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A unique and extremely valuable vintage instrument from the estate of the late Count Otto Wilhelm von Gütenbumsen III. Serial number 26505, it is a one-of-a-kind Gretsch factory special order for the left-handed Otto Wilhelm (his ex-mistress liked to refer to him as "… a bit of a Count …") and it is without doubt the most exclusive and desirable Gretsch guitar in existence. It is of course, a Gretsch Falconcaster, model no. 6120a and is based on the standard production model no. 6120, the Chet Atkins Hollowbody. In later years this model no. 6120, has become particularly sought after by vintage guitar enthusiasts and as a result has also become the focus of attention of the less than inscrutable who would go to great lengths to convert lesser models to appear as if they are genuine model no. 6120 instruments. Many of these would be blatant fakes but just as many would be cleverly constructed to deceive even the most knowledgeable authorities, creating lengthy arguments that would rage for days and induce all manner of slander. An issue, for example, such as the 'G' brand clearly shown on this instrument above the Bigsby, although in this case stylized in deference to the Count's teutonic preferences. Impeccable sources have revealed that this feature is present on instruments with serial numbers as late as the 25340's. The Count's 6120a casts further mystery on this subject.

The instrument is shown above left standing on the Count's favourite knoll above his weekend cottage, visible in the background, in the Bavarian Alps. The son of Count Otto Wilhelm von Gütenbumsen II, who was a second cousin to Kaiser Wilhelm II and a close friend of Friedrich Gretsch, who was to leave his native homeland for the New World and establish a musical instrument manufacturing business in Brooklyn, New York, the Count ordered this instrument in December 1957. It has been fully verified by the world's leading authority on vintage Gretsch guitars, Dr. J. A. Koff, and is clearly an interesting transitional model bearing unmistakeable features from two consecutive model years, as well as one or two custom additions requested secretly by the Count's spiteful Transylvanian ex-mistress, who was always happy to see the Count pay more for stuff than he would normally have to, and which were to be later 'borrowed' by two other contemporary instrument manufacturers, Fender and Gibson. The use of two single coil pickups in the neck and middle positions and one double coil humcancelling pickup at the bridge position puts this instrument years ahead of its time. This was to become an extremely popular pickup configuration twenty five years later. Of particular note is the inclusion of a fourth single coil pickup placed behind the bridge to capture sympathetic harmonics. This fourth pickup was actually removeable and could thus be used as a spare to replace one of the other three in the event that it got fried by the dodgy electricity in the Count's country mountain retreat.

This large number of magnetic transducers required a veritable plethora of switches and controls to harness the awesome sonic variables. Gretsch experts and afficianados will notice the three extra knobs! These are used to control the tape speed, head selection and echo feedback of the internal clockwork 'Mountain Echo' delay device contained within the hollow body of the guitar. This again is an extremely advanced concept, later to be adopted by a well known Gibson endorsee. A close inspection reveals another revolutionary feature. Mounted upon the Bigsby baseplate is a mechanism for individually adjusting the tension of the second string. A cunning mechanical device that allows the second string to be raised in pitch by pulling down on the strap button, producing otherwise impossible string bends and emulating the sound of another, at that time, very new instrument called a Pedal Steel guitar. This mechanical device would later become more widely used and would become known as a B-bender.

Being such an exclusive instrument it is of course a target for the devious cloners and unscrupulous plagiarists but rest assured that the instrument shown here is the real one. It is available for purchase at a truly exhorbitant .. er ... bargain price. Potential buyers please note that payment must be made in cash using low denomination used bills at a discrete location to be specified at the time of exchange.