Gretsch G5438T Pro Jet w/ Bigsby

I will not repeat the description, there are some opinions that will make it much better than me. I just would note that for my part there is some shortcomings finishes at the neck binding, we see traces of lime which was a bit heavy, in good or it is not too serious.

UTILIZATION

At the handle, it is rather late (I used to play on a classic telecaster 50 ') so it surprised me, but I admit that it is very nice (especially when playing standing up, not worth to uncouple the wrist for a strikeout)

Level ergonomics is the size Les Paul, more than a standard format, although less comfortable than a strat (well yeah it lacks the bevels for the stall well) but it's still okay. Small thing that bother me on the other hand, the pickguard is placed too close to the strings especially high, so overall for regulars "I hold my finger on the pickguard to be more precise" bah it will take learn to bend a finger or deviate from these guys to be able to touch the strings. Other problems, the volume knob of the neck pickup, almost stick to the axis of the Bigsby, not very practical. Good personal for the moment I do not use too much, I'm pretty easy as type I manage all the general volume, but why not use it very boring wiring in the future.

I just have a little fear on the quality of varnish and paint quickly because I have small scratches that happened (well I always full bracelet with metal buckles so it does not help ). And I think the "ELECTROMATIC" logo on the length of the head is quite ugly.

apart from these two minor flaws, I fell in love with this guitar when I saw him I immediately told me that he had, and when I plugged it (in a blues junior) bah j 'pulled out the checkbook.

SOUNDS

the sound is terrible, its clear it was the heat, the roundness of the neck and middle pickup. And then you push a little gain, its crunch quickly, and then we feel that the guitar is made for.
I play mostly blues and rock, and the Gretsch is perfect for me because it is complementary to my telecaster.

distortion level can still go far enough you can tickle the hard rock (AC / DC, Kiss, and all other of the time)

something that is super cool, the Bigsby and the sustain of the guitar, the first was a point that frightened me, accustomed to fixed bridge, I used to say that if this is not a floyd, you retuned every 5min. bah actually no, I just put a little graphite on the nut history lubricate the passage of ropes and vim it holds good it is not 3tons below either, but you get a nice little effect anyway.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar is super cool, I use it for almost 3 months and I'm not tired.
it is everything that I was missing by the time my telecaster.
I recommend this guitar still has a lot of positives for a rather reasonable price.

rereading me diagonally, I realized that I had said a lot of default with respect to the number of quality that I find this guitar.
But make no mistake, this guitar is really amazing, she has it all from a point of view and the feeling (I forgot to tell you that even empty it sounds of thunder, and that I find very nice , you feel the wood vibrate when you play, and for me it is something that I love)

Gretsch made in China (of course .. for the price ..!).
A good licensed Bigsby B50. It is the agreement ca vibrates, this is all we therefore asked ... it does. A good point!
At Gretsch, they resumed the famous combination mahogany / maple set neck, mahogany ca recalls another American brand of "Passion of Christ". The handle is well finished and the shrink is impeccable and the frets, fairly thin, are polished on the edges. The accuracy and settings (action, tension etc. ..) on the copy I received is perfect! It is rather amazing to not have to waste 2 hours to make an adjustment to the receipt of a series instrument. A good point!

On microphones ... well then, inevitably, it rocks her grandmother! We will not return to the intrinsic qualities of microphones Filter'Tron but Black Top release (as some hollows and Tim Armstrong sign.) Ca serious matter! A good point!

The controls are toggle switch 3 pos. (Like "Passion of Christ"!), A micro volume, a general tone and overall volume (other manufacturers would do well to focus on the wiring, in my opinion, is kind of a must). A good point!

Finally, no detail for me (who have serious back problems) is of particular importance, Gretsch also pumped the method of acoustic chambers in the body. So, ca weighs 2.5 tons not while not thus jeopardizing the acoustic qualities of the guitar. A good point!

UTILIZATION

The handle, finely polish is very nice and allows relatively easy access to acute. I have paws lumberjack and I can be at ease until the 17th without worry.
The ergonomics of the beast is simple, very simple and I come back but the master volume, it's really useful (for blues or Stones fans like me, it is almost essential to manage the levels that fall within amps always set it up!).
It almost replaces the volume pedal! A good point!

Only "catch" the volume knob of the neck pickup is really bad, very bad, location! It is under the rod Bigsby and access is really tricky. When you play in an intermediate position and want to lower it a little to thin out the sound ... this is a small way of the cross! (You come back!).

SOUNDS

Practicing exclusively (even modern times!) Blues in Jurassic Fanny & Blues and Rock in Falling Stones, I am a fan of the Telecaster (the spy gear section ... you understand!) And I was eyeing for years an instrument with humbuckers good qualities, with a tune not too long (625mm) in order bender 2/3 tones without busting my fingers and not too modern look. The contract is completed. A good point!

I plugged directly into my AC50, it sounds, live in Excelsior, it sounds ... then in my usual chaining (Vol. ErnieBall, Vox wah 70's vintage TS808, Jekyll & HydeV2, TC Nova for release in stereo and AC4/AC50 Excelsior), it sounds again. So, for sure we will not make Grindcore heavy trash gothic metal with this golden féé, sure, but for blues, rock and rockabilly plans', it does! My preference is natural crunch sounds (microphone grow fast enough my little amp), there is a thick and at the same time a rather unique attack. A good point!

OVERALL OPINION

I was offered it for my birthday (it was a little "guided" as a gift but still ..) and I scratch for 4 days without interruption because it will serve the next week live and need that we aprivoise but I feel it will be my second after my Méloduende Signature, there is no doubt. But I have many other great rasps but has something more, that little "je ne sais quoi" that makes it irresistible.
Apart from the location of the damn volume knob is beautiful, well finished, solid and it sounds ... then one last good point!

It's 9 good point! Since this is the end of the school year, you have the right to form a large image of € 500 note to spin you buy quickly and enjoy as soon as possible!

Les Paul type guitar, but a gretsch with all its attributes, ie the finishing tape, the bigsby that the agreement is very good and this time real microphones, I had anciene, equipped mini-humbuckers, this time we have the right to filtertron team that signed tim armstrong.

UTILIZATION

Access to acute equivalent to an LP (I was a junior and this is really comparable) at weight: this is something else, the weight was somewhere it reassures on quality, but provide one wide strap in concert.
The handle is not bad at all, it glides well, just for fun I played 2-3 hendrix and it runs alone.
At the sound is what you expect from a gretsch, trimmings are sufficient (one volume, one tone, one selector 3 positions)
The bigsby, yum, they really corrected the faults of others electromatics on holding agreement.

SOUNDS

Play in a vox AC15, I just tested all my stuff is more rockab 'anyway, and there I chained impeccable, very good addition to my gretsch Dynasonic in my telecaster and it gives me more peps and hangs over the crunch, but also effective and in other styles, there is always a good definition, I have a pref for the neck pickup gives a serious both round and slamming (not bad with a crunch) in a more rock, but can also attack the AC / DC in the neck position by pushing on the OD.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a little less than a year, I had the old project, I had a les paul, I have a telecaster, a gretsch equipped Dynasonic. I also use some effects, I is not in short you take inventory of my gear but since I played, I used a lot of gear quality always. And this one wrong, I love the bigsby and filtertrons blacktop for the price yum.