FEATURE
BONNIE GUITAR’S 1966 GRETSCH WHITE FALCON Rick King
photos by Joe Riggio
I don’t think anyone will argue with me when
Ross at Randy’s Loans in Tacoma. Ross
tell him what I would pay for each guitar. I could
I say that the vintage guitar business has
informed me that a stepson of Bonnie Guitar,
see through his plan, so I gave him a grand total
changed drastically in the last 20 years. The
a local country pop singer, producer and co-
for all. He asked me to itemize, but I told him I
advent of the Internet has changed the game.
founder of the record company Dalton Records
didn’t want just one, but that I wanted them all
Now anyone can be a vintage guitar dealer. You
in the late 50’s that launched the careers of
and that I would pay the total amount. He told
don’t even have to have 30 years of experience
The Fleetwoods and The Ventures, had just
me that he would get back to me. He called
to be successful. This has allowed every
pawned 5 vintage guitars of hers. Bonnie was
me a month later and voiced his frustration
antique store, part-time hobbyist, pawnshop,
also married for a time to Paul Tutmark, an early
of all the questions that were being asked of
and others to have an avenue to sell their
pioneer of the electric guitar and inventor of the
him on Ebay and, since he had not received
guitars. I long for the days when you could
electric bass guitar. Bonnie recorded some
any actual bids on his auctions, he decided to
walk into a pawnshop and buy until your hearts
of her songs at Wiley Griffith Studios here in
remove them from Ebay and sold them all to
content. I would get in to my little S-10 truck
Tacoma, WA. This is the same studio where
me. I can’t remember the complete inventory,
and drive from Tacoma, WA to Los Angeles,
the Sonics recorded “Boom” and the Wailers
but included in the haul was a 60’s Gretsch
CA, attempting to beat my good friend Jerry
recorded “Out of Our Tree”, two proto-punk
County Gentleman, a mid-60’s Gibson Barney
Baker, who was from Salt Lake City at the time,
albums from 1966. Ross told me the guitars
Kessel, and a 1966 Gretsch White Falcon.
and everyone else, to the pawnshops. I would
were now out of pawn and available for sale.
Ross had mentioned the White Falcon in our
return to Tacoma with a truck full of treasures.
Randy’s Loans, like many other pawn shops,
original conversation. I knew that it wasn’t her
had begun selling items on Ebay. When I went
mid-50’s vertical logo White Falcon because
down to look at the guitars, Ross asked me to
my friends, Brian and Monica, had purchased
Approximately 20 years ago, I got a call from
18
Jul Aug 2016
CollectibleGuitar.com