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Pros:
- Wonderful pickups
- Stays in tune for a long time
- Beautiful sound
Cons:
- Chambered body (just in case that’s a con for you)
I have always been eager to find out as much as I can about the history of different guitar manufacturers. I don’t know why but knowing where they came from and what they achieved throughout the years makes me feel connected to them on a whole different level. Learning about their success and failures always forces me to move forward and do my best to achieve my goals. After all, they prove that nothing is unattainable to human desire.
Gretsch is one of those companies that made a lot of impact on the music world as a whole. They have created some of the most legendary guitars and acquired the name “The Great Gretsch Sound”. I don’t think their legacy will ever be forgotten, especially considering the fact that they continue creating wonderful pieces, even at affordable prices. Their Electromatic G5425 Jet Club proves that sometimes you can encounter unexpected qualities while surfing the lower range. Let’s discuss in my opinion the best guitar under 300 in this category.
Build
At first glance, Gretsch G5425 Jet Club might seem like an ordinary electric guitar. But as you start exploring its features carefully, you notice that it has some interesting properties up its sleeve. Plus, it has several exciting qualities that will surprise and please you once you remember the price of this fella.
This bad boy has a chambered basswood body with an arched laminated maple top. It’s covered with a gloss polyester finish, which adds a shiny touch to the design and, at the same time, protects it from damage. Maple neck and rosewood fingerboard are extremely well-made – you won’t find any rough edges, uneven patches, or anything that might make the playing uncomfortable. The fretboard is finished with 22 medium jumbo frets and Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail inlays. The scale length is 24.6 inches, giving this fella a typical measurement.
Hardware
The hardware is where G5425 Jet Club reveals its virtues once again. This fella has a Pearloid pickguard with a Gretsch logo. It looks extremely attractive on the black body – with such a simple addition this guitar gains an expensive appeal. More importantly, it has an Adjusto-Matic bridge and a stop tailpiece. These two guarantee even vibrations throughout the strings. Chrome die-cast tuning pegs and chrome G-arrow controls complete the design of the hardware. The nut measures 1.6875 inches, which is somewhere in the middle between too much and too little spacing between the strings.
Electronics
I have to tell you honestly that the G5425 Jet Club has left me surprised in terms of electronics, as well. I honestly didn’t expect such quality here, but Gretsch managed to incorporate quality electronics even in an affordable package. We have Gretsch dual-coil humbuckers on the neck and bridge positions. These are combined with Master Volume and Master Tone controls. There’s also a three-way switch that enables you to choose various combinations of the pickups: Bridge, Bridge + Neck, and Neck. You won’t have to change a thing with the electronics of G5425 and that, my friend, is the biggest compliment I can think of.
Gretsch G5425 Sound
I’m sure you’ll remember that Gretsch G5425 features a chambered basswood body. Not only does it affect the weight of the guitar, but it also determines the sound. Luckily, it doesn’t have negative effects, at least not with this model. With a chambered tonewood, this fella becomes pristine and clean. Pickups contribute to that process a great deal, as well. Once you decide to utilize some overdrive, you’ll hear the warmth that the majority of us worship. This puppy can easily beat a couple of guitars way up its price range and that’s probably why it’s so wonderful.
Conclusion
No matter how hard I tried to find the flaws of the Gretsch Electromatic G5425 Jet Club, I failed, big time. The only thing some of you might dislike is its chambered body, but I think it works quite well with this guitar. In other words, this puppy is virtually faultless, especially considering its price. Electronics, sound, built – everything is superb here. If you’re on a budget and sound is your priority, then G5425 is easily the best affordable option you can get. If I were you, I would have already bought it. Good luck!
