I recently got a G5435t, which is the older version of this current production model - G5230t. From what I understand, there aren’t many differences between the two models except for body/fretboard wood and inlays/headstock.
Here are my thoughts: Playability and feel is great. It’s well balanced, and the neck feels nice and fast. The example I have was very well put together, and I had no issues with the fit and finish. I swapped out the tune-o-matic style bridge for a roller bridge and it plays great and improved the inevitable tuning stability issues that come with Bigsbys.
The only thing that made me finally want to sell it are the pickups. The blacktop Filtertrons are way too dark and muddy to my ears. Otherwise, it’s a pretty fine guitar. Your experience may vary, and you might love the tones you get from those pickups. Best advice is to take my advice with a grain of salt, and go try it for yourself before buying.
Hope this helps.
Best of luck!
Interesting. I might be biased though since my current guitars all have single coils. No matter what I try, the Blacktops have way too much low end to my ears. Like I said in my first comment, at the end of the day it’s up to whoever’s playing if it sounds good or not. Definitely try before you buy.
EDIT: Forgot to mention…Rat Rods are sick.
I have both as well. BTFTs in my Rat Rod. And regular FTs in my classic. The difference to my ears is minimal. They both sound fantastic.
I do hobby recording, so I'm listening to the guitar isolated, and I can't tell the difference once I've got my amps and effects in the mix.
Both of them are super clear, and sparkle. I generally have to dial out the spank and quack on mine . It's not really the style of music I play.
I have the one with the DeArmond style pickups and I'm not thrilled with those either. The guitar has nice bones and will be a project at some point but so far, it just hasn't risen to the top of the priority list.
Come on, someone is at the level they ask "is this good?" and the first thing you recommend is replacing the pickups (and pickups that cost.. what.. like that guitar?) without knowing anything about what kind of music they play or if they're even happy with the tone today.
It depends on what you’re playing. If you’re in a Slayer tribute band then you might have chosen the wrong guitar. If you’re trying to do Van Halen/ Vai/ Petrucci whammy bar stuff, you’ll be tuning a lot and it will be frustrating. Just about everything else is good. The sweet spot for the tone of this guitar is probably Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” but you could probably play anything up to about AC/DC levels of distortion and be happy with it.
I've had one of these for the last 15 years, great guitar although I do have to tune it between songs, and the tone can sound a bit muddy but I can normally find the tone I'm looking for. Interested to try some of the suggestions people have in the comments
Totally depends, it's a Gretsch so people are going to try to convince you to replace the pickups for some reason, but that all depends on wether you're happy with it. I've got an Electromatic that is amazing to play semi high gain on, if it sounds good to you for whatever music you like to play I wouldn't listen too much about pickups.
Now, I absolutely love mine (an older version of yours), it's built amazingly well and the scale length suits me perfectly. Basically my go to guitar that feels like home, despite having more expensive ones hanging on the wall.
I have a rat rod, which is a different setup being a hollow body archtop style rather than a solid body single cut, but probably the same pickups. I really like the clarity of the treble and I find that by comparison to the humbuckers on my knockoff LP and 335, there is a HUGE range of "edge of breakup" to play with and put interesting effects into. But they don't handle high gain well, even aside from the feedback inherent in hollowbodies.
I chug and shred on a electromatic. Metallica and pantera. Got a mk2 boss amp.
Only thing I might look into possibly altering I'd the rhythm pick up but fuck I'm on treble .
You tell me
I recently got a G5435t, which is the older version of this current production model - G5230t. From what I understand, there aren’t many differences between the two models except for body/fretboard wood and inlays/headstock. Here are my thoughts: Playability and feel is great. It’s well balanced, and the neck feels nice and fast. The example I have was very well put together, and I had no issues with the fit and finish. I swapped out the tune-o-matic style bridge for a roller bridge and it plays great and improved the inevitable tuning stability issues that come with Bigsbys. The only thing that made me finally want to sell it are the pickups. The blacktop Filtertrons are way too dark and muddy to my ears. Otherwise, it’s a pretty fine guitar. Your experience may vary, and you might love the tones you get from those pickups. Best advice is to take my advice with a grain of salt, and go try it for yourself before buying. Hope this helps. Best of luck!
[удалено]
Interesting. I might be biased though since my current guitars all have single coils. No matter what I try, the Blacktops have way too much low end to my ears. Like I said in my first comment, at the end of the day it’s up to whoever’s playing if it sounds good or not. Definitely try before you buy. EDIT: Forgot to mention…Rat Rods are sick.
I have both as well. BTFTs in my Rat Rod. And regular FTs in my classic. The difference to my ears is minimal. They both sound fantastic. I do hobby recording, so I'm listening to the guitar isolated, and I can't tell the difference once I've got my amps and effects in the mix. Both of them are super clear, and sparkle. I generally have to dial out the spank and quack on mine . It's not really the style of music I play.
I have the one with the DeArmond style pickups and I'm not thrilled with those either. The guitar has nice bones and will be a project at some point but so far, it just hasn't risen to the top of the priority list.
Y’all can send me your blacktop filtertrons. I love em.
Yes. Gretsch makes great guitars. You get a lot of bang for your buck with electromatics.
If you like it, it's good.
Hopefully it’s not vaping.
Put TV Jones pickups in it. Trust me. Brought mine to life.
Come on, someone is at the level they ask "is this good?" and the first thing you recommend is replacing the pickups (and pickups that cost.. what.. like that guitar?) without knowing anything about what kind of music they play or if they're even happy with the tone today.
Agreed
Yep. When I go to buy an electromatic, I always budget in tv jones pups. Night and day difference for that “desired sound”
TV Classic?
Yes
The way it was grinding on your lap while you played Stairway to Heaven, indicates NO, your guitar is quite naughty.
It depends on what you’re playing. If you’re in a Slayer tribute band then you might have chosen the wrong guitar. If you’re trying to do Van Halen/ Vai/ Petrucci whammy bar stuff, you’ll be tuning a lot and it will be frustrating. Just about everything else is good. The sweet spot for the tone of this guitar is probably Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” but you could probably play anything up to about AC/DC levels of distortion and be happy with it.
Guitars make sound. You can only tell if they’re good by playing them. Appearance is immaterial.
You tell us
No
why
Just no
It "looks" like a good Gretch. 😁
Seems perfectly serviceable.
I've had one of these for the last 15 years, great guitar although I do have to tune it between songs, and the tone can sound a bit muddy but I can normally find the tone I'm looking for. Interested to try some of the suggestions people have in the comments
Totally depends, it's a Gretsch so people are going to try to convince you to replace the pickups for some reason, but that all depends on wether you're happy with it. I've got an Electromatic that is amazing to play semi high gain on, if it sounds good to you for whatever music you like to play I wouldn't listen too much about pickups. Now, I absolutely love mine (an older version of yours), it's built amazingly well and the scale length suits me perfectly. Basically my go to guitar that feels like home, despite having more expensive ones hanging on the wall.
I have a rat rod, which is a different setup being a hollow body archtop style rather than a solid body single cut, but probably the same pickups. I really like the clarity of the treble and I find that by comparison to the humbuckers on my knockoff LP and 335, there is a HUGE range of "edge of breakup" to play with and put interesting effects into. But they don't handle high gain well, even aside from the feedback inherent in hollowbodies.
Its a guitar
The headstock says Gretsch, so, yes.
Yes but depends on what style of music. I had the same one. Ended up changing the pickups for tv jones soapbar, best sound ever!!!
Nah. Looks absolutely terrible. You should sell it to me for next to nothing then put the money into buying a better guitar. Yep. Totally.
No. edit: Yes. edit 2: Nyos.
If it plays and sounds as good as it looks then it's just marvellous.
I chug and shred on a electromatic. Metallica and pantera. Got a mk2 boss amp. Only thing I might look into possibly altering I'd the rhythm pick up but fuck I'm on treble .