My name is Dan Duffy. I’m a Guitar Player. I worked as “ Quality Controller” for the Fred Gretsch Guitar company from 1957 to 1970. I played and inspected all the Guitars, and then signed and hung the Green Quality Control Card on the Guitar before it was sent out. I wrote a book about my time there called “ Inside the Gretsch Guitar factory” From 1957 to 1970. You don’t have to be a Gretsch Guitar player to enjoy this book , just a guitar player interested in what went on in the Guitar Factories during the GUITAR BOOM of the sixties. You can check out excerpts from the book at Trafford.com/05-1734. I’ll be glad to answer any questions.Dan Duffy - Please check out excerpts from my book -
"Inside the Gretsch Guitar Factory 1957-1970" Trafford.com/05-1734

Welcome Dan, we'll have to check it out. Glad to have you here!

Well a big howdy to you Dan, this place has got to be the coolest !

Except for JB...hes the youngin here...if you can tell....

Welcome aboard Dan! I have the book and a great read at that! Hope you enjoy the ride!

Everyone, read his book. Well worth it!

I bought and read the book last summer. It was fun. Lots of cool insider stuff. Welcome Dan.

Nice to have you on board Dan.

Howdy Dan,

Welcome aboard!

Hey Dan! Welcome to the board!

To everyone else: buy this man's book. It's very entertaining.

Wow, it is an honor to be part of this group, and now even more of an honor. What a great thing to have you sharing your thoughts with us! I have almost bought your book a couple of times. Now, I'll have to land a copy.

Ordered.

Great book. If you like a) history, b) good stories, c) Gretsch in any way. It's practically required reading in my opinion.

how about having some signed copies for the gretsch-talk forum, Dan?

Dan,

Great to have you in the forum. Look forward to hearing from you.

Don

Welcome Dan.

http://www2.trafford.com/clientimages2/cv9781412068239.jpg

Welcome Dan. Good to have you. Thanks for offering to let us pick your brain.

Hello and welcome. You're among friends here, that's for sure.

We're looking forward to you posting often.

Hi, Dan!

Hi Dan, glad to see ya here. I'm bwallace1 over on the GDP. looking forward to seeing your posts. I still remember one time when there was a conversation going on the GDP and everyone was saying what they were doing when a particular guitar was made and you said, "I played that guitar when it was made." anyway, it's great to see ya here. brent

Wow! Too cool. You have personally fondled some of my guitars. You did a great job, by the way. I'll pick up the book, and thanks for making my day.

All I can say is THANK YOU everyone for the welcom.I wrote the book because I was always approached by authors who write books on Gretsch Guitars For information about the factory during my years there. Some never even thanked me. My wife ,sons and friends who worked with me at the factory(they both have past away) Told me to write this book. I invested The time and money and here I am. I'm 76 years old now and I am Having Fun doing it. The book has enlightened many about the Gretsch Guitars from those years. That’s my reward. Thanks Dan

Howdy Mr. Duffy, it's an honor. Look forward to chatting with you. I can only imagine what a thrill you must have had for those years with Gretsch. (I was minus 2 when you started and 11 when you finished). What have you done since then?

Have only played 2 Gretsch's in my life, and own them both. My 6122-62 was made in Japan in '05 and I'm extremely pleased with it. Could go on and on. The 5120 I bought for my son was made in Korea, and it's very fine as well. Can't play it much when the Boy's home, as he usually is.

Am very curious of your experience with the recent Fender era Gretsches and your level of pleasure with them.

And Sir, I'm very sorry to hear about your losses.

I just ordered your book from Amazon. Can't wait!

Hurry up boys and girls, there were only 5 copies available. Now there are 4!

cool! welcome! I know I'll be getting that book for christmas!

Welcome aboard Dan
It's great to see you over here too

Your book is brilliant!
Everyone should get a copy immediately:)

Since reading it, I spend a ton of time practicing in the bathroom as opposed to the living room or bedroom. It's all Dan's fault. :)

Am I correct in understanding that there is a revised/expanded edition out now?

Hello Dan, long time no see! Glad you're on here now.

I'm going to get one of your books for Christmas!

Sorry, looks like I managed to double pump a posting.

Am I correct in understanding that there is a revised/expanded edition out now?


I'm anxious to hear back from Mr. Duffy, but you prompted me to look at the Amazon listing where I ordered it. Looks as though you're right Sync. Publ. Date is 12/28/05. Couldn't determine if this was a rev but it sounds as though it is because;
-One of the readers reviews refers to his copy as being 101 pages, and the new one being 167. (The listing on Amazon states 164)
-Although there's nothing on the listing page stating this is a new rev/expanded version, there are 2 Bonus Sections described. Tips for Buying a New Guitar and Great Chord Changes.

Amazon shipped my book yesterday, within a couple hours of ordering it. 2 day shipping free.

Dan Welcome,
Glad to see you on the board, it has been a great place for everyone.
Karl

I practice the lessons out of the book sometimes.

Hi Dan,

I just joined this morning after lurking for a couple weeks. I'll look for the book. BTW, my first electric was a Kent strat-kinda-thing and later had a Beast that my brother now owns.

Welcome Mr. Duffy! Great to see you here as well...look forward to hearing more from you!

To Stole-Life Gretschie I practice the lessons out of the book sometimes.
Practise that Chord section and you will become a very happy Guitar Player. Look through some books in the Music.Some of them are called THE REAL BOOK. Look through the pages and if you say to your self "I'll never play that chord chart" that 's the one to buy. Dan

http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr171/DANDUFFY_123/stringwinder.jpg

http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr171/DANDUFFY_123/ballender.jpg
We built this too.

Dan, was it common,back in the '60's to put the tag in the guitar with a serial number,but no model number?

If the guitar had a tag inside the "F"hole it should have a Number where it says Model # Dan Duffy

Mike, yours has probably faded over time...a pretty common thing if a guitar sees any amount of sunlight.

Or the guy writing in the model numbers was drunk that day !

A LOT of that was doing on in the 60's. Don't know about the Gretsch factory, but definitely in the Chicago factories (Silvertone, Valco, Airline et al).

I spoke to a guy who used to build guitars, and at the time I had a 66 Silvertone in perfect shape. I asked why some stayed relatively together while others fell apart, and his answer was it was probably put together by one of the apprentices - they weren't allowed to drink!

Well the thing is,this Annie is blond, the serial numbers are easy to read, but there is no model number or any indication of a number being there. The blond looks original,I can not see any signs of any other color ever being there. The finish looks original also.

Where's the Pictures?

So my explanation seems like it might be the best then, hmmm.

Where's the Pictures?

Dan, they have been posted !


Jeff, you might have something there. but you have to rember,It wasn't made in Chicago!! So if they go to work drunk......Na..that only happens in Chicago!:D:rolleyes:

I missed the boat again JB, pics of your annie..I cant find....

Here they are:http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3585

I got my copy of your book, Dan. It's spectacular. You write in a clear, down-to-earth style. I really enjoyed the section you included on chording- I'm using it now - AND I loved your comments ("Wish I had one of these.... Wish I had one of these.... Wouldn't want one of these." Great humor and just interesting stuff. Congratulations.

I bought the last copy on Amazon.

Finished my copy the other day. Great reading Mr. Duffy. Almost as if we were sitting across a coffee table from each other. The ONLY problem was I didn't get to interject and ask questions.

I think my favorite line is the last one, I believe, in the first printing. Before the bonus sections.

I've no doubt Sir your tag will read very well.

I must admit I was a bit saddened to hear you may not think too much of my '05 Nippon 6122-62.

But, I guess from your perspective, I can understand.

Dafreeze!!!! don't drop a bomb like that and not explain!!!! Cmon inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Sorry Bud, you're gonna have to read the book.

He he.

OK, but I hope Mr. Duffy won't mind. He was referring to hoping someone hangs a green card on him when his time comes, and that the Big Guy at the gate of Guitar Heaven will see it and say "Let Him in, He's OK".

He he.

OK, but I hope Mr. Duffy won't mind. He was referring to hoping someone hangs a green card on him when his time comes, and that the Big Guy at the gate of Guitar Heaven will see it and say "Let Him in, He's OK".

Now that's good!!

Or, bobkat, were you wondering about my second statement?

Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything. Rereading my post it looks like I overstated a bit. He never says anything like that, but simply describes in the book, due to being asked all the time, that he feels there's more individual soul in the Guitars that they made in the '60's. There were noticable differences between 2 of the 'same' guitars. And it's understandable.

Boy I sure hope I didn't just get myself in trouble.

I bought two Tennesseans in around 1964..One was a dream guitar and the other had a HUGH baseball bat neck..I loved them both but WHAT A HUGH DIFFERENCE !!

I bought two Tennesseans in around 1964..One was a dream guitar and the other had a HUGH baseball bat neck..I loved them both but WHAT A HUGH DIFFERENCE !!

Hugh, as in Hugh Heffner? Or Hugh-mongus?

Hugh Downs?