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Gretsch’s Formidable Falcon Gets the Fortus Treatment





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With an impressive resume boasting collaborations and full-time duties with bands like Guns 'N Roses, The Psychedelic Furs, and Thin Lizzy, guitarist Richard Fortus has made a name for himself as one of the industry’s most respected players. Gretsch has recognized Fortus’s contributions to music the way they know best: the G6636T-RF Richard Fortus Signature Falcon. This studio- and stage-ready 6-string takes everything that makes the center-block Falcon exceptional and tweaks it to fit the needs of one of rock’s first-call musicians. The Fortus Signature Falcon starts with the tried-and-true tonewood combo of laminated maple, maple, and ebony for the body, neck, and fingerboard, respectively, with a chambered spruce center block to cut back onstage feedback. This collaboration also resulted in a pair of custom-wound Filter'Tron humbuckers, ensuring the Fortus Signature Falcon pumps out plenty of shimmer and clarity with some welcome growl that works in practically every setting. Round it out with a highly expressive string-through Bigsby tailpiece, and the G6636T-RF Richard Fortus Signature Falcon makes a fantastic addition to Gretsch’s long lineage of semi-hollow workhorses.





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Richard Fortus on His Gretsch G6636-RF Signature Falcon Guitars





Talking Tone with Guitar Phenom Richard Fortus (Guns N‘ Roses, Thin Lizzy, the Dead Daisies)


Classic tonewood combo delivers a full-throttle sound





This may be his signature axe, but Richard Fortus decided not to tamper with the Falcon’s timeless tonewood cocktail of maple and ebony. Its double-cut maple body imbues incredible comfort into your playing, complete with that tight, focused tone semi-hollow diehards have loved for decades. The maple neck is cut to a standard “U” profile for effortless playing in all positions, capped with silky-smooth ebony for finger-twisting runs across all 22 frets. When it comes to fighting against unwanted feedback, Sweetwater guitarists are blown away by the Fortus Signature Falcon’s spruce center block. This chambered center block runs the length of the body, allowing the otherwise hollow body to resist resonant-frequency feedback. That means you can rock out louder with more gain without your amplifier squealing out of control. Spruce is a snappy tonewood too, and since the center block connects with the bridge, the note definition, clarity, and sustain on the Fortus Signature Falcon are amazing.





Fortus-approved Filter'Tron pickups





To tap into the coveted sound of vintage Gretsch guitars, it’s essential to throw Filter'Tron pickups into the mix. The Fortus Signature Falcon sports a pair of custom-wound Filter'Tron humbuckers voiced specifically for Richard Fortus. Not only do you get the trademark brightness and open sound of classic Filter'Trons, but these impressive pickups also pack plenty of punch for rock, heavy metal, and any setting where bite, grit, and girth are critical. Plug in the Fortus Signature Falcon, rip a few chords, and prepare to ride waves of exceptional tone and incredible power.





Gretsch G6636T-RF Richard Fortus Signature Falcon Features:


Signature semi-hollow workhorse for Guns 'N Roses’ Richard Fortus


Classic tonewood combo: laminated maple body, maple neck, and ebony fingerboard


Chamber spruce center block enhances sound while fighting against feedback


Custom-wound Richard Fortus Filter'Tron humbuckers bark and bite when pushed to the limit


String-through Bigsby vibrato adds subtle warbles and textures to your playing


Master volume control with treble bleed; master tone control with no-load pot


Tune-o-matic bridge and TUSQ XL nut combine for incredible tuning stability