Johnny acquired this Gretsch 6120 through Alan Rogan, a renowned guitar tech who had previously worked with Pete Townshend. According to Rogan, Townshend had used this particular guitar on “loads of Who stuff.”
Marr used the guitar on at least two songs with The Smiths: Stretch Out and Wait and Is It Really So Strange?. Based on this alone, it’s likely that he acquired the guitar sometime in late 1984 or early 1985, as Stretch Out and Wait was originally released as a B-side in March 1985.
The Gretsch 6120 that I used to write and record ‘Stretch Out and Wait.’ You can hear it on ‘Is It Really So Strange?’ too. I got it from The Who, and it’s one of the best old 1960s Gretsches that I’ve played. I was introduced to a guy named Alan Rogan, who used to work for Townshend, Clapton, and Keith Richards. I ended up getting a load of guitars from him.
Johnny Marr
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