BOOK: ‘The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book’ by Tony Bacon
There may not be a more distinct sounding brand in the guitar business than Gretsch. There are times when it’s hard to tell the difference between different brands of Fender or Gibson, but even an untrained ear can recognize a Gretsch riff within a few bars. There’s a twang that just can’t be simulated, not even on a Stratocaster, and it’s part of what has made Gretsch one of the most recognized guitar brands worldwide. In Tony Bacon’s new book, The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book, we learn who, what, when, where, and why this happened. (And it’s not just because Gretsch makes damn good guitars.)
The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book covers the history of the titular Gretsch electric guitar, from the founding of the company by Friedrich Gretsch in 1883 all the way to its current use by bands such as Fall Out Boy. It delves into the company’s evolution, from its roots as a small instrument-producing company to its partnership with Fender, and spends a significant amount of time talking to and about notable Gretsch players. There’s a particular focus on the early innovators, especially Chet Atkins (quite possibly the man most associated with the brand) and Eddie Cochran, but there’s still a fair amount of space dedicated to comparatively modern innovators such as Brian Setzer.
Bacon put an intense amount of research into this book, interviewing nearly everyone related to the Gretsch brand as could find, and going deep into the proverbial (and possibly literal) vaults to find some real gems. How deep? He cites the exact date of the last known Kustom-Gretsch price list (January ’83), what the price list contained, and which production run the guitars on it came from. He also delves into the friendly rivalry between guitar manufacturers, talks about how George Harrison playing a Gretsch did wonders for sales, and digs up an ad for the Princess – a 1961 electric guitar “selectively constructed for girls.” How Don Draper.
The book is heavily geared towards string instrument aficionados, and it assumes the reader is well versed in guitar terminology. If you’re unfamiliar with guitar terminology such as “nut,” “pickup,” and “vibrato,” you might want to brush up a bit before you pick up this book.
Bacon’s writing follows a pattern that’s easy to follow, but can get dry and repetitive after a while. While not exactly textbooky, it does take on a technical tone without much in the way of flowery language. He does display a sense of humor at times, but that’s more of the exception than the expectation.
Even if you’re not in a reading mood, the book has plenty of pretty pictures that are just as good for a skim through as they are for a deep read. Almost every other page contains some beautifully photographed Gretsch guitars, as well as plenty of promotional material and vintage photographs. Detailed captions are provided for each photo on the page, so there’s no need to search the book looking for them.
The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book is an must read for guitar buffs. While not universally accessible, dedicated fans of the Gretsch sound would do well to seek out a copy — even though the book is only 160 pages, it manages to cover a deep amount of history in an insane amount of detail.
Get your copy of The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book now via Hal Leonard’s online shop!
