Gretsch G6136T Limited Edition Falcon

Part of a trio of 2021 limited-edition models that includes the G6119TG-62RW-LTD ’62 Rosewood Tenny with Bigsby and the G6134T Penguin Koa with Bigsby, this Falcon doesn’t disappoint with its metallic copper front contrasted by Sahara Metallic back, sides and neck. It just needs four wheels and a big ol’ engine…

The Falcon, of course, first appeared as the topof-the-line White Falcon back in 1955, the ‘dream guitar’ of influential player and Gretsch ‘ideas man’ Jimmy Webster, and it has earned its place in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in the hands of a diverse number of players not least Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Brian Setzer and the Cult’s Billy Duffy. And this Japanesemade hot-rod does nothing to diminish its heritage.

More pink-hued than the spec sheet suggests, the colours are quite coarse metallics immaculately applied. In the flesh the Copper colour of the top resembles a deep muted pink contrasted by the lighter pink Sahara. But this is certainly one pimped ride with its silver sparkle-edged binding around the body, fingerboard, headstock and even lining the large ‘f’ holes. The bright chrome arrow knobs get a red jewel and mother-of-pearl dot inlay, too.

Under the hood we get the 1959-style trestle bracing, which actually looks quite chunky through the f-holes, but adds some stability to the 406mm (16”) wide maple laminate hollowbody that has a rim depth of 70mm. It’s certainly a large proposition and despite a good measured weight of 3.9kg (8.58lb) it really does make a Les Paul feel like a ukulele. Yet the combination of the string-thru Bigsby, ‘Rocking Bar’ bridge, Grover Imperial locking tuners and a very well-cut bone nut means that tuning stability is excellent for anyone who dares to show this a live stage.

Yes, it’s form over function but plug one of these in and you’re instantly transported back to the brilliance and twang that originally put Gretsch on the map. Meanwhile, just switch off the slap-back echo and add some crunch for more dirt.

But, it’s the TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity pickups that really are the icing on this celebratory cake here. They’re made according to the inventor’s personal notes and designs – and according to TV Jones, in his technical notes, Ray called what became known as the Filter’Tron, the ‘Ful-Fidelity’. They are simply superb recreations of that sound.

1 1. This two-tone colour style goes back to Gretsches of the mid50s, using DuPont car colours – an idea that apparently came from their drum department

2 2. The ‘Tone Pot’ array features a master volume with treble bleed circuit and a No-Load tone master control – along with individual pickup volumes – to maximise the highend response

3 3. Compared to the demure headstocks of Fender and Gibson, this style emulates the opulence of the original White Falcon

4 5 6 TV Jones says these unpotted Ray Butts FulFidelity humbuckers offer a “tighter bass response and slightly more top-end EQ than a TV Classic. Truly unique sparkle and dynamics are provided by the lower output and absence of wax” The wooden Rocking Bar bridge base is pinned to the top and, as its name implies, as you move the Bigsby the bridge lightly rocks back and forwards The drilled string bar means you just thread the strings through and there’s no messing with anchor pins. If only all Bigsbys had this feature we’d have saved hours restringing our Gretsches over the years