Download or read book Gretsch's Lost Weekend written by Tobye Merril and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-14 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gretsch's Lost Weekend is a chronological history of the Gretsch guitars and amplifiers that were made in Booneville, Arkansas from 1970 to 1981.The DH Baldwin Piano and Organ Company of Cincinnati, Ohio acquired Gretsch in 1967 shortly after acquiring the Burns Guitar Company of England. In late 1970 they moved all Gretsch instrument production to two converted dairy barns in rural Arkansas The Baldwin-era is despised by many Gretsch purists who only favor the 1950's,60's and current models. This book clears up many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the design, functionality and playability of these instruments. Gretsch's Lost Weekend is not just a book about guitars. It also tells the story of the decent, hard-working people of Booneville, Arkansas and Cincinnati, Ohio who went to great lengths to keep an iconic American guitar and drum brand alive until it could be reacquired in 1984 by it's heir, Fred W. Gretsch. This book covers everything from prototypes to pricelists. From factory fires to the purchase of Kustom in 1979. It's all told in the words of the people who were there. There were successes as well as failures and everything in between. Often criticized, they were ahead of their time in many ways. Gretsch's Lost Weekend will leave the reader with a new understanding and hopefully a new appreciation of the people and the great instruments they made.