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Gretsch G5420T Electromatic Classic Hollowbody Single-cut Electric Guitar with Bigsby - Walnut Stain Demo

Hollowbody Electric Guitar with Maple Top, Back, and Sides, Maple Neck, Laurel Fingerboard, 2 Humbucking Pickups, and Bigsby B60 Vibrato - Walnut Stain
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$679.00
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Condition Notes:

This guitar has a finish crack on the treble side of the neck pocket. There may be fine scratches that do not show up well in our Guitar Gallery photos.

This item was thoroughly inspected by our factory-authorized service team and is backed by Sweetwater's exclusive 2-year warranty. These images are of the exact item advertised, and provide as accurate a representation of its condition as possible. If you need further information, please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.

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Gretsch G5420T Electromatic Classic Hollowbody Single-cut Electric Guitar with Bigsby - Walnut Stain
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Classic Gretsch Tone in an Affordable Hollowbody

Treat yourself and audiences to decades of delectable Gretsch tone with the G5420T Electromatic Classic Hollowbody Single-cut Electric Guitar. Incredibly affordable yet loaded with professional features, the G5420T Electromatic boasts vintage-voiced FT-5E Filter'Tron humbucking pickups, an Adjusto-matic bridge, and a Bigsby B60 vibrato for the subtle pitch modulation that has become synonymous with Gretsch. A 3-way pickup switch and four controls — including a master volume equipped with a treble-bleed circuit for chimey highs at all volumes — ensure you'll have no problem conjuring the legendary tones the G5420T Electromatic was built for.

Bright and spanky FT-5E Filter'Tron pickups

When you want that classic '50s-era archtop guitar tone, you need real Gretsch humbuckers. That's why Gretsch outfitted the G5420T Electromatic with a pair of FT-5E Filter'Tron pickups. Unlike most humbuckers, these traditional Gretsch pickups yield a characteristically bright and open sound that's jangly on your highs with added single-coil-esque bite. With their robust character and trademark cut, the Gretsch FT-5E Filter'Tron humbuckers keep you ready for everything from rockabilly and country to blues and classic rock.

Exceptionally flexible electronics

The G5420T Electromatic allows you to pull off a lot of tonal tricks. Volume controls for each pickup help you create a perfect balance between warmth, bite, and brilliance when both pickups are engaged. The master tone control lets you fine-tune your sound once you've got the pickups dialed in. Thanks to the master volume control, you can take your tube amp from clean to growling without changing the balance between your pickups. And of course, you'll get sweet tone from the neck and bridge pickups individually.

Redesigned trestle-block bracing

Traditionally, trestle-braced guitars feature two U-shaped braces that run parallel from the neck joint to the bridge, simultaneously bracing the top and the back. This pattern enhances sustain and resonance but falls victim to feedback. Now, Gretsch unveils a new trestle block bracing design that enhances the performance of the fan-favorite trestle bracing pattern. Trestle-block bracing facilitates more contact between the top and back while adding extra stiffness to the traditional design. Trestle-block bracing flaunts a quick, snappy attack, more sustain, and greater resonance — all without the dreaded hollowbody feedback.

Smooth vibrato action

Nothing beats the character and vintage vibe that the Bigsby-style tailpiece adds to the G5420T Electromatic. Based on the original design created by Paul A. Bigsby, the B60 vibrato requires next to no effort to use, making it particularly easy to pull off slow, subtle, and extended bends. You'll be able to bend into notes, give full chords vintage-sounding modulation, and imbue single notes with a character that isn't attainable through other setups. Sweetwater guitarists agree: a vibrato like this is critical when channeling that coveted Gretsch sound.

Gretsch G5420T Electromatic Classic Hollowbody Single-cut Electric Guitar Features:

  • Single-cutaway hollowbody electric guitar
  • Laminated maple top, back, and sides add snap and definition to your sound
  • FT-5E Filter'Tron pickups deliver classic Gretsch punch and twang
  • Trestle-block bracing pattern enhances sustain and cuts feedback
  • Master volume equipped with a treble-bleed circuit retains high-end shimmer when rolled back
  • Bigsby-licensed B60 vibrato offers subtle pitch modulation
  • Trestle-block bracing enhances sustain while eliminating feedback
  • Binding on fingerboard and soundholes adds class and distinction

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

What is Demo Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call a "demo" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

What demo means to us is that we've had it out of the box, or maybe it was in a customer's hands for a few days and isn't "factory fresh" as a result. Every demo item we sell has Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty, and has been tested and verified up to "new" specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it's in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

Note: While demo items from Gretsch do not include the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation warranty, you can shop with confidence knowing that this item is backed and covered by Sweetwater’s 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty.

When you buy a Demo item at Sweetwater, you get:
  • 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty™!
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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Hollowbody
  • Body Shape Electromatic Classic
  • Body Material Laminated Maple
  • Top Material Arched Laminated Maple
  • Body Finish Gloss
  • Color Walnut Stain
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Maple
  • Neck Shape Classic C
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 12"
  • Fingerboard Material Laurel
  • Fingerboard Inlay Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnails
  • Number of Frets 22
  • Scale Length 24.6"
  • Nut Width 1.6875"
  • Nut Material Graph Tech NuBone
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Secured Laurel Base, Bigsby B60 Vibrato Tailpiece
  • Tuners Vintage-style Open Gear
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup FT-5E Filter'Tron Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup FT-5E Filter'Tron Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume, 1 x master volume (Treble bleed), 1 xmaster tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings Nickel Plated Steel, .011-.049
  • Case/Gig Bag Sold Separately
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 2506115517

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

First Hollow Body

This was my first hollow body. It was between this and an epiphone casino. I went with this because I've always wanted an electromatic. It does not disappoint. After playing it once, I wondered why I never bought a hollow body before. Great tone, great feeling. An absolutely dream of a guitar. My other guitars have taken a backseat to this. Wish I had gotten the blue over the walnut (looks like my grandmothers dining table) but that's the worst thing about this. Love it.
Music background: Producer/Guitarist
Rated 4.5/5

Nice hollow body

Overall very happy with this purchase. Works well for rhythm with leads worked in. Tuning stability is about what you would expect with a Bigsby. I don't have to re-tune all the time, but it's something I'm very conscious of. The Filter'Trons give you the Gretsch sound. They don't sound like the typical humbuckers, which is what I wanted. Watch the demos to make sure they are what you want. Fit and finish are good - I get a lot of compliments on how it looks.
Playability is great. The neck is thick enough to make chords comfortable. I have small hands and have a hard time reaching above the 15th fret. That's not what I got this guitar for though. Otherwise very comfortable to play and light enough to play for a long time without a backache.
The only real issue I have is that the pots are pretty much on or off unless the volume is up quite a bit. It's not terrible, but I would have liked a little more sensitivity.
I'm happy with the purchase. It fit the need I got it for. It's fun to play and sounds good.
Rated 4/5

Very good but quirky

Most paid reviewers will say that these guitars are built way better than other guitars in the same price category. I agree but they do have their issues. First the good: The setup and action are fantastic. The build quality is superb. The Ft-5E Filter'Tron pups are bright and clear. The neck is fast and the fretwork is top notch. The finish and binding are almost impeccable. The tuners are good and well finished. The quirks: It's a gloss finish so the neck is a little tacky if you like natural or satin finishes. Tuning a Bigsby is similar to a strat but less stable with use. The pups are bright and not ideal for a traditional jazz sound. However, it can be attained. These sound somewhere between a tele and a P90 without the hum and thin compared to a standard hb. The individual volume pots go 10-6-3-off at low volume. At gig levels, they are a bit more sensitive so it's easier to blend the pups in the middle position. But for practice levels, they're fairly useless. The master volume is fine. The tone has a weird sweep but it is usable. Only flaw, tried to include it in the photo, is that the stain didn't get under the neck. I don't care but I know this would drive some people insane.

Yes it's worth the money. It looks great if that's your thing. It'll play any style of music very well. The guitar itself sounds and is built very well. It feels better than the Gibson Les Paul 60s studio that I owned. I don't need to change the pups or the pots. I sanded and polished the neck to make it slick. And if the tuning bothers me, I can get a trapeze tailpiece for $18 on Amazon. It's still cheaper than getting a streamliner and changing the pups. (Although those pups are better for jazz). If you want a warmer sound, look to models that still have the broadtron pups. I'm used to teles and strats so I like my tone a little too bright and not having to dime the tone knob. I'm very happy with it.
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