Hi everyone, does make/sell Gretsch style bodies/necks for custom jobs? I have found tons of people who make Fender style bodies but none for Gretsch. I am looking for either a Double Cutaway Duo Jet or a Billy Bo. I have people who can do the wiring and finish but the actual woodworking of the main hunk of the guitar, there's my problem. Any help at all, at building one of my dream guitars would be much appreciated.

Hmmmn. The thing with fenders that make them so easy to reproduce is the "bolt on" neck construction. I should know, I've made 5 of them, (there's a photo of the last tele).
But the Gretsch, like Gibson, seem to be "set neck" construction. Which is less easy to reproduce, therefore more expensive. Also, there's a neck angle to deal with unlike the fender design (they really are the simplest construction on the planet).
I'm not saying it can't be done however. Someone else may have a good way forward for you.
Best of luck.

If you are willing to pay, I know people that will build you whatever you want. He just finish a small body Billy Bo, everything from body to neck is made in his shop.

Guitar-Maker might be interested in consigning something for you...

have a good read:
http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/technical-side-things/21110-building-country-gent-gents.html

have a good read:
http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/technical-side-things/21110-building-country-gent-gents.html
The luthier built option is a sweet way to go for sure but probably more expensive than buying the real deal (for good reason too).

Hey gros, that's a great thread... 'makes me wanna build a gretsch.

The GDP (the other Gretsch forum site) member "Jack Daniels" has been cranking out a ton of Gretsch necks for all the guys who are building custom Corvette and Astro-Jet guitars from that stash of NOS bodied that were uncovered last year. He's got it down to a science!

The GDP (the other Gretsch forum site) member "Jack Daniels" has been cranking out a ton of Gretsch necks for all the guys who are building custom Corvette and Astro-Jet guitars from that stash of NOS bodied that were uncovered last year. He's got it down to a science!

Just can't tell you Wayne how great a resource you are. Thanks...

This thread is a great read as well:

http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/technical-side-things/22245-billy-bo-build-sorta.html

I have talked to guitarmaker about a custom guitar. His prices are less than the cost of the real deal. Jack Daniels has also made me 2 necks and I recommend him too.

Also I have a few Corvette and Astro jet bodies I will sell if any one is interested.

Hey gros, that's a great thread... 'makes me wanna build a gretsch.

If you build it, is it a Gretsch?

Would it have the "tone" of a Gretsch?

I would think it would just be a guitar that looks like a Gretsch.:)

If you build it, is it a Gretsch?

Would it have the "tone" of a Gretsch?

I would think it would just be a guitar that looks like a Gretsch.:)

Hmmmm. This poses an interesting question. When does it become a Gretsch?

If you swap out your pickups for Seymour Duncans, is it still a Gretsch?

If you have all of the original parts to the guitar and the neck is beyond repair and you build a new neck, is it stil a Gretsch?

If you mod your Gretsch, is it still a Gretsch?

If you buy a body, neck, electronics, etc and they are all Gretsch but did not come together, BUT you assemble them into a guitar, is it a Gretsch?

I suppose the same thing applies to vintage cars, etc. When is a '57 Chevy, a '57 Chevy?

To make matters more complicated, when Brian Setzer, Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran, or many others modify their Gretsch, is it a Gretsch? Or do we have to wait for it to become a Signature Model made by Gretsch?

I think it's a very large grey area.

It's not a Gretsch unless it is made by the Fred Gretsch Company, or whoever he licenses the name and designs to. This can include modifications by the user that are acknowledged by the company as sanctioned such as the Eddie Cochran P90, TV Jones pickups, etc... Other mods such as new tuners, pickups, bridges can still called Gretsch but with modifications acknowledged. Reversible mods that don't change anything permanently aren't a problem but putting FilterTrons in a 1964 Tenny is. They don't change that it's still a Gretsch guitar just that it's not original and needs to be represented that way. (this is mostly a legal and selling argument.) Custom Shop Gretsches are still real Gretsches as are probable allowed copies like the Jack White and Billy Gibbons guitars, made by Randy Parsons and John Bolin respectively.

Anything else isn't. Even though I might use authentic Gretsch corvette or astro jet bodies with real Gretsch parts like pickups, Bigsby, bridge, knobs, it's still not a real Gretsch. It's a Gretsch copy or homage,or Partsogretsch, or in the style of Fred. I'm still putting it all together according to my standards. I can't sell it as real. If I tried to list it on eBay that way, it should be reported and taken down. I might be able to call it a Gretschocaster or something similar, or Cajun Gentleman like Melancon, or even the White Loon, but not a Gretsch.

On a semi-related note I was looking at Guitar & Bass Buyer, put out by Guitar World. There were several hollow body guitars in white with gold hardware and a Bigsby. One, the Epiphone Wildkat, had a master volume knob on the Upper treble bout and three knobs on the lower. That seems to be the most obvious and common inspired by Gretsch guitars. Another common one is the FilterTron lookalike pickups on Schecter and PRS guitars. Lastly almost any orange hollow body is a rip off too, especially if it has a Bigsby like Taylor T3B. In fact if any hollow body has a Bigsby probably it's at least a nod to Gretsch.

Hey everyone thank you so much for your sharing your knowledge. I have another question. Would a Cadillac tailpiece that was meant for a Gretsch Penguin, fit on a Corvette? I don't want to buy one then not be able to use it.