This '59 6136 was bought new in Rhode Island in 1960, played hard for two decades, and kept with nearly all of its original paperwork for more than 60 years.
You can see the full photo set on the original listing.
A showpiece that became a star
Few vintage guitars reach true stardom the way an original White Falcon does. It is arguably the fanciest electric guitar built in the golden era of American guitar manufacturing. It also captures a great deal of what was happening in music, in culture, and in the economy at that time.
Gretsch never really intended to build White Falcons in any meaningful production capacity. It was a showcase guitar, made to draw attention to the skill and know-how of the Gretsch workforce. It was one of the most labor-intensive instruments made by any builder of the period, Gibson included, and one of the most expensive guitars a player could buy.
Then players saw it. With seemingly no direct competition from Gibson or Fender, the White Falcon became popular with stage performers and guitar aficionados alike.
A late 1959 Falcon with Filter'Trons
This guitar represents one of the most desirable versions of the model. It closed out 1959 production with Filter'Tron humbucking pickups, which had replaced the Dynasonic single coils of the White Falcon's early years.
The rest is everything you picture when you hear the name: gold sparkle trim throughout, a white finish, the flared chevron headstock, and a 17" body. It makes a statement before a note is played, and again with every note after.
Finding its batch
Like many other models Gretsch produced, White Falcons were often built in batches to keep the workshop efficient. Gretsch was not one to overcommit on its most expensive guitar, so those batches were fairly small.
Small batches make siblings hard to find, which is part of the fun. With some internet sleuthing, including the serial number lookup tools from our friends at Edgewater Guitars, we identified at least one other White Falcon made in the same batch as ours. That pairing points to later 1959 production.
Sixty years of paperwork
What made this acquisition even more exciting was learning about the owner's history with the guitar. Pride of ownership was on full display. Almost every bit of documentation included in the original sale stayed with it for over 60 years:
- The tin-edged hang tag, which is very rarely seen
- The pickup wiring schematic
- The warranty card
- The Certificate of Authenticity
That is an array of ephemera that is rare in its own right.
Played, and looked after
The guitar was used extensively through the 1960s and into the early 1980s, and it was very well maintained along the way. Here is what six decades left behind:
- Celluloid: As often happens with Gretsches, some of the celluloid had started to decompose to varying degrees, primarily at the truss rod cover.
- Binding: The body and fingerboard binding remained almost entirely intact. We were even able to stabilize the fragile F-hole binding and keep it on the guitar.
- Hardware: The original gold-plated hardware shows oxidation throughout and still functions solidly.
- Frets: The original small fretwire is still in place. It is low, and it still offers nice vintage playability.
How it sounds
The original Filter'Trons measured particularly strong. Plugged in, they deliver excellent clarity, punch, and twang in both positions.
A lasting impression
Few guitars that pass through The Music Emporium leave a more lasting impact than this White Falcon. It has since found its next home, and we feel lucky to have been a part of its history and its future.
If vintage electrics are your thing, see what is in the shop now. If you have a well-loved instrument with a story of its own, we would love to hear about it.