[fjr_wertheimber]

So, I'm sitting here relaxing after a day at work (my new day desk job, kind of odd to think I never have to worry about someone telling me to go somewhere where people want to kill me again), and I'm reading the Gretsch forums... and it strikes me: I love this. I love this brand, the people who work for it, the people who play it, and (of course) I love the guitars. I truly feel blessed.

Some of you may know this, some of you may not, but a few years ago I was lucky enough to (through this forum) get to know Tim H (Proteus), and through him was introduced to Joe Carducci, the Gretsch marketing/product guru. That introduction led to me wandering around the Rockabilly Revival Festival in Austin and not only getting to check out some AMAZING music, but actually getting a chance to meet and hang out with some of my guitar heroes.

I was lucky/blessed enough to get some shots of that show that the Gretsch gods liked enough to license (which OMFG they actually used for the Rev's ad campaign?!?!!), and it's only gotten crazier from there: Hanging out with the wonderfully sweet (and not to mention beautiful) Kim Falcon (did I mention the bikini pics I got of her with my first Gretsch??), bumping into Jim Heath and Jimbo in Boston and getting passes to their sold-out show with Mötorhead (and meeting Lemmy!), hanging out with Walt "Hot Rod Walt" Richards of the Psycho DeVilles, kicking back backstage with Jim Heath, shooting the breeze with Slim Jim Phantom, watching Lee Rocker from 2 feet away on the side of the stage, discussing guitars with Rosie Flores, knocking back beers and trading stories with Danny Harvey, getting an autographed pic from Billy Zoom while deployed in Iraq, the list goes on and on... All stories and experiences that come from being lucky and blessed enough to get to know the wonderful folks that make up the Gretsch brand and Gretsch community.

I love these guitars, everything about 'em: the sound they make (plugged or unplugged), the way they look, the way they feel, hell, I even love the way they smell (I just about fainted in delight when I opened the case for my old 6120RHH and got a good whiff of that lacquer smell... LOL Well, I think it was delight, it may have been just overcome with the fumes). Anyway, as I sit here on my couch, staring at the blank spots on the wall soon to be occupied by my (already ordered, but slooooowly) coming White Penguin and 6120RHH (to replace the one that I sold prior to my deployment... one of my dumbest moves ever), I just really feel overcome by the feeling of gratitude and thanks.

So thanks, everyone, and especially thank you to Gretsch. I love you guys.

[S. Rock]

yep, it's a great community.

[montereyjack66]

Not just the beer talkin'.


mj

[fender62custom]

Thanks for sharing!!!! l certainly feel blessed & have felt really welcomed within the Gretsch community myself!!! my appreciation in all things Gretsch continues to grow!!!! cheers!!

[Penguin]

I know what you mean; every time I open the the hard shell case and I smell that great Gretsch smell... I think yep, doing this is better than working!

Originally Posted by fjr_wertheimber

I love these guitars, everything about 'em: the sound they make (plugged or unplugged), the way they look, the way they feel, hell, I even love the way they smell (I just about fainted in delight when I opened the case for my old 6120RHH and got a good whiff of that lacquer smell... LOL Well, I think it was delight, it may have been just overcome with the fumes).

[MyBootsOnFire]

Definitely know what you mean. Another thing that has really impressed me is the camaraderie of the Gretsh community. Maybe because it's smaller than the number of strat/les Paul/etc owners or maybe for some reason that escapes me, but the outright politeness and genuine kindness among Gretsch owners is refreshing. Not to say there aren't nice strat owners, and I'm sure there are Gretsch players who are jerks.

I can't recall anyone saying an Electromatic isn't a 'real' Gretsch the way I've heard Gibson and Fender owners talk about their cheaper models. This board is an excellent example of good people encouraging each other and sharing knowledge. Take Tavo for example, that guy is willing to share all about what goes into his pedals whereas some would guard that type of info like it was the secret formula for turning lead into gold. When people post vids or sound clips no one bashes them or points out their mistakes.

I could go on but we all know these things.

[Arfer MO]

Well said mate. Arf

[Geezer]

I remember ya. You had (and sold) a doll'd up walnut 5120 with playing card pickguard, dice knobs and TV Jones pups. I also remember your excitement over the first RHH AND the Gretsch Executive amp. That was back in the Jukebox/workknot days. Hopefully you get it all back and more!

[ishtar]

Thanks to you and all who serve and have served. Hope you can always grab a guitar and strum and think and appreciate everything that is half full and over come the half empties. I'm speaking metaphorically, not about multiple beer bottles...

[fjr_wertheimber]

Holy cow, Geezer, you've got one heckuva memory!

[The Marlin]

You know what, I've been on other forums where all out war is breaking out, and unpleasantness firing in all directions.

What a great post. I like this gretschy oasis.

Marlin

[Skev]

"Gretschy oasis" as The Marlin wrote is exactly what i feel .

[fjr_wertheimber]

Originally Posted by ishtar

Thanks to you and all who serve and have served. Hope you can always grab a guitar and strum and think and appreciate everything that is half full and over come the half empties. I'm speaking metaphorically, not about multiple beer bottles...

Dammit, now I'm thirsty...

[fjr_wertheimber]

Originally Posted by Geezer

I remember ya. You had (and sold) a doll'd up walnut 5120 with playing card pickguard, dice knobs and TV Jones pups. I also remember your excitement over the first RHH AND the Gretsch Executive amp. That was back in the Jukebox/workknot days. Hopefully you get it all back and more!

Whatever happened to Jukebox? Where'd he disappear off to?
I still miss that Executive, that thing was just a sonic work of art. I brought it to Guitar Center once to show a buddy of mine, and EVERYTHING ground to a screeching halt when that amp was plugged in and the RHH was playing through it. Everyone wanted to see what was making the beautiful sounds...

[Geezer]

I won't go in to detail, but Jukebox (Mike) left the forum about a year? ago. I miss having him around. He was my first 'welcome response' when I join up about 3 years ago and introduced myself.

There's some other Gretsch Executive owners hangin around these day. Big Kenny and Bobkat to name a couple. They seem, how do you say, 'happy' with them

[Anni_Lover]

There's no need to miss Jukebox! You can catch up with him any time over at the GDP. There's also a third forum dedicated to Gretsch guitars as well, but I don't remember what it's called at the moment. Each forum has different members and is a different community. An excellent example of those differences is the discussion about the new Black Epiphone Royale range. The reponses on this forum and at the GDP are markedly different refecting the diversity of a different community - but we ALL love Gretsch guitars!

Heck! I even got really upset over one member here referring to us bluegrass players as "filthy folkies", but stoopid tired me missed the fact that was joking and meant exactly the opposite! See, that's the difference. Here we have a Gretsch Roots Collection forum dedicated to the Gretsch acoustic instruments whereas the other boards don't.

[RhineO]

Originally Posted by fjr_wertheimber

..and got a good whiff of that lacquer smell... LOL Well, I think it was delight, it may have been just overcome with the fumes).

Oh that smell. You mean that sweetish, Vanilla-like odour? Wasn't sure but I assumed it's the lacquer.
Do all Gretsches have that smell? Gosh, going by the size of some folks' Gretsch collection their living room must smell like a candy shop.

[Scottishblue13]

I've got loads of info, advice, tips and more from this site. My bands sound has been shaped for the better in a huge way by me reading posts on here.

I don't post that much but I log on several times a day to read all the recent posts.

Oh and lots of nice folks here as well.

Cheers!