Introduced at the 1955 NAMM show, the Gretsch White Falcon was the company’s showpiece and, accordingly, its most highly priced guitar. In today’s vintage guitar market, only the significantly rarer White Penguin out-prices a White Falcon.

This guitar was already tentatively sold by the time of this website update, but with photos shot we couldn’t resist the opportunity for a little old-fashioned show and tell. Feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like to be added to the waitlist in the event the guitar becomes available.

No one has record of how many White Falcons were produced, but we all agree there weren’t many. This example has survived beautifully; it’s 100% original and complete, with untouched finished, no neck repairs, and excellent playability. Apart from a few chips and reglued sections of binding the guitar has seen no repairs. The upper strap button is a little askew, if we’re getting picky. All the hardware in in great shape, and the gold plating shows only mild wear. The control knobs all still have their original rubies and pearloid dots. It’s really quite incredible.

The neck is about 1-11/16” at the nut but has heavily rolled edges and feels more Fender-y than that width suggests. The depth at the 1st fret is .850”. The original frets are level and show almost no string grooves. They play well and cleanly in all positions of the neck. The neck angle is excellent, and there is room under the Melita bridge for more than enough action adjustment in either direction.

Original DeArmond Dynasonics are uniquely incredible, and this Falcon sounds exactly like you want it to. We had plans to have Luke Doucet come by to shoot a video with this Falcon, but our calendars didn’t line up, sadly (Sorry, Luke).

In the case pocket you’ll find an original Gretsch polishing cloth and 50’s hang tag. The guitar was priced at $600 in 1956 - or $90 less than Gibson’s priciest model, the Super 400-CESN - but I’m pretty sure the Falcon would have been a better investment!

With original hardshell case