Series is a tribute to my ancestors and the fine guitars
they developed and made from the 1920s through the 1950s," explains Fred
Gretsch, president of the Gretsch Guitar Company. "After extensive research
and development, we are proud to introduce the first 26 models in the Gretsch
Historic Series."
Development of the guitars took two years. Due to fires at Gretsch factories
and lost records, duplicating these vintage instruments was not as easy as it
sounds. Many plans and records were not available. In addition, some of the materials
and suppliers are not around any longer. An international team of guitar experts
pursued and gathered all the information they could, including vintage catalogs,
guitar books and journals, and the personal recollections of some of the people
who worked on the original guitars.
Several Gretsch innovations and patented designs are reintroduced on these
guitars. The Synchromatic archtop guitars feature the patented stairstep bridge.
The acoustic electric guitars have the Cat's eye sound holes, pioneered by Gretsch
in the 1930s. And the pearloid-like headstock and fingerboard of the Hawaiian
Deluxe brings back a look not seen for 50 years.
For more information, write,
The Gretsch Guitar Company, PO Box 2468, Savannah, GA, 31402 or log onto the Gretsch
website at www.gretsch.com. |
