Savannah, GA 31402 Phone: 912-748-7070, Fax: 912-748-6005 Press Release Contact: Emi Keffer for IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 912-748-7070, Ext

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THE GRETSCH COMPANY P.O. Box 2468, Savannah, GA 31402 Phone: 912-748-7070, Fax: 912-748-6005 Press Release Contact: Emi Keffer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 912-748-7070, Ext. 220 January 2012 E-mail: emi@gretsch.com

Show Us Your Bigsby! Ad Photo Campaign Garners World-Wide Response

Savannah, GA—In a world where advertisements are often ho-hum, Bigsby has upped the excitement level by inviting guitarists around the world to star in their very own Bigsby ad!

The idea is simple: Bigsby wants to create a series of “personalized” ads using shots of working guitarists playing their favorite Bigsby-equipped axe. Response to this innovative idea has already been tremendous, generating dozens of great photos for the contest.

The first winning entry featured two shots from Steve “Twang Is The Thang” Litvak, guitarist for Rochester, New York’s The Tombstone Hands. Other entries submitted can be seen at: http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/community/true-vibrato-gallery. (And that’s just one page on the recently updated Bigsby website. There’s lots more to see.)

For a chance to win a spot in a future Bigsby ad, guitarists should send their photos to [email protected]. Photos can also be mailed to Bigsby, P.O. Box 2468, Savannah, GA 31402. Please note that submitted photos will not be returned, and that submission constitutes permission to use any photo in its entirety or in edited form in print, on the web, or in promotional materials.

The Bigsby Web Site Is New, Improved . . . And Exciting

Savannah, GA—Anyone who knows guitar history knows that Bigsby vibratos and pedal steel guitars are a big part of it. But “historic” absolutely does not mean “dated.”

For proof, take a glance at the newly updated Bigsby website. With a sharp and contemporary look, it offers informative stories, terrific graphics, detailed product information . . . and much more. You can see bios of your favorite Bigsby artists, check the calendar for upcoming guitar-related events, and take advantage of helpful how-to articles. And, of course, there are dozens of great guitar photos in the True Vibrato Gallery and the Guitar Showroom.

The Bigsby site also lets you network with other guitarists around the world through the site’s online forum. There are also links to FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, the Gretsch Company, and Gretsch Guitars. If you’re searching for anything pertaining to the world of guitars, the all-new Bigsby site is a great place to start! Visit www.bigsby.com today.

THE GRETSCH COMPANY P.O. Box 2468, Savannah, GA 31402 Phone: 912-748-7070, Fax: 912-748-6005 Press Release Contact: Emi Keffer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 912-748-7070 Ext. 220 October 21, 2011 E-mail: [email protected]

Bigsby & Gretsch Exhibit at Annual USPTO Trademark Expo

Savannah, GA—On October 14 and 15, 2011 the Bigsby Division of the Gretsch Company was honored to exhibit at the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) National Trademark Expo held at their headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia for a second time.

The annual event, with the goal of educating the public about the value of trademarks in the global marketplace, highlighted such themes as “non-traditional trademarks” and “brand evolution" and featured educational seminars and workshops suited for both adults and children. In addition, exhibits of authentic and counterfeit goods, children’s story time, and the always-popular costumed trademarked characters helped draw attention to the different types of trademarks and the importance of protecting trademark rights. Open to the general public, the Expo also drew enthusiastic groups of children from area schools and club groups who enjoyed the various exhibitor booths which were designed to be both educational and entertaining. This year’s Expo was the USPTO’s biggest to date with over 16,000 visitors attending over the two days.

The opening ceremony on Friday featured special remarks, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and music by the US Air Force’s rock band Max Impact. A guest appearance by the legendary Chubby Checker and some new trademarked costumed characters including The Pink Panther and The Very Hungry Catepillar also helped kick off the event. A specially-arranged musical performance took place at the Bigsby and Gretsch booth both days. A young, local guitarist named Enrique Romero helped entertain Expo-goers as they made their rounds through the exhibition. On Friday Enrique was paid a special visit by Chubby Checker who listened attentively while he played and then offered his encouragement. Enrique's performances became so popular that he played more frequently than originally scheduled—performing every hour during the afternoon on Saturday. The costumed trademarked characters joined in the fun and danced along during many of Enrique’s performances to onlookers’ delight.

Another Expo highlight was when Deborah Cohn, the Commissioner for Trademarks, made a special point of introducing herself to all exhibitors and personally providing each with a copy of a Congressional Record honoring the Expo and exhibitors selected to participate in 2011. Bigsby was one of only 27 companies selected to exhibit this year. The distinctive trademarked shape of Bigsby’s famous vibrato tailpieces was in good company with other internationally-familiar trademarks belonging to other such notable exhibitors as Mattel Inc., Segway Inc., the U.S. Department of the Army, Bridgestone Corporation, Caterpillar Inc, Geico, and The Hershey Company.

Bigsby was able to demonstrate the practical use of trademarks and patents as applied to something as fun and universal as making music. Many in attendance were surprised to learn how much the Bigsby inventions have impacted popular music as created by artists like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In fact, Gretsch guitars have featured Bigsby vibrato tailpieces for more than fifty years. This year's Bigsby/Gretsch display demonstrated the importance of Bigsby trademarks and the impact they have as source identifiers in the marketplace. Like most effective trademarks, the very shape of Bigsby tailpieces identifies them—even at a distance, when the brand name cannot be read. This allows Bigsby-equipped guitars to be recognized on concert stages and video broadcasts around the world. The inherent distinctiveness of the Bigsby tailpiece design has aided the Gretsch Company in getting the protectable portions registered. This, in turn, has helped Gretsch to pursue its campaign (as part of the Electric Guitar Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition) to stem the proliferation of counterfeit instruments wherever they are manufactured.

For more information on the USPTO, go to www.uspto.gov For more information on Bigsby products and the Gretsch/Bigsby connection, go to www.bigsby.com Videos from the Expo can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/bigsbyguitars.

Photos: Enrique Romero with Chubby Checker.

Costumed Characters help kick off Expo at opening ceremony.

Bigsby History Is Still Going Strong

Savannah, GA—Paul Bigsby was a musician, a guitar-maker, a poet, an inventor, and a genuine renaissance man. In 1951 Paul presented the first Bigsby True Vibrato to Merle Travis—immediately revolutionizing guitar design. From that day to this, Bigsby vibratos have been making major contributions to guitar history.

Whether in rock, pop, or country, major performing artists over the past sixty years have relied on Bigsby vibratos to help them create their sound. From Hank Thompson, Eddie Cochran, Les Paul, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins . . . and three of the four Beatles . . . to Keith Richards, Brian Setzer, Marty Stuart, Jack White, and Bruce Springsteen, Bigsby vibratos have helped to define several musical eras.

And that process is still going forward, as Bigsby enters its seventh decade. Veteran guitarists around the world still know and appreciate the reliability and unique sonic performance of Bigsby vibratos. Meanwhile, younger players are just discovering these distinctive qualities for themselves—ensuring that Bigsbys will be an important ingredient of new music for generations to come!

For more information, visit www.bigsby.com.

Pictured Above: Paul Bigsby