Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT

KEY FEATURES: Single cutaway
chambered mahogany body with
laminated maple top, 625mm [24.6"]
scale mahogany ‘Thin U’ profile set
neck, 305mm [12"] radius black
walnut fingerboard with ‘Big Block’
inlays, 22 medium jumbo frets, 2x
Black Top Broad’Tron humbucking
pickups, 2 x volume controls,
additional master volume
FINISH: Casino Gold [as reviewed],
Black, Dark Metallic Cherry
at a gLance at a gLance
KEY FEATURES: Single cutaway
mahogany body with maple top and
flame maple veneer, 629mm [24.75"]
scale mahogany set neck, 400mm
[15.7"] radius ebony fingerboard with
pearl ‘Split-Crown’ inlays, 22 medium
jumbo frets, 2 x Hamer Rock Alnico II
humbucking pickups, 2 x volume
controls, master tone, chrome
tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece
and diecast tuners
FINISH: Cherry Sunburst [as
reviewed]
FEBRUARY 2019 TOTAL GUITAR
the tg test
101
So, Gretsch ripped off the Les Paul?
Well, I think we can just safely say that the Les Paul inspired
Gretsch to release its own single cutaway electric solid body –
but they are actually very di erent designs. The original Les Paul
design featured a solid mahogany back and maple top. Gretsch Jets
are built around a chambered mahogany back with a laminated
maple top.
How does that difference in construction affect the tone?
The Electromatic Jet has a semi-acoustic element to its sound.
I thought Hamer Guitars was defunct...
You heard right. The good news is that the brand is back. Hamer
was founded in the 1970s and initially specialised in high-spec
renderings of Gibson Flying V and Explorer designs. It later
incorporated Les Paul in uenced models into its catalogue. The
new Monaco carries that DNA.
Why is it more expensive than the competition here?
Well, you do get a beautiful ebony ’board on the Monaco. The eye
candy continues with the luxurious looking ‘Split-Crown’ inlays and
These days Gibson weight-relieve many of its Les Pauls by
drilling out some of the wood before they glue the backs and tops
together. That still doesn’t get them close to the bright airy tone
of a Jet.
It’s a Gretsch. That means rockabilly to me...
Yes, it has a lovely retro Casino Gold paint job but let’s not typecast
this Jet. Don’t forget that AC/DC’s Malcolm Young used a Gretsch Jet
on most of the band’s output. Besides, this latest model is powered
by Broad’Tron humbuckers, which have a bit more grunt than the
vintage spec models on other Jets.
the  ame maple veneer top. This guitar also plays di erently to the
other guitars in this group test...
So, it doesn’t have a typical Les Paul feel?
The generous C neck pro le is a classic Hamer design. What really
makes the Monaco stand out, however, is the 400mm [15.7"]
 ngerboard radius. That’s shredder-friendly ‘Super Strat’ territory.
You get a low action with easy string bending that is to die for. Okay,
we appreciate that radius won’t please everyone but it’s something
you have to try before you make your mind up which guitar you
want to buy.
GRETSCH G5220
ELECTROMATIC JET BT
Cash in your chips!
HAMER
MONACO
Back from the dead...
£450
£799
TGR315.gear_test.indd 101 1/3/19 4:34 PM