Gretsch G6136T-59GE Vintage Select 1959 Falcon - Vintage White, Bigsby Reviews

The White Falcon 59 vintage select is truly high caliber; I don't care where it was made. The tone and feel of this guitar is exquisite. It's great for rock, jazz (the tone switch is very effective) and sounds great for fingerstyle. Really great guitar!

This awesome White Falcon exceeded my expectations. The high quality o9f the instrument is readily apparent. The set up and intonation are perfect. Love the TV Jones pickups. She is a visual head turner at shows for sure but really gets noticed when she cranks up. My Les Paul will stay in the wings for awhile, this baby kicks butt!!!

So easy to play, fun, true sound and excellent style and show guitar. The audience loves the look and sound. I play country, rock and old tyme music with a flare with this guitar.

Videos on U tube under Steven Scholl. During COVID lock up, wrote several songs and placed on U tube. Retired as a Senior Chemist and needed to Innovate via music. Hope you like.

So I've wanted this guitar for many years and I was finally able to make it happen!
I bought this guitar back in spring of 2020, so I've had for a little while before writing this review. It's a very comfortable guitar to play despite its size. My use / application for this guitar was more for a Sunday "Worship" setting but make No mistake it Will Rock with the best of em! It's very jangly and bright but can handle some overdrive pedals with ease. Because of the depth of the body I've noticed my effects ( delay and reverb ) can get a little lost or overpowering when playing, so if you're going to be switching between guitars for a Set, say This One and a Solid body guitar you may find yourself adjusting the effects settings on your pedals...
The tonal aspects of this guitar are great. I do find the Tone switch in the upright position is a little dark for most of my playing so I usually keep it either in the middle with the pickup switch wide open or on the Bridge pickup with the tone switch down. The Neck is very comfortable to play, but if your playing Chords on or past the 12th fret the frets seem a little narrow to me compared to say a ( Strat or tele. )

This guitar sounds really good plugged straight into an amp with a good Spring Reverb, think early 60's rock or even Wicked Game tones!
If I had the option to play this model vs thinner body, like the Falcon Players Edition or Country Gent. I may have went with a thinner body But to me if your going to own The White Falcon you need to go with this Classic design!
I hope this review is found to be helpful. You won't e disappointed!

This guitar is a tone machine. So many different combinations take it from jangly to growling. Aesthetically, it takes your breath. Every time I walk by it I still have to stop and stare. I got it for the TV Jones pickups as I wanted that brightness - a clean tone that will make you cry. I was stunned when I went to the harder louder rock and it jumped in with bite. I've only had it about a month but am already in love with it. The neck is much bigger than my USA EVH, just the standard Gretsch neck, but it's still really easy to play. The only difficulty is that the binding on the side of the neck is gold glitter and the dots are black. So in certain color stage light the dots disappear. If I was playing guitar alone that would be fine but when you're the lead singer too, sometimes you have to reorient yourself. What's the saying? You can have my falcon when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

Back in 1966, Tele's were selling new for about $175 or so in Buffalo music stores. Gretsch guitars were way more expensive (out of reach?) "Rolls Royce's" with Tennessean's going for $450 and Country Gentlemen for $650. I'd go to a local store and just "drool" at these Gretsch beauties. The store owner told me there was an even more expensive Gretsch- an elusive bird called the "White Falcon"- that he had never seen in "real life". I couldn't grasp that a guitar more expensive than a Country G even existed back then. I don't think anyone in WNY had one at a time when even Country G's were pretty rare. But turning ahead the clock- I now own one of these "elusive birds" and it is a blast to play! It plays and looks spectacular. Even stunning. The TV Jones pickups give this guitar a great sound! Of course- playing extremely high up the neck won't happen- but it is an archtop after all. Despite that one minor "speed bump"- this guitar can cover any musical style- yes- even Rock- and has its own personality. Per usual- I must thank my Sweetwater Rep Josh for processing my order so quickly. Now I've added to my collection an "elusive bird of a guitar" I never would have dreamed of having as a young player back in 1966. Let's just say it is a dream fulfilled!

I have dreamed of this guitar for decades. It arrived a couple of days ago. It was very well packed and protected. As I opened the case, the gleam of the finish, coupled with the ornate finishing touches were all I had hoped for and more. The guitar was set up well and handled beautifully. One string was slightly out of tune but was quickly restored. The tone on the pickups are truly reminiscent of the by-gone era. Even unplugged the difference in sound was noticeable. I am only sorry I waited so long. I have several other hi end Gretsch guitars but this has already gained a special place. The neck and fret board are well done and so very smooth to play. Josh at Sweetwater has been my salesman and he is friendly, knowledgeable and he really makes you feel like a friend. I trust his judgment and appreciate his honesty. Call Sweetwater. Talk to Josh. Order this guitar!!!!!

Perfect craftsmanship,the sound is incredible.this is a dream come true.

The Gretsch is a unique guitar! (For 4,000 bucks it better be) I have owned mine for approximately 2 years!!

Its not a Stratocaster nor Gibson nor PRS!!

Meaning, if you want something similar to these manufactures the Gretsch is not your guitar!!

There is a learning curve with this instrument!

The Gretsch is similar to your wife/girlfriend AFTER a couple years of marriage! Once you are over the shock (of being married or the price you paid for the instrument) you come to appreciate the instrument!

Reason for 4.5 has to do with SWEETWATER!!

Since I purchased an instrument sight unseen plus the fact that back in the 1960's you could buy a house for the price of this instrument; I asked SWEETWATER to do setup with NEW strings on the guitar! Well they charged me an arm and leg for the setup and the strings!! NO BUENO!!

If drop 4,000 bucks to a vendor prayerfully they would gracefully and obliging "put a little gravy on the potatoes" without a charge!! BUT NOOOOOOO! (Steve Martin reference)

SWEETWATER'S shtick is the 50 point inspection plan (they could do without it)!! (its a family channel;lol)

If someone drops $ for an instrument add a little gravy to the potatoes! Do a set up and change the strings without cost to the customer PLEASE!!!!!

So easy to play, fun, true sound and excellent style and show guitar. The audience loves the look and sound. I play country, rock and old tyme music with a flare with this guitar.

Videos on U tube under Steven Scholl. During COVID lock up, wrote several songs and placed on U tube. Retired as a Senior Chemist and needed to Innovate via music. Hope you like.