Gretsch Falcon Guitar roundup
Gretsch Falcon Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Different generations use different pickups, bracing and tailpieces — and those differences genuinely change how it plays. Here's what to check.
Right, let's be honest about this one from the start: a Gretsch Falcon guitar is a big purchase, and the range isn't quite as simple as "pick your favourite finish." Different generations use different pickups, different bracing and different tailpieces, and those differences actually change how the thing plays and sounds. Here's what to look at properly before you commit.
Decide What You Actually Want It For
Be honest with yourself here, because it shapes everything else:
- Recording and clean, articulate tones — the vintage-specification models suit this well.
- Gigging regularly, moderate gain — the more modern, stage-focused builds are worth a proper look.
- Collecting and originality — a signature or vintage-styled model matters more here than raw playability.
- A first "proper" hollow-body — a currently-produced model with modern hardware will be far less fussy to live with than an old original.
Pickups: The Biggest Sound Decision
This is the one spec that matters more than almost anything else. TV Jones T-Armond single-coils, used on the '55 Vintage Select model, give a sharper, more articulate attack with real single-coil bite. Filter'Tron-style pickups, used on the '59 Vintage Select and the Players Edition, lean more humbucker-like, with strong note separation and a broader, more compressed feel. Neither is objectively better — one suits a cleaner, sharper rockabilly attack, the other suits a rounder rock and roll tone — but you should know which you're buying rather than assuming.
Bracing and Body Depth
Not the most glamorous spec sheet line, but it genuinely changes how the guitar behaves. Parallel tone bars, as used on the '55-style model, give a more open, traditional hollow-body response. Trestle bracing, used on later 1950s-style specifications, reinforces the body and helps resist feedback a little better. Current Players Edition models use a thinner body with ML bracing specifically aimed at practical stage use, trading a touch of that vintage acoustic bloom for better manners at volume.
Tailpiece: Cadillac, Bigsby, or String-Through Bigsby
| Tailpiece | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Cadillac-style | Simple, fixed, associated with early-style specifications |
| Standard Bigsby | Classic vibrato feel; restringing takes a bit more care |
| String-through Bigsby | Same vibrato character, noticeably easier to restring |
If you're not confident threading a traditional Bigsby yet, a string-through system will save you some frustration on string-change day without giving up the vibrato itself.
Checking a Used Falcon
Given the price these guitars command, buying second-hand is common, and it pays to actually check the guitar rather than just the photos:
- Sight down the neck for a straight neck angle — a Falcon with the action set too high or too low can point to a bigger issue.
- Check fret wear against the guitar's claimed age and use.
- Look for bridge movement or a top that's deformed under string tension.
- Inspect the binding for cracking or lifting, especially on older lacquer-finished examples.
- Check for finish damage and, honestly, any modifications that weren't done well.
Matching a Gretsch Falcon Guitar to the Job
| You want | Look at |
|---|---|
| Sharp, vintage single-coil character | '55 Vintage Select |
| Classic Filter'Tron rock and roll tone | '59 Vintage Select |
| Easier stage use, modern hardware | Players Edition |
| A specific artist connection and story | Stephen Stills Signature |
For the wider context behind these differences and where the model came from, our full overview guide is worth reading alongside this one.
Bottom Line
Work out what you actually need from a Gretsch Falcon guitar before you fall for the finish — pickups, bracing and tailpiece all genuinely change how it feels and sounds in your hands. If it's your first hollow-body, our beginner's guide is worth reading first, and common mistakes to avoid could save you an expensive lesson.
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