Gretsch Rancher with Bigsby (!)
- Thread starter David MacNeill
- Start date
Lou Coppolino
Country Gent
Previously assigned the moniker of the The Homer. Not sure if that's a reference to Homer Simpson, or what.
If only they had given it a cutaway and suspended the FT pickup from the hole, Gretsch might have sold one more(easy doubling of profit!). 
It’s the Jackalope of guitars.
6187LX
Gretschie
I tried the non-Bigsby version a coupla weeks ago and was very impressed. I've not been too impressed with Gretsch flat-tops - vintage or modern - so the bar is low. Cheers.
Toomuchgretsches
Electromatic
acoustically not too good, but amplified really not bad.Very usable in a band setting
Berington
Gretschie
I tried one a few months ago at the NAMM show in Anaheim. For some reason it was the only guitar (the only ANYthing!) they had on display (just on a stand... no "displays" at ALL!), at a MOST underwhelming table. Something weird was going on & a few mfrs weren't even there. I forget why, but it was disappointing. Ric, Takamine, Yamaha, many others, all beautifully in evidence.
I LIKED the Rancher: it seemed well-built & intriguing, but they had NO amp to try it with, and most confusing of all, it was strung with heavy, dull-sounding flat-wounds! So it played ok, but sound-wise, it was dead in the water. I'd like to try it again sometime, properly strung and both with & without an amp. We spent some time at the Mellotron both & watched Stevie Wonder play at another booth! Those were a bit more rewarding than the sad, no energy Gretsch table. I'm about the biggest Gretsch fan there IS... so it was really surprising!
I LIKED the Rancher: it seemed well-built & intriguing, but they had NO amp to try it with, and most confusing of all, it was strung with heavy, dull-sounding flat-wounds! So it played ok, but sound-wise, it was dead in the water. I'd like to try it again sometime, properly strung and both with & without an amp. We spent some time at the Mellotron both & watched Stevie Wonder play at another booth! Those were a bit more rewarding than the sad, no energy Gretsch table. I'm about the biggest Gretsch fan there IS... so it was really surprising!
Shadowy_Man
Synchromatic
I wonder if it would sound good acoustically with bronze strings? But then the pickup wouldn't work...
I absolutely like this model. It is on my bucket-list.
tmcq65
Gretschie
I've got the Rancher Jr. I wasn't really shopping for an acoustic at the time, but was going to a shop that had a couple and was curious. I really like mine. I'm not an expert, and the acoustic I had at the time (and passed on to my son now) was my 1981 student Yamaha. The Gretsch was a great improvement, and has really motivated me to play more. I've recorded myself on it with a cheap condenser microphone and I think it sounds great.
There's a guy on YouTube that does tutorials....has an Irish accent....does most of his videos with one of these Bigsby-and-Filtertron-equipped acoustics.
There's a guy on YouTube that does tutorials....has an Irish accent....does most of his videos with one of these Bigsby-and-Filtertron-equipped acoustics.
Lou Coppolino
Country Gent
It's a curious acoustic guitar.
I'd be more interested in a Martin or Rhode Island Guild.
I'd be more interested in a Martin or Rhode Island Guild.
Julio Iguana
Gretschie
Definitely a conversation starter.
Well my buddy and I bought one to share, just for kicks. $600 shipped. Someday he’ll get tired of it and it will be mine.
Controversial guitar. Makes me laugh. It’s all good.
Controversial guitar. Makes me laugh. It’s all good.
Lou Coppolino
Country Gent
It's definitely so weird that I'd like to have one 
Mikethomas
Electromatic
It’s a cool idea to have a bigsby on an acoustic, but in my option laminated top acoustic guitars just sound underwhelming. You at least need a solid top to get a halfway decent good acoustic sound. I always assumed with the added pressure of the bigsby they decided to build them with the stronger laminated tops. Which in my opinion just sound too thin acoustically.
I doubt acoustic tone or projection was in the plan for this chimera. It’s just meant to be a cool stage prop, a style statement, and a functional guitar only incidentally. I dig it.
they sound great in the right hands!
(297) The New Gretsch G5034T-FT • NAMM 2014 - YouTube
(297) The New Gretsch G5034T-FT • NAMM 2014 - YouTube
