Is Gretsch Pages still online or what?

[NJDevil]

This site has a lot of potential to become a 'go to' place for Gretsch information. A database is a good idea, but it needs to be done in a way that isn't haphazard, and that takes work and someone's time. The other Gretsch site had issues. Losing everything and not having it backed up was perhaps the biggest mishap, and as others have mentioned from time to time, it could feel somewhat exclusionary or at least, cliquish. It was a little better when the moderator finally decided to curtail political discussions, and offensive language.

I just visited the wayback machine via link and saw you had started a thread in the "Modern Gretsch Guitars" section and Tim responded. The date looks to be April 21, 2021 but could not open the content of the thread.

A little nostalgia mixed with hope!

 

[LesB3]

Honestly, GDP ain't like it was before the crash (B.C.) and as others have pointed out, it kinda turned into the internet version of a grumpy old man bar. The only value from that site is the database, if it could be recreated here (or anywhere else), I'd have no reason to go back.

 

[ZackyDog]

 

[rcboals]

IT IS DEADER THAN A POPCORN FART.

 

[Wayne Gretschzky]

This site has a lot of potential to become a 'go to' place for Gretsch information. A database is a good idea, but it needs to be done in a way that isn't haphazard, and that takes work and someone's time. The other Gretsch site had issues. Losing everything and not having it backed up was perhaps the biggest mishap.

I'll agree that the GDP database wasn't really that useful... for the vintage era stuff at least. Having said that the capturing of all the modern era model numbers (pre-FMIC, post-FMIC) was great, and would definitely provide value to posterity. But a "database" takes a TON of time and effort to maintain and grow. I've been working on mine for 15 years now, and it takes daily administration.

The other issue is that you have to be focused on what exactly you're trying to accomplish, otherwise it will grow into a series of rabbit holes and tangients, that will reduce its effectiveness as a functional tool. So having a vintage era database is great... but what would it include? Pre-WWII... war-time models... 50/60's Golden era... 70's models... and would it include all 7 serial numbering systems that span that time-frame? Or... do we want to ALSO track all the Modern era models and examples? As mentioned above there is a real need for all the Modern era Synchromatic, Electromatic, Historic Series, FSR's etc. to be documented. GT member Tartan Phantom is the most knowledgeable dude I know about all that, so he could get you started. Then... would it be just a photo collection (of each model) or do we include a serial number for a guitar's inclusion? Lots of questions to answer before you embark... but they will help to focus the effort.

 

[cielski]

It started to go south when Baxter left and gave the controls to Rocky.
No idea what happened to it after that.
I find things much friendlier here.

 

[NJDevil]

It started to go south when Baxter left and gave the controls to Rocky.
No idea what happened to it after that.
I find things much friendlier here.

I thought the same thing. The crash (was that in 2013?....I forget the year) kind was a punch in the gut as many members, myself included, felt that the material in the posts took a piece of them away. Some of us posted personal things we shared like a family pet passing and other things. It was a real "family feel" and I noticed a far less enthusiastic participation after that. .....less contribution too as a result.

Baxter passing the baton kind of had the feel that the captain was giving up the ship.

I have to say this place is a gem......Thunder58 told me it was, I hung out a bit after joining but really noticed and felt how the Gretsch-Talk members really shine in combining friendly with knowledge....This is a great place indeed!!

 

[Lee Erickson]

Thanks likeabrave, I forgot about the wayback machine. I've grabbed the serial number page info. I'll be working on the catalog info next.

It's not easy, the info is spilled over time, a whole lot of updates between the database updates.

I'll be posting on my vanity webpage. I'll do the best I can but it won't be fast.

Lee

 

[audept]

Scientists now claim that they can bring back the Dodo. It must be possible to de-extinct the GDP !

 

[hcsterg]

When I decided to subscribe to a Gretsch forum, I found three possibilities :
- A French forum on Gretsch guitars : https://gretsch.forumactif.com/
- gretsch-talk.com
- gretschpages.com

Given that most French Franco-Français forums are usually un ramassis de frustrés, de dogmatiques et d'imbéciles qui savent tout sans jamais rien avoir appris, and given that it is always preferable to open to the world's knowledge, I prefer international forums (that are in English language for easier undertsanding - so I can maintain it quite a bit, by the occasion). So I did not subscribed to that little French Gretsch forum... For the best or the worst !

Note that I do not say in any way that the gretsch.forumactif forum is junk itself at all, but I just give the reasons why I do not subscribe to any French forums now.

By the way, I believe that several of our cool French G-T member comes from gretsch.forumactif. Sorry, I can't retrieve instantly their names...

Gretsch-Talk appeared to be well presented, easy access and communication, with interesting knowledge, so I subscribed.

Then members here aswered all my questions about Gretsch Guitars, and also gave me well-founded user's opinions while I was a complete noob about the brand : history, models, pickups, tremolos, original wiring schems, etc... This is - along with a good, firm but fair moderation - the reasons why more than 7000 posts and 9 Gretsch guitars later, I'm still on G-T- contributing at my turn to help, when possible.

The Gretsch Pages was interesting by its data base, but when I tried to subscribe, it was a nightmare... So I gave up for years. Finally two or three years ago, inexplicably, I could subscribe... I posted some few messages, contributed to the database repertoire with my instruments references, but it was a less engaging forum than G-T, and I was rather interested by the informations that I could find here. I even did not knew it had collasped : that is to say the little participation on my part...

Is there any other Gretsch dedicated forum in English language ? I don't know...

A+!

 

[senojnad]

My understanding was that Tim Baxter RETIRED (rather than simply leaving the GDP). The "committee" (Rocky, Proteus, et al) were very competent and committed folks, but they all had full time jobs and were "scattered" geographically. I would think that would make things very difficult when trying to resolve crashes or other emergencies.....

 

[ruger9]

Even tho some GDP members were over here already, and some more found there way here after the GDP ended, it's still 2 different crowds... I had friends I actually knew (like knew IN PERSON, from being at Gretsch Roundups), and I miss those folks, many never made the move over here. They were good people. Yes, there were a few incorrigibles that I simply ignored, but that's what happens when you have NO RULES (the GDP was moderated with one rule: "don't be a jerk", and it simply didn't work very well.) I frequent more than a few forums, and they all have rules, so things say civil. Unfortunately Bax never believed in actual rules/guidelines, so things got out of hand quite often, and then Bax used the ban hammer, no warnings, no nothing- he just decided one day you were banned... which always rubbed me the wrong way since the forum had NO RULES to follow...

Anyway, there were some really good people over there, it was more family like than here (perhaps because many of us knew each other personally over the years), and I miss them.

 

[nielDa]

I felt the same, that over time I had come to know people on the Gretsch Discussion Pages/GDP (mostly for the better) - and kind of knew what to expect. Probably a function of time. On gretsch-talk I wonder how many from GDP have changed their screen names, and maybe I just don’t recognize them. Meanwhile, everyone here has been great.

 

[audept]

I felt the same, that over time I had come to know people on the Gretsch Discussion Pages/GDP (mostly for the better) - and kind of knew what to expect. Probably a function of time. On gretsch-talk I wonder how many from GDP have changed their screen names, and maybe I just don’t recognize them. Meanwhile, everyone here has been great.

Many people here were already members of both forums, most used the same screen names and avatars.