All user reviews for the Gretsch G5135 CVT

Guitar made in china
Solid mahogany body
Mahogany
Rosewood
21 Medium Jumbo Frets
2 humbuckers Dual Mega'Tron
1 tone control
Adjusto-Matic bridge anchored
Bigsby B50 Vibrato thomann
Chrome hardware
Color: cherry
1 split 3position
2 volume adjustment
shape of the handle c

UTILIZATION

Light guitar with great access to acute. on the other hand I'm not a fan to kind of band I'm going to fret Gibson but good anyway. In this rhythm guitar really time character on the handle that bridge pickup. In the lead is a little different the mechanical its not bad but whatever strings if we bend too must connect its yours wrong. To complete the overall appearance between the two forms cut, the two microphone, and pickguard Bigsby c with superb ultra knob makes the whole class, you want to take and that's most important.

SOUNDS

Rockabilly (Bigsby requires) to jazz to grunge or roch garage which is rather my style, we just do a lot of things. micro so its a pretty clear and crystalline (for the blow that really are that) you can play a fairly extensive directory, not against it out a lot of bass so big issue its metal genre in my opinion need ironing.

OVERALL OPINION

I used this guitar for 5 years before I separated (with a lot of regret but good) for funding my first Gibson. Frankly it's mouth, sound, ideal for beginners and even for expert

The guitar has t made in China, history of having a more affordable price no doubt? But the quality remains correct all the same.
22 frets, two pickups "mega'tron" slecteur three positions, two volumes, a tone vibrato "Bigsby". The neck is fairly flat and al finally compared my telecaster. In any case the body is flat making it easier to play the same dcoupe General for the instrument.

UTILIZATION

The handle is easy. Access in acute plutt good. Ergonomics is satisfactory by the shape of the instrument and reasonable weight. This gives a good sound, but got a good question ...

SOUNDS

I play blues plutt quiet, it is plugged into a Fender Blues Junior amp that gives Entire satisfaction with this guitar. I play with a clear, crystalline rather round. I like him with a slight vibrato electro harmonix ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week, I fell for a new guitar the day before a holiday ... I love the playability and sound and the 60s look ... The report seems to me excellent quality price. Go try it!

After a few days of use I wear my BMOL apprciate together because of the use of volume and tone knobs are not trs prcis.Si is available two volume controls is in principle to a balance in the shuffled between the two microphones on the position intermdiaire, yet it seems to me that these controls are clearly imprcis, the stroke of knobs cut too fast sound, on the other hand it is sufficient that one of the two volumes is that the zero-together is also ... Finally, the control of tonality seems to me also have a travel imprcise too, so I plan to redo the wiring soon and put new knobs prcis more.

Well already I am completely in love with this guitar, but since it is to be specific I will be as mean as possible to get him in the head lice!

Therefore made in China (is it in your mouth to begin with!) But well crafted. When it comes to finishing, the few potential improvements could be made to micro cavities (2 humbuckers Mega'tron) and the jack. The Bigsby is reliable but still a Bigsby and therefore does not have the flexibility of a Floyd type tremolo or other strata, but anyway, if you are interested in this guitar I doubt you hesitate between her and a Jackson or an Ibanez ! The set has two volumes, one tone and a three-position switch that can potentially be considered a little too close to the strings, it depends on your style of play

The neck is very thin which is not so common on guitar "vintage". It is glued to the mahogany body also relatively thin. This is the only reservation I have about this instrument, in fact, the contact surface between the two parts is reduced, I'm waiting to see how it will age. When in doubt, the pampered and not to use it to plant sardines.

UTILIZATION

The neck is very thin and very pleasant. The frets are less flat on my guitar before, but quickly made the transition. For access to acute, have a look on the picture and everything is said. The unit is light and well balanced.

SOUNDS

So ... Before I was afraid to try a bit to sustain given the thinness of the body. Wrongly, as even non-connected, we realize that the notes are good. As explained to me the seller. The thickness of the box rather to strengthen the characteristics of media, which produces a type that I like personally but may not be suitable for certain. Hence necessitated a try yourself.
The original model of the 60 was equipped with micro Hilotron bcp that offered more twang. I think it is still possible to get from TV Jones.
I play more rock on a Bandit 112 (until something better, lamps is expensive) and it is already very good (it looks like spit on the other). The sound is full and balanced. The pickups are very sensitive to the height adjustment so do not hesitate to waste time to find the ideal height! The clear sound is beautiful, fit for being dragged into the jazz / blues, and different colors according to the lead attack. I would need a distortion a little more flexible than the Peavey to really make the most of opportunities that instrument. As mentioned in the other test, one would expect a tad more than knob tone.

OVERALL OPINION

The original project was to buy a fender, finally tried the gretsch because I liked her look and it was a little cheaper, and then the value for money Fender seemed questionable. Just plugged in, I realized ... and yet it was a poor Randall dusty with a lung pierced! So yes, it was worth every penny, so that the "defects" that this is frankly negligible and if it again, I direct piles up again. A scraper with a lot of personality, which then can not satisfy everyone. I would not put 10, it's still not a James Trussart but hey, at this price point is what I tried to better

Oh yes, a real black spot ... no case! And to find one that's just the wound! Do not care, love him anyway!

Edit: After some time of use and the purchase of a vox head to keep him company, my good impression is confirmed. I find the neck pickup and I get really fabulous crunch as I dreamed. Only drawback, a small trend need to adjust the tuning regularly. I thought may be to change the mechanical head (apparently a common problem for models of the Electromatic). As far I am really happy. Anyway, if you do not drown in the distortion, this really scratching the character. Try it.

Edit 2: I was thinking of changing the pickups to TV Jones. Being mowed down, I limited myself to change the pots hoping earn some precision in sound. The pots origins are revealed frankly crap and a change in these very significantly improves the whole. I would come sooner or later to paste it because supertron anyway, after testing the studio, the ceramic magnet pickups origins never reach the purity of the alnico (it says to those who played with bcp bcp gain, it will tape a bit)

Guitar made in China, 22 frets, 2 humbuckers Megatron, Bigsby bridge. Volume Adjustments micro bridge, volume knob and a neck pickups tone-General (for 2 microphones). As already mentioned, the handle is rather late for this type of guitar.
The two faults that I have found are the mechanisms that do not well agree, and the electronics not progressive at all (it's all or nothing when you turn the knobs)
So I changed the mechanisms for the wraps, and that part of the bridge where the strings rest (next to the bridge pickup)) for a bridge to "wheels" which is better to return the cords to their original position ( after use of vibrato, for example). I see the electronics can be later. But already it works quite frankly.

UTILIZATION

The handle end is my hands and is very enjoyable. Not super fast course, but enough to use pop / rock / grunge / stoner I have. After it is a matter of taste.
Access to acute is relatively easy (see the body shape).
The balance is good in terms of weight, it can throw it where you want to go where you like! I love the shape, that's what attracted me to this guitar (like, matter of taste).
Regarding the sound, it does everything thoroughly but can be the key to taste and rolling! Be careful though the vibrato of course, it tune the guitar if you play it too.

SOUNDS

I play a lot of rock / grunge / stoner style Foo Fighters, QOTSA, Kyuss, but also the "pop rock" on Nada Surf, etc ... Posies Well it's perfect for pop rock sound, quite accurate and with this particular grain, we almost take for Ken Stringfellow (who I believe is one of the 60)! So despite the humbuckers you get sound clear enough probably due to the thinness of the body. That said she is doing well in crunch and distortion. With a big muff is great, a graphic fuzz (distortion fairly accurate) does it work alone and with the crunch of an Orange amp is fat properly. I often play the bridge position and slamming that has this particular bite (the megatron are doing rather well). And even if it is not his field, it ensures drop D. We can therefore make him a big distortion to the heavy but not go to the death and company.
The sounds are gentle enough serious position, friendly without being transcendent. I do not use, moreover, that the position rarely severe and intermediate this guitar.
Note that you can change the TV Jones pickups for that remake the sound of the first Corvettes (apparently very distinctive and wonderful in the clear). I still think keeping these mics (again the TV Jones are really not given ...)

OVERALL OPINION

It's been 8 months that I have and I am very satisfied. I choose a scratch on his first appearance after only I test the sound. This one convinced me and the price is rather justified even if it must "customize" in the future. Say it has its minor flaws but hey it has a lot of personality. I tried strata, Prs a mid-range and TV but I wanted something more "original" and with vibrato if possible of course its a hell! and I was served!
I would do without this choice problem.

Made in China - 22 frets - 2 humbuckers - Bigsby - 2 volume and tone knob for the pickups, this has already been said.

Because I would have no other place in this paper to discuss the negative aspects, I am here. The only three problems I found with this guitar are: plastic plate that sounds very hollow and which gives an impression of fragility, the plate of the jack was loose, and the volume control on the bridge pickup was loose. In short, made in China ... I'm done for the bad sides. (!)

UTILIZATION

The handle is simply ... grandiose. It is very fine and the grip is more than pleasant. In addition, there is a feeling of "length" of the handle, even if it has only 22 frets, the skirt is cut until the 21st. Suffice to say that access to acute is divine.
Ergonomic side, nothing wrong. Despite a body / handle unusual, the balance is perfect. We do not encounter problems with weight unevenly distributed as in SG. The skirts are very short, slightly oversized, but the playability is still increasing, and it is not at the expense of design. So it's a successful challenge for Gretsch.
This gives a good sound easily, no hack for long hours is a guitar that does not disappoint. However, I do not really advise a beginner.

SOUNDS

I use it in concert, we play many times, but in a rock style. Anyway, I use it mainly to play good Grunge (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), it goes very well on the AC / DC (.. we are not in a form, but SG almost!), ZZ Top, but also on the System of a Down. Basically, you can be sure that it sends heavy. I never really saw what it looked on the bright, but I think this is not what is required of a guitar like this one. A pinch of blues + a disto type only TS9 or Blues Driver, it works very well.

I find it, anyway, very versatile. At the sound, of course, but also in terms of use. Let me explain: it has all the qualities of a great rhythm guitar and an excellent guitar solo. I draw a sound rather bold, but still remains very accurate, even given in D or in C. I would also argue that this is an excellent concert guitar. A user has raised this point in an earlier opinion, but I find the mids very clear (obviously, it can sound slightly typing), and live it is not negligible.

Hardware level, I associate it with a Flextone III XL Line 6 + a Cab Marshall AVT. I play on a Soldano SLO Modelling 100 (very successful, but I'm not advertising for Flextone here, of course not <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" /> ) And it passes nickel. In short, drive solid metal but not for me.

Level effects, I use the very common and all going very well. WH4 Whammy, Ibanez TS9, Big Muff ... No problem the above. Knowingly, I know that some effects tend to "emphasize" a rotten side of his guitar, to alter, but this is not the case here.

Even if I am repeating myself, I prefer to use the saturation grunge sound generally marked early 90s. I like to use it to play Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, I think it comes out particularly well. She also surprises on Toxicity System.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for two years, I only find the positive. Nothing to throw inside, it's versatile, reliable, quality Gretsch at an affordable price, and that's great. I tried many other models, and now I move on this model and a Start that I forsake increasingly for Gretsch, particularly in compositions. I think the corvette has much more personality.
Needless to say that the price / quality ratio is excellent. It goes far beyond some guitars that cost twice as much, trust me. With experience, I do it again this choice, except maybe that I'll be buying it rid of my Start ... <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" />