Gretsch Custom Shop Tour

www.premierguitar.com PG's Rebecca Dirks is on location in Corona, California where she interviews Stephen Stern about the Gretsch custom shop and takes a look at some of the custom guitars that he and his crew have built.
See more great videos at www.premierguitar.com/video

[@ShaneSG]

How great is Rebecca at interviewing, keeps the conversation flowing so well.

[@JettSteele]

And when he's not building custom guitars he's a Ghostbuster

[@ethanknudtson116]

Also leave the guy alone he wrote that ghost busters comment like 3 years ago

[@landonjackson3064]

beerpong9000 you eat with that mouth ? Bet you get all the chicks huh ?

[@rocknrollcowboy1620]

Hahaha 😂

[@veerchasm1]

Rebecca is such a good interviewer, is genuinely enthusiastic and really knows the gear

[@erebus79]

simp alert

[@NeverFullyDigital]

Rebecca did a fantastic job on this interview. It doesn’t seem like other interviews I’ve seen a lot of people do, it’s detailed, personal feeling. I like nerdy details about guitars, and hearing a person that makes them has been great.

[@DragonriderF]

And on a different note, I absolutely love how Rebecca knows EXACTLY what she's talking about and isn't rambling nonsense trying to understand what the person that is being interviewed is saying. I've seen that happen in far too many videos to just ignore it and not commend her for her professionalism as well as her interest in the guitars and process itself.

[@miaknecht]

Wish Rebecca Dirks was still with PG...

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Me too...me too.

[@landonjackson3064]

Mia Knecht yeah she is a sweetie huh ?

[@RMoore-zt7zs]

Yes, she's my favorite PG interviewer ever...

[@miaknecht]

@Joey Maxon Stan.

[@alext9067]

What a great interview. The guy was totally honest and straight forward and Rebecca Dirks is a real little professional. Good job. I love Gretsch guitars.

[@F3FisGoodforYou]

Awesome video, always nice to see who's behind the guitars we love ! Guys thanks a lot for all your vids ! This green Gretch is so beautiful.

[@bkbland1626]

Gretsch SCREAMS "Rockabilly". I like that.

[@DudeOfDiamonds]

0:41 Malcolm Young's guitar is the last one on that rack! :D

[@brysonhendersonofficial]

DudeOfDiamonds DOD good eye!!

[@cyvox7433]

And now today we have one. It looks like japanese one.

[@Vermillion2176]

Just grossed out that he picks up these beautiful finish custom guitars and says "and this one is going to be relicked" WHY!! would anyone buy it that way. Just floors me!

[@michaelcraig9449]

Thar relicking stuff is a total gimmick.. the 1st time I saw that I was thinking, "what a ripoff", and the sad thing is, I bet it sells like cold beer on a hot day..

[@leroygraham7631]

great shop

[@officialWWM]

Same reason people by jeans with rips already in them...

[@co20ca05]

i'm certainly i big fan of "honest wear" myself, but i can see where a relic might be desirable. i think people like to be able to pick up a guitar and have it already feel "broken in", without the time involved in doing it yourself, or the money involved in getting an actual vintage instrument

[@autistichead8137]

Don’t get relic. never will

[@eddiemautone209]

Yes I bought a gretsch streamliner left handed from Amazon I love it what a great sound action

[@bryansmith7758]

i've got an electromatic model hollow body, and it's by far the smoothest playing instrument i've owned. I haven't even tried gretsch high end models and i love this guitar so much.

[@KristofferPaulsen]

I thought that tour was so charming. Stephen was clearly really nervous, but seemed like a super lovely guy. Great video.

[@chazz-j1994]

"What's the nicest finish you do?" "WE DO SPARKLES"

[@michaelcraig9449]

I know.. fuckin' Sparkles..that probably impresses the hell out of a 12 year old girl...probably why they do that, try to get as many different customers as possible..

[@mykytapanarin4322]

No, that's not why they do it. Sparkles are the part of Gretsch history. They used to manufacture drums with all these crazy shell and sparkles finishes (which are quite common on drums). Then they began experimenting with drum finishes on guitars. It was a long, long time ago. Now the sparkles are just a tribute.

[@lizzyobrien2376]

Other guitar makers: “When we make our expensive guitars, we use the most exquisite materials and finishes...” Gretsch: “SPARKLES FOR EVERYBODY” Seriously, I love Gretsch, but you gotta love how ridiculous it is!

[@randym3982]

Love the glitter, the rest are Boring for Boring people Lol

[@acledfloyd]

They missed the two guitars I wanted them to go over. Billy-Bo, and the Malcolm Young.

[@dannysound1]

Great review i bought the gretsch guitar G5013ce fantastic sound when unplugged can you please write how you adjust the bass treble phase on the guitar, to get the sound from the amp so close as possible as if the guitar was unplugged and the way to tune the amp that has: Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Channel vol, and Master thanx

[@TheBigDaveGas]

I am more impressed at the Newcastle Brown Ale (UK) label on the backboard around 1 minute in - My favourite beer (had a couple last night in fact) and makes playing my G5420 sound sooo much better LOL

[@sf3486]

Great informative casual interview. Rebecca is extremely watchable.

[@secretagentYTer]

I love the surf green one

[@anjamccabe8401]

Beautiful !

[@Bluebuthappy182]

I know what you mean. I remember when i got my first guitar it had a strap with a metal buckle on it and one time it hit the finish and knocked a bit of the paint off. I went into a bad mood for about two days after that happened and these guys are paying someone the scratch the hell out of a brand new guitar. The only way it makes sense is to think of just another option for the finish. But still very strange

[@philybates]

I am the personal owner of the red sparkle guitar you see at 7:22.. Purchased from Rocky at street sounds in Brooklyn NY.. Save up the money if you can and order one. They take a couple of years to have one made anyway and gives you plenty of time to pay it off. Well worth the money. It's one of the most amazing guitars you will ever see and I have a dozen custom shop guitars from various builders

[@UmbertoRonco]

Seems an amazing guitar! Without playing i can tell

[@philybates]

custom shop guitar

[@StopMoColorado]

philybates - What you made go for the Tune-O-Matic Bridge over a Gretsch-native version, out of curiosity? How's it working out for you? Gorgeous guitar, BTW. What kind of bones we looking at for a similar Custom Shop guitar like yours? You've got me half sold, already, and the rest of the video and the Gretsch sound have me just about part the other half...trying to figure out what to sell to make it happen, really...and curious how hard FMIC's (or the Hedge-Fund backed Holding Company they now belong to) recent cutbacks are affecting the Gretsch side of things. The Corporate Drama inside/around Fender lately has me genuinely concerned for the future of the marquee, TBH. But I also really want a Custom Shop Gretsch, so there's that...

[@captainvideo2]

@philybates -> Congrats! That is one very beautiful guitar :)

[@Catdore]

Interesting to note that Eddie Cochran's 6120 is a '55, but already in the '56 style which Chet Atkins insisted on, over the much fancier neck and headstock inlays of the '55. Cochran's serial # is a couple dozen or so earlier than mine, so his was made closer to that day when Chet visited the factory and told them that the '55 did not go along with the humbler ways of his people and his music. Source for that story is Mix Magazine.

[@shecky308]

Hey,when are you bringing back the 7690 Super Gretsch with figured wood and color choices??????...Please reply SOON.

[@PaulBeard1990]

Im a big fan of Eddie Cochran and his guitar and the customisations he did to it sure did make that guitar somthin else

[@zizzinpuss]

nicely done;)

[@tartanphantom]

I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking at length to Stephen Stern. The guy is really passionate about his job, and about Gretsch in general.

[@pigjubby1]

Where can I get some of that gold flake binding? Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@tluna]

That flamed top is so sweet!

[@roymartin500]

Awe, the lovely Rebecca Dirks, the icing on the cake for this download!

[@roymartin500]

On a serious note, he makes some killer penguins and Eddie Cochrane's

[@HBSuccess]

Totally agree. It's idiotic. The first time I saw a "road worn" I thought someone was playing a prank. I'd been out of it for a few years - that nonsense didn't occur back in the day. Faking wear with sandpaper and dog chains and getting wear from 30 yrs of gigs are two totally different things.

[@URfriendD1313]

Will the Gretsch CS build a Custom Rancher?

[@Salguine]

Seriously. It should have to earn its battle scars. I have a Rickenbacker 360 that I got brand new nearly 30 years ago, and I can tell you exactly how and when it got every ding, dent, nick and gouge that's on it.

[@shawnawesome7770]

Good god, gretsch guitars are so beautiful ❤️

[@blueishxx]

amazing cool time capsule interview

[@poodlenme]

Really nice guitars but in my wildest dreams I could never afford one. I love the white non custom Penguin model best! Great interview!

[@multisplace3783]

I like the Country Gentleman models.

[@shecky308]

OK,WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RETURN THE 7690 SUPER GRETSCH /SUPER CHET BACK TO THE PRODUCT LINEUP.ALSO IN A WIDER CHOICE OF COLORS.

[@nicholaswilliams3274]

That flame top penguin looked amazing...

[@quad1000]

SOOOOOO...is he holding one of the tribute Duo Jets or was he holding George Harrison's actual guitar (I noticed the Gretch logo on the headstock seems to have been masked off...unless that masking effect is part of the tribute guitar). That would be a "relic" feature I would not have thought would be included. Just curious.

[@timothycormier3494]

Dream job!!!

[@FrederickGlazier]

when i grow up i wanna work there!

[@ron619]

do you guys teach how to make your own guitars?

[@dlheidemann]

That red sparkle is so sweet

[@Unfnation]

Great insight into the Gretsch Custom shop! The only thing I found not to my liking is the sound. Spend the extra bucks and get wireless mics for both Rebecca and the person or persons interviewed. Upon turning away and misc-ordination with the natural flow of conversation, it feels like things were missed or unintelligible. That small exception aside, great interview with so much cool information and insight, it's got me gassing for another Gretsch!

[@MrCountyJoe]

I like this guy! Has a Poster of Gene Vincent +Eddie Cochran and is a fan of the B17 Flying Fortress :D

[@killerdude35]

I always wondered what Lewis from Revenge of the Nerds did after college.

[@dlheidemann]

@GTRJohnny66 Yeah a boom or shirt clip mic would be really great.

[@gretschfiltertron68]

You should have talked about that Malcolm Young replica!!!

[@skowalski9]

what happened to the Chet Atkins?

[@dlheidemann]

Every time I see a PG video I can't hep but think... "Rebecca has the BEST job"

[@NapoleanXV]

Where does the microphone cord go....

[@GTRJohnny66]

Great video. And, some very nice guitars. Suggest you swap out the mic for one with less handling noise.

[@MacKoslowski]

so nice

[@mercutio123100]

Problem with relic I've always found is that it may look old, but its new wood, so to my ears theres a little disconnect between the look and sound lol

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

I've got a £400 Streamliner. It does a similar job though...

[@dreadnought45]

@SixStringHarmonies: I just realized I spelled Chicago incorrectly. I just got caught up in the moment agreeing with your assessment of 'relic' guitars. For those of you who live in and around Chicago, I apologise for the spelling error.

[@doume116]

Nice but why they used laminate for this price range guitars ?!!

[@timhorton7399]

What a story!! I laughed...I cried...It moved me. By the way, who was the guy Rebeca was talking to?

[@Les537]

"And this is going to be relic'd" *cries

[@SuperGritty]

thing about Rebecca Dirks is she does great interviews and knows what she is talking about

[@user1lol666]

Damn that poster. I want a Gretsch Playboy so badly.

[@superflea72]

this comments section: whiny relic-haters, and pervy, unnecessary remarks about Rebecca.

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

And arbiters of moral thought... 🙄

[@superflea72]

@@draxlerchronicles5851 and self-righteous trolls desperately trying to sound relevant...☺

[@shecky308]

You have got to bring back the 7690 super-gretsch asap!!!!And super chet in autumn burst.!!!

[@ponchlove2393]

I need model 7690 super chet right away.!!!!!!! Let us know.

[@REddieSetRock]

I have the same sam adams coaster

[@davidmorrison713]

God those jets at the end were amazing, i wonder how much Gretsch charge for a custom jet

[@brodeur722]

Sparkle

[@dzre2087]

REBECCA DIRKS!!!

[@thetreblerebel]

Flametop Penguin. Lordy...its so pretty

[@davidmorrison713]

How do you go about getting 1 of those custom guitars?

[@michaelsievers8476]

Get a really really good...high paying job ...dont get married...dont have kids...buy a very modest home and a used car. Then put the order in ...or go to nammn and wala

[@Xcorgi]

P.S Is it any wonder that everyone is noticing that the foreign made Fenders in a lot of cases are just as good as the American made ones and in other cases actually "better" than American made ones? It makes perfect sense.When Fender lowered the bar for quality at its highest level on Custom Shop guitars, the low quality policy was bound to trickle down to the American standard and deluxe lines. The only upside to this domino effect is that we get great foreign guitars and 1/4 th price!

[@Catdore]

There are certain advantages to an original old guitar, everything was made by different people, pickups might have been wound tighter and with finer gauge wire, I think with old instruments there is something of the songs played on them, that is still in them. There's that old idea that a fiddle sounds better once it gets played regularly again. Paying for a new guitar to get beat up? I wouldn't do that. I am already beat up.

[@incognitoguitars9999]

Epic

[@Xcorgi]

Face it guys. The whole idea of making relics at Fender is that one day, one of thier accountants probably noticed how much money they were loosing on parts being thrown out because of scratches, dents, gouges etc.and decided instead to take all the unacceptable sub-standard parts, assemble them as usual and charge an insane premium for them instead of throwing them out based on QC Standards.They just didnt expect there to be so many people stupid enough to pay for reject shit parts.

[@quad1000]

Oh...Steve Miller was just here yesterday...lol. What a life!

[@Sundlofmusicalengineering]

hell yea

[@richfiryn]

Huge props for that incredible Red Penguin with the black back, sides and neck !!! That is super gorgeous and i want one. How much ?? Please inbox me that info, thank you in advance. Wowser !!!

[@stevenfielden8955]

Mmmm - the green sparkle is nice...

[@svstanley]

@kilrost I do :)

[@steviepaulson1753]

My input jack got damaged bad. I paid $850.00 for thhe electromatic. I.I left it plugged, however 45 years and this is a first, perhaps reinforcement. It's waiting for the techj...

[@carlrudd1858]

It's an OUTPUT jack.

[@steviepaulson1753]

after 45 years Carl you think I'd know that...lol

[@carlrudd1858]

hehe...well, it's an easy mistake....I'm just anal about stuff like that. You're good.

[@ryansmith2200]

Must be tough as as a craftsman to take pride in creating a beautiful finish, just to have a customer say: "that looks great, now beat the snot our of it and it will be perfect".

[@BuzzMcCallister]

Charming.

[@fheapes]

Nice Racks!

[@utubehound69]

What about a Malcolm Young model?

[@rayenantheny]

I want a custom shop of G5793 White Falcon!!!!

[@VinceDSkates]

amen

[@vicshere99]

It's all right there, life itself. Guitar and girl to die for, that'll do. I'll take one of each and we're done here.

[@OldCroghanMan]

5:13 to 5:25, ♥ Dirks trying to find the right words!!! ♥

[@fonzybrookestone727]

Man, I usually like most tour videos, but this one was rough to get through. Rebecca helps though.

[@LTRockabilly]

He reminds me of Kevin from the Office. "I make the guitars sparkley."

[@jackjackjack123ful]

Man I want a G.H duo jet

[@leftymadrid]

I don't do relic. But I understand buying new one, playing it every day, sleep with it, eat with it, etc...and as the years pass, the wood ages, sound is bliss and looks road worn. Understand that. But many want it for looks, and even lie about the wear... remember folks, if your path has love, the goal is un-important. yep, you can tell when a person is on stage playing a real relic, that's been with player for a long time.

[@wesleyalan9179]

leftymadrid ..i know your comment is a year old,but i still have to say that i loved what you said in yours... " If your path has love, the goal is unimportant "

[@uyworldtraveler]

Classy

[@freshmesholliblash]

I´m not a guitar player...i´m only here for Rebeca

[@enidsnarb]

I worked with Steve Stern at Charvel San Dimas ! Wow been a while !

[@SuperGritty]

man those Penguins so nice

[@ohYew812]

I was going to say the EXACT same thing. Damn I'd love to meat-pound those sweater puppets!

[@rupertbear8274]

Pity you messed up the Eddie Cochran tribute guitar by putting the knobs incorrectly on Eddie's guitar !!

[@mattyisagod]

*sparkle* it's like fucking Twilight in the gretsch factory