For the Gretsch guys...

[Steve DeRosa]

- a little something on the somewhat lesser-known, double-cut version of the White Falcon Project-o-Sonic 6137 courtesy of https://www.musicradar.com/news/clas...h-white-falcon




This one's likely one of the very first double-cuts: "Gretsch" headstock font, elongated trussrod cover, dual dial-up mutes, and lack of gold-sparkle binding inside the f-holes date production to the 1961-62 transition period; a little-known fact is that Neil Young - more closely associated with the '61 single-cut Project-o-Sonic acquired in a trade with then-bandmate Stephen Stills - used a similar instrument in the early days of CSNY. Here's a couple of pics: note differences in mute knob placement (enough to render it essentially unusable after the Bigsby conversion) and trussrod cover length (visibly shorter than the earlier example) which would IMO date it to mid/late-'62, just before the switchover to "King George" '63 Country Gent-style flip-up mutes (small knobs/red-felt bushings):

[Steel and wood]

A Gretsch semi (6120, White Falcon, Country Gentlemen) single or double cutaway is the only electric guitar that can ignite any GAS in me.

[stevecuss]

Gorgeous! I'm a sucker for Gretsch double cuts and this one is a ripper.

[jseth]

Seeing and hearing Neil Young and Stephen Stills playing Gretsch's in the Buffalo Springfield was the reason I HAD TO HAVE A GRETSCH!!!

I knew (back then) that the White Falcon was the creme de la creme of them all, but I didn't have a clue as to all the inner workings and in's and out's of Gretsch's... truth be told, I didn't understand any of that, even after I owned my first one! WHAT are all those knobs and switches for, anyway?

Beautiful guitar, Steve; lots of memories!!!

[Beachrunner]

VERY cool!! I love these..

[KevWind]

Gotta admit the White Falcon is one of the classiest looking guitars ever

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by jseth

WHAT are all those knobs and switches for, anyway?

That's a stereo version.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by jseth

...WHAT are all those knobs and switches for, anyway?

TMK each of the pickups was split into two mini-Filter'trons - one half for the bass strings, one half for the treble - with each being wired to its own 3-position preset tone switch (hence the four switches on the upper cutaway), while the switch on the lower cutaway is a conventional three-way pickup selector; the two knobs along the rim are individual pickup volume controls, whereas those closest to the tailpiece dial up/down to regulate the pressure of the two foam-rubber mutes (one bass, one treble) under the strings just ahead of the bridge - a distinguishing feature of '62 and very early '63 Falcons and Country Gents (the double-cut "Nashville" 6120 and some period Country Clubs used a single mute, and all would go to a small-knob, flip-up design by mid-'63). Note that the '62 Project-o-Sonic lacks the standby switch - IME a handy feature when you don't have a master volume - fitted to '63 and later versions (as well as most mono '62 double cuts, and a few very rare late-1961 transitional single-cuts)...

Now, wasn't that easy...