Gretsch 6120: The History of a Legendary Guitar

This book is a gold mine of information not only on Gretsch guitars in gerneral but about the Gretsch 6120 guitar, one of the guitar icons of popular culture and music.The book provides much historic information on the inception, design and evolutionary changes to the guitar over the years and shows many wonderful full colour photographs of the guitars talked about.The book is a valuable reference tool for those who are interested in vintage year models and again covers the design and specification changes year by year. This alone might save the unsuspecting buyer from being caught out by a non stock instrument being offerred for sale.The book has been well researched and is well written, going into specific detail, I have read and own other geenral books on Gretsch guitars but the 6120 book is more specific to the Gretsch guitar I tend to like most the 6120.It does not go into much detail about the Terada factory in Japan who make some beautiful Gretsch 6120's nor does it give over much detail on the 6120DC Double Cutaway guitars, but there was enough on the 6120DC guitars to inform me of things I didn't know and to see some great examples in the photographs.Overall a fantastic book and will be something I go back to again and again just to marvel over these lovely guitars!Having myself written about guitars for specialist magazines and E-books, I must say that the book is written for the collector, knowledgable enthusiast and the 'new to the interest' reader, in a welcoming style and does not talk down or use unnecessary jargon toward the reader.Very pleased with the book!

Rather like the guitar, the book is classy, we'll put together, and worth every penny, I've had many Gretsches over the years including 6120s (I have one now) and like many Gretsch fans I've had many years of pleasure owning and playing them, although I must say, they have never been my favourite gigging guitar .... in my opinion, a Telecaster is the "go to" guitar, but it seems once a Gretsch fan always a Gretsch fan, so I suspect many Gretsch fans will have other books, and probably know pretty much everything there is in this book, but it is still worth buying because it is very informative, and has some glorious photos to drool over.

I'll be brief because I know there have been other reviews here for this excellent book. Anyone interested in the famous brands of guitars over the years from the 40s/50's and beyond will have heard of Gretsch. If you like reading about guitars and like to go into a bit more detail regarding them then you should consider this book. OK - I am biased - I have have a Gretsch and it is a 6120 model.The book quality is superb, its well written and the pictures are of a very high quality. It charts the history of how the 6120 evolved and explores the different 6120 models that came out of the Gretsch factory. For those who may not know, famous names who have played or still play this group of models include Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran, Brian Setzer, Reverend Horton Heat, George Harrison - oh - there is just too many more great Gretsch 6120 players to mention.And this is now also a modern guitar of today - this brand is again enjoying growing sales across its range, including the 6120s due to their quality, looks, playability - and of course - that great Gretsch sound!If this type of subject is within your sphere of interest you can't really go wrong with this publication.

Some wonderful photographs and a well constructed history of the Gretsch Company and its guitars. It is a little misleading to imply that the book is a history of the 6120, because it covers a great deal more than that. However, it is necessary to give the broader picture as that gives a better perspective of the 6120. Full marks to Edward Ball (the author) who has had to pull together a considerable amount of scattered information in order to produce his well defined and logical history of Gretsch generally, and the 6120 in particular. For anyone with an interest in the name Gretsch, this book is an essential purchase.

...if (?)... you are the lucky owner of an 'original' late 50's /60's early 5120 then this fine book will make you very proud... If you 've always wanted one then it's a good read..... If however you've brought a later Japanese version you'll always be in envy of those people who still have and hopefully still play those original classics... These old Gretsches and Gibsons are not really worth their thousands but as long as there's a market then prices will hold....All you younger players out there - don't spend your money - jusr practice on your existing instrument....when you can play like Chet or Wes you'll probably / eventually earn enough to buy an origina Gretsch 5120 or a Gibson L5c....

I can only reiterate the reviews of others. This is a superb and stunningly illustrated reference book for those with more than a passing interest in guitars generally and Gretsch guitars in particular. It is not just a treatise on the different variations of the Gretsch 6120, but a complete history of the evolution of this iconic guitar through various iterations of other Gretsch models up to 1954 when the first prototype 6120 was built for Chet Atkins. As a dedictaed fan of Chet Atkins and his guitars for over 50 years, this book is an excellent addition to my array of Chet Atkins reference material.

This is the definitive encyclopaedia of this classic guitar. If you own a 6120 or lust after one, you will find it a joy to study the excellent photographs and learn about the fascinating evolution of the instrument through the history of the Gretsch company. Beware, if you own an Electromatic Gretsch this might cause you to consider seriously a pro-line model!

Bought as a present for a guitar mad gentleman who tells me he loved it.

Tout pour l'amateur de Gretsch 6120.

The bible for 6120 history

Bellissimo libro, sia nei testi che nelle illustrazioni.Molto preciso nelle informazioni tecniche, unisce completezza di contenuti a immagini particolarmente rappresentative di una delle più belle chitarre del XX secolo. La Gretsch 6120 è una vera e propria icona del rock'n'roll e questo libro la rappresenta appieno.

Imprescindible libro. Olvidad el de Tony Bacon. Éste, junto con el otro de Ball, y el de Jay Scott son los mejores

Super Buch, das jeder Gretsch Fan oder Sammler einfach haben muß! Gemeinsam mit dem Buch "50 Years of Gretsch" wird so ziemlich jede Frage zum Thema Gretsch profund beantwortet!