Congrats on the new axe, John. One of these days I'd like to add a Gretch to my assortment, too.
[cool story bro]
Back in the late '60s (when I was in 5th or 6th grade), my parents decided to buy me a better guitar than the unplayable no-name one that was my first electric. They had already decided I needed a hollowbody, in the event I wanted to play it unamplified. On the duly appointed Saturday, we went into town (Santa Fe) and the store we went to only had a couple of guitars that would fit the bill. One was a red Harmony Rocket, and the other was a brown Gretch Country Gentleman (with the padded back and everything). Money was tight for Mom and Dad, and the Gretch was just a little beyond their means, so I went home that day with the Harmony. I did a lot of learning on that guitar over the years, but as I grew older and learned more about guitars, I sure wished they'd have been able to afford the Gretch. Not long after that, they decided I needed a better amp than the little Fender Bronco they'd bought when they picked up the unplayable no-name guitar, so they found a slightly used Silverface Deluxe Reverb. 50+ years later, I still have that Deluxe. (The Harmony took a few flights across my bedroom being thrown in frustration, but it was still playable when I gave it to the kid next door once I got better guitars to play.)
[/cool story bro]