Some of Diddley's guitars were custom-built to his specifications by the Gretsch company: shaped like stars or covered in fur.

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The fiercest competition has been for a limited number of models made by Martin, Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, Gretsch and Epiphone.

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Among the items lost were Mr. Gourley's Gretsch White Falcon guitar, which he had customized, and Zach Carothers's 1981 Fender Precision bass, a workhorse prized by musicians for its tone and versatility.

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Gregory Gretsch from Sigma West seems to agree.

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