Gretsch Guitars

“That great Gretsch sound” isn’t just a saying: it’s baked into every instrument from the company. Blues Angel Music has been offering Gretsch instruments in Pensacola for more than 20 years and now carry the guitars online as well.

The Gretsch company was founded in 1883 by German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch. It is headed now by Friedrich’s great grandson, Fred Gretsch. Currently focusing on acoustic and electric guitars, resonators, basses, ukuleles, and drums, Gretsch has also made lap steel guitars, banjos, mandolins, and more. 

Initially offering tambourines and drums, Gretsch began manufacturing guitars in the early 1930s with their 50s and 60s models being highly sought after today. In 1967, Gretsch was sold to the Baldwin Piano Company, but in 1983, Baldwin filed for bankruptcy and in 1985, Fred W. Gretsch, Friedrich’s great grandson, assumed presidency of the company. The first guitars produced under new leadership were sold in 1988 and in 1989, production of traditional Gretsch models resumed.

In 2002 Gretsch and Fender Musical Instruments Company joined forces, giving Fender control of marketing, production, and distribution with the Gretsch family maintaining ownership of the company.

Today, Gretsch guitars come in solid body, center block, hollow body, bass, acoustic, and folk/bluegrass builds. The Professional, Electromatic, Streamliner, Roots, and Acoustic collections include the Falcon, Broadkaster, Country Gentleman, Nashville, Tennessee Rose, Anniversary, Penguin, Jet and Country Club family of guitars. 

Come to Blues Angel Music in Pensacola or Spanish Fort and play our selection of Gretsch Guitars, or find one in our online shop and buy today. You’ll love that great Gretsch sound.