Friedrich Gretsch started in 1883 in
Brooklyn as a custom guitar maker before the word electric was even associated with guitars. Through hard work and innovative ideas, his company grew and diversified. Soon Gretsch was making drums and many other musical instruments. For a time Gretsch was a supplier of guitars for Montgomery Ward.
In 1967 Baldwin of Cincinnati bought Gretsch. The factory relocated to
Booneville,
Arkansas. A terrible fire in 1972 had a devastating effect upon the company. After two decades of shifting company ownership between Kustom and Kramer, in 1985 Gretsch again came under the ownership of the Gretsch family. Presently the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has become very much involved with Gretsch. It has been granted the right to develop, produce and market Gretsch guitars.
