Gretsch G5222 EMTC D. Jet BT V-St

APRIL 2020 TOTAL GUITAR
105
T
here’s no question that the
Jet Baritones are specialist
instruments, but at the Electromatic
price-point they sure are tempting
for anyone looking to add a baritone
to their game. There was little fuss with either
baritone. Intonation and tuning was solid.
Once you get used to the sound fretboard
geography and the weight, they are eminently
playable instruments. The Bigsby-licensed
B50 vibrato is stable, and although it is
naturally a lot stiff er, with less give than
those equipped on your regular standard-
tuned six-strings, it turned an instrument
that was built for the rhythm section into
something capable of taking the lead. Using
this with tape echo and experimenting with
reverb, it really does become transcendent.
That said, there’s something about the
simplicity of the G5260. The V-Stoptail is
super tidy. If you don’t think you’ll use the
Bigsby much, save some money on the
G5260. The Double Jet, meanwhile, is
a no-brainer if you are looking for a rock
’n’ roll machine. The V-Stoptail looks great
on it. The Walnut Stain fi nish is more red
than walnut and incredible. The Black Top
Broad’Trons are just about hot enough. We
would have preferred a fatter neck but that
might be an unpopular opinion. Nonetheless,
the Double Jet is so accessible, so easy to get
a tune out of. Rock, country, blues? All the
above and more. Love AC/DC but can’t spring
for a Malcolm Signature? Well, the Double Jet
is available in Aged Natural fi nish, and the
bridge pickup here says “Buy me now.”
TH
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FINAL VERDICT
Will you succumb to your most bass impulses?
TH
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G5260 JET
BARITONE
G5222
DOUBLE JET
G5260T JET
BARITONE
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
BEST FOR
TWANG
BEST FOR ROCK
’N’ ROLL
BEST FOR
SIX-STRING
BASS
TGR330.gear_test.indd 105 27/02/2020 13:39