The Gretsch

[dave robinson]

I must admit that back in 2000 when Roberto broke the story about Hank and the Gretsch, I wasn't really interested in his theory. In 2004 I went over to visit Roberto in Tuscany and made some recordings in his home studio in the 'Nivram Room', using Roberto's wonderful Meazzi echo and his 1959 Gretsch 6122. Joy and I had a lovely there and we went out in the evenings to lovely restaurants, meeting up with Allesandro and his wife.
When I got back home, Roberto called me to say that Jim Nugent had found a 1959 Gretsch 6122 in Denmark Street and I bought it to carry on with Roberto's experiments here in my studio. The sound was indeed very close but that was all, because just after that I used a JMI AC15 with my Strat and realised where the magic was. The rest is history, as I had been discussing all of this with Warren Bennett, who in turn was discussing it with Hank, who told Warren to let me know that he definitely that he used the Strat on Apache, but gave me a few titles on which the Gretsch was used, suggesting I compare in those areas which I did. That's when I put it to bed once and for all, but I kept the Gretsch for over twelve months before selling it and getting back my investment.
Fast forward to today, because of that I'm the happy owner of a White Falcon, 6120 Eddie Cochran and new 5655 which is a great new model.
Here'sHank playing his Country Gent (6122) and me with my White Falcon (6136).

[Iain Purdon]

That’s a great look!

[anniv 63]

If anyone here has never tried a Gretsch of any description their life is incomplete!!!!
I was very lucky to find an extremely clean and nice G5435 PRO JET Electromatic at an excellent
used price at Cash Generators.
It has the best most playable neck of any guitar I have, superb low action and punchy pickups too!!
Sounds great on many early Shads numbers like Rumble Nivram etc Highly recommended!!!

Mike

[dave robinson]

Do you mean the White Falcon Iain ?
I have to confess that all my Gretsch guitars play and sound superb and do a respectable early Shadows sound.
To own a Gretsch guitar back in the early sixties was considered a big deal, as they were not cheap. I wonder how Hank felt about his and come to that Bruce too, because I honestly think that because of the resurgence of interest in The Shadows over the last forty years, they have kept it low key and discouraged enthusiasm over the Gretsch, possibly as a result of Roberto's statements. As much as I admired Roberto, I'm certain that he got it wrong doing all of that, as when he recorded me in his studio, the sound was a million miles away and as it turned out, I was no help to him because of my hearing problems that only came to light recently.
If only he was still with us, we could have put it to bed, as the last time I saw Roberto he was shaking a pointed finger at Hank, thus getting himself dispatched. It was such a shame that I realised about the Vox with the EF86 after he passed away, which happened when someone lent me the 'right' amp.
What really puzzles me is that there were plenty of other members here who had used such an amp, but were getting nowhere near the tone with it, dismissing it and buggering about with 'Top Boosts'. I heard it as soon as I plugged in and the irony is, Roberto had one in his studio and wouldn't let me try it when I asked, instead insisting on using a Fender Tremolux. Anyhow it's all water under the bridge now, but there were people who knew and stood by and said nothing, letting folks buy the Kinman pickups, along with other expensive stuff that didn't work either. Cest La Vie.