Gretsch Introduces New Country Club Colors

I posted those pictures at the top to grab your attention and if you're anything like me, you may linger on them. I have no problem with that. Take as long as you like and if you feel like I'm typing way too much, take a break, scroll back up and take another long drink of cool picture before diving back into my words (assuming you're going further than the pictures in the first place).

Here's a secret about Gretsch guitars: They're versatile. Gretsch has a tradition of rockabilly, old school rock and roll and perhaps the blues, but they're actually good for just about every genre out there. Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day has been known to rock a black 6120 with P90s in it and even cites a single cutaway Gretsch with back pad on helping create the tone of their latest album 21st Century Breakdown.

James Hetfield of Metallica used a White Falcon on Nothing Else Matters, which, while certainly not their most aggressive song is nonetheless Metallica and the fact that it was picked up in the first place shouldn't be taken for granted.

Tons of 90's Alternative bands use(d) them, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid is practically known for his Baldwin-era Gretsch Country Club (which looks significantly different than the ones pictured above not just in the level of abuse given it but also fundamentals like f hole shape, tailpiece, pickup covers, etc. etc).

AC/DC uses Gretsch guitars. That's all I have to say about THAT.

Chris Cheney not only uses Gretsch guitars to craft his songs which range in styles from straight up punk, to straight up rock, from jazz to a punk reminiscent of the Clash (and even some rockabilly thrown in there), but he also has his own signature guitar (which has more information in an older blog located here: http://5th-fret.blogspot.com/2008/11/gretsch-chris-cheney-signature-guitar.html) from them.

Yes, an incredibly well-known guitarist named Brian Setzer did bring Gretsch back from the fringes of the Forgotten Realm during his time with the Stray Cats and yes, Gretsch has accepted this rockabilly reputation with open arms, and it's probably a mixture of the two that made it so today when you open up a case, even a non guitarist will ask if you're going to play some Stray Cats or Brian Setzer or simply some rockabilly.

Personally, I think this is an unfair stereotype. While Gretsch guitars DO have an amazing tone and an unrivaled history in the rockabilly world, they are oh so much more and the best example is the Country Club.

The name might call to mind snootiness or a sense of being above the common people, and in a way that's correct. The Country Club does excel in just about everything you make it do so yes, it is above other GUITARS, just about ANY guitar, but above the people? No way.

You shouldn't let the name impact you very much anyway. These are quality guitars with a thin top and soundpost bracing that makes the guitar shake as you strum making it feel alive in your hands, like you're having a conversation with the guitar rather than just playing it. The Bigsby is there to assist with any emphasis you would like to make sonically and the neck is as comfortable as comfortable can be.

Playing it you may think you can finally throw away that one trick pony acoustic of yours because this guitar has an acoustic tone that other guitars would kill for and when it's plugged in, electric guitars are just as jealous.

Gretsch is most well known for two guitars: the 6120 and the White Falcon (specifically the 6136) and the Falcon has been heralded as the top of the Gretsch line ever since Jimmie Webster first came up with it in his head but I'm here to say that while the Country Club may be a little more understated than the Falcon, the two are remarkably close in specs and the CC can nail just about any tone or make it better.

If you have resisted trying out the Country Club, do yourself a favor and try one. The Green models feature a spruce top where these two are maple, so if you have the opportunity, try them both. The size may take a little getting used to but it is something you can get used to and in time grow to love if you don't love it at first strum anyway. You can hug it to yourself as you play and feel the vibrations run through your body and really feel like you and the instrument are one and that's something every guitarist wants, right?

The ONE issue I have with them is the Synchro-Sonic (or Melita depending on who you're talking to) bridge. The knobs are a bit cumbersome when you try to palm mute and while this is something I'm sure you can get used to (Billy Zoom from X plays a Jet with a Melita bridge after all) I would replace it with a brass bar bridge. That's my only issue though and the bridge is a purely personal issue. There are a ton of dedicated Melita players out there. Besides, when you think about just how close to a perfect guitar these Country Clubs are, a bridge is a really small issue to have.

Before I leave you, I'll post what Gretsch Guitars has to say about these models:

For the yellow one:

"Country Club Heaven! The G6196TSP-BY features a vibrant three-ply maple hollow body (17" wide, 2.75” deep) that produces rich, dynamic tones-with help from the vintage-style parallel bracing and sound post, twin DynaSonic™ single-coil pickups, Synchro-Sonic™ bridge and Bigsby B6C tailpiece. This “Club membership” also boasts a pristine gloss-urethane two-tone bamboo yellow top with copper mist back & sides, all neatly accentuated by chrome hardware. When you plug this baby in and start expressing your soul, you’ll swear you’re in heaven. - MSRP $3,900 / Availability - July 1, 2009"

For the gray one:

"Two-Tone Opulence is one way to describe this supreme specimen, which has a top finished in smokey gray and metallic violet-finished back & sides. The lavish gold hardware is second only to the responsive sonic voice produced by Dyna’Sonic™ pickups and the vintage-style parallel bracing and sound post.

With stair-step button Grover® Imperial Tuners, a rosewood fretboard, Bigsby B6G tailpiece, 2.75" -deep three-ply maple hollow body and a Synchro-Sonic™ bridge, the Club is splendor itself. - MSRP $4,100 / Availability - July 1, 2009"

-Pappy