Gretsch G5022CWFE-12 Rancher Falcon Jumbo - White Reviews

Got this Gretsch Rancher Falcon 12 a few days ago, it was set up nice, the action was low with no fret buzz anywhere. Giged out with it at an acoustic only songwriters show today and it was a solid hit. Played against some acoustic six strings, a dobro, a Martin 6, a Guild 6 and a Nylon acoustic, the Falcon Rancher 12 was much louder and brighter than all the others. Pros & Cons: Comfortable body fit, neck a bit clubby like a Fender Jazz Bass but narrow enough to play lead runs with a pick, strings close enough together for fast single note work but too close for getting enough finger pick attack unless you have long strong nails or fine finger pickin add on claws. The head stock though large does not weigh the neck down when free, but the tuning pegs are so close together that you must use the tip of your fingers to turn them. At the acoustic only gig she was loud when strummed hard and very chimey when picked hard. The bass output was pretty deep for a 12 string. The looks got rave reviews at the gig. The cutaway will allow string access further than without but your gonna struggle after the 15th fret if you need speed. I felt no heavy weight on my shoulders. When received it, I played it through a Carvin AG100D Acoustic amp, bass treble, mid all flat and it sounded great, not boomy not shrill. The Fishman pre-amp is ok bare bones with treble mid, bass, volume & tuner. The tuner is pretty accurate. Con: you must use a triangular sound hole cover, which is not a common item to avoid stage feedback. There are many 12 Acoustics under the price I paid, and many over and it's not easy buying on-line before trying, but I got lucky and if I did not, Sweetwater would have made it good.

I play exclusively 12 strings. I've had Ovation, Michael Kelley, and Ltd, all of which are FANTASTIC guitars, but I never found one as comfortable to play and with such a pure sound as this Falcon!! Buy the guitar .. you won't be disappointed.... They say money can't buy happiness, but it can buy guitars, and that's kinda the same thing.

I love this guitar more each time I play it!
It's easy to tune. It stays in tune.
It fills the room with jangly goodness.
Unplugged or through my amp, it sounds great. It looks fantastic too. More impressive than the pictures.
The only negative I can think of would be the size. If you're a small person, it might be uncomfortable to play, because she's a full figured gal.

I recently fulfilled a need in my personal studio. I needed 1 more Guitar. I wanted a big guitar sound to record with beautiful tonal qualities. I have all the 6 string beauties a fellow could use but tweaking is not an end. It is a quagmire which leads to lack of production. Enter my new 5022 CWFE-12 Rancher Falcon Jumbo (White). The room is now full of sound-beautiful sound! No effects or enhancements needed. It is beautifully finished and set up by Sweetwater. I am thrilled with the new axe and if you need something like this, I believe it is a great value. Now, I just need 1 more Guitar!

James

As always this company went beyond my expectations. This guitar is the epitome of my collection. Superb tone and projection, not to mention it was in tune straight out of the box!!! I'm a Sweetwater customer for life. BTW, kudos to Spencer Kennedy for all his help. Sincerely Michael Platek

This guitar is awesome such a good tone and it's gorgeous. The way y'all inspect and package products is like no other company and I buy gear from a few, or I used to. I always have my rep Tyler calling and asking me how I like my new gear and if I need anything. It's pretty impressive.

This guitar sounds great but it is big but beautiful. I already had been playing a Gretsch so I am used to the jumbo style. I prefer a slimmer neck like a C shape. The neck on this is beefy like a D shape - I guess that's the terminology. However, I play it alot so I've grown accostum to the feel. You can get way up the neck past the 12 fret range, which is where I sometimes play.

This was my first 12 string ... All I can say is that I cannot put it down!! Truly one of the greatest sounds and easy to play. Well worth the money.

I have been hunting for a solid 12 string acoustic guitar for quite a while. For the money, I would put this up against anything else in the market. Easy to play, not unwieldy like others of its type - just an excellent guitar. Very easy on the eyes too.

Electronics package is also top notch!!

It’s priced right. Tones are bright. This is a heavy guitar. It is so pretty. The finish and bulk are the weight. Pay for a string change from the commercial grade so-so strings. And pay for a full set-up.

Years ago, I played a Yamaha 12 string for a show and loved it... but I missed having a 12 string... This guitar just looks so gorgeous, the reviews were awesome and I love the Gretsch quality- it was a no-brainer. So one night last week, I hit it and ordered away!

I couldn't wait to unbox it and was impressed with not only the design, quality and the finish, it really is a beautiful guitar - the sound is amazing. The set up out of the box was terrific, the built in tuner is a plus, and it sounds great unplugged or plugged in.. Again, HUGE THANK YOU to Jason Koons for the hook up and taking care of me - as always, the customer service at Sweetwater is awesome! Thank you!!! PS: the quality of this guitar, the craftsmanship just blows me away!

Love this Guitar, Love the built in tuner.

I have been playing for 50 years and have always loved the attention a 12 string guitar garnishes and when you take this Rancher White Falcon out of the case and stroll to your perch on which to play, you can hear your audience gasp in awe at the spectacle. They are mesmerized by the guitar and wait in eager anticipation to be entertain. You can almost hear their heart beat. And when the full body sound emanates from this instrument it only takes a minute to watch the audience become captivated by the brilliance. They melt into the music and you got to bear witness. What a rush. You've conquered your crowd. It's a fine instrument.

This guitar is wonderful. I was a little apprehensive to order this at first since I hadn't actually held and played one, but due to Sweetwater's 2 year warranty of customer satisfaction, I thought I would go for it.
Well, I must say that this is one fantastic guitar. First, the beauty and finish are impeccable. The guitar
is just gorgeous! Second, the playability is awesome. I own a Taylor 6 string 816ce and to me,this guitar is much easier to play. Barre chords are a cinch, and I definitely don't have the biggest hands in the world. I purchased the case that is recommended and I have read that the fitment is really tight, and I must admit it is. But, I've found that if the body is put in at an angle first, it will go right in (and the end pin won't have to be removed first, as I've read elsewhere). The sound of this guitar is so sweet, either plugged into an amp or just playing acoustically. The sustain from one strum just keeps ringing... then finally, fades away. If you are in the market for an affordable and great sounding and playing 12 string guitar, then I highly recommend this instrument. Also, don't forget where you are purchasing it from. The guys at Sweetwater are great to deal with, and the warranty and free shipping are icing on the cake. You can't go wrong!

I play 12 string exclusively in our church Praise Team. I contacted Aaron Rom who is my "go to" guy for all the guitars I have purchased. I read the reviews on this guitar, and asked Aaron if there were any negatives. He said he hadn't heard any negatives on this one at all. When it arrived, I was blown away by not only the sound, but the playability of this beautiful 12! It's not very often a person can buy a guitar without playing it and be satisfied! Thank you Sweetwater....Again!!

I am a long-time guitarist and am blown away by the beauty, stability, and playability of this instrument. Now I can retire my 50 year-old Martin 12-string, which I would never tune to standard pitch, and play this great instrument all tuned up. The electronics record excellently, and a mic/pickup blend sounds super. For the money, this instrument is impossible to beat. It does have that 'great Gretsch sound'.

As a long time customer of Sweetwater I have no fear ever purchasing anything from them. I know if Im not 100% happy they will make it right...they will even KEEP making it right for up to 2 yrs AFTER the purchase. Thats INSANE!
Why buy anything anywhere else?

With this in mind I had no reservations about trying this guitar out and boy am I glad I did. I played a 12 string Martin and a 12 string Taylor ( both in the $2000+ range) to compare. The tone of this guitar completely blew both of them away... its like butter yet you can get a gangsta amount of edge and crunch out of it...and its not just the sound.
The way it feels in your hands is so much more substantial. It is heavier, but not uncomfortablely so. This guitar looks amazing in person. The pictures do no justice at all. I love every single thing about this guitar.. From the size to the unique gold trim to the...this guitar just feels and sounds so well made.
If you're the fence about this one BUY IT. You will be so glad you did..and...if you arent...Sweetwater will make it right.
Btw.. Sweetwater did a 55 point check on this guitar before selling it to me. They checked everything to make sure It was playable right out of the box. They also sent me nice professional picture of my guitar I can share with others. Talk about details!!
Couldn't Be Happier...WIN WIN WIN!

This 12 string is very fun to play and sounds amazing. My only compliant would be the black fret dots on the side of the neck, which makes it very hard to distinguish the frets under stage lights. Being a lead singer / guitarist, sometimes need these quick frame of reference. Otherwise, it is amazing for the price point.

The only reason it's not 5 stars is becuase this is not a 3,000 dollar guitar. But if you want a sweet playing full sounding 12 string that will keep pulling all eyes to it on stage, this is it. Even if it doesn't push your buttons, you HAVE to look at it. Great fit and finish, I am going to change to a different strap lock system. I do on most of my guitars. I will at some point, probably the first string change, go to single turn or locking tuners. It got here ready to go. This is one of the gawdiest tars I have ever had and I absolutely love it.

This is a great guitar. It has fantastic sound. It's pleasantly gaudy and is lightweight for a jumbo-sized guitar.
It is a bit clumsy to play and requires repeated tuning. I bought new strings that will hopefully hold their tune better.
I wanted a Martin but didn't have the cash. This is a good guitar for the price.

The guitar sounds great. I just think guitars over a certain quality and price should include the case.

I've awaited this guitar's release ever since I laid eyes on it.
First the 'negatives': I didn't expect the robust clarity of a top-end Jumbo 12 string and this guitar doesn't have it. It's priced as a mid-level guitar. Similarly, the only other negative is that it's a bit cheesy for Gretsch to mimic the signature look of their pro-level White Falcon in this, a mid-level.
But I love this guitar.
The look is so audacious with its massive headstock. The best surprise is the great action. Barre chords up the neck were a piece of cake.
I expected a thin sound acoustically and a great sound plugged in. After playing it, the natural sound isn't that thin and, yes, the plugged in sound is fantastic.
This is a great guitar.