Gretsch Electromatic G5655TG

KEY FEATURES: Maple-ply body, maple
neck (set), 24.75” scale, 22 medium
jumbo frets, Resinator fretboard w/
pearloid block inlay, 2x HJ-50
humbuckers, 2x volume,
2x tone, three-way pickup selector, 18:1
tuners, tune-o-matic with trapeze tail
piece, Graph Tech Black Tusq XL nut
FINISH: Black Gloss [as reviewed], Wild
Cherry Transparent, Swedish Frost
CONTACT: HagstromGuitars.com
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE
KEY FEATURES: Swamp ash body,
maple neck (bolt-on), 25.5” scale, 21
vintage-style frets, maple fretboard,
2x Wide Range humbuckers, 1x volume
control, 1x tone, three-way pickup
selector, vintage-style tuners,
vintage-style Strat strings-through-
body hardtail bridge
FINISH: Vintage Blonde [as reviewed],
Aged Natural, Candy Apple Red
CONTACT: Fender.com
NOVEMBER 2019 TOTAL GUITAR
THE TG TEST
101
Is that the Hogwarts crest on the tailpiece?
No, but it is almost like Hagström has made playing this guitar a
black tie event. “Elegance de ned” is how they see it, and that
tailpiece certainly classes up the instrument. Even if you are of a
mind that believes these aesthetic fripperies are a bit much, the
Viking trapeze stringholder-cum-tailpiece is classic Hagström and
practical, making string changes a breeze.
Has this got the usual Hagström accoutrements?
If by that you mean the Resinator fretboard and H-Expander truss
What’s this Vintera series about?
Fender has recognised that guitarists obsess over vintage gear but
very few can a ord it, so the Mexican-built Vintera series takes a
browse through catalogues of yore and brings some of these designs
back into play, priced for your average player, so you can pick up a
Thinline Tele at a quarter of the price you might pay for a ’72 model.
Is this just like the vintage models?
In many respects yes. Aesthetically it has the CBS-era Fender ‘F’
logo stamped on the tuners and three-bolt neck plate, while the
road system, then yes, and these help keep Hagström so consistent.
Hagström swear by their trademark Resinator composite material
as being more tonally consistent than the more commonly used
fretboard woods. There are no complaints here, expect perhaps the
observation that a  ne piece of rosewood never hurt anyone.
Who is this guitar for?
That is hard to say. The Alvar can do it all. Those Hagstrom HJ-50
Alnico-5 humbuckers have a vintage voice that cleans up nicely for
jazz, is perfect for blues, and has plenty of cream on tap for
overdriven rock.
7.25-inch fretboard radius, thin frets, and ever-so-slightly clubby
soft C-pro le give it a an old-school feel. The high gloss  nish on
the neck and fretboard is a nice touch, too.
How does it sound?
A little more open than a regular solid-bodied Tele but with lots of
that sharp twang and growl you would expect from the ultimate
workhorse electric. The Wide Range humbuckers have been
reworked here to sound more 1972 and they have certainly got
plenty of the classic Telecaster clarity and punch to make this a
versatile semi.
HAGSTRÖM
ALVAR
Classic looks, supreme playability
FENDER VINTERA ‘70S
TELECASTER THINLINE
Make everyday Tele Tuesday
£775
£999
TGR325.gear_test.indd 101 10/10/2019 16:53