Gretsch® News

40 Years and still Rockin with Gretsch

Warren Matthews and 40 years of Playing Guitar


Warren Matthews of Naper New Zealand picks up his latest Gretsch® guitar at the tender age of 70, Warren as pictured -loves his newly acquired Gretsch® 6120 Tiger Maple 6120 Chet Atkins model, long been a fan of Chet, and his style, Warren has played for the last 40 years, and has always been a fan of the finger pickin style of Chet, also hugely influenced by the likes of Les Paul, Grady Martin and Arthur Smith.

One of his highlights was jamming with Tommy Emmanuel, one of the guitar worlds best players, about 10 years ago, something he will cherish for many years!

Over the years Warren has had a few Gretschs along the way, starting off with a Double Cutaway Country Gentleman, he loved the Gearbox Truss rod, and was finished in the famous walnut, next was a Rally with the Treble Boost, then to a Nashville Single Cut, but has had his eye on a 6120 TM for a while now, this compliments his much loved 50s Mex Fiesta Red Strat®, for all those Hank Marvin Tunes!

In Warren's words, now this is the real deal!! Check out the Tiger Maple!

While in store picking up his guitar, Warren was teaching the young guitar salesman, whose favourite genre is Metal, how to do some Chet numbers, just showing that guitar crosses all ages, as they say, nothing sounds like a Gretsch!®

 

Chet O'Connell Rocks With Gretsch

 Direct Imports chats with Chet O Connell One of New Zealand's busiest Guitar Players

 

Direct Imports-So Chet what the latest with you?

Chet -Everything is going well and I have got plenty on in the next few months.

September we're touring with the 'Class of 58' which should be fun - Shane Cortese and myself own and produce the show so it's been a busy few months getting it all up and running but at this stage it's selling well.

We've also just finished an album with the "Class of 58' and got a distribution deal with the Warehouse and Ode Records

October I'm on tour with Midge Marsden and Hammond Gamble which I'm sure will be a great success, then late October through till the end of November I'm out with the Highway of Legends. Good thing is like Grays shows I get my own little spot on the tour which is cool.
Also I'll be releasing an acoustic album in October so it's been a pretty hectic
Year.


Direct Imports-Wow that's some schedule, what new in your line up of instruments?


Chet- I have a new Gretsch Duo Jet, which I will be using along side my 62 Strat for the first 2 tours then with the highway of Legends Tour I will be out with the Strat and Tele

-Those Gretsch guitars have such a cool sound, I see you used it on the Joe Cocker tour you did, and I imagine that tour was a load of fun! See photo attached, well thanks for your time Chet, and be sure to check Chet out, at a gig near you soon, one of New Zealand's finest Talents!