There’s nothing else quite like a White Falcon. Gretsch first built it in the 1950s as a showpiece to show what the company could do, and it has been the most visually striking archtop on any stage ever since. This one was built at the Terada factory in Japan on July 15, 2004. Terada made Gretsch’s Professional Collection, and its Falcons from this period are known for excellent build quality and fit and finish.

The guitar
A full 17" single-cutaway hollow body, 2¾" deep, with an arched laminated maple top, back and sides. It has the classic Falcon look: gloss white finish, gold sparkle binding, gold-plated hardware, the winged Falcon headstock and the gold Falcon pickguard. The bound ebony fingerboard has pearloid block inlays, on a 25½" scale with a 1-11/16" nut.

The sound
Twin Filter’Tron humbuckers give you real Gretsch tone: bright, articulate and chimey clean, with plenty of growl when you push an amp. The Bigsby B6 vibrato with the Chet Atkins wire arm does the shimmer and dip a Falcon is known for. It covers rockabilly, country, jazz and big-room rock equally well.

Details

• Serial: JT04010495
• Date of manufacture: 7/15/2004
• Includes: Original hardshell case

A Japanese Falcon gives you vintage-correct style and pro-level build quality without the price or fragility of a 1950s or 1970s original. Feel free to ask questions or request more photos.