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(More customer reviews)I've been playing more than 25 years and have always admired the hollow-bodied electrics, but I've always let them pass because they were too far out of my price range. After playing acoustics almost exclusively over the past 15 years, I decided to get my hands back on an electric guitar. Not only is this one far less than I expected (an exceptional value!), but it is simply the most fun guitar I've ever played.
Being out of the electric market for a while, I wasn't quite sure where to begin. I found a guitar shop, wandered a bit, saw this one right away, and put it out of my mind (thinking it was out of my price range--the last time I priced hollow-bodies about 15 years ago, the cheapest ones were around $1,600). I eventually told one of the clerks about my musical history and preferences (playing 25+ years, rhythm, rockabilly, fingerstyle), and asked him to bring me a few instruments. This was the first one he brought me.
I plugged it in and started working the neck. The action was wonderful. The pickups captured the bright tones wonderfully, and hammer-ons and pull-offs were clear. This thing bends like a dream, and the Bigsby tremelo is simply sweet! I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with a typical whammy bar again. I was also amazed by how well this thing can sustain tones--some will resonate almost indefinately if you let them!
Since it is a hollow-body, you can play it without amplification, but don't expect the same fullness of sound that you'd find in a traditional acoustic guitar. Still, you can use it unplugged for informal settings or if you just want to get a bit of practice in without waking the neighbors. It's designed for amplification, so plug it in.
The acoustic resonance afforded by the full hollow-body construction gives it a full, bright sound and a bit of "twang" which is a characteristic of hollow-bodied guitars. It's not necessarily a distinctly country music sound--think of some of the guitar work on Chris Isaac's albums, or some of the early Beatles' work--but your certainly could use it for that genre. To hear someone put a similar hollow-bodied Gretsch through the ringer, listen to some tunes by the Stray Cats, or some of Brian Setzer's work.
I have big hands, and found the neck and the frets comfortable and fast along the whole length. I played a few other guitars that day, but ended up spending most of my time with the Gretsch 5120. At a minimum, find one at your favorite guitar shop and take it for a test drive. I think you'll find yourself falling in love with one of these beauties. I opted to take a new one out of the box rather than the one that was on the wall. I was surprised that the intonation (open to 12) was nearly perfect right out of the box. The folks at Gretsch took the time to set it up before they shipped it, and the instrument was immediately playable. I was impressed.
You will need to set it up (or have it set up for you) at least once, however. The bridge floats, and comes with a small piece of foam under it during shipping. You'll need to loosen all of the strings to get rid of the foam, so you'll need to set it up again after doing so. [If you buy online and either can't or don't want to do it yourself, take it to a local guitar shop. Setup should run from $20 to $50, depending on where you live.] Some people like to pin the bridge (keeping it fixed) by drilling the top of the guitar and the bottom of the bridge and inserting a small dowel, so the bridge cannot move out of position, but since intonation can vary if you change string weights, I'd recommend aganist it until you find the string configuration that works for you. If you want it pinned, take it to a music shop or find a luthier unless you have experience doing it. The simplest option will be to use a grease pen (or something else that can wash off) and mark around the corners of the bridge to note its prpoer position. Don't use a permanent marker unless you like the graffiti on the beautiful finish. Once it is set up, the best way to change the strings is one at a time (whole set, but remove and replace one string at a time) to keep tension on the neck and the bridge. Doing this will reduce the chance that the floating bridge will move, requiring that the instrument be set up again.
This is not the type of instrument you want to risk to a gig bag for protection. Definately get a hard case (you'll need a jumbo). Expect to drop an extra $100+ on that. It might be best to purchase a case from a local music shop, to make sure the case is a good fit for the instrument. You should neither need to force the case closed, nor should the instrument be too loose. With the lid closed and locked, gently shake the case with your guitar inside. If it fits properly, the instrument should not move around inside.
Dagnabbit! This is an awesome insturment, and a value far higher than the asking price. I've very glad that the Gretsch family got back a controlling share in the company--the quality shows! It's not only an attractive instrument, but it is simply fun to play. Since the purchase, I've played it more than any of my other guitars.
If you are purchasing yours this year (2008, or if you find a 2008 model still on the racks as we go into 2009 and beyond), the instrument should bear a special Gretsch 125th anniversary logo. I can't speak to whether or not these will have collector's value in the future, but I'm pleased to have one that commemorates this milestone in the maker's history.
Hey, it's only slightly more expensive than some entry-level guitars, and it is a professional quality instrument. It's well worth every penny! You will not be disappointed (unless you get upset that you didn't get one earlier).
On a final note, the model I purchased does not have a clear pick guard--it has a silver-grey one. I, for one, really like the contrast.
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