Gretsch Guitars Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic Electric Guitar - Classic Walnut Stain

Revered as the birthplace of British rock ’n’ roll, the storied stomping grounds of the Beatles and a world-renowned hotbed of sonic innovation, Abbey Road Studios has shaped the sound of recorded music for nearly a century. Now, they’ve partnered with Gretsch Guitars on a limited-edition instrument that distills that heritage into a single, impeccably voiced hollowbody: the Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic. Developed in close collaboration with Abbey Road’s own engineers, this six-string showpiece features a fully hollow laminated maple body, custom-voiced Filter’Tron pickups, a three-way pickup selector and a bespoke Rumble Filter circuit designed to capture the studio’s signature clarity, punch and tonal nuance. In a nod to the iconic Gretsch hollowbodies that once echoed through Studios One and Two, it’s dressed in a Classic Walnut Stain and topped with an exclusive Abbey Road Studiomatic metal head badge. Finished with a gleaming gold Bigsby B60 V-cutout vibrato and die-cast locking tuners, the RS201 is more than a limited-run collectible—it’s a living tribute to a century of artistry, innovation and musical excellence.

Laminated Maple Construction for Timeless Hollowbody Tone

The RS201 Studiomatic begins with a fully hollow 2.25" maple body crafted to achieve the unmistakable bloom, resonance and airy projection that recording engineers love. The laminated maple top, back and sides keep the guitar articulate and stable through sweaty performances and sweltering studio stints, while the arched top and parallel tone-bar bracing add focus and tight low-end clarity. Finished in a rich gloss Classic Walnut Stain, every contour echoes the Gretsch silhouettes immortalized in Abbey Road’s legendary 1960s sessions, balancing vintage warmth with the structural precision demanded by modern players. Whether miked in a live room or fed directly through a DI chain, the body’s natural acoustic presence gives every note depth, dimension and unmistakable Gretsch character.

Classic C-Shaped Maple Neck and Smooth Ebony Fingerboard

Anchoring the resonant maple body is a smooth, responsive maple neck shaped into a classic C profile that suits everything from chord-centric pop to intricate lead lines. The bound ebony fingerboard provides a fast, glassy playing surface with a 12" radius and medium-jumbo frets for easy bending and controlled vibrato. Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail inlays offer timeless Gretsch elegance, while the Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut ensures stable intonation and tuning accuracy, even when paired with the Bigsby. The set-neck construction enhances sustain and harmonic richness, yielding a feel that’s equal parts vintage familiarity and modern refinement.

Abbey Road-Voiced Filter’Tron Pickups With Rumble Filter

At the heart of the Abbey Road Studiomatic lies its defining feature: a completely custom electronics package co-developed with Abbey Road’s world-class sound engineers. Buoyed by a 3-way selector, the custom-voiced Filter’Tron pickups capture the chime, punch and harmonic liveliness Gretsch fans treasure, but with modern clarity tailored for pro-grade recording. Meanwhile, the innovative Rumble Filter circuit extends that versatility even further—two rotary selectors and independent push/pull activators allow players to engage precise levels of high-pass filtering on each pickup. This unlocks a spectrum of fresh textures, from bright single-coil-like articulation to tightened low end perfect for dense mixes, all without the volume drop associated with coil splits. It’s an electronics system designed not only to honor Gretsch tradition, but to meet the tonal demands of the studio that changed music forever.

Premium Hardware and Vintage-Inspired Gretsch Appointments

Every detail of the RS201 Studiomatic has been selected for tone, stability and unmistakable identity. Gold hardware adds a regal contrast against the walnut stain, recalling the refined aesthetic of early-60s Gretsch hollowbodies. The Bigsby B60 V-Cutout tailpiece delivers smooth, expressive vibrato, paired with an Adjusto-Matic bridge on a secured ebony base for rock-solid tuning stability. Die-cast sealed locking tuners ensure quick string changes and reliable intonation, whether onstage or in the booth. A black plexi pickguard brings a touch of vintage-correct elegance, while the custom Abbey Road Studiomatic metal head badge offers a subtle nod to the classic models that inspired this collaboration.

A Limited-Edition Instrument With Timeless Impact

With its historic lineage, meticulously engineered electronics and evocative visual design, the Gretsch Abbey Road Studiomatic is a guitar built for players who want more than great tone—they want a piece of musical legacy they can hold and play. Equally at home onstage, in the studio or in the hands of creators chasing their next breakthrough, it offers a level of expressive range and sonic depth worthy of the Abbey Road name. Included is a custom hardshell case and exclusive case-candy commemorating this rare collaboration. Produced in limited numbers, the Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic isn’t just an instrument—it’s a celebration of the sound, innovation and artistry that shaped the soundtrack of multiple generations.