Catch Brian Setzer and the Nashvillains May 16th at the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, CA! Check the Doheny Blues Festival's site for more info!

Click here for info on the Stray Cats Farewell Australia tour!

This year our friends at the Gretsch Discussion Page are on-hand to bring you minute by minute, day by day coverage of Gretsch Guitars at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. The show runs Thursday through Sunday, January 15 - 18. Click here or the banner at right to catch all the action!

Also, don't miss the daily videos of performances and random booth action on the Gretsch YouTube Channel.

It may have been a chilly evening in NYC but the scene was HOT inside the Highline Ballroom as friends, family & associates gathered to celebrate the Gretsch 125th Anniversary on Tuesday, November 18. What better way to honor this momentous occasion than to gather some of the most renowned musicians & bands in the world and simply ROCK THE HOUSE!

The night opened with Colourslide, the Gainesville, Florida-based band that was chosen from among 879 world-wide entrants as the winner of the Next Gretsch Greats Unsigned Artist Competition.

Next up was David Lee & His Mercenaries. This Gretsch guitar artist instantly got the house jumping with his special brand of "psychobilly" rock.

International pop/rock stars Fountains of Wayne followed, making a rare club appearance. The Grammy-nominated band is best known for the hit single "Stacy's Mom," and for albums like Welcome Interstate Managers and Traffic and Weather.

The evening's house band was anchored by tour and studio drum great Stephen Ferrone (Tom Petty, Eric Clapton) and former Saturday Night Live guitarist and musical director G. E. Smith. Keyboard star Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones band) served as the house band's musical director. Also from the Rolling Stones band was legendary first-call pop and jazz saxophonist Tim Ries. One of today's most in-demand bass players, Andy Hess, along with innovative jazz guitarist and composer, Bob Sabellico rounded out the group.

To help the Gretsch Company celebrate this special occasion, several leading members of the musical manufacturing industry signed on as co-sponsors. Accordingly, Gretsch, along with industry partners Fender Musical Instruments and Kaman Music Corporation, welcomed the participation of the D'Addario Corporation (makers of Evans Drumheads, HQ Percussion products, and D'Addario guitar strings and accessories), along with Remo, Inc. (makers of Remo drumheads and percussion instruments) and Sabian Cymbals. Also celebrating their 125th anniversary this year, Wente Vineyards, supplied a selection of outstanding vintages for the event.

More information about The Gretsch Company's 125th Anniversary celebrations can be found at www.gretsch125th.com and www.myspace.com/gretsch125th.

Outside the Highline Ballroom

David Lee and His Mercenaries

Fountains of Wayne guitarist, Jody Porter

G.E. Smith (L) & Tim Ries (R)

Danny D's Guitar Hacienda is BIG on Gretsch!

Gretsch dealer Danny Douglass of Danny D's Guitar Hacienda went all out to let his customers know his shop is THE destination for Gretsch Guitars in League, Texas!

"The guitar is 4 times normal size based on one of my 6120's coming to 14' long and weighing in at about 350 pounds.It's made out of pine and covered with crinkled up aluminum foil. It's arched top and back and everything from screws to frets to Bigsby is to scale. I have it mounted on the back of my 1948 Chevy 1-ton Thriftmaster."

"A few years ago I saw Seymour Duncan working on a huge guitar and I was inspired. I thought, if I had a big guitar in front of my shop no one could miss it or mistake it for a Mexican restaurant again. It started out as a sign, a symbol to attract attention to the store. Then I got a little carried away. Being the Gretsch player and lover that I am it had to be a Gretsch."

"Of course officially, the guitar is to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Gretsch. Congratulations Fred Gretsch!"

-Danny Douglass

Danny D's Guitar Hacienda
200 North Hwy 3
League City, TX 77573
281-338-1830

That Great Gretsch Sound was heard echoing in the skies on Oct 25 & 26 in Sonoma County, California. The GDP Norcal "ROUNDUP" took place at the home studio of Parabar in a beautiful rustic setting located in the city of Penngrove which sits peacefully about 56 miles north of San Francisco.

Though many vineyards could be found nearby, no vino was necessary to become intoxicated by the beautiful blue skies that gracefully faded into an evening filled with a million stars in the heavens. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for a gathering of great company, fine guitars, and the exchange of many passionate discussions on the subject everyone present had in commonÖ Gretsch guitars!

Nice Guy...Punk Legend! The image of X's Billy Zoom on stage with his wide legged stance, satisfied grin and vintage Gretsch® Silver Jet™ guitar is well documented in the annals of American punk rock lore. In this video, Billy discusses the new G6129BZT Billy Zoom Tribute Silver Jet guitar.

Click the "Play" button at right to view the clip!

The 24th annual "CAAS" (Chet Atkins Appreciation Society) convention was once again held at the beautiful Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The current price of gasoline didn't stop folks from around the globe from attending this four day event (July 9 – 12) that celebrates the life & music of legendary guitarist, Chet Atkins. Some of the finest finger-style guitar players in the world could be heard jamming in the hotel lobby, hallways & clinic rooms demonstrating their amazing talents.

The Gretsch Guitar Company participated by partnering with Broadway Sound (Knoxville, TN), to assemble a magnificent display of Atkins model guitars & related goods. Convention attendees were encouraged to make themselves at home and test drive the vast array of products. From the Gretsch Discussion Page (GDP) forum, roving reporter, Tim Harman (aka: Proteus) was on hand covering the event with commentary, photos & audio files.

The CAAS convention couldn't be a more fitting venue to introduce the NEW G6120-CGP Chet Atkins STEREO guitar. To a packed house, a moving tribute to Chet was delivered by his longtime bandleader & close friend, Paul Yandell (who was an integral part of the development of the NEW CGP guitar). Yandell shared stories, answered questions and officially introduced the NEW CGP guitar. Immediately following Paul's presentation, the CGP guitar was prominently displayed at the Broadway Sound/Gretsch booth for attendees to play & hear.

Gretsch artist Bobby Gibson proudly showing off the new limited release G6120-CGP Chet Atkins STEREO Guitar.

Extremely cool punk hero and Rancid front man Tim Armstrong just paid a visit to Gretsch guitars' extremely cool Scottsdale, Ariz., headquarters, hanging out over May 15 and 16 to soak up the sun, hang with the Gretsch dudes and get his guitar all set up and ready for Rancid's summer tour, which runs from June 10 to October 5.

Armstrong's original '70s-era Gretsch Country Clubô model with custom spray paint job is seen in the photo at right.

After 125 years of the Gretsch Company being in existence, it FINALLY happened. Yes, it's now official… meet Kim Falcon. That Great Gretsch Girl!

At the 2008 Texas Rockabilly Revival

At the 2008 Texas Rockabilly Revival

Check out this behind the scenes look at Gretsch Girl Kim Falcon at her first photo shoot for Gretsch Guitars!