Worked a bit to find 80s guitarists using Gretsch, life changing for me.

TV the Wired Turtle

TV the Wired Turtle

I Bleed Orange
Double Platinum Member
Jul 25, 2009
15,177
Sandy Eggo
The Gretsch was all over the place in the 80s and WHY I wanted one so bad. Feel free to add more from the 80s.

Depeche Mode's Martin Gore
19144.jpg


haircut 100 nick hayward
nickheyward.jpg


the cult - billy duffy
d4f08b01d03082fb764a6507d90626d0.jpg


Elvis Costello
b06ef652f3d2922fb8129e80572f72ae.jpg


ACDC - malcom young
eb260df923681c11b5e890cbce29c1ff.jpg


the straycats brian setzer
tumblr_o3drjoEqts1s2p8s9o1_1280.jpg


the polecats Boz

image.jpg


Bow Wow Wow Matt Ashman
1200px-Bow_Wow_Wow_1982_Berlin.jpg


the cure- robert smith
16d16dd21344c142d3671eac79b9ccce.jpg
 
Highroller

Highroller

Country Gent
Gold Supporting Member
Jun 11, 2015
2,453
Portland, OR
Not to mention Mr. Harrison and that little group of has-beens he played with for a few years.

CloudNineCover.jpg
d9b65edde451f5856fb9e4beb697329d.jpg


The thing I remember most about that time was that while Gretsch was exploding in popularity once again, these folks were all playing old ones. The company had been dormant for years, guitar shops didn't seem to have much interest (remember, this was the era of Stevie Ray and hair metal shredders), they weren't really there yet. They didn't start showing up in shops again for years, depending on where you lived not until well into the 90's.
 
Last edited:
Highroller

Highroller

Country Gent
Gold Supporting Member
Jun 11, 2015
2,453
Portland, OR
englishman said:
That's because there wasn't anyone making them.
Click to expand...

Right. (edited my above post to clarify my point)

Fred W. bought the company back from Baldwin in 1984, but it's not like they just magically reappeared in stores again.

I don't know the exact year the first of the revival era guitars were produced. The GDP database shows 23 "1989" serial numbers listed, so maybe that's it. I personally didn't see any until the mid-90's.

We're so spoiled now. Practically any guitar store you walk into will have at least 3 or 4 on the wall. Back then? Nada, Zilch, Nothing.

Obviously, we live in better times now.

---

Probably better known for Gibsons, but the guys from Jesus and Mary Chain would on occasion at least pose with a Gretsch ...

tumblr_mne2m5mmq01qzezj5o1_1280.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mr Swisher

Mr Swisher

Country Gent
Jun 12, 2012
1,458
England
drmilktruck said:
A little bit later, John Squire of the Stone Roses.

View attachment 167358
Click to expand...

I think that's about 89 when JS played the Gretsch alot live (although on their debut album its almost all a Strat).

Neil Finns Jet is interesting, I'd love to know when he got that 58' Jet. In the 80s he was playing mainly the Gold top Les Paul and a Sunburst Strat. I saw them live at least 10 times in the early 90s and he either didn't have the 58' or never played it live. It was still all LP and Strat.
 
cielski

cielski

Senior Gretsch-Talker
Feb 10, 2010
20,513
LaFayette IN
Highroller said:
Not to mention Mr. Harrison and that little group of has-beens he played with for a few years.

CloudNineCover.jpg
d9b65edde451f5856fb9e4beb697329d.jpg


The thing I remember most about that time was that while Gretsch was exploding in popularity once again, these folks were all playing old ones. The company had been dormant for years, guitar shops didn't seem to have much interest (remember, this was the era of Stevie Ray and hair metal shredders), they weren't really there yet. They didn't start showing up in shops again for years, depending on where you lived not until well into the 90's.
Click to expand...
They kinda helped get Gretsch back on the map, so to speak. Saw a TW guitar at JC Penney's back then---reminded me of a Dano. They did come up with two great albums. They dressed sort of normally, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Latest posts

Top