Thoughts on Gretsch?

[GearGasms]

It seems like this place is more metal oriented, as I am myself, so I'm curious as to what folks here think about rocking hard on a hollow body Gretsch. Of course, the response is, and should be, Malcolm Young. End thread. But what about going really hard on one?

Owning a beautiful Gretsch White Falcon has always been a dream of mine. I can't afford one, so how about this Gretsch 5420T in stunning white with gold hardware?? Will I be able to get my Brian Setzer on? Will I suddenly stink less at guitar?
Spoiler alert - yes and no.
But the good news is that Rusty is here to save the day with some stand in guitar playing!
Show the guitar and Rusty some love!
There are chapters in this that will take you to the parts of the video where I play this through my Marshall DSL. I'm curious for us Marshall peeps, what are your tips and what has your experience been using a guitar like this with a Marshall?

Happy Friday!

 

[Devin]

I love them. There was a particular purple Brian Setzer Hot Rod I tried out in a store years ago and it's still one of the nicest playing guitars I've ever touched. Of course it wasn't even remotely cheap either lol. I don't have much experience with the cheaper Gretsches

 

[GearGasms]

I love them. There was a particular purple Brian Setzer Hot Rod I tried out in a store years ago and it's still one of the nicest playing guitars I've ever touched. Of course it wasn't even remotely cheap either lol. I don't have much experience with the cheaper Gretsches

Man my avatar gives away my love for purple guitars! Bet that looked killer!

 

[Findthetone1]

I had that exact model 5420. A beautiful guitar and it was pretty fun to play. It was my first full size hollow body and it made me discover I just wasn't comfortable with the full size so I sold it. Well worth the money though.

 

[misteregent]

I think Gretsch guitars are finely crafted and I've always wanted one. The Electromatics made in Korea are nice stuff for the money

 

[JackBootedThug]

love them. would play death, doom and stoner rock on one fo sho...

 

[blackba]

I have a purple Brian seltzer hot rod, great guitar. Mine was made before they came with tv Jones pickups, so I put in a set and that put it over the top. Local shop has electromatics and they are nice guitars, seriously thought about getting one. Would love a white falcon too.

 

[John4021]

Played a Malcom and a White Falcon.
Really fun to play.

Damn it Blackba.
Now I want a Setzer.
How does it handle high gain?

 

[GearGasms]

I have a purple Brian seltzer hot rod, great guitar. Mine was made before they came with tv Jones pickups, so I put in a set and that put it over the top. Local shop has electromatics and they are nice guitars, seriously thought about getting one. Would love a white falcon too.

Devin's post made me Google a purple Hot Rod and OMG! I wish I had never seen it. Ooff I want one!

 

[rottingcorpse]

I swear to you all that I have had a dream Gretsch for decades.
Remember....I am an admitted absolute idiot.
I want a single pickup Malcolm Young with a Floyd and an EMG81.
Single volume and use the pickup selector as a kill switch(see avatar).
Light top/heavy bottom strings tuned to D standard. Drop D from there for shits and giggles.
2mm Dunlop sharps pick pounding it like a madman.
(right now I'm breathing heavy thinking about it)
Gonna jack off now and go to bed in a puddle of shameful remorse.

 

[John4021]

I swear to you all that I have had a dream Gretsch for decades.
Remember....I am an admitted absolute idiot.
I want a single pickup Malcolm Young with a Floyd and an EMG81.
Single volume and use the pickup selector as a kill switch(see avatar).
Light top/heavy bottom strings tuned to D standard. Drop D from there for shits and giggles.
2mm Dunlop sharps pick pounding it like a madman.
(right now I'm breathing heavy thinking about it)
Gonna jack off now and go to bed in a puddle of shameful remorse.

I can see it now. First time you dive bomb that Floyd on that thin ass top, it will end up
looking like Willie Nelsons beat to shit guitar

 

[blackba]

Played a Malcom and a White Falcon.
Really fun to play.

Damn it Blackba.
Now I want a Setzer.
How does it handle high gain?

Mine has the tv Jones classic and classic plus pickups. It does great with medium gain, but won’t really chug. You might like the tv Jones power tron pickups, might be better if you are looking for a real rocker. The classic plus pickups really cuts like a knife, such a unique sound of that Gretsch that I can’t get with other guitars.

They have a nice chart on this page, showing how they compare. I have the tv Jones t-p90s in humbucker size in my mij contemporary fender tele and they are pretty hot.

Ihttps://tvjones.com/pickup-tone-advisor

 

[garey77]

I know I’m late to the convo…back when I was in music retail I sold some of those. Super fun to play, which initially I thought was odd, coming from a superstrat world. Pickups have a nice jangly thing . I think my personal fave was the Setzer model.