Gretsch Electromatic G5655TG

NOVEMBER 2019 TOTAL GUITAR
103
I
t is hard to look past the Gretsch with its
stunning Orange Stain  nish and gold
hardware, the Bigsby vibrato, and little
details like the thumbnail fret inlay and
smaller, bound headstock. It is a
beautiful guitar. The purists might throw a  t
at the hotter pickups but that’s what purists
do, and besides, the G5655TG has got plenty
of the brand’s rock ‘n’ roll soul in its voice,
and that neck pro le and feel will delight
modern players who might  nd vintage neck
pro les altogether too rounded. Perhaps,
then, the purist might plump for the
Telecaster Thinline, a guitar with impeccable
retro stylings. The Thinline is so 1972 it
probably has memories of Bobby Fischer
becoming World Chess Champion. The
semi-hollow swamp ash body is warm and
resonant. There is that Tele brightness in
abundance, albeit supported by a well-
rounded low-end that handles overdriven
and clean tones with aplomb. It might take a
little getting used to for those weaned on
skinny necks and jumbo frets but the neck is
in no way intimidating, with a  ngerboard
that really makes fretting chords a dream.
Perhaps the Hagström Alvar and LTD
PS-1000 are more fl attering to your leads,
with the Alvar further evidence that the
Swedish company make the most playable
guitars in this price range – and maybe the
most versatile too – and the PS-1000 proof
positive that you can shred on a semi-hollow,
and indeed with a P-90-style pickup. Its
pugnacious tone will reward experienced,
con dent players.
TH
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FINAL VERDICT
Semi-charmed kind of guitars
TH
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ESP LTD DELUXE
X-TONE PS-1000FM
HAGSTRÖM
ALVAR
FENDER VINTERA ‘70S
TELECASTER THINLINE
GRETSCH ELECTROMATIC
G5655TG CENTER BLOCK JR
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
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
BEST FOR
VINTAGE TONE
BEST FOR
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
MOST
PLAYABLE
BEST FOR
MODERN ROCK
TGR325.gear_test.indd 103 10/10/2019 16:53