Top 5 Gretsch Riffs | Are They What You Expected?

Ever wondered who wrote the coolest riffs on Gretsch guitars? Here's our top 5, but make sure to leave yours in the comments below! ⬇️
Three Rare Gretsch's:
G5410T Two-Tone Fiesta Red/Vintage White:
bit.ly/3BPCN9w
Broadkaster Two-Tone Shell Pink & Black:
bit.ly/3q5YW1i
Broadkaster Two-Tone Sonic Blue & Lake Placid Blue:
bit.ly/3CT8d0c
Guitars used in the video:
Chet Atkins:
bit.ly/3BPCN9w
Malcolm Young:
bit.ly/3kaYHhD
Billy Gibbons:
bit.ly/3BUeqI8
Billy Duffy:
bit.ly/31zAaMQ
Brian Setzer:
bit.ly/3mOGmZi
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:06 - New Gretsch's
0:42 - Gretsch History
1:10 - Riff 1
2:48 - Riff 2
4:24 - Riff 3
5:48 - Riff 4
7:13 - Riff 5
8:59 Outro
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[@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!!

[@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)

[@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!

[@singlereed]

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

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Sam really nailed it on those ones 🙏

[@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

[@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

[@montanamike7948]

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

[@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!

[@tom97buckley]

Top notch as always 👍

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Tom!

[@ramonvasques612]

Amazing video, man!!! Thank you

[@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

[@johnpeccarelli2434]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@pianotunernick]

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

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

It was very impressive to watch from behind the camera!

[@petermorrison7239]

Brilliant

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Peter!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@roddyragbone3925]

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

[@deanmccreadieguitarist]

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

[@arnaudleonori3732]

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

[@childofthe60s100]

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

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

That's a great shout there!

[@TheFairway8]

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

[@simonbull3497]

Nice editing guys 👏

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Cheers Simon!

[@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.

[@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!

[@brucebissell7626]

VERY AWESOME!

[@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.

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

White Stripes, Jack White plays a jet.

[@teeze65]

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

[@gpvboats]

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

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Also a great riff! Thank you!

[@kyrandell3290]

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

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

They do look suspiciosly similar... 🤨

[@peterfarrell66]

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

[@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

[@donframeli9855]

They Re the best

[@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

[@basildog007]

Should I get a Grench as well?

[@yournamehere6719]

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

[@johnpaulpatton9786]

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

[@roybarker5896]

Duane Eddy !!!

[@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

[@mark-allanpilgrim7028]

Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie… Eddie Cochran!

[@Jeffcatbuckeye]

Crosby, stills, nash, and young-Ohio

[@MikeNims]

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

[@stuartwatts1152]

Bo Diddley?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Another classic Gretsch player!

[@killroy123]

Would have added some Soundgarden

[@hotwheel6663]

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

[@therockerkid327]

Soundgarden

[@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 !

[@davidsimpson3275]

Mr Sand Person , sounds like Chet to Me

[@m.rogers9490]

WYNONAS BIG BROWN BEAVER .

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@badscrew4023]

wrong sandman lol :D)

[@TheNeonRabbit]

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

[@makz2009]

what about Tim Armstrong?

[@GuitarVillageFarnham]

Another great player!

[@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.

[@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"?

[@aitken1965]

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

[@sooparticular]

not even close

[@aitken1965]

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

[@sooparticular]

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

[@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".

[@memriloc]

Lost me when ya said no Harrison or Townsend.

[@gravm]

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

[@stevestephens8925]

lousy choices for top 5

[@Donnybrook10]

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

[@TestarossaRocks]

Great guitars, however Gretsch customer service is crap.

[@JM-5150]

This guys not even close on top 5 riffs.