Gretsch Acoustic Guitars

Founded in Brooklyn in 1883 by German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch, the company originally made banjos, tambourines and drums before branching out into guitars. Highly sought after in the 1950s and '60s, the company lost favour in the '70s before a resurgence in the '90s. In 2002 Fender took over the marketing, production and distribution of the guitars, but the company is still owned by the Gretsch family.

The acoustic Roots Collection harks back to the early days, with parlor guitars that are faithful to the Gretsch "Rex" models of the '30s, '40s and '50s, and resonator guitars for when you want a little more oomph.