The Guitar Player's Resource
Conventional Wisdom Gets Politely Ignored. Why shouldn't a Gretsch Penguin wear paisley pajamas to a black-tie affair? That's exactly the question Stephen Stern asked his slightly warped sensibilities before creating this masterpiece that makes traditionalists clutch their vintage catalogs and wonder if they've been thinking too small all these years.
You've seen plenty of Penguins in their standard formal wear, but this paisley-topped beauty struts into the room like it owns the joint - and honestly, it probably does. That black paisley top against silver sparkle binding creates visual tension that shouldn't work but absolutely does, like finding out your buttoned-up accountant secretly fronts a punk band on weekends.
Here's where Stern's genius really shines: instead of letting that audacious paisley pattern dominate everything, he balanced it with sophisticated restraint. The black back, sides, and headstock keep things grounded, while those silver sparkle accents - binding, Gretsch logo inlay, even the control knobs with rhinestone and white inlays - create a cohesive aesthetic that's both playful and classy.
But let's talk about what really matters: that chambered laminated arched maple body resonates with the kind of woody warmth that made hollow-body electrics legendary in the first place. Those Dynasonic pickups deliver that distinctive Gretsch jangle with enough bite to cut through any mix, while the Bigsby vibrato adds that smooth, swooping expression that turns simple chord progressions into emotional journeys.
The ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl engraved inlays feels like silk under your fingers, and that 12-inch radius strikes the perfect balance between comfortable chord work and lead-friendly bending.
Sometimes the most beautiful music comes from combinations nobody thought to try before.
Masterbuilt by Stephen Stern
Black Paisley Top
Black Back, Sides, Headstock Finish
Nitrocellulose Lacquer "NOS" Finish
Chambered Body
Laminated Arched Maple Top
One Piece Mahogany Neck
24.6” Scale 12” Radius
Ebony Fingerboard
Mother of Pearl Engraved Fingerboard Inlays
Silver Sparkle Binding on Neck and Body
Dynasonic Pickups
Chrome Plated Tune-A-Matic Bridge
Bigsby Vibrato
Grover Imperial Die Cast Tuners
Chrome Hardware
Inlaid Silver Sparkle Winged Gretsch Logo on Headstock
Rhinestone and White Inlaid Control Knobs
