Gretsch Falcon Guitar roundup
The Best Gretsch Falcon Guitars for the Money
There's no single best one here — just an honest breakdown of which current Falcon suits which player, and why.
There's no single "best" Gretsch Falcon guitar, full stop, because they're not all chasing the same thing — one's built to nail a vintage rockabilly snap, another's built to survive a real stage every night. Rather than a fake ranking, here's each current model laid out honestly by what it's actually for, so you can get excited about the right one instead of just the shiniest one.
'55 Vintage Select — The Purist's Choice
If you want the early-Falcon experience as faithfully as a current production model gets, this is it. TV Jones T-Armond single-coils give you that sharp, articulate attack with real single-coil bite, parallel tone bar bracing keeps the hollow-body response open and traditional, and the Cadillac-style tailpiece and nitrocellulose lacquer finish round out the vintage-correct feel. It's the one for players who want the Falcon's original character rather than a modernised take on it.
'59 Vintage Select — The Classic Rock and Roll Falcon
Swap to Filter'Tron-style pickups and trestle bracing and you land on the specification most associated with the Falcon's classic rock and roll era. It's a broader, more compressed sound than the '55, with strong note separation, and the trestle bracing does a genuinely useful job of reinforcing the body against feedback compared to the more open '55 construction. Paired with a Bigsby, it's built for the twang-and-tremolo territory this guitar basically invented a reputation for.
Players Edition — Built for the Stage
This is the modern-minded option, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. A thinner 2.5-inch body, ML bracing, a string-through Bigsby that's genuinely quicker to restring, and locking tuners all point toward a Falcon built to survive a real touring schedule rather than sit in a display case. You give up a little of that vintage acoustic bloom, but you gain an instrument that's noticeably easier to live with on a stage every night.
Stephen Stills Signature — For the Collector Who Wants the Story
Modelled on a 1958-style instrument, this signature model carries genuine artist history alongside its laminated maple construction and trestle bracing. It's not necessarily the most practical choice on this list, but if the connection to Stephen Stills specifically matters to you, no other current Falcon gives you that story built in.
Quick Gretsch Falcon Guitar Comparison
| Model | Best for |
|---|---|
| '55 Vintage Select | Sharp, vintage single-coil character and studio work |
| '59 Vintage Select | Classic Filter'Tron rock and roll tone with a Bigsby |
| Players Edition | Regular gigging and easier day-to-day playability |
| Stephen Stills Signature | Collectors after a specific artist connection |
What I'm Not Going to Do Here
I'm not going to pretend I've run these four through identical lab tests and crowned a winner — nobody serious does that with instruments this individual, and any list that claims otherwise is selling you something. What I can tell you honestly is which spec sheet lines actually translate into a real difference you'll feel with a pick in your hand, and that's what the breakdown above is built on. For the fuller reasoning behind pickups, bracing and tailpieces, our complete buyer's guide goes deeper.
Bottom Line
Chase the sound and the use case, not the badge. A '55-spec Falcon and a Players Edition are both genuinely excellent guitars aimed at different players, and the "best" one is whichever matches how you'll actually use it. New to the whole idea of a hollow-body this size? Our beginner's guide and full overview are worth a read first.
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