One of the First Gretsch Custom Shop White Penguins Built by Stephen Stern

2009 Gretsch White Penguin 1958 Reissue  (Masterbuilt & Relic'd by Stephen Stern at the USA Custom Shop)

This amazing 'White Penguin' was built and 'relic'd by Stephen Stern at the Gretsch Custom Shop in Corona, CA, USA. This true replica of the original 1958 model weighs 9.40 lbs. and has a 13 1/4 inch wide and 2 inch deep chambered mahogany body. Pressed arched maple top with wide gold sparkle and black and white binding on the top and back. Banjo-style metal armrest on bass-side of top secured by two screws. One-piece mahogany neck with a nice fat nut width of 1 11/16 inches, a wonderful medium-to-thick profile and a scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Gold sparkle onlay on heel of neck. Gold-sparkle bound ebony fretboard with 22 original thin frets and neo-classic inlaid pearl thumbprint (half-moon) position markers and bone nut. Triple-bound (gold sparkle, white & black) headstock with 'winged' vertical Gretsch Falcon-type in gold sparkle and specific-shape gold sparkle truss-rod cover secured by four screws. The back of the headstock is signed in black ink by Stephen Stern and also has the 'Gretsch Custom Shop USA' decal in yellow, red & black. Individual Grover Imperial closed-back tuners with "stairstep" metal buttons. Two Gretsch TV Jones Classic "Patent Applied For" humbuckers with outputs of 3.95k and 4.76k. Gold lucite 'tear-shaped' pickguard with Gretsch "T" logo in relief and black outline penguin. Three volume controls (two individual and one master volume plus two three-way selector switches on upper bass bout (pickup and tone selection). "Arrow-through-G" knobs with cross-hatch pattern on sides, central pearl dots and rubies at end of arrows. Space Control bridge on ebony base, Gretsch 'Cadillac' tailpiece with "G" logo  The potentiometers are stamped "407-0750" & "407-0833" (Resistron, December 2007 & August 2008). Three gold plastic control covers on the back of the body, the largest one etched with the serial number "UC09020411". Inside the control cavity is the rectangular Gretsch white, orange and gray label with the model and serial number. All hardware gold plated. Housed in the original Gretsch 'TKL' six latch, shaped gray hardshell case with padded burgundy plush lining (9.50). Complete with all of the original 'case candy' including the "Gretsch Guitar Guarantee with model and serial numbers in ink; the original "Gretsch O.K. card signed by Stephen Stern and dated "2/23/09"; sixteen page "Your Gretsch Guitar Guide" booklet; triple-folded "Telling You How" hang-tag; Gretsch black leather guitar strap; Gretsch Custom Shop U.S.A. transfer decal and original TKL case tag dated "Feb 13 2009" and case key. This is one of the earliest Stephen Stern White Penguins that we have seen - the relic'd finish is quite outstanding as is the aging of the gold hardware. Truly an amazing guitar with exceptional playability and tone.

1958 saw Gretsch’s venerable Penguin guitar decked out with a pair of Filter’Tron humbucking pickups, complementing the signature sound of its chambered mahogany body, which magnifies harmonic richness by letting air resonate between the maple top and mahogany body for a livelier and more articulate tone. The dual TV Jones Classic pickups on this super guitar accurately replicate that unmistakable vintage Filter’Tron sound to fabulous sonic effect.

"Master Builder Stephen Stern has led the Gretsch Custom Shop since 2005. Stern arrived at the world-famous Fender Custom Shop in 1993, where he became a Master Builder in 1994 and studied under the great arch-top luthiers Jimmy D'Aquisto and Bob Benedetto. His exquisite arch-top skills eventually led him to the Gretsch Custom Shop. One of Stern's top projects early on was the exquisite 2007 Brian Setzer Tribute Nashville model. Other high profile projects included the Billy Zoom Tribute Custom Shop Silver Jet and Chet Atkins 125th Anniversary Hollow Body (2008), and the Eddie Cochran Tribute Hollow Body (2010). One of his proudest achievements was the 2011 release of the George Harrison Tribute Custom Shop Duo Jet. He also crafted the prototype for the Duane Eddy Signature Hollow Body and built instruments for other noted guitarists including Steve Miller, Steve Hunter and Brian Ray." (Gretsch Custom Shop USA).