Gretsch were more of a follower in many ways. Gibson had the Stereo Vari-tone thing happening in the late 50s, and Gretsch were trying to keep up with them. Project-O-Sonic pickups were an option, but it’s been well documented that Gretsch wired some in mono, like the ’58 single-cut guitar I have. Gretsch built them with regular Filter’Trons, and some have the Project-O-Sonic stereo electronics. I’ve never had, or personally seen, a Penguin with DeArmond pickups, although, obviously, they made them. I mean, you often see Gretsch guarantee cards, but it’s pretty funny to see ‘White Penguin’ on there! I don’t know of another one that has the original guarantee card. It still has the original white strap and the original paperwork, which is cool. The binding on this one is in great condition. White Penguins are essentially Jet model guitars the body shape is identical. It’s wired with two separate volume controls – one for each pickup – along with a master volume, and it has a tone switch, so there’s no tone knob. Even the earlier DeArmond Gretsch guitars sound completely different. You can’t pick up any Fender or Gibson and make it sound like a Gretsch. You know the slogan, ‘That great Gretsch sound’? Well, it’s certainly their sound. Gibson Explorers sell for five times as much, but they’re rarer than those and they’re much, much rarer than ’Bursts. So I think they should probably be worth more than that. Nowadays, they go for anything between $125,000 to $150,000. They were cheaper than the White Falcon, but not now! This ’58 single-cut has got an appraisal from 1986 by George Gruhn for $88,000. Includes a deluxe hardshell case.The White Penguin came out in 1955 – the same year as the White Falcon – but they weren’t even put on the price list until 1959. The iconic G6136-55 Vintage Select Edition ‘55 Falcon™ Hollow Body with Cadillac Tailpiece is the quintessential “Holy Grail” guitar. The White Falcon drips with sophisticated class, sporting shining gold hardware-including the iconic Cadillac “G” tailpiece and gold jeweled arrow knobs-gold sparkle bound neck, body and F-holes, gleaming vintage white gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish and gold, vintage thick plexi pickguard with Gretsch logo. The 12”-radius ebony fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and elegant mother-of-pearl Hump Block and feather inlays tops a maple neck with a comfortably familiar standard “U”-shaped profile for supple playability, making complex chords and intricate single-note playing effortless. ![]() Parallel tone bars reinforce the solid spruce top mated to laminated maple back and sides for powerful, balanced sound and increased projection from the 2.75”-deep body. ![]() The Synchro-Sonic™ bridge not only lends original-era authenticity, it offers pinpoint intonation accuracy, locking into place with a thumbscrew for tool-free adjustment. Fluid playability, robustly flexible tone and, of course, stunning Falcon style combine for a big, bold instrument that pops in the spotlight.Ī pair of TV Jones® T-Armond single-coil pickups and the new Gretsch “Squeezebox” paper-in-oil capacitors power this sonic raptor for crystal-clear transparent tone that lets the soul of the guitar’s definitive hollowbody tone shine through. The G6136-55 Vintage Select Edition ‘55 Falcon™ Hollow Body with Cadillac Tailpiece is a true “Dream Guitar” that will be the hallmark of any guitar collection. ![]() Gretsch G6136-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Falcon Hollow Body with Cadillac Tailpiece TV Jones T-Armond Pickups Vintage WhiteĮxperience the Falcon as it was envisioned by the great Jimmie Webster in 1955.
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