Rick McKay - No 9 - Rayleigh, Essex, GB

Hi
My name is Rick McKay and I currently play lead guitar for Paul Ansell’s No9 both here and extensively in Europe.
I have always loved Gretsch guitars and have owned a number of them over the years. My first was a 1959 brown sunburst double anniversary. I loved it but a friend of mine accidentally dropped it and broke it beyond repair. (I didn’t cry....much!!) Next I had a 1962 walnut Chet Atkins Tennessean with fake “f” holes and a “Gretsch by Bigsby” tremolo arm. I had to sell that one when I moved over to Nashville to start a recording deal in 1994 (sad, but these things have to be done sometimes).
I’m currently playing a re-issued, orange “G” brand 6120dsw Nashville, which I absolutely love. I had the opportunity to compare it to a mint condition original from 1959 recently and found it to be pretty much identical, thus answering the question “Are the re-issues as good as the originals??” Yes, they are!! Actually, I though mine played a little better!!!
I have a Electromatic Jet Baritone which is very cool. I couldn’t get my hands on the model that Brian Setzer was playing in his “Live in Japan” DVD, so I settled for the Jet. Lastly, I also have a sunburst Electromatic Lap-Steel which I’m currently getting to grips with.
The photo’s I’ve included are from this year’s Americana International Show at Newark, UK where Paul Ansell’s No9 headlined. I’m new to the band so it was quite a buzz for me.
Now, I’m saving up for a 5126 Electromatic in Red, or maybe black, because I’m too scared to put my 6120 in the hold on the flights to Europe, and I could never afford to replace it, yet again!!
Here’s to many more years of twangin’ away on my Gretsch guitars.
Thanks for making my job such a pleasure. Nothing else even comes close to Gretsch guitars.