Bo Diddley (born Ellas McDaniel) exploded onto the R&B scene in 1955 with the startling two-sided hit "Bo Diddley/I'm A Man". The classic "Bo Diddley" featured Bo's signature "shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits" rhythm beat which borrowed heavily from African, Caribbean, and Latin-American influences. He had a string of R&B pop hits through the 1960's, and toured Europe where he greatly influenced such British bands as the Yardbirds and The Rolling Stones.
A pioneer guitarist, musician, and showman, Bo's Legend grew even greater in the late '50s when he performed with a variety of custom-made guitars. In addition to his famous Gretsch square guitar, Bo had guitars shaped like Cadillac fins, triangles and circles. He played guitars covered in rabbit fur, leather, and even carpet.
In addition to being a rock guitar pioneer and master showman, Diddley was a pioneer of guitar effects like distortion, echo, and feedback. He laid the foundations of rap with the 1959 hit "Say Man", a jive dialog between Bo and his maracas player, Jerome Green. Bo has a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Gretsch reissued "Big B" in 2000 as the G6138, the famous rectangle-shaped guitar, custom built for Bo Diddley in the 1950's. Measuring 17.75" x 9.25" x 2 and made of alder and 5-ply maple, this Firebird red semi-hollow body features two FilterTron pickups, a Tune-O-Matic bridge, a "G" cutout tailpiece and plenty of gold hardware. The 3-piece rock maple neck has an ebonized rosewood fingerboard with "dot" pearl inlays, a black 1957 Duo Jet headstock and a special Bo Diddley signature on the truss rod cover.
According to Fred Gretsch, President of Gretsch Guitar Company (interviewed in 2000):
"For Bo's 70th birthday last December 28th, we wanted to do something very special. So my wife, Dinah, and I went to Gainesville Florida to give Bo his first re-issue model of the custom guitar we made for him in 1958, 40 years earlier. The original guitar is in the Hard Rock Cafe on 57th Street in New York City. We went there and duplicated the specs."
Gretsch also made mode affordable Synchromatic and Electromatic series versions of the guitar (G1810, G2810 and G5180) as well as the Mini-Diddley 3/4 sized versions (G1850 and G2850).
 | GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810The Gretsch Bo Diddley G1810 was the pre-FMIC era Synchromatic Series Bo Diddley model. Finished in red, the Bo Diddley G1810 featured two chrome humbucker pickups, a maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, an adjustable bridge, volume and tone controls plus master tone control and a master volume control, a 3 way pickup selector, and die cast tuners. The distinctive rectangular body measured 9-3/4" x 17-1/3" x 1-5/8". |
 | GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810The Gretsch Bo Diddley G2810 was the pre-FMIC era Electromatic Series Bo Diddley model. It was identical to the G1810 but had "Electromatic" on the headstock and slightly different pickups. It was replaced in 2004 by the G5810. Finished in red, the Bo Diddley G2810 featured two chrome humbucker pickups, a maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, an adjustable bridge, volume and tone controls plus master tone control and a master volume control, a 3 way pickup selector, and die cast tuners. |
 | GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEYThe GRETSCH G5180 Bo Diddley model is a more affordable Electromatic Series version of the Pro Series G6138 Bo Diddley. It rectangular has the iconic rectangular body, dual chrome humbucking pickups, a bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, adjustable bridge, volume and tone controls, three-way pickup switch and die-cast tuners. |
 | GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEYGRETSCH introduced the BO DIDDLEY MODEL 6138 in 2000, it is a faithful reproduction of Bo Diddley's rectangular Gretsch made in 1958. The 6138 has a Firebird Red semi-hollow body, three-piece rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard with dot pearl inlays, 1957-style headstock, dual High Sensitive FilterTron pickups, Adjusto-Matic bridge, G-cutout tailpiece, gold hardware and special Bo Diddley signature truss rod cover. |
 | GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850The Gretsch G1850 was a three quarter sized rectangular Synchromatic Series Bo Diddley guitar. This smaller Bo Diddley model measured 8" x 15-1/2" x 1-5/8" with 20 frets and a 21.40" scale. The Mini Diddley G1850 had a single humbucker pickup, maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, a wraparound tailpiece, black body and headstock binding, one volume and one tone control, a 2 way pickup enhancement switch, and die cast tuners. The G1850 was replaced by the G5850. |
 | GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850The Gretsch G2850 was a three quarter sized rectangular Electromatic Series Bo Diddley guitar - similar to the Synchromatic Series G1850. This smaller Bo Diddley model measured 8" x 15-1/2" x 1-5/8" with 20 frets and a 21.40" scale. The Mini Diddley G2850 had a single humbucker pickup, maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, a wraparound tailpiece, black body and headstock binding, one volume and one tone control, a 2 way pickup enhancement switch, and die cast tuners. |
 | GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850The Gretsch G5850 replaced the G2850 in 2004 as the three quarter sized rectangular Electromatic Series Bo Diddley guitar. This smaller Bo Diddley model measured 8" x 15-1/2" x 1-5/8" with 20 frets and a 21.40" scale. The Mini Diddley G2850 had a single humbucker pickup, maple bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard, a wraparound tailpiece, black body and headstock binding, one volume and one tone control, a 2 way pickup enhancement switch, and die cast tuners. |
Specifications:
| Model | Image | Finish colors | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | body binding, neck binding |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 |  | red finish | Japan | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 21.4 inches scale length | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 21.4 inches scale length | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 |  | red finish | Korea | 6 strings | 21.4 inches scale length | body binding, neck binding |
| Model | Body back material | Body sides material | Body style | Body top material | Hollow body | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | laminated body back | laminate body sides | rectangular shaped body | laminate top | semi-hollow body | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | laminated body back | laminate body sides | rectangular shaped body | laminate top | semi-hollow body | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | - | - | rectangular shaped body | laminated maple body top | - | 17.75 inches body length |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | - | - | rectangular shaped body | laminated maple body top | semi-hollow body | 17.75 inches body length |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | laminated body back | laminate body sides | rectangular shaped body | laminate top | - | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | laminated body back | laminate body sides | rectangular shaped body | laminate top | - | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | laminated body back | laminate body sides | rectangular shaped body | laminate top | - | - |
| Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece | Tuners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | Badass fixed bridge, wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | - | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | Badass fixed bridge, wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | - | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | tune-o-matic bridge | - | stop tailpiece | - |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | tune-o-matic bridge | - | G logo trapeze tailpiece | Grover Rotomatic tuners |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | wrap-around tailpiece | die-cast tuners |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | wrap-around tailpiece | die-cast tuners |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | wrap-around tailpiece | die-cast tuners |
| Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Tuner layout | Neck width | Truss rod cover | Nut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | three-each-side | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 22 fret | three-each-side | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | - | maple neck | 22 fret | three-each-side | 1.69 inches wide at nut | signature on truss rod cover | - |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | set neck | maple neck | 22 fret | three-each-side | 1.69 inches wide at nut | signature on truss rod cover | bone nut |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 20 fret, 22 fret | three-each-side | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 20 fret, 22 fret | three-each-side | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 20 fret, 22 fret | three-each-side | - | - | - |
| Model | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 3 volume controls |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 3 volume controls |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 3 volume controls |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 3 volume controls |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | 1 coil tap switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | 1 coil tap switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | 1 coil tap switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
| Model | Pickups configuration | Pickups brand and model |
|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | 2 humbucker pickups | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | 2 humbucker pickups | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | 2 humbucker pickups | Gretsch pickup(s) |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | 2 humbucker pickups | Gretsch Filtertron pickup(s) |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | 1 humbucker pickup, mini-humbucker pickup | Gretsch pickup(s) |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | 1 humbucker pickup, mini-humbucker pickup | Gretsch pickup(s) |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | 1 humbucker pickup, mini-humbucker pickup | Gretsch pickup(s) |
| Model | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G1810 2000 to 2003 | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH BO DIDDLEY G2810 2000 to 2003 | - | - | - |
| GRETSCH G5810 BO DIDDLEY 2003 | pearl fingerboard inlay material | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
| GRETSCH G6138 BO DIDDLEY 2000 | pearl fingerboard inlay material | ebony fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G1850 2000 to 2003 | - | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G2850 2000 to 2003 | - | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
| GRETSCH MINI-DIDDLEY G5850 2004 | - | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
