Stingray70
Gretschie
If you could only have one Gretsch guitar AND the most you could spend was $1,000 (including mods) which model (new or used) would you choose and why...???
If you could only have one....
- Thread starter Stingray70
- Start date
JackNangle
Gretschie
I sold my G5120 with upgraded TV Classics for $475 spring of 2022. If I could only have one with those budgetary constraints, then that is the one I would have kept. It got me, personally, 99% of the way sound and playability-wise to a pro-level 6120....but, I'm a headstock snob (sort-of) and I wanted a pro-line.
My 5120 with Power’Trons new pots, and Compton bridge. Love it, no need for a proline in my studio.
tartanphantom
Friend of Fred
No question-- If I could only own ONE sub-$1000 Gretsch electric (I'm assuming you're talking electrics), it would be a Corvette/CVT. It's probably the 3rd-most gigged electric guitar in my stable.
A properly set-up Corvette is the real deal, and is still under-priced in my opinion.
A properly set-up Corvette is the real deal, and is still under-priced in my opinion.
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I'm in Australia. For $1000 here you could only get an empty Gretsch guitar case! 
BuddyHollywood
Synchromatic
G5220. I may change the pickups and electronics but would play with it for a while first. I would change the V tailpiece for a straight one.
...I would be sad. 
If Gretsch were Fender, there would be a plethora of great replies. Why? Fender currently has and has had in the past high quality MIA guitars that either sold for just under $1000 or sell for that used today. Gretsch has a huge chasm in its product offerings between Electromatics and Pro Line Gretsch guitars. The only sure way to get a really good one for a thousand is to modify a less expensive guitar with bits and pieces from more expensive instruments. But a cheap guitar with boutique pickups, tuners, and other doodads isn’t a 6XXX guitar, like a Volkswagen isn’t an Audi no matter who makes it or what parts they share. And a Skoda? Really? That’s the conundrum. Is the modification worth the cost and effort?
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tartanphantom
Friend of Fred
Nope. That's why it's just better to save your money, fight instant gratification and go "large" at the end of it.
gretsch-to-go
Gretschie
Tie between an Electromatic Jet in Cadillac Green & a Billy Duffy White Falcon.
Not even a moment's thought.
Other than the pickups it's as impressive as my old 6120JR in blue. (The cluster of knobs is stupid looking though. Seriously that's the best Gretsch could do?!)
G5655TG ELECTROMATIC® CENTER BLOCK JR. SINGLE-CUT WITH BIGSBY® AND GOLD HARDWARE in Azure Metallic.
Other than the pickups it's as impressive as my old 6120JR in blue. (The cluster of knobs is stupid looking though. Seriously that's the best Gretsch could do?!)
Lockupyourfatdog
Country Gent
A 5410 with a powertron in the bridge position. It does everything I need it to do and it’s so comfortable and light. I currently have 2. One with high sensitives and one with a boutique custom pickup that’s basically a powertron.
I'd go to the blackjack tables and try and triple it. Then I'd get a Country Gentleman Players Edition.
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Viper
Electromatic
There isn’t a strategy for upgrading my 6120 of G400JV. I just take them to gigs and enjoy them for the fine guitars that they are. I did put a Kent Armstrong floater on the G400, but haven’t had the urge to alter it in any other way. Currently the G400 is my most played guitar. It’s such a striking instrument that everyone notices it and remarks about it.
I'm with Tony on this. If I could only have one, it would be the 5420, and I'd probably go with the Hs Filtertrons because I have experience with them in my Tennessee Rose. I couldn't keep my Tennessee Rose, because it would be over the $1K limit, so the 5420 and HS Filtertrons would get me close to the sound of the Tennie.
EDIT: I'd still miss my 5434TG Pro Jet something fierce, though!
GretschPlayer101
Gretschie
This one in this exact color. I almost bought one but I found a G6128T-53 VS for a good price used so I went with that, otherwise I would have bought one of these for about $500. I would keep it stock. I would not change a thing. I like the way the pickups sound. I would get this color too. It is chambered and you can hear that hollowness to it but without feedback of a full sized hollow body with open f-holes.
Same here.
