The Gretsch G5220 has a lot of sparkle and twang for a humbucker guitar. The definition is very good and it rocks with overdrive. I really like the look of it, too. So much so, I just bought one from GC. Thanks for the great demo!
Hey Jack...you are one of the better guitar reviewers on the tube. Saw a 5420t in Georgia green at local Guitar Center used rack and could not put it down. This is now my favorite electric. Sounds so full and good in neck position with reverb and delay! Yes the neck pick up is sweet!
I am a 48 year old beginner. Wife has been shredding for 20 years and my 10 year old is an advanced player. I decided to get one for myself and the wife suggested I go with the G5220 so I can grow into it when my skills get better. I also watched two of your review videos on the G5220 and you’re dead on with this model doesn’t go out of tune. We test this one at the Guitar Center and loving it. Plus it was nice to have 15% coupon to knock an extra 67 bucks off from 450 bucks. This is the only channel that gives honest review I’ve seen so far.
I just got a beautiful Jet last week at my local shop. I played it, and had to have it. Sold a guitar I didn't play much to a coworker who'd been eyeing it, and bought it the next day. It sound great and twangy with almost a cocked wah choked tone clean, and it LOVES every fuzz, distortion or overdrive I throw at it! As a strat and Tele guy, this is fitting me like a glove.
On the overdrive the hollowbody sounds more saturated and organic. And even the bridge has a pleasant something in clean the solid just doesn't have. Excellent playing!!!
I have a 5420T and I borrowed a friend's 5220 and (IMO) they're worlds apart. The 5420T looks stunning and covers that Beatle-y, 60's classic style that I love but then the 220 is almost Gibson-y and much better at that more "modern" kind of rock stuff. I'm hoping I'll eventually own both... only issue is finding a colour to match my red 5420
So glad you have posted these videos on the Gretsch’s Jack. I was finally able to hear them without overdrive or distortion. Very professionally done and helped me decide whether I want one. And yes, I want one of the 5220’s. I love the 5420 too, but I have found that I am not as comfortable playing that big of a guitar. I am subscribing to your channel. Keep these great videos coming.
I got the G5420t used about a year ago, same color, always wanted a Gretsch, it was in excellent condition , came with a gig bag, had to repair strap button near Bixby, which I did myself. I love it and play it every day.
The Gretsch Electomatic collection comes in three series, the hollow body and the solid body that you’ve shown here, but also the center block series that are a semi hollow guitar. Would have loved to have seen one of those thrown in the mix cause I’ve had my eye on those for a while! Nice demo thanks 🙏
sorry to be offtopic but does anyone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost my password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!
@Colson Marcos thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
I am a beginner, looking to step up from the big-box store package guitar that I bought 10 years ago and never learned to play. The 5220 is one I'm considering, if for no other reason that my local guitar store carries Gretsch. Lesson learned: buy a guitar somewhere you can get service. Right now I've got a lot of time to watch reviews and decide as it is the middle of the stay-at-home orders for Covid-19. In the meantime I'm playing at setting up the cheap Starcaster I own (it is possible to make big improvements just with a homebrew setup!). Anyay, thanks for the review.
@@JackFossett My LGS got a G5220 in stock. They're selling by appointment (for the future, we're still on Covid-19 lockdown) I'm going to call them tomorrow.
I had a Gretsch G5422t ( the double cut model ) and parted with it a year or so ago. I sincerely wish I had kept it as it was a fantastic guitar and I am hoping to purchase another very soon. It was a far more versatile instrument than I expected and could handle most genres of music, from sweet Jazz tones to biting Rock tones. The build quality was exceptional ( Made in Indonesia ) and it stayed in tune very well ( although I was never very heavy on the Bigsby - keep it subtle and it is great ) - I enjoyed your review very much Jack. Thank you. Pete x
Sounds like a great guitar! I'm very interested in trying the smaller body electromatic with the Les Paul style cut. They've all been great from what I've played so far.
I had been looking at the 5220 for a few months. Went to GC this week and they had the newer 5220 BT models on sale for $449 while usually $599. Couldn't say no. Especially since it was in the new Bristol Fog (brown and black burst). Gorgeous and I had a ball playing it at the store. I admire the hollow bodies but the 5220 better fits my style of play. I have a Les Paul and it offers some familiarity there as a single cut solid body but a different sound and feel experience which is what I was looking for. Really liking this guitar.
Good review here of both guitars. My first Gretsch was also the 5420. I always felt intimidated by it's size when I was buying and looking at guitars but after actually pulling one off the wall and playing it, it was actually amazingly comfortable for me and I'm not a big guy by any means. The tone of the 5420 was what sold me on purchasing it. Lots of resonance and actually a really good sustain as well. That hollow ring that is absolutely perfect for country and jazz was also a little off-track for my style, or so I thought. It adds more than it detracts from your sound to be honest, IMO. To me at least, it adds a little nuance to your sound and style for rock that you won't get from any other brand of guitar, even comparing it to an ES-335. The Gibson is somewhat close but a little more in the jazz grinding sound to my ear and when used for rock it's powerful but a little empty also. I know that's the preferred sound for a lot of musicians and artists but the Gretsch brand has a sound all of it's own that's impossible to copy. The high end ring just gives it more punch which is likely a combination of the pickups and body depth but it's very pronounced and the mid-range is equally as impressive. I'm in no way knocking the 335 at all, it has it's place definitely in the music realm. I just think the Gretsch's offer a more unique and robust sound. It might seem unfair to compare the two because of their difference in size but overall they are fairly similar. I liked the 5420 so much that 6 months later I purchased the G7593t BD White Falcon. That's the Billy Duffy (The Cult) model with much stronger and louder pickups and Chrome finish as opposed to the traditional White Falcon's Gold accents which wear off over time. I'm also not a big fan of pick guards which are more aesthetics than function to be honest. For the price, I think you can't beat the quality or sound of the 5220. It's got the Les Paul comfortable feel with that Gretsch sound for a really affordable sum. I already have a beefed up Epi Les Paul but would absolutely consider getting a 5220 to add to the arsenal. I mean let's be honest here, you can never have too many guitars :).
A year ago I got the 5220 (see below comment), but my LGS got a used 5420 at a good price... and I'm thinking. So I rewatched this video. Not sure it helped... I still want the 5420, but the 5220 is probably still the right guitar for me. More thinking to come. Thanks for the great analysis.
Terrific presentation sir! Being a budget minded George Harrison fan, I was pretty much set on the Jet w/Bigsby until I saw the Fairlane Blue 5420 (😨). Now I want both. But seriously, as you pointed out, the 5420 is the quintessential Gretsch design and since I already have a bunch of Teles, Strats & Les Pauls, I need to expand my sonic horizons. Also, at the end of the day I preferred the sound of the 5420 over the Jet. And that color... THAT COLOR.
Just found your channel. Good stuff all around. I just ordered a Rat Rod from Gretsch. I never thought about owning one until I played one at a music store and the range of tones blew me away. Keep up the good work...Rock On! JW
@@JackFossett interestingly enough, the day after I wrote this comment I found a G5420T Demo for a lot cheaper so I got it instead. I did try out a Rat Rod at a music store, though, and they are very nice.
I’ve both those guitars! Like you I came home with the G5420T first. Very pleased that Gretsch are now pinning the bridge on these guitars. Mine is Cadillac Green with the gold hardware and I call her my “show stopper”. My luthier was very impressed with the quality of guitar when I took it too him to fine tune the setup. Picked up the G5220 later on impulse during a trip to my local Guitar Center. It was too good a value to walk away from and a weight relieved alternative to my shoulder aching solid body 1980 Gibson LP. I’ve since come to better appreciate the tonal differences between the two and continue to enjoy them both.
Nice Vid Jack! I’ve got a 2010 G5434L Jet in Black with the Block Hump Inlays and I just Love it! I can do anything from Jazz to Rock with it! I’m looking to put a Deusenberg Trem II on it soon. Please keep up the Good Work, Love your Channel!!
A very good Review , thanks ! And yes , Gretsch is something Special , and I like the G5420 . What I do like to , you tell the People no shit ! But Pure Experience , and good for the Customers..... 💕💕💕
I ended up getting the G5622t, and love it. My other electric is a Telecaster with 51 Nocaster pickups in it and they complement each other well. The Gretsch is very comfortable to play, great quality, very happy. Put Grover Rotomatics ion it as the stock tuners were not great. Overall highly recommended.
If I had one of the hollow bodies I would be tempted to put a second tone knob on it like the Tim Armstrong model. It would be hard to do on one of the solid/chambered models but easy on a hollow body.
Hey Jack, Thank you man, Yours are definitely the best reviews on the whole of the internet......Basically because you love what you do and are completely impartial...... And have Such lovely Tone.....Always extremely tasteful and especially beautiful, beautiful clean tones too......which are essential because you can actually hear the tone of the guitar especially enhanced through your batsman....... Also I was Just wondering what strings you're playing on each of the Gretsch's as I've been playing daddario xl 12's for ages because I love the tone and response but find some guitars struggle to take the extra tension....Although i have been experimenting with gently coaxing out the extra soft yet fuller bloom and feel of 11's and sometimes even 10's but also find that on a 24 3/4" scale length 11's aren't quite enough to make the guitar resonate chime and sing........ But whatever you're using on this sound absolutely perfect for the instrument and the clarity of tone is just amazing and they just really chime....So be really Grateful if you could let me know......But like I said Your's are definitely the best and most enjoyable and informative reviews on the internet So also gratefully received and much enjoyed s please keep them coming too..... Thanks So much Chris :)
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words and thoughtful response. I always use Elixir lights on my electric guitars. Either nanoweb or optiweb. Some people say they sound dull, but I actually think they gently tame the shrill top end and sound very nice.
Just picked up a dark cherry 5220 and your videos definitely helped with the decision. Any insight on pickup heights? Also finding the low E string buzzes when played hard. Any issues with yours? Love your playing and videos, keep it up!
Thanks, glad the videos have been helpful! My biggest problem with Gretsch guitars so far has been pickup height and palm muting the strings leading to them hitting the pole pieces. This isn't unique to the Electromatics either, it happens on my 6120 as well. So I'd say just be aware, try and set the pickups as low as you can. Never had a problem with low E buzz though.
A better and more direct comparison would have been the g5230, the semi-hollow model with the bigsby bridge. It has the same black filtertrons while the red model you have in your video has “broadtrons” which are supposedly more like a gibson typical humbucker.
This is a very helpful comparison review. Thank you. Both guitars look and sound good. I am tempted to go for the hollowbody for the reasons you say, plus it does epitomise for me what a rock and roll guitar should look like.
Call me shallow, but with both guitars and girlfriends I find myself more interested, more proud of, I can put up with negatives more easily, and want to play with them more often when they're better looking. And the Gretsch 5220 gold finish I just got is totally gorgeous. The finish, the chrome/black/white contrast is stunning. And like personality of a girlfriend, the tone of this guitar is awesome and has two quite distinct sounds between the bridge and neck. I love the shape, it's a little bit bigger than a Les Paul. I don't like music man and PRS guitars because I think they're a bit too small. I like big butts...I mean big guitars and I cannot lie...
I would be hesitant to call the burgundy guitar a solid body since it is chambered and we know chambering almost makes it more similar to a semi hollow body in someways.
I've been wanting to buy a Gretch for a few years now. I primarily play PRS. I have 7 or 8. And a dozen or more various other guitars and basses. I don't like bigsby's. I generally have hard tails. I use my PRS Hollowbody II just as much as my 2 Mira's, Vela, '94 CE24...so Hollowbody or semi hollow or solid really isn't something that drives my decisions about what guitars I like. Tone quality and playability are my benchmarks. So, what I really have boiled it down to is, I want something made I'm the South Korean factory at a reasonable price. But it's been hard to tell which models are made in China as opposed to South Korea. U have any insight on this? Thanks.
I just ordered a G5222 Duo Jet BT they it has BroadTron pups your one also have the same pickups ? Which do you like better the FillerTron vs Broad Tron. I know ppl like Malcolm Young Ted Nugent … stuffed t shirts & socks in the hollow body gtr to squelch the feedback
Any opinion on the older G5420T's, Jack? I have my eye on a 2013, but am curious if the 2016 updates were notable enough for me to hold out for a newer model.
I wasn't a huge fan of the older ones, but they weren't bad guitars at all. I think they were much more similar to the current Streamliners in alot of ways.
I have the G5420 and I love it, but recently I'm thinking whether to swap the stock pickups with HS Filtertrons, can't decide yet. The Blacktops sound great, but don't know the HS Filtertrons might have something else. Anybody experienced here to give an advice?
T. I. N Mateus not yet, but in the new year I’ll be collaborating on a pickup upgrade video with Righteous Sound Pickups - he makes a filtertron style pickup. I liked this one ok until I got my 6120, then in comparison I found the blacktops lacking a bit.
Nice playing. I'm considering getting the 5220 after playing the model with the bigsby vibrato, which I don't need or want. I read another review that the pickups lack some punch, and that you need to turn the amp up. Do you find this to be true?
As of 2019 at least, both these guitars use Blacktop Filter'trons, the broadtrons are more a filtertron "voiced" traditional humbucker used on the streamliner line
It's October 2024, and I just got a new G5220 and it has the Blacktop Broad'trons. I do have set of Blacktop Filter'trons on order to put in it. Not because the Broad'trons are bad sounding, but because I'm looking for a more traditional Gretsch sound. I have a lot of other humbucker equipped guitars for that LP type sound already.
broadtrotns? they look like blackface filtertrons… ok i figured that out - the inlays are encoding the pickups for gretsch. Thumb = filtertrons, dots = p90, squared gibson ones = broadtrons
My plunge into Gretsch was similar to yourself only in reverse. I went for the G5220, and honestly, it feels like a LP when playing it, but with it's own sound. Being more of a Tele player, I prefer to take off a slight bit of bottom end with an EQ pedal to get tone I like on the G5220. Man, the bridge pickup on overdrive really rocks. I then took another plunge and bought the bigger hollow body with the trem (or should it be called vibrato), but didn't want to spend too much on what would be a niche guitar for me, so I bought the Streamliner G2420T. Both guitars are very nice and have their own place. I predominately use them when playing in a worship band so to have a different tone/sound to the other guitarist.
nevillegreg1 nice! That point at the end there is a big one for Gretsch, that’s why Richard Fortus plays them in GnR - contrasting guitar tones makes a band sound way more dynamic.
Unfortunately we lefties get the shaft to the tune of $100 for being left-handed when it comes to the 5220 and the 5420 in left hand, without a Bigsby, is the same price as a right handed model with one. To even get a Bigsby as a lefty, we have to step out of the Electromatic range and into the Players at 4x the price. It's a curse sometimes. All that said, I love the sound of a Gretsch and will suck it up. I'll have a 5220 on order here in a week or two.
@@JackFossett the Bigsby I can understand because you'd need to recoup the full tooling costs of all new molds for a left handed version on fewer units but I'm pretty sure that the body is CNC cut which means making a lefty costs essentially nothing and the pick guard would be the only other part that's specific to the orientation since Gretsch uses a symmetrical headstock. Looking at a 25% premium. That said, still isn't that bad price wise. The Jet is one of the more affordable lefties without going to a cheap Strat/Tele clone.
So...today I found a lefty specialty guitar shop that actually has not only the 5420 in blue (only place I've seen that) but also has it in blue, black and orange with the Bigsby, an option unique to that shop. The downside, of course, is the $999 price tag on the 5420T
I had the solid Jet in the exact same color, it was only 400$, it was a pos, wouldn't stay in tune, pickups cut out, made in indonesia, if you are a seasoned guitar player, go for an american made. I traded it in on new PRS ce 24 hollowbody in black/gray, made in the USA, what a guitar, say what you want, but, guitars made in Mexico are just as good as american made, indonesia and Korean made guitars are crap.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
The Gretsch G5220 has a lot of sparkle and twang for a humbucker guitar. The definition is very good and it rocks with overdrive. I really like the look of it, too. So much so, I just bought one from GC. Thanks for the great demo!
One of each - great guitars and playing.
54macdog that’s the right answer - and thanks!
I think I'm in love with the 5420 is what I want. I will have it. It will be mine.
You won’t be disappointed 👍
Btw +10 for the Wayne’s World reference
I have the G5420t, its an incredible guitar, and beautiful on the wall.
Golden Toads TAKE. IT. OFF. THE. FUCKING. WALL!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Jack...you are one of the better guitar reviewers on the tube. Saw a 5420t in Georgia green at local Guitar Center used rack and could not put it down. This is now my favorite electric.
Sounds so full and good in neck position with reverb and delay! Yes the neck pick up is sweet!
I am a 48 year old beginner. Wife has been shredding for 20 years and my 10 year old is an advanced player. I decided to get one for myself and the wife suggested I go with the G5220 so I can grow into it when my skills get better. I also watched two of your review videos on the G5220 and you’re dead on with this model doesn’t go out of tune. We test this one at the Guitar Center and loving it. Plus it was nice to have 15% coupon to knock an extra 67 bucks off from 450 bucks. This is the only channel that gives honest review I’ve seen so far.
Thank you, glad it was helpful! Hope you're enjoying the guitar, the 5220s are awesome.
I just got a beautiful Jet last week at my local shop. I played it, and had to have it. Sold a guitar I didn't play much to a coworker who'd been eyeing it, and bought it the next day. It sound great and twangy with almost a cocked wah choked tone clean, and it LOVES every fuzz, distortion or overdrive I throw at it!
As a strat and Tele guy, this is fitting me like a glove.
Of course you need both! G5420T in Aspen Green and G5230T in Airline Silver in my case.
Mmmm I really wanted Aspen Green too.
On the overdrive the hollowbody sounds more saturated and organic. And even the bridge has a pleasant something in clean the solid just doesn't have. Excellent playing!!!
I just got myself the G5420t in silver sparkle and it's a very fun guitar to play. It's bigger than I'm used to, but it's still very comfortable.
I pick up my very first Gretsch tomorrow...a black cherry metallic G5220...so looking forward to it. 29 yrs of playing & it's my first Gretsch
I have a 5420T and I borrowed a friend's 5220 and (IMO) they're worlds apart. The 5420T looks stunning and covers that Beatle-y, 60's classic style that I love but then the 220 is almost Gibson-y and much better at that more "modern" kind of rock stuff. I'm hoping I'll eventually own both... only issue is finding a colour to match my red 5420
Fully agree 👍.
So glad you have posted these videos on the Gretsch’s Jack. I was finally able to hear them without overdrive or distortion. Very professionally done and helped me decide whether I want one. And yes, I want one of the 5220’s. I love the 5420 too, but I have found that I am not as comfortable playing that big of a guitar. I am subscribing to your channel. Keep these great videos coming.
Thank you! I'm glad the videos have been helpful. Let me know how you enjoy the 5220 ~
I got the G5420t used about a year ago, same color, always wanted a Gretsch, it was in excellent condition , came with a gig bag, had to repair strap button near Bixby, which I did myself. I love it and play it every day.
The Gretsch Electomatic collection comes in three series, the hollow body and the solid body that you’ve shown here, but also the center block series that are a semi hollow guitar. Would have loved to have seen one of those thrown in the mix cause I’ve had my eye on those for a while! Nice demo thanks 🙏
sorry to be offtopic but does anyone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost my password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!
@Shane Kye Instablaster :)
@Colson Marcos thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Colson Marcos It worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thanks so much you saved my ass!
@Shane Kye happy to help =)
I decided to get the G5420 because of your fantastic videos. Thank you for all your helpful information
Picked up a black g5220. Everyone else has a Les Paul, I wanted something different with looks to kill. Great sound. Gretsch is an underrated guitar
To my ear there's obviously more dimension to the hollow body sound. Nice video!!
I am a beginner, looking to step up from the big-box store package guitar that I bought 10 years ago and never learned to play. The 5220 is one I'm considering, if for no other reason that my local guitar store carries Gretsch. Lesson learned: buy a guitar somewhere you can get service. Right now I've got a lot of time to watch reviews and decide as it is the middle of the stay-at-home orders for Covid-19. In the meantime I'm playing at setting up the cheap Starcaster I own (it is possible to make big improvements just with a homebrew setup!). Anyay, thanks for the review.
Best of luck with finding the right guitar - can’t go wrong with Gretsch IMHO. Stay safe ~
@@JackFossett My LGS got a G5220 in stock. They're selling by appointment (for the future, we're still on Covid-19 lockdown) I'm going to call them tomorrow.
Arfonfree same around here, I picked up a repair the other day which had to be brought out to my car, 6 feet. Better to be safe right now.
why is this video only 503 likes? Is the first playing/talking video that doesn't bore me.
I had a Gretsch G5422t ( the double cut model ) and parted with it a year or so ago. I sincerely wish I had kept it as it was a fantastic guitar and I am hoping to purchase another very soon. It was a far more versatile instrument than I expected and could handle most genres of music, from sweet Jazz tones to biting Rock tones. The build quality was exceptional ( Made in Indonesia ) and it stayed in tune very well ( although I was never very heavy on the Bigsby - keep it subtle and it is great ) - I enjoyed your review very much Jack. Thank you. Pete x
Sounds like a great guitar! I'm very interested in trying the smaller body electromatic with the Les Paul style cut. They've all been great from what I've played so far.
I had been looking at the 5220 for a few months. Went to GC this week and they had the newer 5220 BT models on sale for $449 while usually $599. Couldn't say no. Especially since it was in the new Bristol Fog (brown and black burst). Gorgeous and I had a ball playing it at the store.
I admire the hollow bodies but the 5220 better fits my style of play. I have a Les Paul and it offers some familiarity there as a single cut solid body but a different sound and feel experience which is what I was looking for. Really liking this guitar.
Good review here of both guitars. My first Gretsch was also the 5420. I always felt intimidated by it's size when I was buying and looking at guitars but after actually pulling one off the wall and playing it, it was actually amazingly comfortable for me and I'm not a big guy by any means.
The tone of the 5420 was what sold me on purchasing it. Lots of resonance and actually a really good sustain as well. That hollow ring that is absolutely perfect for country and jazz was also a little off-track for my style, or so I thought. It adds more than it detracts from your sound to be honest, IMO. To me at least, it adds a little nuance to your sound and style for rock that you won't get from any other brand of guitar, even comparing it to an ES-335. The Gibson is somewhat close but a little more in the jazz grinding sound to my ear and when used for rock it's powerful but a little empty also. I know that's the preferred sound for a lot of musicians and artists but the Gretsch brand has a sound all of it's own that's impossible to copy. The high end ring just gives it more punch which is likely a combination of the pickups and body depth but it's very pronounced and the mid-range is equally as impressive.
I'm in no way knocking the 335 at all, it has it's place definitely in the music realm. I just think the Gretsch's offer a more unique and robust sound. It might seem unfair to compare the two because of their difference in size but overall they are fairly similar.
I liked the 5420 so much that 6 months later I purchased the G7593t BD White Falcon. That's the Billy Duffy (The Cult) model with much stronger and louder pickups and Chrome finish as opposed to the traditional White Falcon's Gold accents which wear off over time. I'm also not a big fan of pick guards which are more aesthetics than function to be honest.
For the price, I think you can't beat the quality or sound of the 5220. It's got the Les Paul comfortable feel with that Gretsch sound for a really affordable sum. I already have a beefed up Epi Les Paul but would absolutely consider getting a 5220 to add to the arsenal. I mean let's be honest here, you can never have too many guitars :).
A year ago I got the 5220 (see below comment), but my LGS got a used 5420 at a good price... and I'm thinking. So I rewatched this video. Not sure it helped... I still want the 5420, but the 5220 is probably still the right guitar for me. More thinking to come. Thanks for the great analysis.
Terrific presentation sir!
Being a budget minded George Harrison fan, I was pretty much set on the Jet w/Bigsby until I saw the Fairlane Blue 5420 (😨). Now I want both. But seriously, as you pointed out, the 5420 is the quintessential Gretsch design and since I already have a bunch of Teles, Strats & Les Pauls, I need to expand my sonic horizons.
Also, at the end of the day I preferred the sound of the 5420 over the Jet.
And that color...
THAT COLOR.
Follow up: I couldn't decide which of these two I wanted so I just ordered BOTH OF THEM. 😎
That was an easy way to solve the problem.
Now THAT is the correct answer. Enjoy them both! The 5420 really changed me as a guitarist, definitely for the better.
I own both these guitars and love them.
I hate you 😂 just joking 😂
I'm getting the G5420T in blue, can't wait,
I'll Maybe get the other one too one day 😷👍
awesome! g5420t handsdown!
Perfect demo! Thanks man. Awesome playing too
Thank you kindly!
Just found your channel. Good stuff all around. I just ordered a Rat Rod from Gretsch. I never thought about owning one until I played one at a music store and the range of tones blew me away. Keep up the good work...Rock On!
JW
Thank you! I'm interested in those Rat Rods -- will be anxious to try one out.
@@JackFossett interestingly enough, the day after I wrote this comment I found a G5420T Demo for a lot cheaper so I got it instead. I did try out a Rat Rod at a music store, though, and they are very nice.
Best tone ever... AC30 + Filtertron!
Awesome reviews! Thank you! I have had and still have many Gretsch guitars and your reviews are spot on.
Thank you, appreciate that! Do you have any favorite Gretsch’s?
Jack Fossett gretsch duo jet with dynasonics!
I’ve both those guitars! Like you I came home with the G5420T first. Very pleased that Gretsch are now pinning the bridge on these guitars. Mine is Cadillac Green with the gold hardware and I call her my “show stopper”. My luthier was very impressed with the quality of guitar when I took it too him to fine tune the setup. Picked up the G5220 later on impulse during a trip to my local Guitar Center. It was too good a value to walk away from and a weight relieved alternative to my shoulder aching solid body 1980 Gibson LP. I’ve since come to better appreciate the tonal differences between the two and continue to enjoy them both.
Nice Vid Jack! I’ve got a 2010 G5434L Jet in Black with the Block Hump Inlays and I just Love it! I can do anything from Jazz to Rock with it! I’m looking to put a Deusenberg Trem II on it soon. Please keep up the Good Work, Love your Channel!!
Rick Hill that sounds like an awesome guitar - and thank you!
Great. great comparison. Thank you for your demo.
Glad you liked it!
nice playing Jack.
Rick Moore thanks Rick!
My favorite is the middle ground. The G5655T Jr Center Block gets the most use, out the my other Electromatics (G5410T and a G5230T).
Good choice!
A very good Review , thanks ! And yes , Gretsch is something Special , and I like the G5420 . What I do like to , you tell the People no shit ! But Pure Experience , and good for the Customers..... 💕💕💕
My G5230t also had a Black Top Filtertron but I changed the neck pickup for a T90 which has a wider sound.
I do agree - it has that spanky Telecaster vibe. How cool is that!
Another exceptional video,Thank you Jack..That 5420 will be added to my arsenal very soon.
Runnningonempty thank you back! You should get it. You deserve it 😉
I really like the look of the G5622T, 335 style guitar at a decent price.
I’ve been interested in those as well
I ended up getting the G5622t, and love it. My other electric is a Telecaster with 51 Nocaster pickups in it and they complement each other well. The Gretsch is very comfortable to play, great quality, very happy. Put Grover Rotomatics ion it as the stock tuners were not great. Overall highly recommended.
If I had one of the hollow bodies I would be tempted to put a second tone knob on it like the Tim Armstrong model. It would be hard to do on one of the solid/chambered models but easy on a hollow body.
I prefer the big hollowbody with the bigsby, since that guitar sounds more what I like.
I agree with you!
@@JackFossett Thanks, sir.
@@JackFossett Here's one of my songs: ruclips.net/video/i80lAdMaq7A/видео.html
Hey Jack, Thank you man, Yours are definitely the best reviews on the whole of the internet......Basically because you love what you do and are completely impartial...... And have Such lovely Tone.....Always extremely tasteful and especially beautiful, beautiful clean tones too......which are essential because you can actually hear the tone of the guitar especially enhanced through your batsman....... Also I was Just wondering what strings you're playing on each of the Gretsch's as I've been playing daddario xl 12's for ages because I love the tone and response but find some guitars struggle to take the extra tension....Although i have been experimenting with gently coaxing out the extra soft yet fuller bloom and feel of 11's and sometimes even 10's but also find that on a 24 3/4" scale length 11's aren't quite enough to make the guitar resonate chime and sing........ But whatever you're using on this sound absolutely perfect for the instrument and the clarity of tone is just amazing and they just really chime....So be really Grateful if you could let me know......But like I said Your's are definitely the best and most enjoyable and informative reviews on the internet So also gratefully received and much enjoyed s please keep them coming too..... Thanks So much Chris :)
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words and thoughtful response. I always use Elixir lights on my electric guitars. Either nanoweb or optiweb. Some people say they sound dull, but I actually think they gently tame the shrill top end and sound very nice.
Just picked up a dark cherry 5220 and your videos definitely helped with the decision. Any insight on pickup heights? Also finding the low E string buzzes when played hard. Any issues with yours? Love your playing and videos, keep it up!
Thanks, glad the videos have been helpful! My biggest problem with Gretsch guitars so far has been pickup height and palm muting the strings leading to them hitting the pole pieces. This isn't unique to the Electromatics either, it happens on my 6120 as well. So I'd say just be aware, try and set the pickups as low as you can. Never had a problem with low E buzz though.
i got both . 135th annivesary and a 5230 tg.
A better and more direct comparison would have been the g5230, the semi-hollow model with the bigsby bridge. It has the same black filtertrons while the red model you have in your video has “broadtrons” which are supposedly more like a gibson typical humbucker.
I address all of that in the video.
Seems that a Gretsch g5220 is on my now. Will play it for an year or two then will go for Gretsch player g6228
Why are the pickups on the why G5220 Electromatic wider? They also seem to be Black Top Filtertron but they sound better wider.
Wish you'd compare the G5420t to the smaller G5655T Jr. That might be interesting.
If I can get my hands on one I absolutely will
Awesome 😎
Great. I thought watching this would help me decide which of the two I should get. Nope. I still want them both.
This is a very helpful comparison review. Thank you. Both guitars look and sound good. I am tempted to go for the hollowbody for the reasons you say, plus it does epitomise for me what a rock and roll guitar should look like.
Thanks for the kind words, glad it was helpful!
Left handed no bigsby. Add bigsby or not to 5420?
Isn't "more comfortable" subjective?
S D NOPE
Just flogged my old Epipi Casino and getting one of these
Call me shallow, but with both guitars and girlfriends I find myself more interested, more proud of, I can put up with negatives more easily, and want to play with them more often when they're better looking. And the Gretsch 5220 gold finish I just got is totally gorgeous. The finish, the chrome/black/white contrast is stunning. And like personality of a girlfriend, the tone of this guitar is awesome and has two quite distinct sounds between the bridge and neck. I love the shape, it's a little bit bigger than a Les Paul. I don't like music man and PRS guitars because I think they're a bit too small. I like big butts...I mean big guitars and I cannot lie...
I would be hesitant to call the burgundy guitar a solid body since it is chambered and we know chambering almost makes it more similar to a semi hollow body in someways.
The tonal differences are minimal at best. On major websites it’s categorized as a solid body. That’s good enough for me.
Ugh 😩 paid $599 today 🤦♂️ but I like it
Thanks for this video. So what do you think smaller semi hollows like g5655tg?
They’re cool! Most of these are more similar tonally than you might expect -
I saw a 5220 at Guitar Center last week. It felt like it weighed 10 lbs.
I've been wanting to buy a Gretch for a few years now. I primarily play PRS. I have 7 or 8. And a dozen or more various other guitars and basses. I don't like bigsby's. I generally have hard tails. I use my PRS Hollowbody II just as much as my 2 Mira's, Vela, '94 CE24...so Hollowbody or semi hollow or solid really isn't something that drives my decisions about what guitars I like. Tone quality and playability are my benchmarks.
So, what I really have boiled it down to is, I want something made I'm the South Korean factory at a reasonable price. But it's been hard to tell which models are made in China as opposed to South Korea. U have any insight on this? Thanks.
I just ordered a G5222 Duo Jet BT they it has BroadTron pups your one also have the same pickups ? Which do you like better the FillerTron vs Broad Tron. I know ppl like Malcolm Young Ted Nugent … stuffed t shirts & socks in the hollow body gtr to squelch the feedback
Awesome! Its hard to say honestly, I think each pickup suits the guitar that its in. I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other.
Any opinion on the older G5420T's, Jack? I have my eye on a 2013, but am curious if the 2016 updates were notable enough for me to hold out for a newer model.
I wasn't a huge fan of the older ones, but they weren't bad guitars at all. I think they were much more similar to the current Streamliners in alot of ways.
I have the G5420 and I love it, but recently I'm thinking whether to swap the stock pickups with HS Filtertrons, can't decide yet. The Blacktops sound great, but don't know the HS Filtertrons might have something else. Anybody experienced here to give an advice?
T. I. N Mateus not yet, but in the new year I’ll be collaborating on a pickup upgrade video with Righteous Sound Pickups - he makes a filtertron style pickup. I liked this one ok until I got my 6120, then in comparison I found the blacktops lacking a bit.
Nice playing. I'm considering getting the 5220 after playing the model with the bigsby vibrato, which I don't need or want. I read another review that the pickups lack some punch, and that you need to turn the amp up. Do you find this to be true?
Thanks! I didn't find that with the 5220. I did kind of find it with the 5420, but only after playing it in comparison with other models.
@@JackFossett Awesome, gonna go play the 5220 this weekend, and maybe make it mine. Cheers!
As of 2019 at least, both these guitars use Blacktop Filter'trons, the broadtrons are more a filtertron "voiced" traditional humbucker used on the streamliner line
Oh thats interesting. I saw the new Streamliner Jet model that was released at NAMM last week.
It's October 2024, and I just got a new G5220 and it has the Blacktop Broad'trons. I do have set of Blacktop Filter'trons on order to put in it. Not because the Broad'trons are bad sounding, but because I'm looking for a more traditional Gretsch sound. I have a lot of other humbucker equipped guitars for that LP type sound already.
I think i go with the G5422TG :) nice comparisson and playing though!
broadtrotns? they look like blackface filtertrons… ok i figured that out - the inlays are encoding the pickups for gretsch. Thumb = filtertrons, dots = p90, squared gibson ones = broadtrons
My plunge into Gretsch was similar to yourself only in reverse. I went for the G5220, and honestly, it feels like a LP when playing it, but with it's own sound. Being more of a Tele player, I prefer to take off a slight bit of bottom end with an EQ pedal to get tone I like on the G5220. Man, the bridge pickup on overdrive really rocks. I then took another plunge and bought the bigger hollow body with the trem (or should it be called vibrato), but didn't want to spend too much on what would be a niche guitar for me, so I bought the Streamliner G2420T. Both guitars are very nice and have their own place. I predominately use them when playing in a worship band so to have a different tone/sound to the other guitarist.
nevillegreg1 nice! That point at the end there is a big one for Gretsch, that’s why Richard Fortus plays them in GnR - contrasting guitar tones makes a band sound way more dynamic.
should have bought this last year there now 549
You sold me on the Supro Delta King and you’re about to sell me on the g5220
5220 ufff
👲💖
I'd play one and live in the other 😆
Electromatic guitars. I see.asia's country "s at low cost ....
Unfortunately we lefties get the shaft to the tune of $100 for being left-handed when it comes to the 5220 and the 5420 in left hand, without a Bigsby, is the same price as a right handed model with one. To even get a Bigsby as a lefty, we have to step out of the Electromatic range and into the Players at 4x the price. It's a curse sometimes.
All that said, I love the sound of a Gretsch and will suck it up. I'll have a 5220 on order here in a week or two.
Thats lousy. I imagine since they produce less left handed guitars there might be more to the production costs, but still.
@@JackFossett the Bigsby I can understand because you'd need to recoup the full tooling costs of all new molds for a left handed version on fewer units but I'm pretty sure that the body is CNC cut which means making a lefty costs essentially nothing and the pick guard would be the only other part that's specific to the orientation since Gretsch uses a symmetrical headstock. Looking at a 25% premium. That said, still isn't that bad price wise. The Jet is one of the more affordable lefties without going to a cheap Strat/Tele clone.
So...today I found a lefty specialty guitar shop that actually has not only the 5420 in blue (only place I've seen that) but also has it in blue, black and orange with the Bigsby, an option unique to that shop. The downside, of course, is the $999 price tag on the 5420T
@@helotaxi Yeah thats a bit pricey. I got this one for around $600 used.
I had the solid Jet in the exact same color, it was only 400$, it was a pos, wouldn't stay in tune, pickups cut out, made in indonesia, if you are a seasoned guitar player, go for an american made.
I traded it in on new PRS ce 24 hollowbody in black/gray, made in the USA, what a guitar, say what you want, but, guitars made in Mexico are just as good as american made, indonesia and Korean made guitars are crap.
how do u feel about the japanese gretsch line?
The electromatic line had a big overhaul in 2018.. Reviews are generally very good for these newer electromatic ..
I bought one of each.