REVIEW GRETSCH ELECTROMATIC DOUBLE JETS
GRETSCH G5222 ELECTROMATIC DOUBLE JET BT V-STOPTAIL & G5232T ELECTROMATIC DOUBLE JET FT WITH BIGSBY £529 & £589
CONTACT Fender Musical Instruments EMEA WEB www.gretschguitars.com
What You Need To Know
1 These are the Gretsches that AC/DC’s Malcom Young made famous, aren’t they?
Yes! The single-cut Jet was Gretsch’s answer to the Gibson Les Paul; the Duo Jet first appeared in 1953. It was called a ‘solidbody’, although it was always chambered in terms of its body construction. By the early 60s – as with many Gretsch electrics – it had morphed into the double-cut shape we see here, as famously used by Malcom Young, mirroring Gibson’s move from the single-cut Les Paul to the double-cut SG.
2 These are pretty affordable. Where are they made?
Both our Electromatic double-cut Jets are made in China. Gretsch’s Streamliner range is made in Indonesia, while the Professional range is made in Japan. There’s limited USA Custom Shop production, too.
3 Are the Broad’Tron pickups here the same as those used on the Streamliner models?
No, these are Black Top Broad’Trons, which were added to the Electromatics in 2020, slightly hotter versions of the Black Top Filter’Trons.
Yet another example of the escalating quality of Eastern Asian manufacturing, both of these Chinese-made double-cut Jet models are superbly put together. In fact, the only issues we had were from transit damage: guitars this good (irrespective of their price) need better packaging. But with our G5222’s three-way toggle switch replaced and resoldered, there’s not a hair out of place. So, what’s the deal?
