A Gretsch like this one is the first studio quality guitar I ever handled. It belonged to a friend of my mother's. I always considered Gretsch's to be the "Steinway" of guitars. Gibson, Fender, et al, all have "B" and "C" lines of less expensive and sometimes downright cheap guitars,but not Gretsch. If you picked up a Gretsch,you immediately felt the weight and saw and felt the quality. Note the little bit of "hammering on". (I wonder if Hendrix learned this from Chet, It could have been the other way 'round. Atkins never stopped learning and innovating) BTW, Tyler, if Gretsch DID make a "B" line,don't tell me about it, I would be crushed.