Top 5 Gretsch Riffs | Are They What You Expected?

[@lattelucks4924]

I honestly believe a Gretsch guitar can do almost anything. Country twang, beautiful sparkly cleans, rockabilly, hard rock, fuzzy distorted riffs, all whilst looking classy as anything..

[@jefflitchfield4950]

It's true. I got my jet, and now everything else mostly sits

[@marquisdecarabas1312]

Yes, but it totaly sucks at piano sounds. 👎🏻

[@FFGG22E]

@@marquisdecarabas1312 it's not good on drywall either

[@TigerRogers0660]

Duane Eddy MUST have a mention here!! "Rebel Rouser" is one of the most iconic guitar riffs!!

[@mma1st105]

Even the cheaper models play great nowadays. I bought an electromatic a few years ago and it's an awesome guitar.

[@marktaiman2934]

Thought you meant the streamliner lol

[@mattwilliams1498]

First mention of Gretsch and I immediately think of Billy Duffy, great to see such diverse examples of songwriting on these iconic guitars 👍

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

A great player! Going through and finding some of these riffs really shows you how diverse these guitars are!

[@Weaksauce1234]

According to Pete Townshend's guitar tech, he used a Gretsch 1959 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins hollow body on one of the most iconic riffs in rock history, Won't Get Fooled Again (plus tons of other songs)

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

that Enter Sandman intro killed! Great job with that, and the rest of the list!

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Thank you!

[@aleaallee]

He used the wrong chord shape though

[@scottleonard6651]

Well done! There's no shortage of Gretsch players and history videos on KZbin. I like how you kept it simple and full. Not easy to do with all of the "rabbit holes" which you neatly avoided to give us 9 great minutes of Gretsch. Thanks!!

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Glad you liked it!

[@singlereed]

Well, big respect - Chet and Brian are absolute monster players.

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Sam really nailed it on those ones 🙏

[@user-jh7ki9sn5h]

I've been diving into blues, jazz And country in the last couple years.I learned the first part of Mr sandman yesterday. I knew I wanted a hollow body but now I am certain that I want a gretsch streamliner hollowbody with a bigsby. Atkins was the man.

[@johnpeccarelli2434]

Got to love the C minor add 9 chord in "Stray Cat Strut"- that chord was made for that guitar!

[@Artty-fl8ul]

Thank you for that introduction to Gretsch. There is a beautiful Gretsch at my local guitar shop. Kinda wanna buy it but know nothing about them. Till now, thanks man.

[@BradThor]

just found your video here... i just bought my first Gretsch guitar... its amazing...

[@montanamike7948]

Nice job with the riff raff mention! Did not expect to see that here

[@CentaurusRelax314]

I’d have Martin Gore/Depeche Mode on this list. Nice job on Mr. Sandman.

[@Ambientnauts]

Yup - Personal Jesus! Superb Brian Setzer and Duffy/Cult.

[@Cowdog1]

Sanctuary riff was awesome! The Stray Cats stuff was off the charts, too!

[@tom97buckley]

Top notch as always 👍

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Tom!

[@GRBAquatics]

Very Cool, Thankyou. Big Gretsch Fan. I Have a G5215 Single Cut Single Pickup Rock Machine in Black and a G5248T Double Cut Chambered Body in Gold with Bigsby. Both are Such Fun and a Pleasure to play. The Build Quality on both these Electromatic Guitars is Outstanding, adding to the joy and excitement of playing them. A Gretsch Full Hollowbody is in my Future for sure. Cheers From Australia

[@childofthe60s100]

ANY of Stephen Stills White Falcon riffs - he popularised the Falcon, more than anyone.

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

That's a great shout there!

[@enricopallazzo8510]

People tend to forget that Martin Gore from Depeche Mode plays Gretsch Guitars and the riffs from Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus are all Gretsch

[@tricky8957]

Matthew Ashman and a White Falcon with a Bigsby - so many great surf style riffs with a Marshall and Space Echo

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Ooh what a good shout!

[@castnoshadow82lr48]

I never knew the she sells sanctuary riff was played on a gretcsh 👍 Everyday is a school day. I’d of had to throw something Beatles in there personally but your list is your list bud.

[@arnaudleonori3732]

Chris Cornell played Gretsch on single "Black Hole Sun"!!!!

[@TheFairway8]

Good demo very well played although you forgot to include Billy Zoom

[@pianotunernick]

Nice bit of Chetwork Sam..never knew you did that. Nice. Nick

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

It was very impressive to watch from behind the camera!

[@waynebridger4998]

Just got my second Gretsch Electromatic Hollow body. A G5420t in Azure metalic blue, to go with my orange G5422tg. Darrel Higham is my current favourite Gretsch player Both absolute monsters. Not picked up my original squier CV Tele, cv Gilmour strat or my epiphone les Paul Custom, in a long while

[@ChrisFranklyn]

I was only half listening when the Metallica riff started up, completely caught me off guard. Nice one 😀

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

In Sams defence they are very easy tunes to mix up... 👀 Glad you liked it though!

[@flybob63]

Always loved gretsch guitars. Had a 1960s Tennessean as a teen. Wish I still had it. I noticed low price of new Gretsch’s a while back and talked to a Luthier at the shop. He showed me a Gretsch he was working on made in Indonesia and that cheap neck felt like balsa wood. He told me of another one that was in recently with a broken headstock that he fixed and when he tested his own repair the headstock broke in another place. I haven’t followed them in a long time but I sincerely hope they’re still building some quality guitars and doing it in America.

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

They're still producing some absolute beauties in the USA!!! shorturl.at/BMPT8

[@mstrammd]

I own a G6122-1962 and a G6128T-George Harrison Duo Jet, both made in Japan in 2011. These are as good as any American made Fenders and Gibsons that I own both in terms of fit and finish (probably better than American made), and out of the box playability and setup. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Japanese-made Gretsch.

[@mr.e8432]

I knew they had to be some Brian Setzer in there somewhere but it’s good to see Billy Duffy included as well

[@mstrammd]

Neil Young has played Gretsch guitars going back to his Buffalo Springfield days. White Falcon 1961 and several others. I realize you had to narrow down to 5, but Neil deserves some props along with George Harrison and Pete T.

[@teeze65]

You definitely forgot Mathew Ashman's "I Want Candy" ..Now you need a top 10

[@deanmccreadieguitarist]

Loads of greats, but your top 5 are certainly classics 👍

[@ramonvasques612]

Amazing video, man!!! Thank you

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

White Stripes, Jack White plays a jet.

[@roddyragbone3925]

Another masterful vid from the legend that is Sam Cody. Nice one Sam.

[@guitarrizer]

You missed 'Enjoy the Silence" or "Personal Jesus". Nice guitars and playing :)

[@drmilktruck]

Billy Gibbons didn't play that riff on a Gretsch. He didn't start using the BillyBo until 20 years later. He should been replaced by George Harrison, without whom anyone after Chet likely wouldn't have been playing a Gretsch.

[@simonbull3497]

Nice editing guys 👏

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Simon!

[@kyrandell3290]

Another great show Sam -- is your resemblance to Fred Gretsch just a co-incidence?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

They do look suspiciosly similar... 🤨

[@weedywet]

Well you drive by it rather quickly, but leaving out George Harrison and Pete Townshend are some pretty huge omissions.

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

We agree! Hopefully we can make some longer videos about them in the future.

[@gpvboats]

For a billy duffy riff i would have chosen lil devil. Great video!

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Also a great riff! Thank you!

[@johnpaulpatton9786]

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

[@petermorrison7239]

Brilliant

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Peter!

[@peterfarrell66]

Great list! Poison Ivy of the Cramps made lots of bad music for bad people with her ‘58 6120.

[@basildog007]

Should I get a Grench as well?

[@barrybaddams7095]

No Cliff Gallup Duo-Jet jazz-inspired riffs from his Gene Vincent & the Blue caps recordings?

[@Tom325c64]

Gotta put I saw her standing there solo in there

[@yournamehere6719]

What, no Billy Zoom? Devil Doll, for instance?

[@mark-allanpilgrim7028]

Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie… Eddie Cochran!

[@stuartwatts1152]

Bo Diddley?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Another classic Gretsch player!

[@daemonflack6202]

Check out Chris Cheney from The Living End (3 piece Band from Australia) playing his White Falcon..........Some say he's better than Brian. Will let you guys decide. But do yourself a favour and at least have a listen

[@dtc343]

There are MANY awesome Gretsch players, such as Billy, However; You CANNOT talk Gretsch riffs without mentioning the GREATEST! 1. Chet Atkins. 2. Cliff Gallup. 3. Duane Eddy. 4. Bo Diddley. and 5. Eddie Cochran.

[@Jeffcatbuckeye]

Crosby, stills, nash, and young-Ohio

[@pazidawson2178]

0:09 what's the name of the light green guitar in the background, please?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

that would be a Gretsch G6229TG! We dont have that particular model any more, but we do have this Turquoise one instead :) : bit.ly/3EUwW8e

[@TheNeonRabbit]

You decided to leave out George Harrison? He sold more Gretsch guitars than their entire sales team.

[@brucebissell7626]

VERY AWESOME!

[@donframeli9855]

They Re the best

[@roybarker5896]

Duane Eddy !!!

[@MikeNims]

What about George Harrison's beatle licks on his country gentleman and tennesean

[@jeremiahmeraz9298]

As a beginner guitarist, I have purchased all of my guitars used, and I can’t even understand the want to have a fake aged guitar. I spent hours cleaning and polishing each of my guitars after I purchased them. It’s just fake, and sad that people like that. In skateboarding if you faked wear, you were a poser and shunned by everyone.

[@m.rogers9490]

WYNONAS BIG BROWN BEAVER .

[@davidsimpson3275]

Mr Sand Person , sounds like Chet to Me

[@Pinstriped5120]

Duo Jet ? Double Jet ? he called it a Duo I would call it a double jet.... Round Up style it's beautiful whatever it is !

[@hotwheel6663]

That 62 Duo jet is killer wish they made a reissue cheaper version as imagine it crazy priced if custom.

[@killroy123]

Would have added some Soundgarden

[@54macdog]

Was Ohio written on a White Falcon?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Neil Young definitley played one, but we're not exactly sure if he wrote this on one. It's definitely possible though!

[@makz2009]

what about Tim Armstrong?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Another great player!

[@georgescarlett2320]

You lost my interest as soon as you said no George Harrison!! Not too put off about leaving Townshend off the list cause at the mention of his name i visualize his "Wall Of Shame" with about (I believe) 7 various RIC 330's and 360's he's busted up, and nailed to his wall. As a Luthier, I sometimes ask my customers Q: "What FIVE things can a guitar NOT tolerate"? A: 1. Heat, 2. Cold, 3. dryness, 4. Humidity, and 5. Pete Townshend!!! Gb PS: GREAT job on "Mr Sandman".

[@walterhambrick8705]

How can you leave George Harrison out? That leaves out "She Loves You" and "It Won't be Long". And what about "Handle Me With Care" or "End of the Line"?

[@therockerkid327]

Soundgarden

[@badscrew4023]

wrong sandman lol :D)

[@aitken1965]

Oh the joys of playing $10,000 custom shop Gretsch electrics!

[@soofitnsexy]

not even close

[@aitken1965]

@@soofitnsexy please, enlighten us, oh wise one…

[@soofitnsexy]

@@aitken1965 sure...you can et custom shop gretsch all day for 4 5 6 grand...You are now enlightened

[@Donnybrook10]

I wanted to like Gretsch but they have nothing special about the tones.

[@gravm]

I was ok until you played riff raff, back in 10 mins...

[@stevestephens8925]

lousy choices for top 5

[@memriloc]

Lost me when ya said no Harrison or Townsend.

[@TestarossaRocks]

Great guitars, however Gretsch customer service is crap.

[@JM-5150]

This guys not even close on top 5 riffs.