Gretsch G6136DS White Falcon - Dynasonic, Cadillac Tailpiece

Make Your Mark with a Guitar from Rock's History!

At last, the '55-era White Falcon is once again available in a production model! The Gretsch White Falcon DS features dual DynaSonic single-coil pickups, gold-plated hardware, Grover Imperial machine heads, Synchro-Sonic bridge, Cadillac "G" tailpiece, vertical Gretsch headstock logo and feather-engraved mother-of-pearl "hump block" inlays.

• One the defining instruments of rock
• Considered to be one of the most beautiful, best sounding guitars ever made
• Single cutaway hollowbody guitar with dual DynaSonic single-coil pickups
• Gold hardware, mother-of-pearl Inlays, multiple binding, Grover Imperial gold-plated die-cast tuners
• Rich History and Heritage

One the defining instruments of rock
In the 50's, Chet Atkins, Bo Diddley, and Elvis Presley had two things in common. First, they helped to shape the sound of pop music. Second, they played Gretsch guitars. In the sixties, Gretsch guitars defined the sound of The Who's rock opera, "Tommy." John Lennon and George Harrison used them and so did Jimmy Page. In fact, Gretsch guitars are what gave Bono his "Edge." Of all the legendary Gretsch guitars, the most sought after "dream guitar" is the venerable Gretsch White Falcon. While being the Holy Grail for most guitarists, if the White Falcon is to be associated with any one notable rock guitarist, it would be Steven Stills, for whom a White falcon Signature model has been released based on his vintage 1962 White Falcon. Other famous guitarists who are using them include Brian Setzer, Pat Smear and David Grohl of the Foo Fighters, (formerly from Nirvana), James Hetfield of Metallica, Rich Robinson of Black Crowes fame, and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. From Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to AC/DC, the Gretsch White Falcon has made its permanent mark in rock history. Make your mark with a Gretsch White Falcon.

Beautifully Styled Single Cutaway hollowbody
"The utmost in striking beauty, luxurious styling, and peak tonal performance" ...so boasted the original ad copy for this stunning beauty. But don't get blinded by the glitter and gold! Rich, complex tones come from dual DynaSonic pickups and a 17" wide, 2 3/4" deep laminated maple body with an arched laminated maple top. The White Falcon neck is a 3-piece maple 25.5" scale with an ebony fretboard. For greater expressive control, the Gretsch White Falcon boasts three separate volume controls (neck pickup, bridge pickup, master volume), and a three-position master tone switch. This gives you the ability to blend the volume and tone of the pickups to create your own unique sound.

Nothing But the Best Hardware
All of the White Falcon's hardware is top shelf as well, right down to the Grover ImperialTM gold-plated die-cast tuners. More than a tuner, this is a legnd! First introduced in the 1950's the Imperial tuners have been used on some of the most expensive and collectible guitars ever produced. With distinctive gold-plated "3-step" buttons, the Grover Imperial has a heavy duty casing and a smooth feel with its 14:1 ratio. Along with gold hardware and multiple binding, other artistic touches on the White Falcon include Mother-of -Pearl inlay position markers with feather engraving and a gold-plated Gretsch "G" Cadillac tail piece.

The History of the White Falcon
If ever a guitar typified the glorious excesses of the 1950s, the White Falcon would be that guitar. To paraphrase Tom Wolfe, the Falcon was a "Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby." And it was "the most beautiful guitar in the world," to quote the Gretsch literature of the day. A hellishly expensive dreamboat even when new, White Falcons continue to be highly treasured, high-dollar guitars. But for all the things the 6136 White Falcon was, it was not necessarily intended to be a production model at all. It was originally a trade show guitar, a "dream machine" Gretsch put together to show off a little. As the orders came rushing in after its introduction at the 1954 music trade shows, the Falcon was rushed into production.

From its debut in '54, the Falcon featured gleaming white paint and gold sparkle trim, 24-karat gold-plated metal parts, ebony and real mother-of-pearl, all working together to dazzle players and dreamers alike. The guitar had three-layer white, gold and black binding, bird-themed engravings on the neck markers, a special winged headstock and "Cadillac G" tailpiece, so named because the "V" at the end was reminiscent of a Cadillac logo, back when Cadillac was "The Standard of the World," and the first GM division with a modern V-8 engine, too.

In the late '60s, Fred Gretsch retired and sold the company to Baldwin Manufacturing. Baldwin had difficulty understanding Gretsch's position in the market and failed to make a transition through the psychedelic '60s and hard-rock '70s. Kids inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton turned to Fender. To make matters worse, Baldwin moved production to Arkansas, and Gretsch suffered through two disastrous fires. The Baldwin marriage was always an unhappy one. With sales down and the head office increasingly disinterested, Gretsch limped through the 70s and finally shut down production in the early 80s. The "Great Gretsch sound" became something only collectors could own (A vintage '62 White Falcon sells for twenty thousand dollars), that is, until the 90's when Fred Gretsch III brought back his family's legacy with a little help from his friends (Fender). Thanks to his efforts, Gretsch is back in the limelight with faithful reissues of the finest classic Gretsch guitars and new models as well. Now you can add the "Great Gretsch Sound" to your collection with a painstakingly crafted reissue of the original 1962 Gretsch White Falcon. With a new White Falcon, you're not only getting a great sounding, great playing guitar, but a work of art that can only appreciate in value.

• V-Shaped Falcon Headstock with Vertical Gretsch Logo.
• Hump block Mother-of -Pearl inlay position markers with feather engraving.
• Gold-sparkle fingerboard and headstock bindings.
• Oversized bound F-holes.
• Multiple gold-sparkle body bindings.
• Gold-sparkle inlaid Gretsch logo on headstock.
• Gold Plexi dove-style pickguard with Falcon detail.
• Knurled strap retainer knobs.
• Adjustable truss rod.

• Color: White
• Body Style: Single cutaway hollowbody
• Sclae Length: 25.5" (648mm)
• Top: Arched Laminated Maple
• Back and sides: Laminated Maple body, 17" wide, 2.75" deep
• Neck: 3-Piece Maple
• No. Of Frets: 22
• Machine Heads: Grover Imperial gold-plated die-cast tuners
• Pickups: Two Dynasonic Single-coil Pickups
• Pickup Swtching: 3-Position Toggle
• Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Volume, 3-Position Toggle Master Tone Switch
• Width At Nut: 1-11/16" (43mm)
• Fretboard: Ebony, 12" Radius (305mm)
• Bridge: Ebony-based Space-Control Roller-Bridge
• Tailpiece: Gretsch "G" Cadillac Tailpiece
• Hardware: Gold-Plated
• Finish: Gloss urethane
• Case: Includes G6242Ldeluxe hardshell case