Gretsch timeline
- 1883
- Friedrich Gretsch founds the Gretsch company.
- 1895
- Friedrich Gretsch dies. His fifteen-year-old son Fred Gretsch takes over.
- 1915
- Gretsch expands, moving to the 10-story Gretsch building at 60 Broadway in Brooklyn.
- 1933
- Gretsch uses its own name on guitars for the first time, rather than just selling to wholesalers.
- 1935
- Duke Kramer begins working for Gretsch.
- 1939
- The first Gretsch electric guitar, the Electromatic, is offered. Production of these early Electromatics was farmed out, probably to Kay, and not many were made.
- The Synchromatic line of arch top acoustics was introduced to considerable success.
- 1941
- Bill Hagner joins Gretsch. He quickly becomes Production Manager.
- 1942
- Fred Gretsch retires. His son, William, takes over briefly. Gretsch stops guitar production to assist in war efforts.
- 1946
- Gretsch begins post-war production.
- Jimmie Webster begins working regularly for Gretsch.
- 1948
- Fred Gretsch, Jr. takes over from William as head of Fred Gretsch Enterprises.
- 1949
- First post-war truly Gretsch Electromatic, debuts.
- 1951
- First cutaway bodies appear on Electromatic and new Electro II guitar models.
- 1953
- Duo-Jet production starts, kicking off the entire Jet line of solidbodies to come.
- Electro II losses the Synchromatic headstock logo, and with the new T-roof logo (and truss rod adjuster on the headstock) the model is renamed Country Club, creating one of Gretsch's best-known and longest-lasting models.
- Electromatic-cutaway (pre-Streamliner) debuts as the 6190-1 model.
- 1954
- Jimmie Webster convinces Chet Atkins to sign an endorsement deal, and the Streamliner Special #13753 (6120 prototype) is developed for Chet to approve.
- Final script logos disappear and the well-known "T-roof" logo becomes the standard across all models.
- Silver Jets (model 6129) debut
- 1955
- White Falcons introduced.
- First Chet Atkins models, the 6120 Hollowbody and 6121 Solidbody, are introduced.
- 1956
- Dan Duffy is hired to oversee Gretsch Quality Control.
- 1957
- Duane Eddy buys a 6120 at Ziggie's Music in Phoenix.
- Most models have "Humped Block" fret markers.
- 1958
- Tennessean introduced.
- Country Gentleman introduced, bringing the number of Chet Atkins models up to four.
- Dynasonics are dropped. Most models switch to FilterTrons.
- Gretsch celebrates 75 years in business with the introduction of the Anniversary models.
- Jimmy Webster unveils "Project-O-Sonic" stereo White Falcons and Anniversaries.
- 1959
- Zero Fret introduced.
- 1960
- HiLoTrons are introduced and fitted on Anniversaries, Tennesseans and Clippers.
- 1961
- Jets switch to double-cutaway bodies. For '61 only they retain chrome hardware.
- 6120 bodies narrow from almost three inches thick to about two. This was to be the last year of the classic single-cutaway 6120.
- 1962
- Thinline, closed-top Electrotone bodies debut.
- 1964
- In February, the Beatles play on the "Ed Sullivan Show." George Harrison's use of a Country Gentleman creates a frenzy.
- Blacktop FilterTrons make their first appearance on a batch or two of 6120s. The factory had run out of FilterTron covers, so they drilled HiLo covers for the extra row of polepeices.
- 1965
- Limited run of cats-eye Anniversaries made for Sam Ash Music chain, harkening back to the Synchromatic era. They lasted from roughly 1965 to 1968 and were available in red and black.
- 1967
- Fred Gretsch sells out to Baldwin Piano company.
- "Made in the USA" stamp first appears on the back of headstocks mid-year.
- 1970
- Guitar production moved to Booneville, Ark.
- Jets revert to single-cutaway body with the introduction of the 6127 Porsche Pumpkin RocJet and the 6130 Mercedes Black RocJet. The classic Duo Jet, Silver Jet and Jet Firebird quietly disappear.
- Rally models discontinued.
- 1972
- Gretsch New York business offices shut down and moved to Chicago.
- Guitar models are given new 7xxx model numbers. Numerous spec changes coincide.
- 1973
- Baldwin signs over production duties to Bill Hagner and his newly-formed Hagner Musical Instrument Corp. Arkansas guitar plant suffers two disastrous fires.
- 1978
- Production reverts from Bill Hagner back to Baldwin.
- 1979
- Sales and administration offices moved to Chanute, Kan.
- 1981
- Baldwin shuts down Gretsch guitar production.
- 1984
- An abortive attempt to relaunch guitar production in Jaurez, Mexico fails after only a handful of guitars are built.
- 1985
- Fred W. Gretsch, great-grandson of the company founder, regains control of the Gretsch company.
- 1988
- Travelling Wilburys guitars signal a beginning of new Gretsch production.
- 1989
- Modern Gretsch guitar production begins in earnest. Production lines are in Japan, with business offices in Savannah, Ga.
- 1993
- Brian Setzer signature 6120 line begins.
- 1998
- Ill-fated "Custom Shop" guitars are made (expensively) in America.
- Duane Eddy Signature 6120 introduced.
- Brian Setzer Hot Rods make a surprise debut on the December 21 Tonight Show on NBC. They were supposed to be unveiled a few weeks later at winter NAMM, but Setzer gave a rousing version of Jingle Bells on the show with the new models.
- 1999
- The "Synchromatic" line announced late in year. It was pretty much a duplicate of the Electromatic line, only available through select retailers.
- Budget-priced, made in Korea "Electromatic" line announced late in year.
- Gretsch buys Bigsby Accessories.
- Mid-range Historic line introduced.
- 2000
- Elliot Easton signs on, and EE Signature Jets introduced.
- 2001
- Sweet Sixteen Rancher models announced in September.
- 2002
- On August 19, Gretsch and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation enter into an agreement that gives Fender virtually all control over the manufacturing and distribution of Gretsch guitars.
- 2003
- Korea-made lines are overhauled and simplified. The revised and upgraded Electromatic line is given 5xxx model numbers.
- Budget-priced Synchromatic line dropped in favor of revamped and simplified Electromatic line-up.
- FMIC-era serial number system begins around May. Note the first couple of months were hpyhenated before switching to the standard, non-hyphenated style.
- Historic line dropped.
- Sweet Sixteen Rancher models dropped.
- 2007
- Chet Atkins returns to the Gretsch family. After decades away, in January 2007 Chet Atkins name returned to Gretsch, and the Atkins-related models were allowed to revert to their classic names.
- Tennessee Rose models revert to Tennessean naming.
- Country Classic models revert to Country Gentleman naming.
- 2008
- Gretsch celebrates its 125th Anniversary with a few special models: the 6118-T 125th Anniversary, the 6118-T-LTV 125th Anniversary (with special Jaguar Tan lacquer finish and TV Jones PowerTrons) and a very limited edition 6120 finished in gold leaf.
Note that all 2008 guitars had "125th Anniversary" badge attached. This does not make them Anniversary models, it makes them 2008 models.
- 2011
- George Harrison Jet unveiled.
- Duane Eddy comes back into the Gretsch fold and an all-new Eddy Signature model is unveiled.