Gretsch Guitars G5420T Electromatic Hollow Body Electric Guitar Snow Crest White For Sale (2024 Update)

After reading a lot of reviews I thought maybe it's time for a more in depth look at this guitar. I've played a lot of guitars – HUNDREDS over the course of thirty two years, but this is one of the very best that I've had the personal pleasure to play! The pickups sound very sweet, and pure Gretsch vintage. They aren't exactly the same from guitar to guitar since they are made to varying specifications from model to model. This is something that shouldn't be expected to sound the same with every amplifier as this is something that is impossible to recreate perfectly from one amp manufacturer to another! It's unreasonable to say that these sound differently from each other when playing the same model as these are wound with CNC powered pickup winding machines. The difference is in what string guage, and the settings of your amp, and the guitar are according to your own preference. I used a Fender Deluxe Reverb and this sounded exactly like all the old recordings of songs that I listened to from the 60's! Although I don't own one yet as I'm still on the fence as to what colour I want, I have played a lot of Gretsch and other brands of guitars and this is one of the best values for what some call an "entry model" which this guitar isn't. The Duo Jet, and the Double Jet are considered entry models, but not this kind of guitar that uses this hollow type of construction. This the affordable version of the USA custom shop models costing thousands of dollars, but the features, and appointments are on par with their USA counterparts. The fit and finish are perfect with no buffing marks on it, and the fret work is great. Although one inlay on the one that I played (white with gold hardware) was a little less than perfectly fit into the hole cut for it. It was very easy on the hands with the U shaped neck that was much like a Les Paul Custom with a fairly thick body that allows for that true hollow body honk that only comes from a guitar such as this! The weight is what you'd expect of a hollow body. The action could've been a little lower to my taste, but it was pretty decent with no choking out when bending notes, or playing chords. It stayed in tune really well even when using the tremolo bar with a little aggressiveness – it played all the way through songs without the need for retuning afterward! Even after an hour playing straight through it only had to be retuned twice since the strings were still new. The finish and the fit on the machine heads were nicely done with the tightness that you'd expect from USA made machines. The nut was precisely cut and allowed the strings to ring true which you won't get with just any type of material, but the synthetic bone kept it true to form tone wise. The bridge isn't the best, but it allows for unilateral tuning which is nice, but not authentic to the original Melita bridge design, nor is it as attractive. The control layout is correct, and a great looking setup for this guitar and it's easy to use, and makes sense. The bar is in the just the right place for easy use when needed swings out of the way when you don't want to use it. The finish on the chrome is smooth with no apparent scratches in the metal beneath that you usually see on overseas guitars made in the orient. The binding is well done with no finish overlap, or paint smudges. All the wood is smoothly sanded, and properly shaped with no high or low spots, and the grain doesn't show through the finish surface when looking at it at an angle, or straight at it. There are no joinery lines in the finish and all the plastic is uniformly cut with the wood where the two join together. All in all I say that Gretsch did their homework when deciding to capitalize on their own history and appeal rather than going with some new radical strat inspired designs, and stuck with the one true hollow body manufacturer shape that has withstood the test of time, and is the most beloved. Sure you could put a solid block through the middle, but it would lose a lot of the characteristic quality that Gretsch guitars are known for! The same is true with their pickup design – this isn't something that you're going to get from just any guitar. The same is true as if you put a strat pickup in a Les Paul and vice – versa. It may sound a lot like it, but the true guitar that this pickup was designed for won't be exactly the same! I nitpicked, and thoroughly inspected this particular model with several different guitars, and they all passed with flying colours! I'm a guitar maker, not just a builder, or one who modifies them, but I make them from scratch. Not all guitars are going to please all people, but that's where I come in; to alter either an existing guitar with whatever pleases its' owner or to make one from scratch with the appointments that anyone would appreciate. However, this guitar is one of those right off the rack! I wouldn't change it, or any of its' appointments. Gretsch's truly one of the few that got it right the first time!redwithbnwstripes

I want to know hollow body so I ordered this one it fit my budget. Was advertised as next day shipping but took 2 days to get it no big deal, finally shows up and I unbox it leave it sit out in the house overnight play with it the following evening which is today 5-17-2020. Looks great sounds okay noticed a little bit of fret buzzing so first thing I check is straightness of neck lo and behold I find about 5 frets that are not level with the rest of them so being curious as I am I checked the neck relief there is none maybe one thousandth of an inch. so I go ahead and do the truss rod cover go to adjust it and the truss rod is loose meaning I cannot put any under bow back into the neck so right out of the box just guitar was no good not to mention the inspection tag was dated 7 6 2018 which means this sat on the shelf for almost 2 years and we all know that that is bad for guitars or any stringed instrument for that matter. So hopefully when I get the replacement it's not an absolute turd like this thing is if it is I don't know what's going to happen probably refund and never buy a gretsch again, which is sad because I always wanted one but if you're spending close to $1,000 you shouldn't have to put up with that kind of poor quality. I would expect this out of epiphone but not gretsch so my message is directly to fender musical company get a handle on your quality control.David

1st it is just so cool looking 😀 just kidding, 1) For #1 it is hard to determine between build quality and comfort. I have a bad shoulder that makes my standard acoustic guitars uncomfortable. The thin hollow-body of the Gretsch G5420T overcomes that. But as well I am really impressed with the build quality. The fit and finish if the body and neck is impeccable, the knobs for the volume and tone have set screws so they won't fall off even if handled rough. The screw in strap holders make sure the strap won't accidentally fall off. Every fret extends the edge of the neck and is perfectly finished and all 22 are absolutely identical. The tuning machines are identical with the same stiffness feel in and they all hold evenly. The acoustic sustain on this guitar is as good as regular acoustics. The material, fit and finish are excellent. 2) The sound, I put the sound second because it is peculiar. It isn't good or bad, just peculiar. If you like it, you like it, If you don't you don't. I like it but that is probably relevant to my other guitars, it carries some qualities and tones the other don't. I have four guitars and they are all different and that makes each one of them special. 3) Finally, it is a totally cool looking guitar.johnintaegu

After reading a lot of reviews I thought maybe it's time for a more in depth look at this guitar. I've played a lot of guitars – HUNDREDS over the course of thirty two years, but this is one of the very best that I've had the personal pleasure to play! The pickups sound very sweet, and pure Gretsch vintage. They aren't exactly the same from guitar to guitar since they are made to varying specifications from model to model. This is something that shouldn't be expected to sound the same with every amplifier as this is something that is impossible to recreate perfectly from one amp manufacturer to another! It's unreasonable to say that these sound differently from each other when playing the same model as these are wound with CNC powered pickup winding machines. The difference is in what string guage, and the settings of your amp, and the guitar are according to your own preference. I used a Fender Deluxe Reverb and this sounded exactly like all the old recordings of songs that I listened to from the 60's! Although I don't own one yet as I'm still on the fence as to what colour I want, I have played a lot of Gretsch and other brands of guitars and this is one of the best values for what some call an "entry model" which this guitar isn't. The Duo Jet, and the Double Jet are considered entry models, but not this kind of guitar that uses this hollow type of construction. This the affordable version of the USA custom shop models costing thousands of dollars, but the features, and appointments are on par with their USA counterparts. The fit and finish are perfect with no buffing marks on it, and the fret work is great. Although one inlay on the one that I played (white with gold hardware) was a little less than perfectly fit into the hole cut for it. It was very easy on the hands with the U shaped neck that was much like a Les Paul Custom with a fairly thick body that allows for that true hollow body honk that only comes from a guitar such as this! The weight is what you'd expect of a hollow body. The action could've been a little lower to my taste, but it was pretty decent with no choking out when bending notes, or playing chords. It stayed in tune really well even when using the tremolo bar with a little aggressiveness – it played all the way through songs without the need for retuning afterward! Even after an hour playing straight through it only had to be retuned twice since the strings were still new. The finish and the fit on the machine heads were nicely done with the tightness that you'd expect from USA made machines. The nut was precisely cut and allowed the strings to ring true which you won't get with just any type of material, but the synthetic bone kept it true to form tone wise. The bridge isn't the best, but it allows for unilateral tuning which is nice, but not authentic to the original Melita bridge design, nor is it as attractive. The control layout is correct, and a great looking setup for this guitar and it's easy to use, and makes sense. The bar is in the just the right place for easy use when needed swings out of the way when you don't want to use it. The finish on the chrome is smooth with no apparent scratches in the metal beneath that you usually see on overseas guitars made in the orient. The binding is well done with no finish overlap, or paint smudges. All the wood is smoothly sanded, and properly shaped with no high or low spots, and the grain doesn't show through the finish surface when looking at it at an angle, or straight at it. There are no joinery lines in the finish and all the plastic is uniformly cut with the wood where the two join together. All in all I say that Gretsch did their homework when deciding to capitalize on their own history and appeal rather than going with some new radical strat inspired designs, and stuck with the one true hollow body manufacturer shape that has withstood the test of time, and is the most beloved. Sure you could put a solid block through the middle, but it would lose a lot of the characteristic quality that Gretsch guitars are known for! The same is true with their pickup design – this isn't something that you're going to get from just any guitar. The same is true as if you put a strat pickup in a Les Paul and vice – versa. It may sound a lot like it, but the true guitar that this pickup was designed for won't be exactly the same! I nitpicked, and thoroughly inspected this particular model with several different guitars, and they all passed with flying colours! I'm a guitar maker, not just a builder, or one who modifies them, but I make them from scratch. Not all guitars are going to please all people, but that's where I come in; to alter either an existing guitar with whatever pleases its' owner or to make one from scratch with the appointments that anyone would appreciate. However, this guitar is one of those right off the rack! I wouldn't change it, or any of its' appointments. Gretsch's truly one of the few that got it right the first time!redwithbnwstripes

I want to know hollow body so I ordered this one it fit my budget. Was advertised as next day shipping but took 2 days to get it no big deal, finally shows up and I unbox it leave it sit out in the house overnight play with it the following evening which is today 5-17-2020. Looks great sounds okay noticed a little bit of fret buzzing so first thing I check is straightness of neck lo and behold I find about 5 frets that are not level with the rest of them so being curious as I am I checked the neck relief there is none maybe one thousandth of an inch. so I go ahead and do the truss rod cover go to adjust it and the truss rod is loose meaning I cannot put any under bow back into the neck so right out of the box just guitar was no good not to mention the inspection tag was dated 7 6 2018 which means this sat on the shelf for almost 2 years and we all know that that is bad for guitars or any stringed instrument for that matter. So hopefully when I get the replacement it's not an absolute turd like this thing is if it is I don't know what's going to happen probably refund and never buy a gretsch again, which is sad because I always wanted one but if you're spending close to $1,000 you shouldn't have to put up with that kind of poor quality. I would expect this out of epiphone but not gretsch so my message is directly to fender musical company get a handle on your quality control.David

1st it is just so cool looking 😀 just kidding, 1) For #1 it is hard to determine between build quality and comfort. I have a bad shoulder that makes my standard acoustic guitars uncomfortable. The thin hollow-body of the Gretsch G5420T overcomes that. But as well I am really impressed with the build quality. The fit and finish if the body and neck is impeccable, the knobs for the volume and tone have set screws so they won't fall off even if handled rough. The screw in strap holders make sure the strap won't accidentally fall off. Every fret extends the edge of the neck and is perfectly finished and all 22 are absolutely identical. The tuning machines are identical with the same stiffness feel in and they all hold evenly. The acoustic sustain on this guitar is as good as regular acoustics. The material, fit and finish are excellent. 2) The sound, I put the sound second because it is peculiar. It isn't good or bad, just peculiar. If you like it, you like it, If you don't you don't. I like it but that is probably relevant to my other guitars, it carries some qualities and tones the other don't. I have four guitars and they are all different and that makes each one of them special. 3) Finally, it is a totally cool looking guitar.johnintaegu

I find a guitar to be very nice. Theres a slight reverberation in the E Sting against the fret board. Other than that I find the guitar in excellent condition. It plays well. This is my first Gretsch. Ive owned Gibsons les Pauls and others. This is a well made instrument. Reminds me of the Guitars used by the Stray Cats.kriyayogi108

New 'Gretsch' Guitars Are Now Made By 'Fender'; Which Is Why They All Sound Like 'Telecasters' – AND Are Cheaper. If LOOKING Like A 'Gretsch' Is All You Seek, Knock Yourself Out. But If You Want An ACTUAL Gretsch Guitar, Buy An Old One. These Imitations Are A Rip-Off In My Humble Opinion. THIS Is A 'Fender'.ec80-a

You always have to adjust the bridge before you play a fresh hollowbody. Just like a violin, you adjust your bridge almost right above the soundpost to achieve tone, stability, and intonation. If you don't even know how to take care of a hollowbody vs a solid body. LEARN. Don't complain like this dud below. Btw, it's a MIK (Made in Korea), which means it takes 4,000 miles to reach the East coast, and if came in perfect condition in the package, you're the luckiest player to own such a beautiful instrumentDYO

I record and play in a few different bands. Mostly rock, blues, and some country. This black and gold finish on the G5420t is just striking. Out of the box, the setup was good, just a quick tune up and we were off to twangsville. Components on this Electromatic were great. Filtertron's responded terrific and brought that sparkle-twang that only Filtertron's can. I play this through a Carvin VT50 out to a 2×12 cab with Celestion greenies. In the effects loop I have a Danelecto Dan-echo. Instant Setzer! Unplugged, you can definitely pick up the sparkle in this guitar. Throaty bass response, top end sparkle, and twang is a tasty and addictive combo. I have a Les Paul with Burstbucker pros, and they are my favorite pick ups ever. I also have a tele with Texas Specials, and that has a beautiful spank to them. The Filtertron's are somewhere in between the humbuckers and single coils. These Blacktop Filtertrons are pretty good sounding but from what I have heard, a swap to TV Jones will give the G5420 unmatched clarity in tone. These are great guitars and I found mine to be finished fantastically. Frets were dressed and polished, nut was cut and fit perfectly, and as nutty as this might sound, the action was a little too low for my tastes. I will probably raise the action a tad, but that's just my own thang! So, if you are in the market for a big ol', hollowbody rock box with some pretty, piano like qualities, this G5420T might be what you are looking for. Cheapest way to That Great Gretsch Sound!Strick 9

Overall: I wanted a hollow body sound to go with a Les Paul and a Telecaster. This deep bodied beauty was set up almost perfectly from the factory, in fact, only personal preference would cause you to tweak it. The neck plays noticeably better for me than competitors' necks in the same general price range. I got the Fairlane blue with a hard case and the appearance is stunning and pro looking. It is my main squeeze on stage now and it plays fast and accurate with lead parts. Best of all, it retains the great harmonics of an acoustic with the medium black-top filtertron pickups for a clear and full sound. I use it with a Vox 40 watt modeling amp which allows for tube-like tones and many different sounds in overdrive/distortion tones. Glad I went for it.John

Overall: Out of the Box I simply Tuned it Up and began Playing. Plays Very Well and Sounds Great. This Guitar was Made in KOREA and the Fit and Finish are Wonderful. Frets are well rounded and the Trim assures you No Fret Bite even if the Frets were a little Sharp. The Appearance of this Guitar would project the Impression it was a Much More Expensive Guitar than it Actually is. I Own a couple of FENDER Guitars and an Epiphone Guitar, I am here to tell you, This Gretsch Guitar is every bit as Nice and Plays just as Nice as any of my other Guitars, the Difference being this is a Hollow Body Guitar and you can certainly Hear the Difference over Solid Body Guitars and that was what I was Looking For. I enjoys many types of Music, Classic 60's, 70's 80's Rock and Country, Blues and Blue Grass. I do Believe This Guitar would Play ANY of those Genra's Very Well. It can Play Old Country Twang to Today's Shredding if one wanted to. The Range of this Guitar in my Opinion is just Incredible. Beginner or Professional, I do Believe this Guitar would Serve Any of them Very Well.Sandy

fantastic,beautiful, everything I ever wanted, love it love it love it, so happy with it. real ladys guitar thankyou so much Leisa Kerrisleisa3398

It's a gorgeous guitar – finish is immaculate. Played great upon delivery. It is used but in excellent condition. I assume that it was set up for the original owner and the set up is excellent. The bridge pickup bites a bit and I'm still getting used to them. But, love the decision to purchase and use it every week for a Sunday performance through a small Fender Super Champ XD. Great guitar!hazy_2003

Fantastic product and a great deal. The new series sound and play just as good as the originals. I have played Gretsch my whole life. Thanks again for a wonderful product.black49ford

It's everything I was expecting. The neck fits perfectly, the sound is great and I couldn't be more pleased the overall appearance. Just a nice, well built guitar I know I will enjoy for years to come.Greg

The quality of craftsmanship is impeccable. The only complaint I have about it is at the head, there is a portion of the tuner that was scratched when it came in the mail. Naturally, being a gloss black, fingerprints and dust are easily visible, but as long as you take good care of it, it's not too much of a problem. Other than that, it is an amazing guitar and I would highly suggest it!Odysseus

I find a guitar to be very nice. Theres a slight reverberation in the E Sting against the fret board. Other than that I find the guitar in excellent condition. It plays well. This is my first Gretsch. Ive owned Gibsons les Pauls and others. This is a well made instrument. Reminds me of the Guitars used by the Stray Cats.kriyayogi108

New 'Gretsch' Guitars Are Now Made By 'Fender'; Which Is Why They All Sound Like 'Telecasters' – AND Are Cheaper. If LOOKING Like A 'Gretsch' Is All You Seek, Knock Yourself Out. But If You Want An ACTUAL Gretsch Guitar, Buy An Old One. These Imitations Are A Rip-Off In My Humble Opinion. THIS Is A 'Fender'.ec80-a

You always have to adjust the bridge before you play a fresh hollowbody. Just like a violin, you adjust your bridge almost right above the soundpost to achieve tone, stability, and intonation. If you don't even know how to take care of a hollowbody vs a solid body. LEARN. Don't complain like this dud below. Btw, it's a MIK (Made in Korea), which means it takes 4,000 miles to reach the East coast, and if came in perfect condition in the package, you're the luckiest player to own such a beautiful instrumentDYO

My son bought this guitar for me for Father's Day and I absolutely love it. I had been in the market for a Gretsch and played a number of the Streamliners at my local GS, but this one really did it for me. The set-up from the store was superb, low action, no fret buzz, intonation spot on. The sound both plugged in and acoustically is awesome. I love to just sit on my couch and play it unplugged. I am still adjusting to keeping it in tune with the Bigsby, and I plan on smoothing out the fret ends a bit, but overall I couldn't be happier. I can't get over how fast the neck is! Really a joy to play.Lawrence

Guitar arrived in pristine condition beautiful colour that changes in certain light absolutely stunning. Binding and paint job is top notch on here can't find any blemishes anywhere. Frets are smooth level and rounded at the edges well done. Hardware, tuners and Bigsby all work as they should no tuning issues to complain about even after some Bigsby use. Set up with nice low action no buzz. Plays and sounds great also sounds sweet unplugged nearly as loud as a concert size acoustic. Only complaint is the tort pickguard isn't to my taste, a black or white one would have suited the beautiful candy apple red colour better but this is my opinion only. Absolutely delighted with this guitar. Well done Gretsch. Thanks GAK.Drew

After playing religiously throughout adolescence and my teens, I fell off the practice wagon and piece by piece, my collection dwindled to nothing. After a nearly 7 years absence, I decided it was time to pick the instrument back up and this turned out to be perfect specimen to do so with. THE GOOD – it's a Gretsch – long had I dreamed of owning a Gretsch when I was younger, it seemed to meet the perfect amount of "cool" without being a typical gibson or fender option. – playability out of the box – this thing required very little work to get it into playing condition. The action was near perfect for my preference and the pickup positions weren't too hard to hone in to my desired tone. – the looks – this thing is a gorgeous piece of equipment. I went with the Bristol fog coloration and couldn't be happier. It has a unique mix of vintage yet new age appeal to it that fits my tastes exactly. THE BAD – fret buzz – as some others have said, yes there is a small amount of fret buzz out of the box. However it isn't enough to be a real issue. The buzz doesn't even translate through to the amp. So you only really hear it when you're playing unplugged. – the knobs – while i understand the desire to find a niche, the pickup volume knobs are just weird. It doesn't really make sense to me why I would want to have volume control instead of tonal control when I could just switch the pickup with the switch. It really only works in the middle position, and even then the effect isn't really noticeable unless you have one turned all the way down. Which At that point it makes more sense to just switch to the neck or the bridge instead of both.Thom

I just received our Gretsch 5220 in Jade Grey after eyeing it for a few years. I'd read all the glorious reviews and was prepared to be underwhelmed but it's all it was advertised as an more. The 2020/21 models seem to differ from some earlier ones in that it has a great black walnut fretboard as well as full sized pots. The taper is different from my other guitars but it allows for some great alternative tones. The finish is flawless and the Broad'trons have a unique voice as compared to both the standard probuckers that came on my Epi Les Paul as well as the Seth Lovers I dropped into it. For the price it is without question the best guitar purchase I've ever made when factoring everything in. I highly recommend this guitar to someone who is looking for a versatile guitar that is different from the standard LP/Strat/Tele.JFie14B2

Overall: My initial feelings about the guitar were ones of disappointment. The box had arrived smashed up from FedEx. I unboxed the guitar and inspected it carefully and couldn't see any damage. However, the neck pickup was almost completely sunken into the body cavity. The adjustment screws had almost completely backed themselves out of the guitar. In order to tighten and raise the treble side of the pickup I had to remove the pickguard. I want to remove the pick card I found a dime-sized blemish in the finish of the guitar. This wasn't a scratch or a ding, it was a flaw in the paint. I debated sending it back, but then I plugged the guitar in.This is where the disappointment ends. This guitar sounds amazing. From crystal clear cleans to grungy rhythm sounds this is a versatile guitar. I really like the master volume setup I can adjust the neck and middle pickups to my liking and then raise and lower the overall volume without changing the balance between the pickups. Right now I can't see any reason for swapping out the pickups. The binding around the guitar is nice and neat, the mahogany back looks spectacular, nice deep color, beautiful grain and nicely matched. You really have to look hard to see where the individual pieces were joined. The frets could use a bit of a polish but they were nicely beveled at the ends, no sharp or rough spots. The neck binding is flawless. The neck is a bit shallow, I prefer a chunkier neck, but that's personal preference and I got used to it quickly. The only other place that I think the guitar falls short is with the tuning pegs. I will swap them out for some locking tuners in the near future. But overall for its price this is a great guitar.When it arrived besides the loose pickup, the action was very low and the truss rod needed to be tweaked, I had a professionally set up and now it plays incredibly well. Overall this is a fantastic guitar especially given the price.Pete

Gretch has so many awesome and different style guitars and I have wanted one for a while, I came across this beautiful guitar in Airline Silver! It is stunning! The finishes are impeccable it looks like a 5k guitar Im not even joking. The guitar came setup pretty good but Im very picky, I set the intonation and lowered the action to my taste, and this thing flies! so many great sounds and tone scapes, a very versatile guitar I would pit against any Les Paul, but Im am really happy with the craftsmanship and quality of this instrument. Picked up the case as well. I dont know how you couldn’t be blown away by this guitar. On the last note, Stock tuners seem good no tuning issues. Glad I bought this beast of a guitar, Its a little heavy, but it doesn’t bother me.Perryman

I'm an experienced player and musician having been playing for the last 15 years and being in multiple bands. This is my first Gretsch guitar as I am more of an Epiphone fan, however I am a huge Nick 13 and Tiger Army fan and as you know this is his signature model so I couldn't help myself. The guitar itself is beautiful and plays like a dream. I'm a Punk musician however I dabble in Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Ska, and Reggae and this guitar has no problem adapting to any style of music. The bridge pickup is nice and bright with the perfect amount of twang you would expect from a filtertron. The neck pickup and smooth, warm, and most importantly satisfying. However, a few days ago my toggle switch unfortunately went out and I can no longer switch between the bridge and the neck pickup. I bought this Gretsch in December and while it isn't 100% "new" anymore I am very gentle with my toggle switches so it is a bummer that it is already on the fritz. I'll be bringing it into my local GC to have the technician (Josh) to look at it and see if we can get her back into 100% working order. The other negative that I have is that the fret ends are a little sharp but that is an easy fix. Overall I am extremely happy with my Tiger Jet.Michael, C.

I've had my London Grey G5222 for a few months now, and I like it as much as the day I bought it. The pickups are the star here, great tone, covering many musical bases. The guitar itself arrived without a flaw and only needed mild tweaking to get it where I wanted. I'm playing everything from classic Sabbath to Tool on this guitar, and it never sounds forced. The neck is wide, without being overly thick. Those complaining about flaws should remember that there are websites out there that will actually inspect your guitar before shipping it. Unfortunately, G.C. isn't one of them. Just saying…. For the price, you can not beat the overall playability and tone of this guitar. It's fantastic.Patooey G

I was disappointed in the quality of the guitar I received. The master tone knob is viably slanted and does not turn freely. It stops just before half way and requires force to turn more. I am also getting some crackles from the wiring. The guitar shipped with very low action. Fretting out and buzz is more than hoped for even before a set up. The guitar does sound good. I would not replace the pickups. The neck has a good profile. I was concerned that it would be to thin, but it is full enough and feels comfortable. After the problem with the bad knob I got an RMA to return the guitar. After plugging in the guitar I may keep it. I like the sound. But if I keep it, It might need rewiring. Also the knob may not be easily correctable. It is positioned right where to top curves. So if everything worked on this guitar it would be a lot of guitar for the money. The other point is the guitar has small thin frets. Problem with sending the guitar back is high shipping rates for an oversize package.I don't like the idea of having to pay to send a defective item back.Unlucy

This guitar is beautiful. The tone is outstanding. I purchased this *brand new* through the Guitar Center App and had it shipped directly to my house. When it arrived, it was not in the original box, but was in an acoustic guitar box. When I opened the box, it was really evident that the guitar was not brand new, but a heavily played floor model, which was disappointing. The set up was pretty bad. The strings would fret out at the fifth fret, and the bridge pickup was so high it was almost touching the strings. The cover plate on the back of the guitar was warped and pulling away from the guitar, and one of the tone control knobs was really loose. I Adjusted the truss rod, raised the action, and leveled out the pickups, and now it plays like a dream. Guitar Center has already agreed to repair the backplate and knobs, but not sure I would have had the same luck without the warranty (always buy the warranty. It's an outstanding price).Nic, S.

Love this Gretch guitar. So many versatile sounds from the two blacktop humbucking pickups. Smooth controls. Love the gold hardware. Bigsby bridge with tremolo is rock solid. The factory bridge setup for string height and intonation were spot on. This beauty plays like butter.Rick T

I'm a full time player in Nashville and generally believe 'you get what you pay for,' so I've long been skeptical of the cheaper Gretsches. I needed a good Gretsch for when that sound is called for, but with the pandemic, something like a 'real' Country Gentleman is out of reach at the moment. So I took a chance with the 5422 along with the AMS payment plan, and boy am I glad I did. Is it a high-end guitar? No… but the differences are mainly subtle. The build quality, playability and overall sound quality are very, very good right out of the box, and with a few tweaks it can definitely be a formidable tool in the arsenal. Nice, airy top end with some jangle, though maybe not quite as detailed & pristine as you might desire. All in all, it's a super solid guitar and definitely worth $1k. Works great for middle of the road roots-y music from Brit pop to modern country, and is a keeperJC

I purchased the walnut version with the cloud inlays. It was listed as a 'Blemish' and marked down $150.00. I cannot find a blemish anywhere, and the plastic coating was still on the components. I am thrilled with the guitar. The action and intonation was dead on perfect right out of the box. It took about a half hour to get used to the settings and adjust my amp to handle the tone from this, as the sound is completely different than any other guitar I own (all high end Strats and Gibsons) The neck is comfortable, silky smooth and the frets are well done, properly crowned and polished, and no sharp edges anywhere up and down the neck. The sound is crisp and clean, almost bell like, and chimey, almost like a 12 string. The finish is perfect, although a bit 'plastic' feeling, more like an Epiphone heavy polyurethane finish than a nitro finish, but it is beautifully applied and no ripples or defects at all. The clean tone is perfect for rockabilly, country twanging and mellow stuff, and with a bit of overdrive, it can pass as a good rock and roll axe as well. All in all, it is a fine instrument, well built and has that great Gretsch sound. I couldn't be happier.Bluesman Sammy Guy

Bought this guitar wanting a lightweight comfortable player with a good setup. And thats what i got. The chambered body keeps weight down (7lbs 8 oz) and balances well. Fretwork was fine and action can go very low with minimal buzz, unlike a lot of higher priced Fenders/Gibsons. Gretsch guitars with this bridge assembly seem to behave nicely regardless of price. Vol/tone are fine but three way selector might want an upgrade (as well as the strings of course). The chambered body gives u a slight semihollow vibe, but it takes the pickups into muddy-tone territory. I just eq it out with a clean drive/eq pedal for now. Heck, for the price, no tragedy to upgrade the pickups down the line.Go_Pats

I love the look of this guitar. I did have to adjust it a little as I am very picky. It came with a little fret buzz. So I adjusted the neck relief by slightly loosening the truss nut with the supplied Allen wrench. Then I tuned it up and did some slight adjustments to the intonation and bridge height. The fret work, inlays, paint finish and hardware are all really nice. The quality control is great. It just needed a little attention to get the action as low as it can get without fret buzz. It wasnt really bad either out of the box. Like I said I'm picky and check all my new guitar purchases. For the price its definitely a standout cool guitar. I like the stock p.u.'s. Cool look and they sound great to me. I play everything from country to metal. I would recommend this instrument as a first or to add to the collection. Oh fyi it has great sustain and a nice neck joint.Expro70

It has been awhile since I had an electric guitar (10 years), and I was ready to get one. After reviewing options of my preferred design and price range, I automatically gravitated to this guitar. I knew Gretsch was a top of the line brand, and saw the good reviews on this guitar. Since I have been playing it I have been loving the tones and feel of the neck. This is my first upper tier electric guitar and I can tell the quality is up there. I soo wouldn't change my mind on this purchase. To top it off I get on a deal! Love this Gretsch!Anthony

I record and play in a few different bands. Mostly rock, blues, and some country. This black and gold finish on the G5420t is just striking. Out of the box, the setup was good, just a quick tune up and we were off to twangsville. Components on this Electromatic were great. Filtertron's responded terrific and brought that sparkle-twang that only Filtertron's can. I play this through a Carvin VT50 out to a 2×12 cab with Celestion greenies. In the effects loop I have a Danelecto Dan-echo. Instant Setzer! Unplugged, you can definitely pick up the sparkle in this guitar. Throaty bass response, top end sparkle, and twang is a tasty and addictive combo. I have a Les Paul with Burstbucker pros, and they are my favorite pick ups ever. I also have a tele with Texas Specials, and that has a beautiful spank to them. The Filtertron's are somewhere in between the humbuckers and single coils. These Blacktop Filtertrons are pretty good sounding but from what I have heard, a swap to TV Jones will give the G5420 unmatched clarity in tone. These are great guitars and I found mine to be finished fantastically. Frets were dressed and polished, nut was cut and fit perfectly, and as nutty as this might sound, the action was a little too low for my tastes. I will probably raise the action a tad, but that's just my own thang! So, if you are in the market for a big ol', hollowbody rock box with some pretty, piano like qualities, this G5420T might be what you are looking for. Cheapest way to That Great Gretsch Sound!Strick 9

Overall: I wanted a hollow body sound to go with a Les Paul and a Telecaster. This deep bodied beauty was set up almost perfectly from the factory, in fact, only personal preference would cause you to tweak it. The neck plays noticeably better for me than competitors' necks in the same general price range. I got the Fairlane blue with a hard case and the appearance is stunning and pro looking. It is my main squeeze on stage now and it plays fast and accurate with lead parts. Best of all, it retains the great harmonics of an acoustic with the medium black-top filtertron pickups for a clear and full sound. I use it with a Vox 40 watt modeling amp which allows for tube-like tones and many different sounds in overdrive/distortion tones. Glad I went for it.John

Overall: Out of the Box I simply Tuned it Up and began Playing. Plays Very Well and Sounds Great. This Guitar was Made in KOREA and the Fit and Finish are Wonderful. Frets are well rounded and the Trim assures you No Fret Bite even if the Frets were a little Sharp. The Appearance of this Guitar would project the Impression it was a Much More Expensive Guitar than it Actually is. I Own a couple of FENDER Guitars and an Epiphone Guitar, I am here to tell you, This Gretsch Guitar is every bit as Nice and Plays just as Nice as any of my other Guitars, the Difference being this is a Hollow Body Guitar and you can certainly Hear the Difference over Solid Body Guitars and that was what I was Looking For. I enjoys many types of Music, Classic 60's, 70's 80's Rock and Country, Blues and Blue Grass. I do Believe This Guitar would Play ANY of those Genra's Very Well. It can Play Old Country Twang to Today's Shredding if one wanted to. The Range of this Guitar in my Opinion is just Incredible. Beginner or Professional, I do Believe this Guitar would Serve Any of them Very Well.Sandy

Great big ole semi-hollow body. Beautiful to look at and makes me feel like Dwayne Eddy when I take a run at Rebel Rouser with it. Great workmanship, sounds great and a beautiful finish. It just feels right when I pick it up. A really good one to have around.pressure99don

Pros – Compared to a G6120 which it's a copy of, is remarkable value. First time I've seen a lower priced Gretsch with a Bigsby! Well finished, good sized neck, and Intonation spot on. Seems to keep in tune well. Cons – Nut and action had to be taken down a touch. Pickups although set at Gretsch's optimum height seem a little weak and slightly lacking in tone. (Might invest in TV Jones at a later date). Tone control has little variation. Pity the Bigsby and bridge aren't gold plated to match the rest of the guitar. No case included. As it's a big guitar with 3rd party cases apparently unavailable, surely a case should be included, even if it puts the price up.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Finding a decent lefty guitar is no easy task. With the help of my salesman Brian, he assisted me in making a informed decision while still playing into what I was looking for and he guided me right into this left handed Gretsch. Love the guitar…highly recommend him for your music equipment needs. The manager Fredrick was extremely helpful as well with ensuring I was well taken care of and to top it all off it was an online order and it arrived a day early!! Worried, I was to until they assured me that I had 45 days to return it. Love the guitar…love the storeROBERT

Couldn't find this guitar in the stores so I pulled the trigger and ordered online. I don't listen to Rancid, so I bought this guitar more because it's a baldwin-era gretsch with a cool finish and filtertron pups. The pickups are crisp and clear and take dirt well, love the control over tone with all the knobs. I am impressed with these blacktop pups. They sound very close to the hs filters in my 5120. I see no need to change them. The top is thicker than my 5120, binding all over the place, beautiful headstock and wider body. The action was high and I set the intonation, but otherwise no work needed. Here's the thing, the flat finish does wear off leaving shine spots where your arms and hands come into contact. Like on the neck and upper body, and where I rest my pinky or fingers while picking. It looks cool to me but something you should be aware of before buying. Tuning is pretty stable, never seems to go way off. Body is balanced and neck plays smooth and fast. Love thJesse

Sound: I luv pyscho Billy , rocks Billy ,punk ,thrash , doom , this does it all , and sounds treat doing it , not just for rock a Billy , sounds great and uniqe in all genres Features: I'm not fond of the knurled strap locks , they come lose easy , I'll switch em out, and why no case ??? For such a great , expensive, signityre guitar , from gretsch and no case !?? Otherwise perfect Ease of Use: It goes great with my little peavy blazer158 till I upgrade, can only imagine the rocks Billy sound with a twin fender amp , and slapback!! Quality: Built like a tank , exept the knurled strap locks Value: Great price , awsome payment plan , never thought I could afford a great gretsch like this!!! The Wow Factor: Its stunning , beuitiful, punk rock looking! Built like a tank , looks like u can play it out and it can take abuse like Tim Armstrong himself does every show and his country club is still as good as the he bought it so if exepct the same of the replica Overall: This guitar sounds great , even in my little peavey blazer158 , I can't wait to get a twin fender amp!! The looks are are beautiful, yet still punk rock with the flat black color, the harp tail and the gold hardwear add to the beauty, and it has that great gretsch sound and twank gretsch is known for , it can roar one sec then get all twankyvon the flip of a switch and turn of a dial or two ! This is my dream guitar come true , always wanted a gretch , and Tim Armstrong is my favorite front man of all time so I feel lucky and proud to own this, and thanx to the great payment plan zZounds offers i can offerd this treasure!!!Robert

I had promised my granddaughter a Gretsch a few years ago, but life happened. Now, the time was right, I had her find the guitar she wanted and she chose a Gretsch. How do I get her to stop playing it 24/7? Just kidding on how long she plays on a daily basis, but she loves it. She actually has musicians offering to purchase it from her! A couple are professional artists.Gramma of 4

My only gripe would be that the wood tone on the back and sides is so dark that it doesn't stand out. Apart from that slight concern it's a beautiful instrument. It's tone was Gretsch even before I plugged it in. It's fun to play it even without an amp. Through an amp it becomes a whole 'nother beast…actually, several other beasts! The pickups ring sweet and clean together or by themselves, but are quite willing to burn through the haze of any bar I've ever played. I'd forgotten how distinctive these guitars sound. And I just hope I can remember all the options of the 3 volume knob setup. As soon as I tweaked her into tune I loved it. I might have it set up after I've worn out the set of strings that came on it, but they're not bad at all, and the intonation seems fine to me. Action's probably a touch high, but I was always a rhythm guitarist so that's how I like 'em. I am really impressed by this guitar in every way possible. {If only it came in a 12-string…}MIKER

This is the First time I ordered from Musician's Friend. The plan: Order and try three guitars I've always wanted, to decide whether my American Gibson V2, Made in Japan Fender Strat, Mexican Fender Tele, and Chinese Epiphone SG gave me all the tonal and playing features I'd ever want – or whether any of the following: a Les Paul, an ES-339, and/or a Gretsch with Filtertrons, would significantly expand the tonal and playability possibilities. Also, would the guitars by Epiphone and Gretsch in this price range, be a great value or a disappointment? Answer: I am keeping all three beautiful, different, versatile guitars, for a cost less than one decent American made Fender or Gibson. Are they as good as the American models, in fit, finish, wood quality, and overall performance? Almost certainly not. But for a cat with my ability level and budget, they are great (see my other reviews under the nickname ETHELTHEFROG from Miami, FL.) I've played a few Les Pauls, loved the look of the red sunburst and goldtop models, the difference in sound and playability from my Fenders, but could never justify buying myself a Gibson Les Paul, even used. I wanted to hear whether the Gretsch had the unique Filtertron tone I read about and heard in all the videos I watched. Also, the goldtop looked great on the MF website, and the body was similar but not the same as the LP gold tops which I've admired. Finally, I've always wanted an ES 339 or 355, for the look, and the semi-hollow body and P-90 sound I gig, I want guitars that look good as well as play nicely, but are not so expensive that I'd regret losing them to theft or damage, which all live and studio players know happens (luckily I've only had one inexpensive Ibanez bass stolen, but I loved it, and my Strat was in it's case when my buddy drove his car over it by mistake, no harm done, amazingly!) OK, the Gretsch arrived really fast by regular ground shipping. Out of the box the setup was perfect. It looked great, with the white pearl pick guard, chrome Gretsch control knobs and black and chrome vintage looking Filtertrons, and tombstone fret markers. There was one tiny nick on the low E side of the nut, but not worth sending the guitar back. Everything else looked very good… Binding on fret board by frets was a little less than perfect, but did not affect playability. I was and am a drummer first, so there is still a lot I don't know about electric guitars and amps, though I have played electric since 1978. By experimenting with my 40w all tube Fender Deluxe Hot Rod and Solid state Frontman 65R amps, I learned: Put the amp on 6 at least. Then dial in the master volume and individual volume pots on the guitar at various levels to have more expressive range. Experiment and you hear a huge range from lightness and country twang, jazzy warmth, to blow your face off growl and loudness, with NO drive or distortion added from pedals or amp switching. WITH extra overdrive and distortion this is a blues rock monster. These pickups will push the amp easily into natural distortion on the clean channel if you set the amp and guitar controls correctly. The body has excellent resonance. This guitar definitely sounds and plays differently than the new Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro with coil tapping, which I am also keeping. They are something like distant cousins, similar, but with their own personalities. I love the positioning of the PU controls and PU selector switch, because I strum loosely, even on electrics, and I was always hitting and changing the PU switch on my Fenders. Here, you can strum right by the bridge for beautiful brightness, and not hit control knobs or switches like on the Fenders. With the master and separate PU volume controls you can dial in a rhythm appropriate volume on the master and bridge PU, set the neck PU at a lead level, then when you get to a lead, flip the PU toggle and rock! Need more volume? Crank up the master! Lead done? Flip back down to center or bottom position and quickly dial back the master. I wanted the Bigsby model but reviews read here indicated tuning problems. I never mod my guitars, they have to be what I want as is, but I may add a Bigsby to this axe, I already love it so much. Normally I take my guitars to practice and gigs in gig bags, but I will probably buy a case to protect this bargain… "The best I ever had!"ETHELTHEFROG

I record and play in a few different bands. Mostly rock, blues, and some country. This black and gold finish on the G5420t is just striking. Out of the box, the setup was good, just a quick tune up and we were off to twangsville. Components on this Electromatic were great. Filtertron's responded terrific and brought that sparkle-twang that only Filtertron's can. I play this through a Carvin VT50 out to a 2×12 cab with Celestion greenies. In the effects loop I have a Danelecto Dan-echo. Instant Setzer! Unplugged, you can definitely pick up the sparkle in this guitar. Throaty bass response, top end sparkle, and twang is a tasty and addictive combo. I have a Les Paul with Burstbucker pros, and they are my favorite pick ups ever. I also have a tele with Texas Specials, and that has a beautiful spank to them. The Filtertron's are somewhere in between the humbuckers and single coils. These Blacktop Filtertrons are pretty good sounding but from what I have heard, a swap to TV Jones will give the G5420 unmatched clarity in tone. These are great guitars and I found mine to be finished fantastically. Frets were dressed and polished, nut was cut and fit perfectly, and as nutty as this might sound, the action was a little too low for my tastes. I will probably raise the action a tad, but that's just my own thang! So, if you are in the market for a big ol', hollowbody rock box with some pretty, piano like qualities, this G5420T might be what you are looking for. Cheapest way to That Great Gretsch Sound!Strick 9

Overall: I wanted a hollow body sound to go with a Les Paul and a Telecaster. This deep bodied beauty was set up almost perfectly from the factory, in fact, only personal preference would cause you to tweak it. The neck plays noticeably better for me than competitors' necks in the same general price range. I got the Fairlane blue with a hard case and the appearance is stunning and pro looking. It is my main squeeze on stage now and it plays fast and accurate with lead parts. Best of all, it retains the great harmonics of an acoustic with the medium black-top filtertron pickups for a clear and full sound. I use it with a Vox 40 watt modeling amp which allows for tube-like tones and many different sounds in overdrive/distortion tones. Glad I went for it.John

Overall: Out of the Box I simply Tuned it Up and began Playing. Plays Very Well and Sounds Great. This Guitar was Made in KOREA and the Fit and Finish are Wonderful. Frets are well rounded and the Trim assures you No Fret Bite even if the Frets were a little Sharp. The Appearance of this Guitar would project the Impression it was a Much More Expensive Guitar than it Actually is. I Own a couple of FENDER Guitars and an Epiphone Guitar, I am here to tell you, This Gretsch Guitar is every bit as Nice and Plays just as Nice as any of my other Guitars, the Difference being this is a Hollow Body Guitar and you can certainly Hear the Difference over Solid Body Guitars and that was what I was Looking For. I enjoys many types of Music, Classic 60's, 70's 80's Rock and Country, Blues and Blue Grass. I do Believe This Guitar would Play ANY of those Genra's Very Well. It can Play Old Country Twang to Today's Shredding if one wanted to. The Range of this Guitar in my Opinion is just Incredible. Beginner or Professional, I do Believe this Guitar would Serve Any of them Very Well.Sandy