Gretsch

Gretsch was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a young German immigrant. His Brooklyn shop was made for the manufacture of banjos, tambourines, and drums. In 1895, at the age of 39, Gretsch died, and the successful company was taken over by his son Fred. By 1916, Fred had moved the company into a larger 10-story building in the Williamsburg district, becoming one of the most prominent American musical instrument makers. Gretsch really came to the fore in the 1950s, when it made it's most distinctive electric guitar designs such as the Country Gentlemen, Tenessean, Nashville, White Falcon, 6120, Duo Jet and many more. Played by all four of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, George Harrison and John Lennon, Bo Diddley, ZZ Top, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins and of course Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats.