Ben... Love the video. Thank you for that. The Falcon is absolutely wonderful. Re the intro song... Is that yours? I love it. Is there a recording of it anywhere? Also, can you advise me of the reverb FX you were using? Cheers! Jonny
One thing a lot of people don’t consider is that the Falcon is 25.5” scale length vs Electromatics 24.6” scale length. I bought my Falcon (G6136T-LTV) around 15 years ago because it had always been my “dream guitar”. I don’t live anywhere near a pro-line Gretsch dealer, so bought it without playing one first. The truth is it has rarely seen the light of day since I got it because I find the longer scale length doesn’t suit me. I won’t sell it, because I still think it’s the pinnacle of production line guitars and I still love owning it, but I’ve bought several Electromatics since then which have received infinitely more play time because I find their shorter scale length much more comfortable.
You have an unusual White Falcon because it has Dynasonic pickups which are brighter single coils vs the darker humbucking Filtertrons. Most White Falcons come with Filtertrons and comparing a guitar with stock Dynasonics to one with stock Filtertrons is comparing apples and oranges. The Filtertron loaded guitar will always tend to sound darker and less lively overall unless it’s been modded. I would have loved to have heard a White Falcon with Filtertrons compared to an Electromatic with Filtertrons, now that would’ve been a more interesting comparison. But yes, your point is that they both sound good and you don’t have to spend the money but I bet a White Falcon with Filtertrons would sound much closer to the Electromatic and prove your point in a more dramatic way.
In my experience this isn’t necessarily the case. I’ve had filtertrons be extremely bright as well. Some others can be darker though like the HS Filtertrons or Broadtrons etc
I have a G5622T, I think it’s a great guitar for the price. The pots aren’t very linear, and I upgraded the roller and spring in the Bigsby. I swapped the tuners to Grover Rotomatics. I’ll probably get a TV Jones wiring harness and pickups in the future. If I had a lot of money would I get a Silver Falcon? Sure. But, there’s definitely diminishing returns. The Electromatic is a high quality no frills guitar that anyone can be proud to own and is the standard in the range. It doesn’t require any upgrades out of the box but is a good platform for them.
I’ve a G5230FT. I gutted it-swapped all the electronics for brand-name; switched the wire for braided. I love Blacktop Filter’Trons; I play psychedelic rock and depending on mi amp/pedal setup, I can get anything from mellow, jazzy blues to 1980s hard rock rhythm tones (even tough ones, like Tom Scholz!), to 90s chainsaw grunge and noise rock . If I take a drug, I can sound like it with that guitar. Just in case, though, for some deeper, richer, less glittery tones, I also made sure I grabbed a Streamliner with Fidelisonic P90s, upon which I ALSO gutted the electronics, added a custom cap to the tone pot, and changed out the cheap plastic knobs for chrome knobs with inset semi-precious gems.
After seeing Billy Duffy of "The Cult" live with his White Falcon in 1985, I was totally obsessed with this guitar. In 1985 Gretsch had finished to exist as a firm and new or even used White Falcons were rare as gold and hard to find. And super expensive! Nevertheless I got one from Germany, but not the desired single cutaway, but a nearly new double cutaway from late 70ies. A stereo model. It was not exactly what I wanted, but at least it was a Gretsch White Falcon. Unfortunately the stereo setup had the disadvantage that there was no master volume for the two pickups, therefore it needed to turn off two volume knobs in order to mute the guitar. In my case, playing at high volumes on stage, it used to produce terrible squealing feedback that I could not handle in time, fiddling in panic with the vast array of tone and volume knobs. I sold the guitar at one point, but still had the Falcon "itch". By 1989 Gretsch had started to appear again on the market and they came with the single cutaway Falcon model I had always wanted. So I was the first one in Europe who ordered this guitar. I was totally exited, but when the guitar arrived I was shocked to see that the binding didn't look "golden" like on my 70ies Gretsch but more like copper or even orange. I disliked that and never got over this! When the guitar was broken by stagehands at a concert I was happy that the insurance offered me financial compensation. So I was hunting for another Falcon. And found in Vienna another double cutaway from the early 70ies, this time a mono model. This one was much closer to what I expected and it had a good tone. But soon I changed my musical direction and did not need a "Rock" guitar anymore. I had turned towards 60ies Instrumentals and early Rock'n'Roll - the White Falcon did not really cover these genres to my satisfaction. I used it a fair amount for live gigs, but hardly ever in the studio. But the live gigs were bad for the guitar and struts inside came loose and the instrument lost its tone. This time it took quite some time before I could finally sell it. And just when I was sure my Falcon fever had cooled down forever, I saw a 2008 model with Dynasonic pickups on Ebay, the same like in this video. Vertical Logo, single cutaway, aged white, all very counting arguments. And the dollar was down at the time, so it was an easy to finance deal. But once I got the guitar I realized that the orange binding was still in production. And the Melitta bridge was terrible for palm muting - so that needed to be replaced. And so on . . . in the end I had to accept that the White Falcon dream was never gonna satisfy me! The guitar was most uncomfortable to play when sitting, because of the 17" body, the neck profile did not suite my hands and the guitar didn't have the agility of my 6120 DSW, nor did it deliver a tone that was of any use for my music. Once again I was glad when I had managed to sell it. What I wanted to say with my long story is, that "dream guitars" will not necessarily make you happy. The White Falcon worked well for Billy Duffy, but not for me. I spent huge amounts of hard earned money on a craving that was based on completely wrong imaginations. Today I still have my orange 6120 DSW from 2006, which suits me very well, two lovely and regularly played Korean models 5128 and 5127, a 1956 Corvette (which is outstanding!) and a great sounding and playing 1957 Rambler, all guitars from a lower price class but perfect for my demands and playing style. And this is what it's all about!
Really liked your comment as it stresses how playability comes first and foremost. There is nothing wrong about spending less on a instrument because it feels good, that doesn't make you less of a player or person, you stood by what you felt was right for you regardless of cost and or prestige. The pickups can be swapped out, string gauge can be changed ,pots can be changed, but the way a guitar feels in your hands can't be changed. Once again, great story.
I dreamed of getting a White Falcon and saved up my dollars (about $5500 Aus at the time), I played several but didn't really like how they felt. I was super disappointed and was going to forget about it, then my wife suggested I try out an Electromatic. I went around the local guitar shops and tried more than ten Electromatics before I came across a really nice White/Gold G5622TG that I bought. After a couple of years I had a luthier set it up, I put fat flat wounds on it and it's even better. I absolutely love playing jump blues on it! I know a lot more about guitars these days and realise the guitars I tested out back then were probably not set up very well by the guitar shops, but the difference between the same model Gretsche guitars was huge. I used the left over money to buy more guitars lol
Back when I bought my White Falcon I went to the store and tried out several electromatic models, and then I tried the White Falcon. For me the difference in tone and feel was drastic. I had to go with the White Falcon and I'm glad I did.
I would say if you don't have the money to spend then then the electromatic is a really good choice, But if you try both and nothing but the best will do... Then save up, Get on a payment plan, Sell something else Or some combination of the above.... It will be worth it.
I had a similar experience with an Electromatic vs a 6118 TJR. I tried the E in a music store and was happy with how it played and felt. Then I tried the 6118. Big difference! The 6118 came home with me. Several years later I traded it in on a 6196 Country Club. Now that's a better guitar than anyone who plays at my level needs to own.
I had the similar experience but it was with an SG standard and a '61 reissue SG. I was set on the SG standard, although I didn't like the thickness of the neck, it was like a baseball bat. As I was leaving I saw the '61 hanging on the wall, asked if I could play it and the second the neck met the palm of my hand I knew it was for me, purely based on feel. Then I plugged it in.. That was 13 years ago and I still am thankful I saw it hanging there that day and have never looked back since.
I have similar guitars and I like them both. The Electromatics are fine instruments and better for taking places where they could be damaged and the Falcon is well … the Falcon. Great tone and playing.
Yeah that's what I was just saying in a comment, it doesn't make any sense to compare the Dynasonic pickups to the "blacktop" filter trons, they are polar opposites. I don't understand how they can sit there and ask if you can get a good sound out of both guitars when they are made to sound completely opposite of each other😂
@@aaronhatch425 Yes I have have been thinking about buying an Electromatic and change the PU´s to Dynsonics. I already have a Brian Setzer 6120 Signature with TV Jones Filtertrons. But I might need to change the tuners, at least the MV pot and maybe the bridge on an Electromatic also. The blacktops are Gretch´s cheaper Filtertrons, and the sell them with black, white and, God forbid, red inlays, but they sound OK.
@TheWalkingSteakhouse : you’re totally right about the price-point of the falcon: the price is so high, it’s bound to make many of us say “I can’t pay for that right now.” *However:* I don’t recommend-I wouldn’t recommend-waiting until retirement to buy one. When you get deep into old-age, ya pro’lly won’t be going out to gigs, ya pro’lly won’t be playing many shows… *SO* if a Falcon or a particular 6120 is your dream-baby, get it now unless that’d mean going into silly compound interest on a credit card. They’re already expensive, so ya don’t wanna wind up paying double or more than double.
@@scott7521 that doesn’t sound corny at all !! In fact, Gretsch makes a single-pickup Tennessee Rose finished in an orange-see-through that’s almost red, and that color is called “Arizona such&such…” in their catalogue ☺️😄🤟
I came here for the review/comparison and I subscribed about 30 seconds into your intro track because it just sounded phenomenal. Good stuff and looking forward to going through your channel!
Gretsch models/naming is a headache - since even between Streamliner, Electromatic, etc. you can't really tell which is which at a glace like a Tele, Strat, LP, 335, etc. Like your White Falcon, though, I like that I can just say I've got a Rat Rod. 😊 I agree with your line of thinking - even the "cheapest" guitar will sound amazing in the hands of someone who knows what to do with it. No price tag on a guitar will buy you the conviction to play it in a way that moves people. Great video!
That intro tone is sooooo good!!! That's exactly what I want my worship guitar tone to be. I think you should buy what you can afford and love what you get, for me the tone wasn't really that different but I could only guess that they FEEL totally different, with the win going to the White Falcon
Sounds great dude. Excellent eq work imo. I feel like it’s a hidden secret that a lot of great guitar recordings have very little low end. Great playing as well
I used to own the G5410t Rat Rod in matte black, but got rid of it after barely a year because whatever i did it would't stay in tune for a whole song... But yours sounds absolutely great! But i promised myself i will own a White Falcon one day
Good comparison video, Ben! I'm an old guy now. I have owned some really nice guitars. I've owned a Gretsch Baldwin-era 6120. A Gibson Super 400 CES with humbuckers. A Les Paul Standard and several other nice Gibsons and Yamahas. (I used to work at the Gibson factory) My main guitars now are a Gretsch Electromatic G5120t and a Gretsch Streamliner G2627t. Honestly, I like these two guitars as much as any others I have owned. I like my 5120 more than I did my 6120. I think it sounds and plays better than my 6120. Some might say I'm old and my hearing is gone, but I'm impressed with these two Gretsches. I always preferred a PAF sound to the Gretsch twang, but I love how Gretsches look and play. My Gretsch Streamliner G2627t sports three Broadtron pickups giving seven different tones. The Streamliner is a limited edition exclusive with a slim, fast neck. Not like other Streamliners with fat necks! And the block inlays are much nicer than the big blocks on other Streamliners. In my opinion, Gretsch is doing a great job with all their instruments. Even though my Gretsches are cheap and receive heavy criticism from most diehard Gretsch fans, I'm happy to own them and have no plans to ever sell them. I liked your video, Ben, and I enjoyed hearing the differences in your two Gretsches. Keep on playin'!
I got a White Falcon earlier this year and it was a gamechanger for me. I've had several USA made guitars and the Japanese made Falcon outdoes them all in my opinion (for what I do, anyways).
Got a players edish falcon in black. MINT condish. I can tell ya right now lol... Tunes up the fastest and stays in tune the best out of my 40 guitars that I own. Thing is rock solid and doesn't let strings weaken. Perfectly balanced. I even put fat azz 60 gauge strings on it once because I'm stupid and crazy. Hated them strings but the guitar handled that high af tension like a boss! Guitar is a monster. VERY well made. Can't top that high end Japanese gretsch build quality lol. Funny. I got it right before covid hit. Struggling college kid. Older fam member gave it to him as a gift and he wasn't into it or guitars for that matter so he was desperate to sell. Got it for 2150 lololol. Such a great price considering these things jumped up to nearly 4 grand now haha. Every time I look to buy a fancy new guitar I just say to myself, Why? You got like the fanciest of the fancy lololol.
Same experience with a telecaster. I bought the Richie Kotzen signature model, which is made in Japan and it blows away my USA Tele. I actually sold my USA about a month after I got the Richie Kotzen model.
When I finally got smart and bought a nice Gretch, what really surprised me was how playable Gretch is, versus what I thought. Poor access on the high frets are the only exception from my experience. Really great guitars. Expensive Guitars are better, but the improvements slight of return per dollars spent. My opinion, have one great guitar, rather than 10, ok guitars. Enjoyed the video.
My first Gretsch was the 5420T Electromatic in orange but I always dreamed about the classic 6120 - the 1955 model in orange with all the western motif inlays, the G brand, T-Armond pickups and all that. The 5420 sounded great and played well. But I eventually got myself the 6120-55VS and even though I could get three 5420 Electromatics for the same price as the 6120 I don't regret it one bit. The playability, tone and overall finish and quality is so much better in the Japanese 6120. It's my no.1 guitar and always will be.
I am happy I bought my made in Japan Double Anniversay in 2015. I love my neck with ebony fretboard. I can’t bond with the electromatics. Mine is the sunburst G6117T-HT with a trestle bracing. If it’s going to be your main guitar, spend the extra for made in Japan, they feel and resonate so much better. I will never sell mine! Edit: I just bought a G5420TG LTD ED. in Cadillac Green made in Korea and Rosewood Fretboard and I love it. It has a post bracing and resonates less than my Double Anniversary but the fit, finish and setup is superb!
I had the same dilemma when choosing a Stratocaster model. I had the money to buy an American, but if you pay triple the price you want it to sound, play and feel three times as good which is never the case. So I bought the Player, which is made in Mexico but it is still a Strat. I guess with the electromatic you still get the Gretsch experience and sound without breaking the bank. In a mix they don't sound all that different. I would happily pay the $4,000 for the white falcon if it inspired me to play a lot more
I had a falcon and as soon as you picked it up you could feel the difference and I noticed it had a more Gretchy sound than my electromatic had. Electrostatics though are good value for money. I'm playing mine on squizzy104 channel..thx for the vid..great stuff. Ian
An affordable alternative to the White Falcon is the Gretsch Red Finch. The Finches Salmonella'Tron pickups are comparable to the Dynasonic pickups, with a bit more chirp and chime than expected from a budget model.
great playing. I've found that if you've got your heart set on a Falcon, an Electromatic isn't going to get it done for you. It isn't because the Falcon is worth the extra money, it's because that is your personal aesthetic preference. I started with a 5420T, and now I've got three Falcons, with three different pickup setups (Dynasonic, Filtertron, Hilo'Tron).
@@Jeremiah_NE I like them in my 62 Tennessean and have liked them in Anniversary models I’ve tried… not sure I would like them in a bigger guitar though
I think you gave the right answer. I just upgraded my 5420 with Ray Butt's HS filters and Brian Setzer signatures and it makes a huge notable difference. More clarity, growl, sustain, and improved tones overall. More character if you will. I didn't have $3500 for the holy grail of guitars, the White Falcon, but I think this gets me pretty damn close and is actually more customized to what I'm shooting for. Gonna upgrade the hardware little by little but I'm very satisfied with the sounds I'm getting from it. Thanks for the comparison!
I’m happy that I got to play one of these guitars when I found one at guitar center and my wife instantly fell in love with the guitar tones of the $600 try it out. I’m definitely looking forward to when I can buy it.
Hi, love them both! That said I’ve been dreaming of owning a white falcon for 40 years. Last March I bought me a Electromatic 5420T-140 and I love her! No it’s not a Falcon but it has surpassed all my expectations and more. Money is the reason I’ll never buy the other. I don’t make much money because I am disabled. But I’d sure accept one as a gift. Thank you! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I've ordered a 55 vintage select Falcon as, I was in a position to be able to but, I have also played a few 'budget' Gretsch guitars and, from a build perspective, there is not much wrong with them. Cheap electronic components seems to be the main issue with the cheaper models and, that's an easy fix. Budget guitars today are not the budget guitars of my day!
I'm a beginner guitar player about to purchase my very first electric. I absolutely love the Gretsch sound and I know that's the only guitar for me. I've been looking at the Electromatic for a month and really appreciate your demo here! While I would LOVE to own a White Falcon, my wife would kill me if I spent $4k on a guitar! I think I'm going for the G 5410TG Rat Rod, almost identical to the one you played, Filtertrons instead of BT Humbuckers. Beautiful playing and I love your Falcon!
I'm in the same boat. I found a sweet used G5427TG limited edition in Dark Blue Sapphire. It really wasn't that much more but it's just so much sharper looking than a G5420T in Fairlane Blue IMO. They all sound amazing.
The thing about both Electromatics I've had is that they feel so playable to me. My hands just love 'em. And the variety of sounds I can get, and styles I can play (not particularly well!) is unparalleled. Deliriously subjective, definitely, but if you get the Gretsch itch, you're hooked!
I own 4 Gretsch guitars, I played the same US Strat and Gibson for over 30 years until found Gretsch. The Falcon has a little more chime , to my ear the G54 had a little more punch. I would love to hear a G54 with a set of dynasonic pickups. I enjoyed your playing lovely guitar work. Here is an interesting comparison a Gretsch G2420 and a Harley Benton Bigtone. Many people could never afford a Falcon and perhaps would struggle to even purchase a G54t, but streamliners and Harley Benton are within the grasp of most.
I have a Brian Setzer hot rod and it’s really nice, but I honestly cannot put it leaps and bounds ahead of my 5420T. fortunately, I picked up the Setzer secondhand at a great price and I’m happy to have it. Now on the other hand, I have a streamliner G2655 and G2622 and they don’t come close, though the build quality is excellent on the streamliner. It’s just all those little things the quality of the pots on the streamline only have two positions on or off , it’s the surrounds around the cable input. Just a little things they missed the mark, but still a great guitar for the price but if you’ve got an electromatics and the Japanese guitar, you’re really feel the difference. Sound wise they all sound great
Great review, nice playing too! :-) The Falcon definitely has the edge in direct comparison. That said is it a multi thousand dollar edge? Hmmm? The less expensive guitar definitely sounds great, looks great... Not sure I would spend the $$$ for the Falcon.... Oh, ok, yeah I would ;-)
Nice video and great playing. I absolutely love the Falcon, but that's the price of a used car 😆 I own a korean 5240 and made some mods over time. TV-Jones pickups, Gotoh locking tuners, bone nut, compensated alu bridge (i own almost every bridge you can buy for Gretsch's), pots. So it plays and sounds very good and enough Gretsch for my needs.
A while back I chosed between the G5420T Fbl and the G6118T-135 and I finally went with the later. The blue colour is still fantastic and the guitar sounded really good but there were just something with the feel of the G6118T-135 holding it in my hands...
I've owned both electromatic and pro Gretsch. I currently own a 6120 Nashville. Both are great instruments. I think the difference is not one single difference, but just a whole lot of differences that are in favour of the Japanese models. You do get what you pay for.
The pro line will always be better crafted (maybe hold its resale price too) but as for feel, tone & playability a good setup with great strings can go a long way (a fully intonated Gretsch) . Factor in a new harness & things are sounding good.
Nunca tuve la oportunidad de probar una Halcon, he tenido Gretsch 5120 Korea que me ha gustado mucho y ahora tengo una Gretsch 5655gt Electromatic (vienen de China) y la verdad que por el momento me da buena satisfacción. Se siente la diferencia en la Halcon Japon! Buen tono!
I have a G6136LTV in antique white lacquer and TV Jones Filtertrons, hence the LTV designation. It is an unbelievably well-crafted and beautiful guitar. I've played Electromatics and they are nice guitars for the money. I have no regrets paying what I did for my Falcon and it's a keeper. Beautiful intro music by the way, some simple chords with melodic parts doen well is always a winner!
I've A/B'd a 5420 and 6120. Loved both, but the 6120 beat out the 5420 for me just for overall build and feel. Like you, I have more fun playing the 6120. Definitely worth it because I love my 6120 so much. In the end, regardless of price, I say buy the guitar that you connect with. To answer your question, I'd personally would want to own a Falcon.
Can’t really get away from the feel of a well crafted (and usually more expensive) instrument! Not to say the cheaper (Chinese etc) models aren’t made well, or don’t play well, but if you know you know!
You make the mistake of comparing a guitar with humbuckers to one with single coils. The sound, regardless of the price of each one, is going to be very different. You should compare different price ranges with the same type of pickups. Greetings
Thanks for your vids, I really like them. Subscribed! One thing though here: the major sound difference between 2 electric guitars is not the wood (nor the shape, nor the finish, nor the country of production, nor even the body). But very much the pick-ups (at 90%), which are single-coil Dynasonics on your G6136T-LDS White Falcon vs humbucker-style Black-Top Filter'trons on the G5410T Electromatic (and the strings also, but to a much minor extent). A fair comparison would have been to compare your WF with an Electromatic mounted with Dynasonics, both with the same strings. My bet is that it'd be impossible to hear any difference with the White Falcon.
Great opening track. It has a real 80s alt-pop vibe that's right up my street (check out the band Big Dish). I thought your White Falcon had a brighter sound, and I generally preferred it overall, but both worked really well in the track. I have a G6118T that I love and find that a Gretsch can often solve a problem when one of the usual suspects won't.
I have a electromatic hollow-body guitar and it sounds beautiful to me I can make it to sustain I'm using effect pedals or on the amplifier effects works both ways you two sound The. U2😎 sounds great
Have an electromatic 5420t.. I couldn't be happier.. Matter of fact I love it However I did play a White Falcon also. And..... I did overall prefer the White Falcon.. To me it's strange it's not like a Gibson Les Paul versus the Epiphone.. Gretsch just seems to be at a different level.. The electromatic range is phenomenal at any price point.. I really believe people will be happy... Matter of fact those electromatic Jets are unbelievable!
The pickups are certainly different. That too end is what we expect and desire. That’s why lots of people buy the Electromatics and then change to DeArmond or TV Jones pups.
I have a 5410 LTD, and it would make sense that the much more expensive Japanese made one possibly sound and play way better, but from what I heard, not that much.. Once those instruments go through an amp, reverb, compressors and so on, they actually sound as good. Especially those made from those Korean factories. These factories are exêrienced, usually use good aged woods and they work flawlessly.. One thing to mention, that I never understood why, is that Gretsch should include roller saddles, but they don't in most models.. So for tuning stability when using the Bigsby, I recommend filing the saddles to round the edges and lube them also, ..
I've been after a White Falcon for almost 40yrs - but couldn't justify the £3700 for the Billy Duffy Custom Edition. I went for a G5420T-140 in the end and it's fulfilled my Gretsch cravings !
Both sound great. I think you really hear the difference between the dynasonics and filtertron pickups here. But the Falcon does have something extra in the clips in my opinion. I own proline Panther and have owned a couple of electromatics in the past. The electromatics are great guitars, but I agree that the materials and workmanship that goes into the proline are on another level. Is it necessary to get a proline? Definitely not. Is it a better experience? I think yes if you are an experienced enough player to appreciate it and value that better experience, and can afford it. Similar situation to owning a car or boat - you can get a $25k car that is perfectly fine and gets the job done well, no shame in that. Many people opt for the $50k car though that can afford it and value the better experience, materials, handling, reliability etc. I don’t see a a lot of videos shaming Acura owners when they could have bought a Honda :)
Are those really Filtertrons and not the odd Gretschbucker or whatever they were called? They don't sound like it. Actually they sound like pretty badly mumbly and slightly bandpassy humbuckers while Filtertrons generally are very clear and articulate.
I'm not a good guitarist, I only play to amuse myself, but I think I can relate this way. I am a fairly good photographer and I use only professional gear. The lenses I use cost around $3K and bodies around $2K to $3K. I'm not going to use brand names but the image quality from third-party lenses that cost less than half of what I use looks really good until matched side by side with the professional series lens then there is a noticeable difference, not much but noticeable. Having said that I have done some of my most notable work with absolute worn out bottom of the line gear simply because I know how to get the best out of it. I have an Electromatic that feels, looks and sounds great to me because it is far more capable than I am, and I doubt that doubt that I will ever be able to push it to its limit. Anyway, that is my take on it. Thanks for an interesting video.
The White Falcon sounds much more rich. The low end is pristine, like velvet. Electromatic is good too, just different for sure. Thanks for a killer comparison!
Eyy! You showcased the possibilities of these guitars nicely, with your playing!. Gretschs have a conservative look, but also have a quality distinctive sound, that is specific to the Gretsch brand!
I just got an Electromatic G5427 about a month and a half ago. The neck is super fast, the pickups sound great, the color is striking (I went with Midnight Sapphire--the GC exclusive color), and the vibe is spot-on. This is more than enough Gretsch for me, and I find it very compelling hanging on my wall. I pick it up way more than I anticipated. Great video.
heck yeah. Shoot I got a used beat up electromatic. Someone even bashed a hole into the side of it. It looks super phucked up! Guess what? Still rocks harder than most guitars. Even when damaged these things perform 100% lol.
Brother! This is amazing! Thank you for this! Bro! Your sounds that you have there are amazing. It is literally the sound that I have longed for forever!!! How did you get that sound??? I have tried, but just can't seem to get there! Jesus loves you bro!
Ben, I had a dream I was leading worship with the elecromatic guitar. Thinking maybe God is telling me I should get one, most likely not. But I look it up and can’t find it anywhere 😭 I can’t afford it right now anyways so…. I’ll just go cry on the inside now. Great video! 👍🏻😊
Good video! You didn't talk about the pickups but those in the WF are the Dynasonics, some say the best Gretsch pickups ever. About two years ago I got a used 2004 G5129T Electromatic that has the Dynasonics and I love them. I don't know why Gretsch dropped that model and now only offers those pickups in the WF. OK, to me the extra $$$ is not worth it. The Electromatics are great guitars and the WF is exceptional but for so much more it is not worth it to me. My G5129T sounds fantastic and plays great and I will keep it forever.
The Falcon definitely feels bigger because of the body but yeah also the scale length. Electromatics are often a little easier for me to play personally, due to the shorter scale!
The White Falcon has a brighter sound but I wonder if the difference could be minimized with some tone knobs. Also, I think the Electromatic has more layers of wood laminate in the body construction and that may contribute to the darker sound. Pick ups are definately voiced different. I have and Electromatic 5422TG with the double cutaway. It is a great instrument with a wide range of tones and a very comfortable playable neck.
I had a Pro Series Gretsch but gave it away because it was too good for me. I missed it, so I bought an Electromatic but I still missed it. "That feel". I stumbled upon another Japan Gretsch, played it, and there it was. The thing I was missing. Just playing it unplugged, the resonance, the whatever it was that made me miss the one I gave away, was there. That feel. I bought it. It is too good for me, yes, but I deserve it anyway :)
My favorite Gretsch is the Brian Setzer sparkle green Hot Rod. Holy crap I bonded with that guitar. But it's 3,200 bucks so I'm going to go with a 5420 instead at 800 bucks. Not the same, but still, it will scratch the itch and sound pretty good!
Man, that Falcon is special. You can tell just by the way you hold it. It looks incredible. And the tone is so rich. The Electromatic sounds.... OK by comparison. I think there's an argument to be made for saving up for the instrument that truly inspires you to play. To be fair, I just got a killer deal on an Electromatic 5222 Double Jet from my local shop, and I've been blown away at the quality of the guitar for the price. It's hard to put it down.
That intro was just killer. Amazing job. And great content to follow!
@@NickMcC Thank you!
I don't think I've ever left a RUclips comment before... But that fucking intro was something else...
Ben... Love the video. Thank you for that. The Falcon is absolutely wonderful.
Re the intro song... Is that yours? I love it. Is there a recording of it anywhere? Also, can you advise me of the reverb FX you were using?
Cheers!
Jonny
@@JonnyBeck-x6wWho did you reply to?
I am here to agree. ok bye.
For sure and that tone !! Respect deserved and recieved !!
@@jeshkamhaha right I thought the same !!
One thing a lot of people don’t consider is that the Falcon is 25.5” scale length vs Electromatics 24.6” scale length. I bought my Falcon (G6136T-LTV) around 15 years ago because it had always been my “dream guitar”. I don’t live anywhere near a pro-line Gretsch dealer, so bought it without playing one first. The truth is it has rarely seen the light of day since I got it because I find the longer scale length doesn’t suit me. I won’t sell it, because I still think it’s the pinnacle of production line guitars and I still love owning it, but I’ve bought several Electromatics since then which have received infinitely more play time because I find their shorter scale length much more comfortable.
You have an unusual White Falcon because it has Dynasonic pickups which are brighter single coils vs the darker humbucking Filtertrons. Most White Falcons come with Filtertrons and comparing a guitar with stock Dynasonics to one with stock Filtertrons is comparing apples and oranges. The Filtertron loaded guitar will always tend to sound darker and less lively overall unless it’s been modded. I would have loved to have heard a White Falcon with Filtertrons compared to an Electromatic with Filtertrons, now that would’ve been a more interesting comparison. But yes, your point is that they both sound good and you don’t have to spend the money but I bet a White Falcon with Filtertrons would sound much closer to the Electromatic and prove your point in a more dramatic way.
In my experience this isn’t necessarily the case. I’ve had filtertrons be extremely bright as well. Some others can be darker though like the HS Filtertrons or Broadtrons etc
Don't forget the difference in scale length. Definitely makes quite a dramatic sonic difference in guitars.
Absolutely love everything about that intro track! I need a Gretsch 100%
I have a G5622T, I think it’s a great guitar for the price. The pots aren’t very linear, and I upgraded the roller and spring in the Bigsby. I swapped the tuners to Grover Rotomatics. I’ll probably get a TV Jones wiring harness and pickups in the future. If I had a lot of money would I get a Silver Falcon? Sure. But, there’s definitely diminishing returns. The Electromatic is a high quality no frills guitar that anyone can be proud to own and is the standard in the range. It doesn’t require any upgrades out of the box but is a good platform for them.
I’ve a G5230FT. I gutted it-swapped all the electronics for brand-name; switched the wire for braided. I love Blacktop Filter’Trons; I play psychedelic rock and depending on mi amp/pedal setup, I can get anything from mellow, jazzy blues to 1980s hard rock rhythm tones (even tough ones, like Tom Scholz!), to 90s chainsaw grunge and noise rock . If I take a drug, I can sound like it with that guitar. Just in case, though, for some deeper, richer, less glittery tones, I also made sure I grabbed a Streamliner with Fidelisonic P90s, upon which I ALSO gutted the electronics, added a custom cap to the tone pot, and changed out the cheap plastic knobs for chrome knobs with inset semi-precious gems.
I love my Electromatic, but now I want a Gretsch with Dynasonics. That Falcon sounds so beautiful
It’s something hey!
After seeing Billy Duffy of "The Cult" live with his White Falcon in 1985, I was totally obsessed with this guitar. In 1985 Gretsch had finished to exist as a firm and new or even used White Falcons were rare as gold and hard to find. And super expensive! Nevertheless I got one from Germany, but not the desired single cutaway, but a nearly new double cutaway from late 70ies. A stereo model. It was not exactly what I wanted, but at least it was a Gretsch White Falcon. Unfortunately the stereo setup had the disadvantage that there was no master volume for the two pickups, therefore it needed to turn off two volume knobs in order to mute the guitar. In my case, playing at high volumes on stage, it used to produce terrible squealing feedback that I could not handle in time, fiddling in panic with the vast array of tone and volume knobs.
I sold the guitar at one point, but still had the Falcon "itch". By 1989 Gretsch had started to appear again on the market and they came with the single cutaway Falcon model I had always wanted. So I was the first one in Europe who ordered this guitar. I was totally exited, but when the guitar arrived I was shocked to see that the binding didn't look "golden" like on my 70ies Gretsch but more like copper or even orange. I disliked that and never got over this! When the guitar was broken by stagehands at a concert I was happy that the insurance offered me financial compensation. So I was hunting for another Falcon. And found in Vienna another double cutaway from the early 70ies, this time a mono model. This one was much closer to what I expected and it had a good tone. But soon I changed my musical direction and did not need a "Rock" guitar anymore. I had turned towards 60ies Instrumentals and early Rock'n'Roll - the White Falcon did not really cover these genres to my satisfaction. I used it a fair amount for live gigs, but hardly ever in the studio. But the live gigs were bad for the guitar and struts inside came loose and the instrument lost its tone. This time it took quite some time before I could finally sell it.
And just when I was sure my Falcon fever had cooled down forever, I saw a 2008 model with Dynasonic pickups on Ebay, the same like in this video. Vertical Logo, single cutaway, aged white, all very counting arguments. And the dollar was down at the time, so it was an easy to finance deal. But once I got the guitar I realized that the orange binding was still in production. And the Melitta bridge was terrible for palm muting - so that needed to be replaced. And so on . . . in the end I had to accept that the White Falcon dream was never gonna satisfy me! The guitar was most uncomfortable to play when sitting, because of the 17" body, the neck profile did not suite my hands and the guitar didn't have the agility of my 6120 DSW, nor did it deliver a tone that was of any use for my music. Once again I was glad when I had managed to sell it.
What I wanted to say with my long story is, that "dream guitars" will not necessarily make you happy. The White Falcon worked well for Billy Duffy, but not for me. I spent huge amounts of hard earned money on a craving that was based on completely wrong imaginations. Today I still have my orange 6120 DSW from 2006, which suits me very well, two lovely and regularly played Korean models 5128 and 5127, a 1956 Corvette (which is outstanding!) and a great sounding and playing 1957 Rambler, all guitars from a lower price class but perfect for my demands and playing style. And this is what it's all about!
Really liked your comment as it stresses how playability comes first and foremost. There is nothing wrong about spending less on a instrument because it feels good, that doesn't make you less of a player or person, you stood by what you felt was right for you regardless of cost and or prestige. The pickups can be swapped out, string gauge can be changed ,pots can be changed, but the way a guitar feels in your hands can't be changed. Once again, great story.
I dreamed of getting a White Falcon and saved up my dollars (about $5500 Aus at the time), I played several but didn't really like how they felt. I was super disappointed and was going to forget about it, then my wife suggested I try out an Electromatic. I went around the local guitar shops and tried more than ten Electromatics before I came across a really nice White/Gold G5622TG that I bought. After a couple of years I had a luthier set it up, I put fat flat wounds on it and it's even better. I absolutely love playing jump blues on it! I know a lot more about guitars these days and realise the guitars I tested out back then were probably not set up very well by the guitar shops, but the difference between the same model Gretsche guitars was huge. I used the left over money to buy more guitars lol
Back when I bought my White Falcon I went to the store and tried out several electromatic models, and then I tried the White Falcon. For me the difference in tone and feel was drastic. I had to go with the White Falcon and I'm glad I did.
I would say if you don't have the money to spend then then the electromatic is a really good choice, But if you try both and nothing but the best will do... Then save up, Get on a payment plan, Sell something else Or some combination of the above.... It will be worth it.
I had a similar experience with an Electromatic vs a 6118 TJR. I tried the E in a music store and was happy with how it played and felt. Then I tried the 6118. Big difference! The 6118 came home with me. Several years later I traded it in on a 6196 Country Club. Now that's a better guitar than anyone who plays at my level needs to own.
I had the similar experience but it was with an SG standard and a '61 reissue SG. I was set on the SG standard, although I didn't like the thickness of the neck, it was like a baseball bat. As I was leaving I saw the '61 hanging on the wall, asked if I could play it and the second the neck met the palm of my hand I knew it was for me, purely based on feel. Then I plugged it in.. That was 13 years ago and I still am thankful I saw it hanging there that day and have never looked back since.
@@STRM1991
I have similar guitars and I like them both. The Electromatics are fine instruments and better for taking places where they could be damaged and the Falcon is well … the Falcon. Great tone and playing.
I just think it’s worth mentioning this was also Dynasonic vs Filtertron
💯
Which one had the Dynosonic?
@@thebandcordero The falcon has the Dynasonics its Gretsch's single coil pickup.
Yeah that's what I was just saying in a comment, it doesn't make any sense to compare the Dynasonic pickups to the "blacktop" filter trons, they are polar opposites. I don't understand how they can sit there and ask if you can get a good sound out of both guitars when they are made to sound completely opposite of each other😂
@@aaronhatch425 Yes I have have been thinking about buying an Electromatic and change the PU´s to Dynsonics. I already have a Brian Setzer 6120 Signature with TV Jones Filtertrons. But I might need to change the tuners, at least the MV pot and maybe the bridge on an Electromatic also.
The blacktops are Gretch´s cheaper Filtertrons, and the sell them with black, white and, God forbid, red inlays, but they sound OK.
If I had the money I would for sure go with the Falcon. The tone on that thing is so likeable. Also freaking amazing playing man, it's so tasteful ✌
Thank you so much! 🙏🏽
Agreed! Amazing. This will sound corny AF but it reminds me of a sunset in an Arizona desert.
@TheWalkingSteakhouse : you’re totally right about the price-point of the falcon: the price is so high, it’s bound to make many of us say “I can’t pay for that right now.” *However:* I don’t recommend-I wouldn’t recommend-waiting until retirement to buy one. When you get deep into old-age, ya pro’lly won’t be going out to gigs, ya pro’lly won’t be playing many shows… *SO* if a Falcon or a particular 6120 is your dream-baby, get it now unless that’d mean going into silly compound interest on a credit card. They’re already expensive, so ya don’t wanna wind up paying double or more than double.
@@scott7521 that doesn’t sound corny at all !! In fact, Gretsch makes a single-pickup Tennessee Rose finished in an orange-see-through that’s almost red, and that color is called “Arizona such&such…” in their catalogue ☺️😄🤟
I came here for the review/comparison and I subscribed about 30 seconds into your intro track because it just sounded phenomenal. Good stuff and looking forward to going through your channel!
I watch a lot of guitar videos and that intro was one of the best I’ve heard. Wow! Great!
Thanks so much!
Awesome playing and super high quality recording!!!!! Congratulations!!
Gretsch models/naming is a headache - since even between Streamliner, Electromatic, etc. you can't really tell which is which at a glace like a Tele, Strat, LP, 335, etc. Like your White Falcon, though, I like that I can just say I've got a Rat Rod. 😊
I agree with your line of thinking - even the "cheapest" guitar will sound amazing in the hands of someone who knows what to do with it. No price tag on a guitar will buy you the conviction to play it in a way that moves people. Great video!
That intro tone is sooooo good!!! That's exactly what I want my worship guitar tone to be. I think you should buy what you can afford and love what you get, for me the tone wasn't really that different but I could only guess that they FEEL totally different, with the win going to the White Falcon
Thank you! Totally agree! A gretsch will get you a pretty killer worship tone for sure!
What's a worship tone?
Sounds great dude. Excellent eq work imo. I feel like it’s a hidden secret that a lot of great guitar recordings have very little low end. Great playing as well
Totally agree! Thank you 🙏🏼
Incredible Intro Track!!! Thanks man!
Thank you!!
I used to own the G5410t Rat Rod in matte black, but got rid of it after barely a year because whatever i did it would't stay in tune for a whole song...
But yours sounds absolutely great!
But i promised myself i will own a White Falcon one day
Such an awesome made video! From music, to filming, editing, and content!
Thanks so much! 🙏🏼
That might be the best intro playing to any guitar review I’ve ever heard!
Good comparison video, Ben! I'm an old guy now. I have owned some really nice guitars. I've owned a Gretsch Baldwin-era 6120. A Gibson Super 400 CES with humbuckers. A Les Paul Standard and several other nice Gibsons and Yamahas. (I used to work at the Gibson factory) My main guitars now are a Gretsch Electromatic G5120t and a Gretsch Streamliner G2627t. Honestly, I like these two guitars as much as any others I have owned. I like my 5120 more than I did my 6120. I think it sounds and plays better than my 6120. Some might say I'm old and my hearing is gone, but I'm impressed with these two Gretsches. I always preferred a PAF sound to the Gretsch twang, but I love how Gretsches look and play. My Gretsch Streamliner G2627t sports three Broadtron pickups giving seven different tones. The Streamliner is a limited edition exclusive with a slim, fast neck. Not like other Streamliners with fat necks! And the block inlays are much nicer than the big blocks on other Streamliners. In my opinion, Gretsch is doing a great job with all their instruments. Even though my Gretsches are cheap and receive heavy criticism from most diehard Gretsch fans, I'm happy to own them and have no plans to ever sell them. I liked your video, Ben, and I enjoyed hearing the differences in your two Gretsches. Keep on playin'!
I got a White Falcon earlier this year and it was a gamechanger for me. I've had several USA made guitars and the Japanese made Falcon outdoes them all in my opinion (for what I do, anyways).
Got a players edish falcon in black. MINT condish. I can tell ya right now lol... Tunes up the fastest and stays in tune the best out of my 40 guitars that I own. Thing is rock solid and doesn't let strings weaken. Perfectly balanced. I even put fat azz 60 gauge strings on it once because I'm stupid and crazy. Hated them strings but the guitar handled that high af tension like a boss! Guitar is a monster. VERY well made. Can't top that high end Japanese gretsch build quality lol.
Funny. I got it right before covid hit. Struggling college kid. Older fam member gave it to him as a gift and he wasn't into it or guitars for that matter so he was desperate to sell. Got it for 2150 lololol. Such a great price considering these things jumped up to nearly 4 grand now haha. Every time I look to buy a fancy new guitar I just say to myself, Why? You got like the fanciest of the fancy lololol.
Same experience with a telecaster. I bought the Richie Kotzen signature model, which is made in Japan and it blows away my USA Tele. I actually sold my USA about a month after I got the Richie Kotzen model.
When I finally got smart and bought a nice Gretch, what really surprised me was how playable Gretch is, versus what I thought. Poor access on the high frets are the only exception from my experience. Really great guitars. Expensive Guitars are better, but the improvements slight of return per dollars spent. My opinion, have one great guitar, rather than 10, ok guitars. Enjoyed the video.
My first Gretsch was the 5420T Electromatic in orange but I always dreamed about the classic 6120 - the 1955 model in orange with all the western motif inlays, the G brand, T-Armond pickups and all that. The 5420 sounded great and played well. But I eventually got myself the 6120-55VS and even though I could get three 5420 Electromatics for the same price as the 6120 I don't regret it one bit. The playability, tone and overall finish and quality is so much better in the Japanese 6120. It's my no.1 guitar and always will be.
I am happy I bought my made in Japan Double Anniversay in 2015. I love my neck with ebony fretboard. I can’t bond with the electromatics. Mine is the sunburst G6117T-HT with a trestle bracing. If it’s going to be your main guitar, spend the extra for made in Japan, they feel and resonate so much better. I will never sell mine! Edit: I just bought a G5420TG LTD ED. in Cadillac Green made in Korea and Rosewood Fretboard and I love it. It has a post bracing and resonates less than my Double Anniversary but the fit, finish and setup is superb!
I had the same dilemma when choosing a Stratocaster model. I had the money to buy an American, but if you pay triple the price you want it to sound, play and feel three times as good which is never the case. So I bought the Player, which is made in Mexico but it is still a Strat. I guess with the electromatic you still get the Gretsch experience and sound without breaking the bank. In a mix they don't sound all that different. I would happily pay the $4,000 for the white falcon if it inspired me to play a lot more
I had a falcon and as soon as you picked it up you could feel the difference and I noticed it had a more Gretchy sound than my electromatic had. Electrostatics though are good value for money. I'm playing mine on squizzy104 channel..thx for the vid..great stuff. Ian
dude that opening track - very sweet - first time viewer of your channel and you're on point ! Cheers
An affordable alternative to the White Falcon is the Gretsch Red Finch. The Finches Salmonella'Tron pickups are comparable to the Dynasonic pickups, with a bit more chirp and chime than expected from a budget model.
great playing. I've found that if you've got your heart set on a Falcon, an Electromatic isn't going to get it done for you. It isn't because the Falcon is worth the extra money, it's because that is your personal aesthetic preference. I started with a 5420T, and now I've got three Falcons, with three different pickup setups (Dynasonic, Filtertron, Hilo'Tron).
Falcon with hilotron?
@@mohamedtlass3842 Yeah I had to round out my stable and already had a Filter'Tron and a Dynasonic, so I slapped TV-HT's into the third
@@Jeremiah_NE I like them in my 62 Tennessean and have liked them in Anniversary models I’ve tried… not sure I would like them in a bigger guitar though
I think you gave the right answer.
I just upgraded my 5420 with Ray Butt's HS filters and Brian Setzer signatures and it makes a huge notable difference. More clarity, growl, sustain, and improved tones overall. More character if you will.
I didn't have $3500 for the holy grail of guitars, the White Falcon, but I think this gets me pretty damn close and is actually more customized to what I'm shooting for. Gonna upgrade the hardware little by little but I'm very satisfied with the sounds I'm getting from it.
Thanks for the comparison!
I’m happy that I got to play one of these guitars when I found one at guitar center and my wife instantly fell in love with the guitar tones of the $600 try it out. I’m definitely looking forward to when I can buy it.
Hi, love them both! That said I’ve been dreaming of owning a white falcon for 40 years. Last March I bought me a Electromatic 5420T-140 and I love her! No it’s not a Falcon but it has surpassed all my expectations and more. Money is the reason I’ll never buy the other. I don’t make much money because I am disabled. But I’d sure accept one as a gift. Thank you! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I've ordered a 55 vintage select Falcon as, I was in a position to be able to but, I have also played a few 'budget' Gretsch guitars and, from a build perspective, there is not much wrong with them. Cheap electronic components seems to be the main issue with the cheaper models and, that's an easy fix. Budget guitars today are not the budget guitars of my day!
I'm a beginner guitar player about to purchase my very first electric. I absolutely love the Gretsch sound and I know that's the only guitar for me. I've been looking at the Electromatic for a month and really appreciate your demo here! While I would LOVE to own a White Falcon, my wife would kill me if I spent $4k on a guitar! I think I'm going for the G 5410TG Rat Rod, almost identical to the one you played, Filtertrons instead of BT Humbuckers. Beautiful playing and I love your Falcon!
I'm in the same boat. I found a sweet used G5427TG limited edition in Dark Blue Sapphire. It really wasn't that much more but it's just so much sharper looking than a G5420T in Fairlane Blue IMO. They all sound amazing.
The thing about both Electromatics I've had is that they feel so playable to me. My hands just love 'em. And the variety of sounds I can get, and styles I can play (not particularly well!) is unparalleled. Deliriously subjective, definitely, but if you get the Gretsch itch, you're hooked!
I own 4 Gretsch guitars, I played the same US Strat and Gibson for over 30 years until found Gretsch. The Falcon has a little more chime , to my ear the G54 had a little more punch. I would love to hear a G54 with a set of dynasonic pickups. I enjoyed your playing lovely guitar work. Here is an interesting comparison a Gretsch G2420 and a Harley Benton Bigtone. Many people could never afford a Falcon and perhaps would struggle to even purchase a G54t, but streamliners and Harley Benton are within the grasp of most.
Awesome playing, liked it a lot.
Thanks!
I have a Brian Setzer hot rod and it’s really nice, but I honestly cannot put it leaps and bounds ahead of my 5420T. fortunately, I picked up the Setzer secondhand at a great price and I’m happy to have it. Now on the other hand, I have a streamliner G2655 and G2622 and they don’t come close, though the build quality is excellent on the streamliner. It’s just all those little things the quality of the pots on the streamline only have two positions on or off , it’s the surrounds around the cable input. Just a little things they missed the mark, but still a great guitar for the price but if you’ve got an electromatics and the Japanese guitar, you’re really feel the difference. Sound wise they all sound great
Great review, nice playing too! :-) The Falcon definitely has the edge in direct comparison. That said is it a multi thousand dollar edge? Hmmm? The less expensive guitar definitely sounds great, looks great... Not sure I would spend the $$$ for the Falcon.... Oh, ok, yeah I would ;-)
Nice video and great playing.
I absolutely love the Falcon, but that's the price of a used car 😆
I own a korean 5240 and made some mods over time.
TV-Jones pickups, Gotoh locking tuners, bone nut, compensated alu bridge (i own almost every bridge you can buy for Gretsch's), pots.
So it plays and sounds very good and enough Gretsch for my needs.
Love that intro, its a sound escape👏🏼
That intro is amazing! I’ve been here many times and will be back. Congrats!
Thanks so much! 🙏🏽
A while back I chosed between the G5420T Fbl and the G6118T-135 and I finally went with the later. The blue colour is still fantastic and the guitar sounded really good but there were just something with the feel of the G6118T-135 holding it in my hands...
I've owned both electromatic and pro Gretsch. I currently own a 6120 Nashville. Both are great instruments. I think the difference is not one single difference, but just a whole lot of differences that are in favour of the Japanese models. You do get what you pay for.
That sounded great Ben. Very well done.
Thank you!
There is no substitute for a grinch white falcon. It’s in a class all its own nice comparison. Loved your sound samples great job.
Thanks! 🙏🏼
I agree but the Grinch tends to steal Christmas so you have to watch out for that.
The pro line will always be better crafted (maybe hold its resale price too) but as for feel, tone & playability a good setup with great strings can go a long way (a fully intonated Gretsch) . Factor in a new harness & things are sounding good.
Yep exactly!
Nunca tuve la oportunidad de probar una Halcon, he tenido Gretsch 5120 Korea que me ha gustado mucho y ahora tengo una Gretsch 5655gt Electromatic (vienen de China) y la verdad que por el momento me da buena satisfacción. Se siente la diferencia en la Halcon Japon! Buen tono!
I have a G6136LTV in antique white lacquer and TV Jones Filtertrons, hence the LTV designation. It is an unbelievably well-crafted and beautiful guitar. I've played Electromatics and they are nice guitars for the money. I have no regrets paying what I did for my Falcon and it's a keeper. Beautiful intro music by the way, some simple chords with melodic parts doen well is always a winner!
I've A/B'd a 5420 and 6120. Loved both, but the 6120 beat out the 5420 for me just for overall build and feel. Like you, I have more fun playing the 6120. Definitely worth it because I love my 6120 so much. In the end, regardless of price, I say buy the guitar that you connect with.
To answer your question, I'd personally would want to own a Falcon.
Can’t really get away from the feel of a well crafted (and usually more expensive) instrument! Not to say the cheaper (Chinese etc) models aren’t made well, or don’t play well, but if you know you know!
You make the mistake of comparing a guitar with humbuckers to one with single coils. The sound, regardless of the price of each one, is going to be very different. You should compare different price ranges with the same type of pickups. Greetings
Exactly my words
Thanks for your vids, I really like them. Subscribed!
One thing though here: the major sound difference between 2 electric guitars is not the wood (nor the shape, nor the finish, nor the country of production, nor even the body). But very much the pick-ups (at 90%), which are single-coil Dynasonics on your G6136T-LDS White Falcon vs humbucker-style Black-Top Filter'trons on the G5410T Electromatic (and the strings also, but to a much minor extent). A fair comparison would have been to compare your WF with an Electromatic mounted with Dynasonics, both with the same strings. My bet is that it'd be impossible to hear any difference with the White Falcon.
Great opening track. It has a real 80s alt-pop vibe that's right up my street (check out the band Big Dish). I thought your White Falcon had a brighter sound, and I generally preferred it overall, but both worked really well in the track. I have a G6118T that I love and find that a Gretsch can often solve a problem when one of the usual suspects won't.
I have a electromatic hollow-body guitar and it sounds beautiful to me I can make it to sustain I'm using effect pedals or on the amplifier effects works both ways you two sound The. U2😎 sounds great
Have an electromatic 5420t.. I couldn't be happier.. Matter of fact I love it However I did play a White Falcon also. And..... I did overall prefer the White Falcon.. To me it's strange it's not like a Gibson Les Paul versus the Epiphone.. Gretsch just seems to be at a different level..
The electromatic range is phenomenal at any price point.. I really believe people will be happy... Matter of fact those electromatic Jets are unbelievable!
for gearheads the Electromatic is the G5410T Tri-Five limited edition. Same guitar as the Rat Rod but pretty glossy finishes instead. Great guitars.
The pickups are certainly different. That too end is what we expect and desire. That’s why lots of people buy the Electromatics and then change to DeArmond or TV Jones pups.
Yeah definitely a good option!
I have a 5410 LTD, and it would make sense that the much more expensive Japanese made one possibly sound and play way better, but from what I heard, not that much.. Once those instruments go through an amp, reverb, compressors and so on, they actually sound as good. Especially those made from those Korean factories. These factories are exêrienced, usually use good aged woods and they work flawlessly.. One thing to mention, that I never understood why, is that Gretsch should include roller saddles, but they don't in most models.. So for tuning stability when using the Bigsby, I recommend filing the saddles to round the edges and lube them also, ..
You make boths guitars sound great!! If I had the money, yes, it would be the Falcon. But I hope to buy the Electromatic one day…
The electromatics are absolutely fantastic and in their price range unbeatable. The Falcon is obviously something else though.
Totally agree!
I reckon the difference is worth it if you can afford it. The white flacon sounds to rich and clear
I love my G5122 Electromatic, but man hearing these two side by side, that Falcon is SOOO smooth.
The intro track is sublime. Brilliant work, friend.
Thank you! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I've been after a White Falcon for almost 40yrs - but couldn't justify the £3700 for the Billy Duffy Custom Edition. I went for a G5420T-140 in the end and it's fulfilled my Gretsch cravings !
Thanks for your truly inspiring music tracks at the beginning of your
RUclipss. ..great guitar playing.
Thank you so much 🙏🏽
I bought a Streamliner on sale cheap and I LOVE it. I'm looking at moving up to the Electromatic one of these days.
Hey Ben, Love your Video. Great demo. I have the White TRi5! LOVE MY GRETCH!
Thanks! I love mine too!
Both sound great. I think you really hear the difference between the dynasonics and filtertron pickups here. But the Falcon does have something extra in the clips in my opinion. I own proline Panther and have owned a couple of electromatics in the past. The electromatics are great guitars, but I agree that the materials and workmanship that goes into the proline are on another level. Is it necessary to get a proline? Definitely not. Is it a better experience? I think yes if you are an experienced enough player to appreciate it and value that better experience, and can afford it. Similar situation to owning a car or boat - you can get a $25k car that is perfectly fine and gets the job done well, no shame in that. Many people opt for the $50k car though that can afford it and value the better experience, materials, handling, reliability etc. I don’t see a a lot of videos shaming Acura owners when they could have bought a Honda :)
Exactly! Not necessary, but always a pleasure and a step up. Thanks for the comment!
Are those really Filtertrons and not the odd Gretschbucker or whatever they were called? They don't sound like it. Actually they sound like pretty badly mumbly and slightly bandpassy humbuckers while Filtertrons generally are very clear and articulate.
Falcons are gorgeous. I just bought a Gretsch g5622t and it is a damn great guitar. Can't afford a falcon but maybe one day
i've got an electromatic for a year, and its fun and got great songs, so play it and gets best from it. Ben thanks for the advice
I'm not a good guitarist, I only play to amuse myself, but I think I can relate this way. I am a fairly good photographer and I use only professional gear. The lenses I use cost around $3K and bodies around $2K to $3K. I'm not going to use brand names but the image quality from third-party lenses that cost less than half of what I use looks really good until matched side by side with the professional series lens then there is a noticeable difference, not much but noticeable. Having said that I have done some of my most notable work with absolute worn out bottom of the line gear simply because I know how to get the best out of it. I have an Electromatic that feels, looks and sounds great to me because it is far more capable than I am, and I doubt that doubt that I will ever be able to push it to its limit. Anyway, that is my take on it. Thanks for an interesting video.
The White Falcon sounds much more rich. The low end is pristine, like velvet. Electromatic is good too, just different for sure. Thanks for a killer comparison!
Eyy! You showcased the possibilities of these guitars nicely, with your playing!. Gretschs have a conservative look, but also have a quality distinctive sound, that is specific to the Gretsch brand!
I just got an Electromatic G5427 about a month and a half ago. The neck is super fast, the pickups sound great, the color is striking (I went with Midnight Sapphire--the GC exclusive color), and the vibe is spot-on. This is more than enough Gretsch for me, and I find it very compelling hanging on my wall. I pick it up way more than I anticipated. Great video.
heck yeah. Shoot I got a used beat up electromatic. Someone even bashed a hole into the side of it. It looks super phucked up!
Guess what? Still rocks harder than most guitars. Even when damaged these things perform 100% lol.
Brother! This is amazing! Thank you for this!
Bro! Your sounds that you have there are amazing. It is literally the sound that I have longed for forever!!! How did you get that sound??? I have tried, but just can't seem to get there! Jesus loves you bro!
Ben, I had a dream I was leading worship with the elecromatic guitar. Thinking maybe God is telling me I should get one, most likely not. But I look it up and can’t find it anywhere 😭 I can’t afford it right now anyways so…. I’ll just go cry on the inside now.
Great video! 👍🏻😊
Haha excellent comment, thank man 🙏🏽
Good video! You didn't talk about the pickups but those in the WF are the Dynasonics, some say the best Gretsch pickups ever. About two years ago I got a used 2004 G5129T Electromatic that has the Dynasonics and I love them. I don't know why Gretsch dropped that model and now only offers those pickups in the WF. OK, to me the extra $$$ is not worth it. The Electromatics are great guitars and the WF is exceptional but for so much more it is not worth it to me. My G5129T sounds fantastic and plays great and I will keep it forever.
Yeah Falcon sound was on another level. Even on my phone speaker I felt that.
Oh wow!
Wow !!! That sounds amazing, lovely playing, yea man 😍🎸👌🔥🔥🔥
that was a sick jam. thanks for not playing blues. I need more reviews like that.
Thanks! More like this on my channel 🤙🏽
Hats off to a great review and picking.
Thank you Ben.
Happy owner of a rat rod here. Big difference is scale lenght! White Falcon still a dream guitar
The Falcon definitely feels bigger because of the body but yeah also the scale length. Electromatics are often a little easier for me to play personally, due to the shorter scale!
Dude that intro was sick!
Thank you!
You are an amazing player! I’ll follow you for inspiration!
Thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Wow actually yeah that is a super massive difference. I want one of these so bad.
So stoked I own this falcon 🙏🏼
You proved your point. Great intro.
Aha thanks
Your fingers are like magic on both guitars
Haha thank you!
Love your music man. Reminds me of Love-era Cult.
1:33 outro is absolutely exquisite.
Even without headphones I heard the difference❤❤❤ falcon really deserves
🙏🏼
Great video. I thought both guitars sounded great. Better is so subjective.... as you said different tools for different jobs.
The White Falcon has a brighter sound but I wonder if the difference could be minimized with some tone knobs. Also, I think the Electromatic has more layers of wood laminate in the body construction and that may contribute to the darker sound. Pick ups are definately voiced different. I have and Electromatic 5422TG with the double cutaway. It is a great instrument with a wide range of tones and a very comfortable playable neck.
Yeah the pickups will be the biggest factor in my opinion!
I had a Pro Series Gretsch but gave it away because it was too good for me. I missed it, so I bought an Electromatic but I still missed it. "That feel". I stumbled upon another Japan Gretsch, played it, and there it was. The thing I was missing. Just playing it unplugged, the resonance, the whatever it was that made me miss the one I gave away, was there. That feel. I bought it. It is too good for me, yes, but I deserve it anyway :)
Nope. Fuck that. It's NOT too good for you. It's the exact right amount of good.
Gosh Stephan, I wish you were my friend and had given it to me. 😉
My favorite Gretsch is the Brian Setzer sparkle green Hot Rod. Holy crap I bonded with that guitar. But it's 3,200 bucks so I'm going to go with a 5420 instead at 800 bucks. Not the same, but still, it will scratch the itch and sound pretty good!
The Falcon seems to have more body and clarity to the tone. Great video.
Yeah I agree!
Dynasonics... vs black top filtertrons
From my experience the black tops are a bit higher output and dirtier than the regular filtertrons. So a bit fatter than Dynasonics.
Man, that Falcon is special. You can tell just by the way you hold it. It looks incredible. And the tone is so rich. The Electromatic sounds.... OK by comparison. I think there's an argument to be made for saving up for the instrument that truly inspires you to play. To be fair, I just got a killer deal on an Electromatic 5222 Double Jet from my local shop, and I've been blown away at the quality of the guitar for the price. It's hard to put it down.