In 2003, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation controlled the Gretsch name under Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch). Its 5 lines on record were built at Terada Gakki, Dyna Gakki (Gretsch Japan, early Fender era; unverified), FujiGen, Peerless (Korea; city unverified), Yako (China; city unverified) and US custom builder for Gretsch before Fender Custom Shop (location unverified) (Japan, South Korea, China and USA).[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
A Gretsch guitar from 2003 belongs to whichever era was running on its product line that year. An era is a stretch when the company that controlled the name and the plant that built the line both stayed the same. If you know the line, the table below tells you which version of Gretsch you have. The name dates from 1883[1], 120 years before.
Gretsch Professional Collection (Japan): a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at Terada Gakki[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Gretsch Japan early-Fender-era models: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at Dyna Gakki (Gretsch Japan, early Fender era; unverified)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Gretsch Japan early-Fender-era models: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at FujiGen[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10]
Gretsch Electromatic: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at Peerless (Korea; city unverified)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Gretsch Electromatic: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at Yako (China; city unverified)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9]
Gretsch Synchromatic/Historic: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at Peerless (Korea; city unverified)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Gretsch Custom Shop: a new era begins under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, built at US custom builder for Gretsch before Fender Custom Shop (location unverified)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Gretsch Professional Collection (Japan): the 1989–2003 era ends (Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch), Terada Gakki)[1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]
Gretsch Custom Shop: the 1995–2003 era ends (Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch), US custom builder for Gretsch before Fender Custom Shop (location unverified))[1, 2, 3, 4, 7]
Gretsch Synchromatic/Historic: the 1999–2003 era ends (Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch), Peerless (Korea; city unverified))[1, 2, 3, 4, 7]
Gretsch Electromatic: the 1999–2003 era ends (Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch), Peerless (Korea; city unverified))[1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8]
Gretsch Electromatic: the 2000–2003 era ends (Fred Gretsch Enterprises, Ltd. (Fred W. and Dinah Gretsch), Yako (China; city unverified))[1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9]
Where Gretsch was built in 2003
US custom builder for Gretsch before Fender Custom Shop (location unverified), Peerless (Korea; city unverified), Yako (China; city unverified), Dyna Gakki (Gretsch Japan, early Fender era; unverified), FujiGen and Terada Gakki. See every brand each plant built for, and every plant in the same country:
Every numbered marker on this page points here: the document, its grade and the passages relied on. An era is computed, so it cites the facts it was derived from. A fact marked “no source” has no claim attached yet.
"In 1984, Fred W. Gretsch… purchased Gretsch back"Gretsch in 2003: owners and plants
In late 2002 a deal was struck for Fender Musical Instruments Corp. to handle Gretsch Guitars manufacturing and distributionGretsch in 2003: owners and plants
In 1984 Fred made good on his promise when he and his wife Dinah bought the Gretsch Company back from Baldwin.Gretsch in 2003: owners and plants
In 2002 Gretsch and Fender announced an alliance that granted Fender exclusive rights to develop, market, and distribute Gretsch guitars.Gretsch in 2003: owners and plants
His offer was accepted, and in November 1984, Fred was able to fulfill his 17-year dream of buying back the Gretsch Company.Gretsch in 2003: owners and plants