Headed by Cristian Mirabella the shop specializes in the construction of custom instruments, all phases of repair, the highest quality vintage restorations, reproduction pickguards, headstock overlays, one of a kind custom created parts, as well as exquisite inlay work. Although we are noted for our restoration of instruments built by master luthiers such as D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, Stromberg, Gibson, and many others, we also perform all phases of general repair and restoration, including set ups, fret work, electronic work/restoration, neck resets, crack repairs, and refinishing.
Official Website of Gretsch Guitars, Basses and Amps:
"That Great Gretsch Sound!"
For more than 100 years Gretsch has developed what came to be known as "That Great Gretsch Sound," but it all began with a young German immigrant in Brooklyn.
At 27, Friedrich Gretsch founded a small musical instrument shop 1883 to make banjos, drums and tambourines. Only 12 years later Friedrich died, leaving the fledgling company in the hands of his teenage son Fred.
While it may be an unlikely start for a century-long (and growing) musical legacy, young Fred wasn't the typical teen. By 1916 he had built the company into one of America's leading importers and manufacturers of musical instruments, and the operations moved into a 10-story building at 60 Broadway in Brooklyn.
Fred knew listening to what the public wanted was the key to growth, and the public wanted guitars. So, Gretsch began making guitars.
Initially, Gretsch offered acoustic archtops aimed at jazz musicians, and a handful of flat-tops for country-western performers.
Meanwhile, 1935 marked an important year for Gretsch — Duke Kramer joined the team. Kramer went on to become a mainstay of the Gretsch company, and remains a valued counsel to this day.
"That distinctive sound was our product, the sound that energized the market for decades," Kramer says.
Fred Gretsch, Sr. retired from the company in 1942, leaving the day-to-day operations to his sons Fred, Jr. and William ...