Some double jet advice please...

[Mikey h]

Ive been looking at getting a double jet to add to the collection and there are a couple of used options available to me.

A G5232T in tahiti red, have tested a few in other colours but not seen the Tahiti red in person so a bit unsure on the colour
A G5246T silver with the mini humbuckers. I like the colour and black back of these. This one is a little older and more 'used' but has character.

Unfortunately I wont have the opportunity to play before buying, so am doing as much research as possible.
I already have a G5220 and G2655 so would be looking for a different sound.

There isnt much info on the G5246T on the web so any info or advice is appreciated

 

[KaHOnas]

The G5232T, from what I can tell, is a G5222 with a Bigsby. I have modified G5222 with a v-tail Bigsby (built by @birddog here on the forums; he's the reason I'm here, actually) and I can tell you this thing plays wonderfully. Mine does have TV Jones pickups in it in lieu of the stocks so I can't speak for the tone with the Filter'Trons.

Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I think they'd both be a great choice. In fact, get both! Then you won't have to decide.



Edit: I just figured out what the Tahiti Red is!

I like it. It appears from the Gretsch website photos that it's a solid paint color, i.e. no translucence and no wood showing through.

 

[SpaceCowboy]

If the G5246T is a pre-2011 model like in the reverb link here, you might find it requires more work to change the pickups to Filtertrons (if you ever want to do that at some point, many folks do).

https://reverb.com/item/443256-gretsch-g5246t-double-jet-with-bigsby-silver-sparkle

Other than that the build quality is very good even on the older Electros (I have a 2008 Jet). I haven't seen a Tahiti Red model in person but I would absolutely grab one if given the chance. Pickup replacement is much easier on these newer models and TBH the stock pickups are pretty good.

 

[section2]

The G5232T has much better pickups. The mini-humbuckers that they used in the 5246T sound muddy and lifeless to my ears. The Blacktop Filtertrons are nice pups, and because they're Filtertron-sized, they're easy to replace if you don't like them. There aren't as many options if you want to replace the mini-hums in a 5246. (I have a 2011 Jet, and I had to take a router to the guitar in order to replace the mini-hums with Filtertrons.) That said, I believe GFS NYII and NYIII pickups will drop right into a 5426, and I've heard good things about those pickups.

You might also want to think about the weight of the guitar. I believe they started chambering Electromatic Jets around 2010 or 2011, so depending on the age of the 5246, it may or may not be a boat anchor. I have a chambered Electromatic Jet from 2011, but I know that some Jets from around that time period were completely solid.

 

[Mikey h]

Great answers! Thanks so much. Very helpful. And a big plus, I managed to see and play a Tahiti red one yesterday and the online photos don’t do it justice, it’s more like a vivid coral colour or salmon pink. Very bright! Time for some negotiation I think.
KaHonas, lovely guitar. Adding the Bigsby was what I was thinking of doing to my G5220 casino gold if I didn’t buy another guitar, but we all love a new guitar day right!

 

[wabash slim]

The G5232T has much better pickups. The mini-humbuckers that they used in the 5246T sound muddy and lifeless to my ears. The Blacktop Filtertrons are nice pups, and because they're Filtertron-sized, they're easy to replace if you don't like them. There aren't as many options if you want to replace the mini-hums in a 5246. (I have a 2011 Jet, and I had to take a router to the guitar in order to replace the mini-hums with Filtertrons.) That said, I believe GFS NYII and NYIII pickups will drop right into a 5426, and I've heard good things about those pickups.

You might also want to think about the weight of the guitar. I believe they started chambering Electromatic Jets around 2010 or 2011, so depending on the age of the 5246, it may or may not be a boat anchor. I have a chambered Electromatic Jet from 2011, but I know that some Jets from around that time period were completely solid.

One aspect about the minihums---they're easy to change out to P-90s or DeArmond 2000s.

 

[Mikey h]

One aspect about the minihums---they're easy to change out to P-90s or DeArmond 2000s.

Are the D'armonds a direct replacement?? I really like these and may push me into buying both guitars

 

[Mikey h]

The G5232T, from what I can tell, is a G5222 with a Bigsby. I have modified G5222 with a v-tail Bigsby (built by @birddog here on the forums; he's the reason I'm here, actually) and I can tell you this thing plays wonderfully. Mine does have TV Jones pickups in it in lieu of the stocks so I can't speak for the tone with the Filter'Trons.

Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I think they'd both be a great choice. In fact, get both! Then you won't have to decide.

View attachment 174276

Edit: I just figured out what the Tahiti Red is!
View attachment 174277
I like it. It appears from the Gretsch website photos that it's a solid paint color, i.e. no translucence and no wood showing through.

Did you put a roller bridge on yours with the Bigsby?

 

[KaHOnas]

I've considered it but I haven't yet. So far, I really haven't run into any significant tuning issues.

 

[wabash slim]

Are the D'armonds a direct replacement?? I really like these and may push me into buying both guitars

To be honeast, I'm not sure. Looks like they'd be drop in replacements. In my mind, the early Pro Jets (and anything else with minihums) should've had the 2000s instead. My favorite pickups.

 

[section2]

Here's a good thread about pickups that will fit into the mini-humbucker cavities:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/gretsch-electromatic-pro-jet.888284/

The guitar in that thread is a single-cut 5236, but I can't see why the pickup cavities would be different from the 5246T.

 

[section2]

Comparing these two diagrams, it looks like DeArmonds would be close, but not an exact fit:





Assuming that these diagrams accurately reflect the size of the pickup cavity and the size of a DeArmond, it seems that the DeArmond is just a hair wider than the cavity, and not quite as long.

On the other hand, P90s seem to fit nicely, and TV Jones also offers their T-Armond pickup in a P90 mount.

 

[Mikey h]

Well I bought the G5232T in tahiti red! Now just waiting for it to arrive - I'll post a NGD post when it does!

 

[KaHOnas]

Well I bought the G5232T in tahiti red! Now just waiting for it to arrive - I'll post a NGD post when it does!

Woo!

That's kinda the one I was hoping you'd go for...