Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT Electric Guitar - Dark Cherry Metallic Reviews

Flawless... she growls, literally growls. I'm in love.

Only one word is needed to sum up my review of my new Gretsch 5220. In over 50 years of playing this is the first guitar I ever bought without playing it first and I was "fretting" to say the least. I spoke to a couple of guys at Sweetwater before I finally made the plunge. The shopping could not have been easier. The shipping department took extra pains to make sure all the products arrived without issue. The 55 point inspection was not a gimmic, but each person checking the instrument did their part to make sure everything was right.
This guitar is incredible. Out of the box the playability could not be better. A little tuning and I was ready to play. This Gretsch is everything it's advertised to be and more. I so appreciate everyone at Sweetwater for the extra you put forth to make sure your customers are 100% Satisfied. If I ever have the need for another guitar, (I have several) I will not hesitate to trust the folks at Sweetwater. My buying experience and the product gets 5 Stars.

This guitar was the least expensive of the 3 guitars I have purchased recently, but overall is the most impressive. I know everyone has a preference for neck shape that they like the best, but this one is the one that fits me the best. It has a different tonal range than my Les Paul, but is every bit as impressive in what I am able to get out of it, especially because it is so easy to play, making me always relaxed when I am playing it. It is a beautifully finished guitar, and will hold its own in that department when compared to any I own. Every control adjusts smoothly. They are well placed an just seem to be right there when you need them.
This jewel may be one of the best kept and most impressive secrets of the guitar world! Especially when you consider the price, I would advise anyone who is looking for a "Les Paul" style and sized guitar to buy one! I own a Gibson Les Paul also and the Gretsch is a MUCH better buy. It will not disappoint!

I was watching U Tube videos on resent guitar's and found one that said the Gretschs Les Paul style electric was giving Gibson a run for it's money. That's a pretty tall tree to climb. So I started checking out the tone woods on the Gretsch. Mahogany body and neck with black walnut on the fingerboard. All are ready good tone woods for a electric guitar.To make a long story short I bought one. What a beautiful guitar. My buety is the Dark Cherry. The craftsmanship is flawless. I can't find a thing wrong. I didn't need to have a setup done . The neck is true and she rings like a bell. If you get a chance to play one you will see what I mean. I want to say Thank you too Andy Miller and all who had a hand in my purchase at Sweetwater you are the best.

This is generally the first guitar I grab for playing around the house or to take to a show. I have no clue how they could make a guitar this good for such a great price, but Gretsch never ceases to amaze me. I have a vintage 1962 jet (pictured on the far left) that's a beast, but somehow this one just has some charm to it that I keep coming back to. Worth every penny!

Pictures won't do it justice, it looks amazing. It plays effortlessly and sounds like dream. I won't ever regret this purchase. Bonus, is the amazing customer service.

I've been looking a Gretsch for awhile and, this one caught my eye. After reading and, watching some reviews I pulled the trigger and, am I glad I did! I have Fender's, Gibson's, PRS, Danelectro,a Variax500, but didn't have Gretsch, why? I really don't know but, now that has changed. This guitar bottom line is Beautiful! Craftmanship 5star all the way. Feel and, sound Superb! I love playing it, balanced feel, and, I don't use strap locks but, this guitar has them built in, I like them! Just read the description of this instrument and, the reviews you'll see why this guitar should be in your studio collection! I always take my Strat to gig and, a guitar that has humbuckers, it's just what I do. The first gig I did with it blew me away, through a tube amp or solid state it performs beautifully! Handles all FX perfectly. I highly recommend this guitar to anyone, it is Superb!

I have been watching this guitar for a while now, and I was considering it, a PRS SE Starla and some others, and when there was a demo Gretsch Jet available, I pulled the trigger. Man, I'm glad I did, I love this guitar, and she has become my go-to instrument. The playability and tones from this thing are amazing. The neck feels incredible and the neck/body balance is perfect. I think my next purchase will be the same guitar with the Bigsby!

The service I received from Sweetwater has been outstanding. My new guitar was packaged for delivery in more than adequate protection. There were even instructions on the box to keep the packaging unopened for 24 hours so that the guitar will be at room temperature before opening.
I got a phone call and an email from A Sweetwater representative.
I’m thrilled with my new guitar. The action on the neck is perfect. The sound is perfect.

I know this is not an expensive guitar by many standards, but it's the nicest electric I have ever owned. At best, I consider myself an intermediate level living room guitarist. My ability cannot do this guitar justice, but it sounds great (to my untrained ear). The finish and quality surpassed my expectations, and it looks even better in person than it did in the professional photos that made me want it in the first place.

i just got this yesterday, it came well packaged and in great condition, setup was perfect!!i've been wanting a Gretsch for some time,but cant afford the high dollar stuff. this thing played great right out of the box,i play thru a peavey bandit 112, it sounds great for the classic rock i play, and even some of the early metal. and the clean, WOW switch to both pu's or just the neck and it has a full, deep sound, beautiful. i just put it thru it's paces and i have to say, i am 100% pleased with this guitar.and sweetwater service is exceptional!!

08-16-19

I just received my new Gretsch G5220 Dark Cherry Metallic guitar yesterday from Sweetwater, and it did
not disappoint. The build quality is truly amazing at this price point. I own everything from a 1959 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Standard Reissue, all the way down to this new guitar. And I have to say I am impressed with it. I first saw one of these in a local music store, and the moment I saw it, I was captured by the dark cherry metallic paint that has just the right amount of sparkle to it. Next, the guitar feels very good and is well balanced. The one I picked, and the reason I chose it, was that it has the best fretboard color with a very nice dark evenly colored board throughout the whole neck. The walnut on this one has the perfect grain and texture to it. The inlays look very good with a nice pearly look in the light. The guitar sounds, plays, and looks great! The only thing I did, was adjust the intonation on the B & low E strings slightly. I will take this to my long time guitar Tech, Steve Hickerson in Tulsa and have him set it up for me. He is the Master at that. I also bought the Deluxe Gretsch hardshell case for it, that's made by TKL Cases, and it was in perfect condition. It looks very classy with the dark red plush interior, and the gold tone Gretsch logo on the side. I want to throw out a very big thank you to my Sweetwater Sales Engineer, Josh Lively, who has been so very patient with me in my search for the next guitar in my collection, and the great deals he does for me. I want to thank Chuck Surack at Sweetwater for having the Guitar Gallery, so that I am able to see and buy the exact guitar I will be getting. This helps tremendously in my guitar buying. I can never buy a guitar again sight unseen, without seeing it like Sweetwater allows us to do with the Gallery. I am very picky, and this new Gretsch is going to be a joy and a keeper in my collection now of 32 guitars. This new Gretsch is awesome! Get one, and tell Josh Lively I sent you.

First gretsch I have owned and I am impressed. Plays smooth, price is awesome, and it seems to help me achieve the sound I have been chasing for a while now. I have been playing worship music with a Strat. This Guitar simplifies my playing by being able to achieve the tones I need with pick attack more so than adjusting all of the knobs and switches on my strat. It"s all personal preference but, Im a fan now and thanks to Kevin Spunde for taking care if me.

11/6/2018

Fantastic guitar. Pickups are warm or deep to bright, nice tones. Classic look, slim body, very comfortable neck. Action is low, good tension. Comes with 10"s , but I switched to 9"s.
Setup up was perfect. No booklet came with it, so I had to search the Gretsch websight for control knob configuration. It"s different from any guitar I have. I only play clean, and it does sound good clean. I don"t know how it handles distortion. That"s not my thing.
I have 3 teles, strat, Ibanez AS73, and Ephiphone les paul traditional II, a Taylor 210, and a off brand acoustic I inherited. The Gretsch is my 10th probadly (according to my wife) my final guitar, . I play these as a hobby. My gigging guitar is a Fender blacktop Jazz 4 string bass with a local band, traditional country. But I love this guitar, it"s gorgeous and joy to play.

Went out shopping for a Les Paul and came home with this. After narrowing down to two, I turned my back, headphones on, the shop owner played 4 differant passages on this and the Gibson. I raised my hand to signal the sound I liked best. When finished, I was told that I selected this guitar everytime. There are other factors when buying a guitar but this one deserves a test drive. I personally love it. Went out shopping for Les Paul and came home with this. After narrowing down to two, I turned my back, headphones on, the shop owner played 4 differant passages on this and the Gibson. I raised my hand to signal the sound I liked best. When finished, I was told that I selected this guitar everytime. There are other factors when buying a guitar but this one deserves a test drive. I personally love it.

this is one of the greatest sub $... guitars one can buy, the frets where pretty great, not sharp and only needed a slight polish. The construction is fantastic, very little paint on the binding and great work on the inlays. Its nice and light unlike most singlecuts. the neck is awesome, its rounded but not bulky. One of the best parts is the pickups. my plan was to just jam Seymore Duncan's in it the day after I got it but the pickups are fantastic. on of the only downsides are the tuners, they're jumpy and just feel cheap, also the strap buttons and the worst they just don't fit any strap.

Well made and came to me ready to play. Makes my Gibson Studio obsolete. Play through a Marshall dsl40cc, Ibanez tube screamer, and mini delay. Great for Pink Floyd.
Set up is great. I've received about 6 guitars and amps from Sweetwater and never disappointed. Thankful to a company that cares and great rep...Matt Emick.
Thanks so much, continue the great customer service.

Very nice looking guitar. It arrived with a very loose pickup and screw hanging out. Was told I could bring to tech and I would get up to $ towards the repair. Waiting time was going to be too long so I did some research. Took about 1/2 hour and I was able to make the repair myself. Turned out that the loose screw was supposed to be inside of a spring. It was not so the screw was just hanging. I made some adjustments for playability and it is great except for the buzz of the wire that is on the bridge. Maybe a little piece of wax will fix that.

I bought mine from Sweetwater a few years ago (in the dark cherry metallic finish) because I wanted to dip my toes into the water of Gretsch electric guitars without breaking the bank. Like other reviewers, I am very pleased and impressed with the quality of this guitar at this price point. To my eyes and hands the craftsmanship on the instrument itself is astonishing. This is a truly beautiful guitar in which I have never noticed even a single tiny flaw. And, as always, the service from Sweetwater is top shelf.

From the beginning, however, I was undazzled by the "Broadtron" pickups, which some others have described as muddy. I play clean more often than dirty, and always found the pups rather dull and lifeless. Additionally, the electronics and controls worked adequately but without much range or subtlety in variations of the tonal palette. I realized early on that if I kept this guitar I would at some point want to do a few upgrades.

I did indeed keep the guitar because its beauty and quality of craftsmanship continued to enchant me. Recently I took the plunge, replacing the pickups with Mojotone "Mojotron" Filtertron Classics, replacing all the electronics with CTS components, and -- for good measure -- replacing the tuners with Gotohs. Now my enchantment with this guitar is evolving into a more durable music-making love affair.

I heartily recommend this guitar to any prospective buyer, whether or not one ever wants to do any upgrades or falls in love with the instrument just the way it left the factory.

I already have Strats, Teles, LP's, etc... I was looking for something a little different to reignite the pilot light and breathe new air into my practice room and this guitar really helped. It was very inexpensive, but doesn't look or feel cheap at all. The top color looks like someone ate a bunch of glitter, stabbed themself and then bled out all over it. Sounds awful, but it looks pretty good. The back and sides are stained in a deeper walnut shade and that looks even better.
I had the folks at Sweetwater set it up before shipping it to me and they did a good job. The action is quite low, but still solo's well. The fingerboard is nice and smooth, not scratchy like rosewood. The inlays are set in perfectly and the neck and fret edges feel great. The nut is not very good and it pings. I will probably replace it. The volume and tone controls take some getting used to, but I wanted something a bit different and after a while, I adjusted and grew to like them. The pickups are what sets this guitar apart. They have a unique slightly upper mid-rangey sound that really cuts through for solos and they break up in a mean and nasty way, which I really like. You may not be able to use the same amp/effect settings used for a Strat or Les Paul, but take your time and you can dial up some really great sounds.
Overall, this is an awesome guitar with the only con I've found so far, is the nut. If I really wanted to nitpick, I would lose the glitter in the red paint as well.