Gretsch Guitars Custom Shop Tour

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Tour Gretsch’s Corona, California, custom guitar building operation with company master builder Chad Henrichsen and PG’s own John Bohlinger.
“We get a lot done in a small amount of space, but this is where it all happens,” Henrichsen says. It starts with the wood-mahogany, maple, and spruce body blanks; mahogany and maple neck blanks; rosewood for fretboards-and so does our tour. It also begins, of course, with specific orders from dealers, artists, and individual players, commissioning instruments.
Henrichsen describes the process of making hollow- and semi-hollowbody guitars first, which uses pressure and heat to form tops and sides from wood laminate. The plant also uses old-school craftsmanship-a copy carver, for example-to cut wood tops and more to shape.
One of Henrichsen’s fortes is necks, so he explains the process of creating necks for Falcons, Duo Jets, 6120s, etc., in detail, and we see the neck shaper machine in operation. The evolution from wooden block to smooth, finished neck is fascinating! And some of the machinery, jigs, and other tools are older than your Uncle Billy. After inlays comes binding-gold sparkle for a Penguin, white for a Duo Jet, for example. And, by the way, all work in the Custom Shop is done by hand.
Master builder Gonzalo Madrigal makes a cameo to explain the step-by-step process of fitting a guitar’s neck to its body. The example here is one of the super-colorful, intergalactically shaped Billy-Bo models-half Diddley and half Gibbons. Madrigal also displays the process of setting a tortoise shell binding in place-a method that takes about 45 minutes overall, and then must sit to set.
In the final assembly department, we see a 12-string Country Gentleman turning to life-tuners, bridge, electronics, tailpieces and everything else comes home to roost. The grand finale? Dig a killer 3-pickup Penguin in a black paisley finish with Super’Trons, cats-eye f-holes, and a Bigsby. It’s gorgeous! And, in a sense, the culmination of Gretsch’s 140-year history of craftsmanship.
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00:00 - Intro
00:13 - John Bohlinger & Chad Henrichsen Intro
00:45 - Woodshop
01:43 - Body Carver
04:14 - Neck and Headstock Shaping
09:58 - Joining the Body and Neck
12:43 - Binding Process
15:31 - Final Assembly
#guitar #gretsch #factory

[@premierguitar]

Learn More: bit.ly/GretschGuitarsPG Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

John should be recognized for his contribution to our guitar world

[@chrispile3878]

I can't stand John. And he's getting paid, or he wouldn't do it.

[@eccentric0official]

There are no words to describe that paisley penguin, absolutely phenomenal!

[@squirelova1815]

You just described it. That and "Magnificently Stupendous".

[@martinclayton7260]

I'd love one of those Bolly Bo's. And that Penguin, I'd love that.

[@roughcutguitars]

...and a Falcon, and Country Gent, and... 😀

[@mike_w_21]

A White Falcon will one day be mine!

[@MrScrofulous]

Happily, the extravagantly beautiful Black Paisley Penguin in the thumbnail morphed into the recent Anniversary release, and I got one for my birthday last week. Golly, it's beautiful.

[@michaelborn3318]

Chad is GREAT builder!

[@JTB--]

Never played a Gretsch. I really need to. Those new 140th Anniversary Guitars with the Blue and White look awesome 😍

[@sooparticular]

what!!!!! are u in nyc?? go to 14 street guitar center they have some AMAZING GRETSCHS...I play them all the time im deciding between the falcon and duo jet!!

[@roughcutguitars]

Yes. Yes you do. :-) They really are something quite special - in tone, feel, and of course build. Just magical.

[@jeffdixon847]

@@sooparticularif you’re in NYC, Street Sounds is the place for Gretsches.

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

You NEED Both!!! Haha!! So very different from each other. Love my SparkleJet 6129 . Blows me away how few have played them. You have very good taste !

[@sooparticular]

@@jeffdixon847 yes but its not a walk in place...i think you have to call and they have extremely limiting hours:)

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

I have my late Grandpa’s 1960 Gretsch 6124 Anniversary. It’s such a cool guitar.

[@ozoneswiftak]

I have my grampa's 70 epiphone

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

@@ozoneswiftak - Cool, but this is a Gretsch video.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

I’m 65 and have played for over 50 years! I LOVE my made in Japan Gretsch’s! I’ve played Gretsch guitars since the late 70’s. I still have a 2011 White Falcon ‘55 RI, a Rancher 6000 serries jumbo acoustic and a 50’s Gretsch wood bodied resonator for slide. I’ve owned many, many Gretsch’s. Only Martin and Fender rank higher in my “guitar love” Awesome vid! Thanks! Peace

[@heymrguitarman7637]

That looks like the kind of guitar building factory I'd like to work at. Seems pretty chill and also still happy to prioritise hand led work over exotic machining

[@GoenndalfTheBlue]

Gretsch just make the finest guitars in my opinion.

[@devinsinderwitcz9134]

Love my G5420T and my G7593T-BD (Billy Duffy White Falcon)!!! THAT Great Gretsch Sound!

[@Superjet113]

Thank you for no click bait to your website. Great video, enjoyed and liked!

[@randrothify]

Wow! Those Penguins are exquisite! I love my 5230T and 2215. With due respect to PRS‘s SE line which is also terrific, the Gretsch import lines’ aesthetics,QC and value can’t be beat. And of course you can’t beat That Great Gretsch Sound! More people should try them.

[@JohnDaubSuperfan369]

It's quite irrelevant to mention "sound" when talking about electric guitars since 99% of them *don't* use microphonic pickups. All you need to do is find out the exact model of pickup and pots and you can make literally *any* guitar sound like a gretsch, or a strat, or a tele, or a gibson... You get the gist.

[@jackgreenwood1817]

@@JohnDaubSuperfan369 I'm afraid that's not correct. Although pickups and electronics make a big difference the effect of scale length, fret and nut material also have a big impact.

[@michaelborn3318]

The Gretsch Custom Shop is upstairs at the Fender Corona factory just above the Fender Master Builder area. When I worked at Fender and gave the occasional tour, I always added the Gretsch Custom Shop as part of the tour. It is just unique and they are some fantastic builders, all of them! Miss seeing Steve Stern up there though!

[@paultrombetta]

Me ♡ Gretsch

[@deanovanno]

My very first Gretsch is on order...2 tone anniversary green 5420t It's like the Christmas that never comes waiting for it...come on May 30!

[@J.C...]

Wow. That's what you call a REAL Custom Shop. Bravo, Gretsch!

[@KarlKarsnark]

Gorgeous work Lads!

[@ozoneswiftak]

Sweet interview. Thank guys. Both of you and supporters that aren't afraid thievery will happen. Thanks.

[@thedreadtones]

Gonzalo’s the man! Awesome video!

[@ratwynd]

Could never afford a custom shop but do have a MIJ 6128T and love it. Took 6 months of searching to find the color I wanted, Sierra Mist Metallic. Not sure that color is even available any more. It is a keeper, hangs in good company. Loved this tour. Maybe someday can afford a custom.

[@willudallmusic]

gretsch is a unique brand. cool to see them do a lot with a little 🙏🏻

[@stealingtomorrowband]

I've never played an electric gretch but i played a gretch acoustic years ago and it sounded freaking great. Hope to check a few out 1 day . Thanks for the video

[@emmm972]

Very cool guitar ! good job Gretsch

[@bluebellstraps8155]

Absolutely in love with this video ! Great job John ❤ love Gretsch guitars

[@premierguitar]

Thanks so much!

[@shabbirkhanbhai3238]

I have such a strong love for binding it's bizarre, love that they share my passion! Time for a Gretsch custom shop I guess

[@GRBAquatics]

Very Cool Thankyou. Have 2 Gretsch Guitars a G5215 solid body single cut single pickup rock machine and a G5248T Chambered Body Double Jet. Both are amazing guitars, with outstanding Build quality and Playability. Such a joy to play. Cheers

[@premierguitar]

Very cool!

[@FineArtbyAldo]

Gretsch needs to build some more Billy Duffy signature Black Falcons!

[@RByrne]

That's amazing! I have a White Penguin 58' Reissue i just got, but I'd love to get a duo-jet in a custom color. I love Gibson, but I have to say most Gretsch I've played are perfect.

[@GlarryGuitars]

Best factory tour ever

[@NinjerXp]

That masterbuilder is great, would love to take the tour myself

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Thank you Reverend Horton Heat (James C. Heath) and Stray Cats (Brian Setzer) for introducing me to this world!

[@roughcutguitars]

Said it before, say it again: Got 13 guitars and counting, 10 of which are not Gretsch - and still seriously tempted to trade those for 10 that ARE :-)

[@jeffjacobson59]

Amen, brother!

[@roughcutguitars]

@@jeffjacobson59 Fun fact: GAS originally stood for Gretsch Acquisition Syndrome :-)

[@J.C...]

Small shops still use copy carvers to do carved top guitars 👌 Texas Toast Guitars in Colorado(and at their youtube channel) has one 👍

[@willconway1308]

I love that you can tell the guys working in the shop are absolute artisans. Complete Masters of the craft. The shop is clean. They know what every machine does. They are not just turning out hot stamped products and they are really paying attention to every little detail.

[@VirtuoseGuitaristGB]

Fantastic :)

[@mylogify]

It's better if he uses mask for woodwork. Me

[@mwarnken1234]

imo, the astrojet looks nothing like a “jetsons” style… if you want to see guitars that DO have that undenialble look, check out the guitars j. backlund designs! 😍😍😍

[@dezionlion]

I guess when you’re at that level you earned the right to ding the guitars? Relic!

[@johnnyxmusic]

boygenius!

[@jeremyversusjazz]

i love fender. i love the care that goes into these team built guitars and i think its cool so many hispanics on the team-i mean its corona cali so its cool fender respecting and seeming out locsl talent. but. if someone’s been working at american company for 10 or more years as is evident in this video, i feel like they shoulda learned english asap. Im pretty sure if i moved to mexico-love mexico-i would have a tough time finding a job at a fast food place much less the custom shop of a famous guitar brand. My family were immigrants too-we all are, really-but i think when a person makes their home in a another country and enjoys all the benefits that come with living in a democracy, that person would at least learn basic comm skills in the native tongue. 🤷‍♂️ love fender. love mexico and it’s beautiful people. don’t love that.

[@richardnagamitsu1582]

Very cool! I assume it’s part of the Fender Corona plant? What’s you’re favorite Gretsch, John?

[@buddehaole]

Does anyone at Gretch know if the 140th anniversary guitars will have a matching strap that you will be able to buy? That blue is pretty unique they are using.

[@123elvislives]

I would love to see a Gretsch what falcon acoustic rancher with the western style inlays on the fingerboard to me that would finish off the guitar instead of having those thumbnail in lies Also I have ordered myself a 5420 limited edition 140th can't wait to get it Thumbs up from Geelong Australia 🦘🇭🇲👍

[@yestoES355]

I really cant differentiate a master built custom shop vs a top of the line japanese vintage select model. I was kinda disappointed but maybe it was because the masterbuilt model was almost 2 pounds heavier than the japanese, or it simply was a dud, even though they were both 55 falcon replicas. I would highly suggest you play one in person before you shell out 10K and go through through losing money on dealer returns or restock fees. I simply cannot justify the 3K vs 10K plus for a custom shop falcon, i expected a true quality bump since its a smaller shop. Fender and gibson custom shops put out noticeably better guitars when compared to their normal USA production. I am glad I finally settled with my wonder if the USA custom shop gretsch guitars were "better" since they are rare and 3-4 year wait time if you were to order one.

[@JohnnyFriendly]

My experience echos yours. When I was shopping for a Gretsch a few years ago I demoed a Terada 6120-59VS, a used custom shop penguin (tv jones classics) and an original '58 anniversary. The Terada was the best of the bunch BY FAR and I went with that. The CS seemed to distort continuously & didn't strike me as being any better built than the Japanese one. I thought it was an overpriced gimmick - and didn't even sound very musical. As for the '58, what a grim piece of junk, I don't recommend buying an old one before playing first

[@yestoES355]

@@JohnnyFriendly I agree, the custom shop masterbuilt falcon had noisy and buzzy electronics tone pots and it was "new" the Terada was a breeze to play and night and day better. Yea the current japan models are truly a gem, especially for around 2-3k. even the electromatic korean models were solid and sounded great.

[@pohldriver]

"Like they've been doing since the beginning." As in 35 years ago when Gretsch was revived by Fred Gretsch, or 20 years ago when Gretsch partnered with Fender?

[@MountainMan100]

Wow!! I thought all top of the line Gretsch guitars were now built in Japan? I have resisted buying a Japanese made Billy Bo as all of my guitars are American made and I will only buy an American made guitar. How do I get information about getting a Billy Bo made by the custom shop?

[@GuessMyNameOnceMore]

gretsch has an outstanding QC even at lowest price segments. It is almost impossible to get a Gretsch that is not set up perfectly (to a major extend) or to find a Gretsch with failures. Even the most budget Gretsches play like butter.

[@XLBiker13]

I love Gretsch.

[@paulhendershott667]

Where can I get that Paisley 3 Pickup Penguin? There's nothing on the website...

[@larscasteen]

I thought their custom shop was in Arizona. Did it move recently?

[@jeffmariajenson9751]

I like the can do, if you want it we'll build it for you attitude.

[@J.C...]

8:20 what's up with that fretboard? Why does it have those different colored spots/squares on it?

[@lesterksi4521]

Didn't know they have USA made ones, always thought only MiJs and the rest

[@later_daze_4080]

I love my Gretsch! This video ruled!

[@JackTheSkunk]

Gretsch should build a monument to the only 3 people that could make one of their guitars aound great....Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins and George Van Eps. As much as I admire Chet's technique and musicianship I don't think he got a very good recorded sound until the 60's. His Guitar Country LP sounded phenomenal.

[@J.C...]

You'd be surprised how many songs have Gretsch guitars in them. John Frusciante uses one quite often, for example.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

B.A.U. 4 SURE !

[@googo151]

ANYONE KNOW WHAT THAT DUDES MODEL IS, @ 15:56 SEC? LOOKS LIKE A 12 STRING.

[@bldallas]

Interesting video, but that tiny shop is not “where it all happens.” I guess they really do mean their “Custom Shop.” Gretsch Electromatic guitars are made in one of two countries. The hollowbodies and semi-hollow guitars are built in Korea, whilst the Jet models and all other solid bodies come from China. I wish he would have gone into more detail regarding their builds. Explain the lamination process (how many layers, what types of wood, orientation of grain, adhesive used, etc.). I know the “arch” provides some structural support, but wha are their interior braces like? Do they use a trussel bracing system or is there a center block of some sort? WHAT ABOUT HE Neck and tail block what do they use for kerfing when they “close the box”? Heck he didn’t even get into he neck profiling (rounding), just saw the drum sander, he mentioned the headstock routing and them jumped to binding. Weird. John, I’ve watched dozens and dozens of your videos and you’re truly the best in the business. I’m a huge fan. Just feels like they didn’t give you much to work with here.

[@Topsy_Krett]

16:55 "in this fairly small building..." Well, actually a fairly small room within the Fender factory in Corona California. Shhh... don't tell anyone.

[@mateuszcielas3362]

15:46 whats this hole on the back?

[@roughcutguitars]

Electronics access. If you've ever worked on the electronics on an f-hole you'll seriously think about doing that 😀 That's why the leather pad snap-buttoned over it - plus a handy belt bucket buffer 😀

[@mateuszcielas3362]

@@roughcutguitars wild, never seen on hollows

[@gnomechomsky5446]

It’s access for the mute system. Levers inside the guitar engage foam rubber pads that rest on the strings, dampening them.

[@allstopblue5717]

One day. I will buy an actual legit Gretsch and not one of the cheaper models in Guitar Center. And even those are nice depending on the model. But I really hope to get a nice one eventually.

[@kempire4623]

I finally sold off most my guitars to finally have the cash for a japanese players jet and now it's all I play. They are amazing instruments. I found that I far prefer having 1 great guitar than a mess of good/ok ones. You wont regret that purchase.

[@JohnnyFriendly]

@@kempire4623 An excellent comment. I have a 6120-59VS and its the only one I play regularly (out of a total of 3). Better to be a guitar player than a guitar collector.

[@snapfinger1]

You wear a Gretsch like a suit from Saville Row. Attention to detail. Cut to fit.

[@musikman337]

@4:15 he Missed a perfect opportunity to say "your neck of the woods"😂 sorry I'm a dad..dad jokes are 2nd nature these days!

[@hanovergreen4091]

Are there a lot of people playing Gretsch? Hardly ever hear about the brand....

[@MarkoLaurentOnline]

16:16 mother of god…

[@Harford1171]

bro looks like jason from samiam

[@edwardx.winston5744]

Hey-is that Eric from Iraqveteran8888? 😂

[@TJjjjjjjjjjj]

16:15 😯 😮 🤯!!! Holy duckshit Batman ! First time I’ve seen a paisley gretsch like that! FU John Bollinger my wallet hates you because now I’m going to buy one

[@Wileylikethehawk]

I can’t even watch this video because it will make me sick with Lust. And that’s coming from someone who already has four or five lovely pro line Gretsches.

[@pierrelacoste6621]

C EST. LA RENOUVAUX DU ROCK, À, BILLY. CAPITALIST. DÉMOCRATIQUE ??????????😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃👌 THE

[@karlj.shields7645]

Meh. 15 minutes of _talking_about_ "how we do it," with very little actually showing how it's done,.

[@matthewwillis4892]

Better to pay people for their skills than to buy all robots and cnc to build fine objects. Tech no logic.

[@PaulManningg]

What potato made this

[@sooparticular]

mashed...and its awesome!

[@nstalthebastard]

I love my Gretsch G2627t it is the best + #loveandHUNDREDS