If you’re into vintage guitars, you’ve probably seen some of Gretsch’s most iconic guitars like the Chet Atkins’s Country Gentleman model, or the White Falcon.
While often synonymous with those vintage large hollow/semi-hollow body guitars that you would see in the jazz, blues, and country genres, these days they have dozens of models available to suit any player looking for that classic Gretsch sound. What’s the difference between Gretsch’s G5120 Electromatic and the G5420T Electromatic?
| Features: | Gretsch G5120 Electromatic | Gretsch G5420T Electromatic |
|---|---|---|
| Price: | £500 ($581) | £648 ($753) |
| Fretboard: | Rosewood | Maple |
| Inlay Design: | Side Pearloid | Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail |
| Pickup: | Dual Coil Humbuckers | FT-5E Filter’Tron |
| Frets: | 22 | 22 |
Gretsch G5120 Electromatic
The Gretsch brand has long been known for its hollow-bodied guitars. These airy and open models provide the twang and brightness that country and rockabilly players want, along with more acoustic resonance and depth than solid-body guitars.
Gretsch’s Electromatic line is a mid-tier series; the Electromatic line is aimed at improving players who want a high-quality instrument but still don’t want to break the bank.
Gretsch’s G5120 model borrows most of its shape and styling from Gretsch’s legendary G6120. Played by guitar icons like Chet Atkins, George Harrison, and Johnny Marr, Gretsch’s G6120 has to be one of the most famous guitar models ever made. As its little brother, the G5120 keeps that iconic style, sound and shape while presenting a more affordable alternative for guitarists that are on a budget.
Gretsch’s reputation for unique designs with quality builds had carried over into every aspect of the G5120.
Design
Gretsch’s G5120 is a serious hollow-body guitar: the body measures 2.75in deep and 16in long! It is certainly a decent model for players of many sizes. It offers a noticeably different feel from many solid-body guitars that electric players prefer.
The body is made from laminated maple wood on the top, back, and sides. Laminated maple is a common choice for hollow-body guitars and is commonly used by brands like Gibson. Maple is used for its brighter tonal character, while the extra zing balances nicely with a warmer acoustic model of most hollow-body guitars.
The G5120’s neck is also made from laminated maple and topped with its fingerboard being 22-fret rosewood. If you’re a Gibson or Epiphone fan, then you will feel a sense of familiarity with the 24.6″ scale length and 1 11/16″ nut width as those measurements are quite similar to the standard dimensions used on a lot of Gibson and Epiphone guitars. The scale is slightly shorter than the Fender standard of 25.5″, allowing for smoother bending and faster runs up and down the neck.
Sound
If you’re in search of an unmistakably “Gretsch” guitar, this is probably as good as it gets for a Gretsch that’s less than £1,000. The G5120 delivers more than enough treble with ringing, bell-like clarity throughout the scale.
There isn’t quite the same glassiness or depth to the G5120 that you’ll find on premium Gretsch’s. If you’re not careful, you might drive this into piercing territory. However, this can be solved by rolling the tone knob off slightly or playing with a bit less attack is a quick remedy.
When overdriven or distorted, the G5120 delivers a clear and thick saturation that’s immediately different from other humbucking guitars. The bass is more focused and tighter, helping it to slice through any mix.
If you’re a hard rock and metal acolyte, then you will probably prefer guitars that produce a heavier, booming bass. However, if you want a guitar that catches your ear while being played clean and overdriven, then Gretsch’s G5120 is an outstanding choice.
Overall
The Gretsch’s G5120 hits all the hallmarks that you want from a Gretsch hollow-body guitar while staying well under the £1,000 price. Although some people may regard this guitar as the “budget version” or “little brother” of the G6120, the G5120 still delivers an outstanding experience in its own right.
Gretsch G5420T Electromatic
The Electromatic name itself dates right back to the 40s and was also used on a Japan-only range during the 80s.
While the specs of the Electromatic have changed since that period, prices have unsurprisingly crept up, too, and although the newer models are pretty much the same price as the 2015 guitars, starting around £700, they’re hardly a cheap ‘impulse’ buy for many guitarists.
Design
Gretsch’s single-cut G5420T is based on the classic 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body – the unforgettable ‘generic’ Gretsch we all drew in our school books. It features a new-to-Gretsch colour, that is Fairlane Blue, which is a deep metallic blue.
While the Streamliner Hollow Body featured just dual longitudinal top braces, Gretsch’s new G5420T, like the previous model, follows the ‘sound post’-style bracing with a pair of squared-edged and quite hefty longitudinal front braces, and a small square section block that has been placed centrally under the bridge connecting the top to the back.
Sound
Once you plug in the Gretsch G5420T, the top string response is a little soft and, while the pickups are height-adjustable, the pickguard needs to be removed to adjust the treble side.
When playing a Gretsch – especially taking into account lighter bracing – there’s an unpredictability that makes guitarists either love or loathes them. There’s a textural, grainy nature to the sound that can seem very lo-fi however with some reverb and amp-like tremolo, it can just sound other-worldly and ethereal.
Picking up the G5420T is kind of like playing an amped acoustic, which isn’t too far from what it actually is. It’s unpredictable, like the feedback, which can either be deemed heavenly or hellish, depending on the volume and stage environment. However, if you get it right, and the resonance supports your notes in a wonderfully rootsy organic fashion.
Overall
Gretsch’s G5420T is a well-made guitar that has Gretsch’s DNA running all the way through it for an incredibly affordable price. If you’re using a white G5420T on stage, you’d be hard-pressed to tell it apart from a White Falcon. Gretsch’s G5420T is a guitar that’s going to be noticed and get you noticed.
Conclusion
Both Gretsch models are pretty much the same guitar except the G5420 has an F-hole binding and humpblock inlays. And, of course, the Blacktop Filtertrons. When it comes to guitar quality, there’s no difference between them.