I just picked up a used one of these. Found it at a guitar center in the middle of Arkansas while on a trip. Immediately fell in love, having never even played a Gretsch before. I walked in wanting a Jazz bass. I walked out with the same bass as in this video. It has flats on it. I've never owned a bass that I've loved the tone or look of so much!
@@andyryan_media I find that using one of the old school coiled cables , helps balance the bass a bit.. I bought a Vox coiled cable for my hollow body bass and it seems to help with this issue. The Vox cable has got some weight to it.
I got one a couple of months ago and I cannot get my hand off it. Put some LaBella's flats on it and the tone its just glorious. Punchy and very dinamic pups, and confortable neck (some neck dive tho) Beautiful instrument!
This is the best bass I ever used. Every time I play any other bass I feel alienated and a bit lost. But when I play the Gretsch G5440LSB I feel like I can do anything.
The late Peter Tork of The Monkees played one similar to this early on in the Monkees. The headsock was different because the tuners were all on one side and the body might have been a little thinner.He said he switch to a Guild Bass because his Gretsch would feedback
Are those the original round wound strings on the Gretsch Bass or did you change them? Btw, I enjoy all of your demos immensely. Keep up the great work.
This bass would do pretty well for the softer songs of those artists (think Ramble On), but you'd probably do better with a p or a j bass since those were used on 90% of all the records at that time.
Yeah, for LZ I’d definitely go with a jazz bass on most of their songs. The Who is pretty hard to get but a P bass would probably suffice, at least for the early stuff.
If you play loud it’s going to feed back like mad and probably drive you nuts. That is why those bands always used solid bodies. This is definitely not a high gain/volume bass.
Hi Dan Thank you for the excellent review. I've had my eye on one of these for a rather long time but they are not carried in any store in my state so no chance to hear it live. Love the tones. Is it easy to play? How is the action out of the box? Can you get it pretty low? cheers
you get used to the neck dive but I have used a longer strap with a head stock strap when standing. Takes some getting used to but I don't even think about it now
I just purchased this bass. Really wanting to put some flat wound strings on it. What brand do you all recommend and what gauges? I believe the website states they are shipped with 45 to 100s. Currently leaning towards the LaBella Deep Talking Bass strings 45 to 105s.
Je ne supporte pas les frettes, et encore moins sur ce genre d'instrument qui s'en passe volontier, je pense...(un gain de temps pour le luthier et une économie pour une touche fretless)
This is the only hollow-body that sounds like a hollow-body. Not to say hollow-bodies don't have a distinct sound, but it's mostly just very subby. But this truly sounds hollow. I can hear the wood. Must be in the size? Or is it that the neck is a separate piece like an upright?
So, what Funk bass player buys this bass? None. Play roots rock on it bro. , That bass wants flats as well. Do you play Creedence when reviewing Warwick and Alembic basses? :)
@@jamesjonathanbrowne9528 cuz the ones made in the US are the best that was never in question, and vintage stuff usually has a bigger price tag by default, it’s the exact same case with fender guitars, a made in USA 1965 strat is going to be worth a lot more than a 2017 made in Japan one, doesn’t mean the Japanese one isn’t good
I just picked up a used one of these. Found it at a guitar center in the middle of Arkansas while on a trip. Immediately fell in love, having never even played a Gretsch before. I walked in wanting a Jazz bass. I walked out with the same bass as in this video. It has flats on it. I've never owned a bass that I've loved the tone or look of so much!
That's awesome, nothing better than a good find!
@@bucklaflin5837 and now nearly a year later, my opinion has not changed 😍
Is it neck heavy?
@@douglasboyd8475 yes. I don't mind too much but it is hard to balance it
@@andyryan_media I find that using one of the old school coiled cables , helps balance the bass a bit.. I bought a Vox coiled cable for my hollow body bass and it seems to help with this issue. The Vox cable has got some weight to it.
I got one a couple of months ago and I cannot get my hand off it. Put some LaBella's flats on it and the tone its just glorious. Punchy and very dinamic pups, and confortable neck (some neck dive tho) Beautiful instrument!
Hi. What amp are you using? I'm a guitarist looking for a bass. This thing looks promising.
This is the best bass I ever used. Every time I play any other bass I feel alienated and a bit lost. But when I play the Gretsch G5440LSB I feel like I can do anything.
The late Peter Tork of The Monkees played one similar to this early on in the Monkees. The headsock was different because the tuners were all on one side and the body might have been a little thinner.He said he switch to a Guild Bass because his Gretsch would feedback
Just picked this one up this week! Great bass! Great reivew!
RJ Gibson , quick questions - is it finished with nitro or poly? Is the finish thick or thin? I’m evaluating it as I would an acoustic guitar. Thanks.
@@MusicStudent1 Gloss poly thin
I've had this bass for a year now and I love everything about it. I just want to change the filtertrons with tv jones thundertrons.
5:28 6:28 7:38
Ok....I want this beautiful instrument. I can envision me playing this for hours.
I've never loved the sound of a pick on a bass but this sounds so warm and amazing. Beautiful guitar. Thanks for the great review of it.
Listen to Steve Swallow. He might change your mind.
There's no better sound than flatwounds with a pick, tbh.
Is It either Fret Buzz, or a Buzzing Amp. on the lower end???????
love this review!!! the bass of my dreams
“Hi, it’s Dan here once again down in my basement”
BASSment
Are those the original round wound strings on the Gretsch Bass or did you change them? Btw, I enjoy all of your demos immensely. Keep up the great work.
I’m guessing this will be a good choice after having multiple back surgeries.
No. A good choice would be piccolo.
Hello how does she do as far as feedback? I'm worried that if I play this at high volumes I might suffer feedback since it is a hollow body.
Would this work for playing classic rock? I mainly play the who, led zeppelin, Bob seger, etc. Any input is valued
This bass would do pretty well for the softer songs of those artists (think Ramble On), but you'd probably do better with a p or a j bass since those were used on 90% of all the records at that time.
Yeah, for LZ I’d definitely go with a jazz bass on most of their songs. The Who is pretty hard to get but a P bass would probably suffice, at least for the early stuff.
If you play loud it’s going to feed back like mad and probably drive you nuts. That is why those bands always used solid bodies. This is definitely not a high gain/volume bass.
It’d sound good on some Bob Seger tunes
Hi Dan
Thank you for the excellent review.
I've had my eye on one of these for a rather long time but they are not carried in any store in my state so no chance to hear it live.
Love the tones.
Is it easy to play?
How is the action out of the box? Can you get it pretty low?
cheers
Great review, thanks.
Great review.
Is it neck heavy?
Love the bass. Anyone have issues with it being head heavy? Wonder if I’ll get use to playing it standing … any way to counter balance it?
I'm kinda get a pbass jbass vibe with this bass. Kinda curious how it takes slight overdrive
People are seemingly far more accepting of fret buzz than I am
Does it balance on a strap?????????????? IMPORTANT!
Have you tried it on strap? Is it neck heavy? Nice Review!
Every hollow body will most likely neck dive
Yes it is neck heavy, but you get used to it. I have this exact one.
you get used to the neck dive but I have used a longer strap with a head stock strap when standing. Takes some getting used to but I don't even think about it now
Just what I wanted to know. So important. Why don’t these guys ever report this. Probably because they are being paid by the makers.
I just purchased this bass. Really wanting to put some flat wound strings on it. What brand do you all recommend and what gauges? I believe the website states they are shipped with 45 to 100s. Currently leaning towards the LaBella Deep Talking Bass strings 45 to 105s.
Is this long scale or short scale version?
Long scale, the "lsb" thing in the model actually stands for long scale bass.
Yes there is a short scale model
sadly Tbomann never had these only the Junior Jet II which is what i will buy.
Je ne supporte pas les frettes, et encore moins sur ce genre d'instrument qui s'en passe volontier, je pense...(un gain de temps pour le luthier et une économie pour une touche fretless)
Stupid to me how they make some with the painted on f hole. This one seems like the real deal
Oooof! Shut up and take my money!
What will be better? A $999 Gretsch Electromatic or a $699 Warwick Rockbass $$?
This is the only hollow-body that sounds like a hollow-body. Not to say hollow-bodies don't have a distinct sound, but it's mostly just very subby. But this truly sounds hollow. I can hear the wood. Must be in the size? Or is it that the neck is a separate piece like an upright?
Might be the Gretsch pickups. Single coils I think. So less mud.
@@jazzman1954 they have two rows of poles, so they're humbuckers, but afaik they're low impedance - which means they're probably very underwound
Thingaloo oh. Ok.
Most hollow bodies are also short-scale. Short-scales have lower string tension which gives them a darker tone.
Tim Sköld bass
UNPLUGGED?
😮❤️
Keep calling it The Gretsch Electromatic lol.
Lots of Gretsch models are called that.
The model you have is the G5440LSB.
Is this a review or a sales pitch?
Sounds like Rickenbacker...actually eyes shut, it is a Rick!
It's sad that it's not produced left handed.
Carlo Marchiori learn to play it backwards like Jimi Hendrix...
Put some flats on it and you have a bass.
I hate roundwounds so much. If it isn't some modern-style bass, no idea why you'd put rounds on it.
So, what Funk bass player buys this bass? None. Play roots rock on it bro. , That bass wants flats as well. Do you play Creedence when reviewing Warwick and Alembic basses? :)
Haha , that's so wierd...
Shame it's made in Korea.
Why? They are way better than China- or Indonesian-made guitars. Second only to Japanese quality.
@@Blech319 How come a made in USA Gretch that is older is worth morr than a brand new like model? Think about that.
@@jamesjonathanbrowne9528 cuz the ones made in the US are the best that was never in question, and vintage stuff usually has a bigger price tag by default, it’s the exact same case with fender guitars, a made in USA 1965 strat is going to be worth a lot more than a 2017 made in Japan one, doesn’t mean the Japanese one isn’t good