Gretsch Serial Number Formats
JT + YY + MM + digits(2003-present)Japanese Terada factory (Professional Collection).
KS/KP + YY + MM + digits(2003-present)Korean production (Electromatic series).
CY + YY + MM + digits(2005-present)Chinese production (Streamliner series).
Sequential digits(1939-2002)Pre-Fender era vintage Gretsch guitars.
Where to Find Your Gretsch Serial Number
- ▶On the back of the headstock
- ▶On the label inside hollow-body models
Tips
- ▶Japanese Terada-made Gretsch (JT prefix) are the highest quality modern Gretsch guitars.
Spotting Counterfeit Gretsch Guitars
Gretsch counterfeits primarily target vintage models and the Professional Collection. Since Gretsch has a distinctive visual style, fakes often get the details wrong.
Serial Number & Origin▼
- ▶Genuine Gretsch serial numbers never start with "U." If you see a "U" prefix, the guitar is not a genuine Gretsch.
- ▶Modern Gretsch serial prefixes should match known factories: JT (Japan/Terada), KS/KP (Korea), CY (China). Unknown prefixes are a red flag.
- ▶Decode the serial number above — the date should match the guitar's apparent age and model availability.
Construction & Hardware▼
- ▶Gretsch hollow-body guitars have always used set necks — they have never had bolt-on necks on hollow-body models. A bolt-on neck on a claimed hollow-body Gretsch is a definitive sign of a fake.
- ▶Check the Bigsby vibrato tailpiece (if equipped) — it should have a Bigsby model number stamped on it. Generic, unbranded vibrato tailpieces are a red flag.
- ▶The Gretsch "arrow through G" knobs should be properly cast and finished. Cheap, lightweight plastic reproductions are common on fakes.
Branding & Finish▼
- ▶The Gretsch headstock logo should be crisp and correctly positioned. The "Gretsch" script and any model-specific markings should match reference photos exactly.
- ▶FilterTron pickups should be branded. Unbranded humbuckers in FilterTron covers suggest a fake or parts swap.
- ▶Gretsch finishes are known for their depth and quality. Poor finish work, especially on claimed Professional Collection models, is a red flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gretsch guitars owned by Fender?▼
Fender has manufactured and distributed Gretsch guitars under license since 2003. The Gretsch family retained ownership of the brand name, but Fender handles production and global distribution. Modern Gretsch serials follow Fender-style prefix formats — JT for Japanese Terada, KS/KP for Korean.
What is the difference between Gretsch Professional and Electromatic?▼
The Professional Collection is made at the Terada factory in Japan with ebony or rosewood fretboards, USA-made Filter'Tron pickups, and elaborate binding. The Electromatic series is Korean-made with similar aesthetics at a significantly lower price point. Both are distributed by Fender.
Who plays Gretsch guitars?▼
Gretsch has an iconic roster: Chet Atkins defined the 6120, Eddie Cochran played a White Falcon, and Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats brought the brand back to prominence in the 1980s. More recently, Jack White and Malcolm Young of AC/DC have been closely associated with Gretsch.
Gretsch Links & Resources
Gretsch Gallery
More About Gretsch
Friedrich Gretsch founded his drum and banjo manufacturing company in Brooklyn, New York in 1883. The company remained in Brooklyn for over 80 years, producing the instruments that would define the sound of American rockabilly, country, and early rock and roll. The Gretsch 6120 (1954), White Falcon (1955), and Country Gentleman (1957) are among the most visually and sonically distinctive guitars ever produced.
The roster of artists who defined their sound on Brooklyn-era Gretsch instruments reads like a history of American music: Chet Atkins, Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, and Brian Setzer all became synonymous with the brand. The FilterTron humbucking pickup, designed by Ray Butts in 1954 and adopted by Gretsch at Chet Atkins' recommendation, produces a distinctive bright, cutting tone unlike any Gibson or Fender pickup.
Baldwin Piano Company acquired Gretsch in 1967, initiating a decline that ended with production ceasing entirely in 1981. The Gretsch family reacquired the brand in 1989 and eventually partnered with Fender to handle manufacturing and distribution. Modern Gretsch production is split between the Terada factory in Nagoya, Japan — which has been making instruments since 1912 — for the Professional Series, and Korean factories for the Electromatic line.