Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT
KEY FEATURES: Single cutaway
mahogany body with maple top and
AAA flame maple veneer, 629mm
[24.75"] scale 1960 Slim Taper profile
set mahogany neck, 305mm [12"]
radius pau ferro fingerboard
FINISH: Trans Blue [as reviewed], Wine
Red, Honey Burst, Vintage Sunburst,
Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Antique
Natural, Cherry, Desert Burst, Iced Tea,
Trans Black, Blueberry Burst, Blood
Orange, Green Burst, Mojave Fade
at a gLance
KEY FEATURES: Single cutaway bound
mahogany body, 622mm [24.5"] scale
bound mahogany ‘Wide Fat’ profile set
neck, 254mm [10"] radius rosewood
fingerboard with ‘bird’ inlays, 22 jumbo
frets, 1 x PRS 245 ‘S’ Treble humbucking
pickup [bridge], 1 x PRS ‘S’ Bass
humbucking pickup [neck], 2 x volume
controls, 2 x tone, three-way pickup
selector toggle switch
FINISH: Tobacco Sunburst
[as reviewed]
at a gLance
TOTAL GUITAR FEBRUARY 2019
100
What do they mean by ‘PlusTop’?
Have you actually seen this guitar? Just take a look at it and you’ll see
why it carries the PlusTop name. This Les Paul has a AAA ame
maple veneer glued to its maple top to give it the eyeball pleasuring
looks of a ’59 Les Paul. The rest of the guitar is crafted from
mahogany [body and neck] with a slice of pau ferro standing in for
the more endangered rosewood on the ngerboard.
So, this has the classic Les Paul control format?
Yes and no. You do get the two volume/two-tone layout associated
What’s the significance of the ‘245’ in the model name?
Well, your classic Paul Reed Smith guitar usually comes loaded
with a 25" (635mm) scale length. The 245 is spec’d with a shorter
24.5" (622mm) scale. This mod o ers players easier string bending.
Factor in the chunky ‘Wide Fat’ neck pro le and you’ve got yourself
a guitar with killer playability.
The top isn’t as fancy looking as the other guitars here...
That’s probably because the 245 isn’t dressed up with a ame maple
veneer like the Epiphone and Hamer guitars. In fact, the body and
with iconic Gibson designs. The di erence here is the coil-tap
function. Pull up the notched volume controls to switch from
humbucking to single-coil modes.
Some Les Pauls have seriously fat necks...
That’s certainly true but not this one. The PlusTop Pro has the
slimmest neck of any Les Paul we’ve ever had the pleasure of
wrapping a st around. It’s what us players call a ‘D’ shape and this
one almost attens out on the back. If you’re making the transition
from widdly rock guitars to something more classic, this guitar’s
setup could feel like home.
neck are all made from mahogany. A few 50s Les Pauls were all
mahogany so the 245 certainly carries some old-school DNA
beyond its single cutaway. Discerning wood worms will also
enjoy the tasty-looking rosewood ngerboard but be wary of the
bird inlays...
The bridge looks chunky...
That would be Mr Reed Smith’s much-loved update of the wrap-
around bridge/tailpieces you see on 50s and 60s Gibson Les Paul
and SG Juniors. The PRS version improves on the original with
better intonation.
EPIPHONE LES PAUL
STANDARD PLUSTOP PRO
One of the family...
PRS
SE 245
A scaled-down modern classic...
TH
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£499
£475
TGR315.gear_test.indd 100 1/3/19 4:34 PM