Gretsch G5420t vs G5220 Electromatic Shootout! 

One of each - great guitars and playing.

I think I'm in love with the 5420 is what I want. I will have it. It will be mine.

Hey Jack...you are one of the better guitar reviewers on the tube. Saw a 5420t in Georgia green at local Guitar Center used rack and could not put it down. This is now my favorite electric. Sounds so full and good in neck position with reverb and delay! Yes the neck pick up is sweet!

I got the G5420t used about a year ago, same color, always wanted a Gretsch, it was in excellent condition , came with a gig bag, had to repair strap button near Bixby, which I did myself. I love it and play it every day.

The Gretsch G5220 has a lot of sparkle and twang for a humbucker guitar. The definition is very good and it rocks with overdrive. I really like the look of it, too. So much so, I just bought one from GC. Thanks for the great demo!

The Gretsch Electomatic collection comes in three series, the hollow body and the solid body that you’ve shown here, but also the center block series that are a semi hollow guitar. Would have loved to have seen one of those thrown in the mix cause I’ve had my eye on those for a while! Nice demo thanks 🙏

I am a 48 year old beginner. Wife has been shredding for 20 years and my 10 year old is an advanced player. I decided to get one for myself and the wife suggested I go with the G5220 so I can grow into it when my skills get better. I also watched two of your review videos on the G5220 and you’re dead on with this model doesn’t go out of tune. We test this one at the Guitar Center and loving it. Plus it was nice to have 15% coupon to knock an extra 67 bucks off from 450 bucks. This is the only channel that gives honest review I’ve seen so far.

why is this video only 503 likes? Is the first playing/talking video that doesn't bore me.

On the overdrive the hollowbody sounds more saturated and organic. And even the bridge has a pleasant something in clean the solid just doesn't have. Excellent playing!!!

So glad you have posted these videos on the Gretsch’s Jack. I was finally able to hear them without overdrive or distortion. Very professionally done and helped me decide whether I want one. And yes, I want one of the 5220’s. I love the 5420 too, but I have found that I am not as comfortable playing that big of a guitar. I am subscribing to your channel. Keep these great videos coming.

I just got a beautiful Jet last week at my local shop. I played it, and had to have it. Sold a guitar I didn't play much to a coworker who'd been eyeing it, and bought it the next day. It sound great and twangy with almost a cocked wah choked tone clean, and it LOVES every fuzz, distortion or overdrive I throw at it! As a strat and Tele guy, this is fitting me like a glove.

To my ear there's obviously more dimension to the hollow body sound. Nice video!!

Of course you need both! G5420T in Aspen Green and G5230T in Airline Silver in my case.

I pick up my very first Gretsch tomorrow...a black cherry metallic G5220...so looking forward to it. 29 yrs of playing & it's my first Gretsch

I have a 5420T and I borrowed a friend's 5220 and (IMO) they're worlds apart. The 5420T looks stunning and covers that Beatle-y, 60's classic style that I love but then the 220 is almost Gibson-y and much better at that more "modern" kind of rock stuff. I'm hoping I'll eventually own both... only issue is finding a colour to match my red 5420

Picked up a black g5220. Everyone else has a Les Paul, I wanted something different with looks to kill. Great sound. Gretsch is an underrated guitar

I had a Gretsch G5422t ( the double cut model ) and parted with it a year or so ago. I sincerely wish I had kept it as it was a fantastic guitar and I am hoping to purchase another very soon. It was a far more versatile instrument than I expected and could handle most genres of music, from sweet Jazz tones to biting Rock tones. The build quality was exceptional ( Made in Indonesia ) and it stayed in tune very well ( although I was never very heavy on the Bigsby - keep it subtle and it is great ) - I enjoyed your review very much Jack. Thank you. Pete x

I had been looking at the 5220 for a few months. Went to GC this week and they had the newer 5220 BT models on sale for $449 while usually $599. Couldn't say no. Especially since it was in the new Bristol Fog (brown and black burst). Gorgeous and I had a ball playing it at the store. I admire the hollow bodies but the 5220 better fits my style of play. I have a Les Paul and it offers some familiarity there as a single cut solid body but a different sound and feel experience which is what I was looking for. Really liking this guitar.

I just got myself the G5420t in silver sparkle and it's a very fun guitar to play. It's bigger than I'm used to, but it's still very comfortable.

I decided to get the G5420 because of your fantastic videos. Thank you for all your helpful information

Perfect demo! Thanks man. Awesome playing too

Nice Vid Jack! I’ve got a 2010 G5434L Jet in Black with the Block Hump Inlays and I just Love it! I can do anything from Jazz to Rock with it! I’m looking to put a Deusenberg Trem II on it soon. Please keep up the Good Work, Love your Channel!!

Just found your channel. Good stuff all around. I just ordered a Rat Rod from Gretsch. I never thought about owning one until I played one at a music store and the range of tones blew me away. Keep up the good work...Rock On! JW

nice playing Jack.

awesome! g5420t handsdown!

Awesome reviews! Thank you! I have had and still have many Gretsch guitars and your reviews are spot on.

Best tone ever... AC30 + Filtertron!

I’ve both those guitars! Like you I came home with the G5420T first. Very pleased that Gretsch are now pinning the bridge on these guitars. Mine is Cadillac Green with the gold hardware and I call her my “show stopper”. My luthier was very impressed with the quality of guitar when I took it too him to fine tune the setup. Picked up the G5220 later on impulse during a trip to my local Guitar Center. It was too good a value to walk away from and a weight relieved alternative to my shoulder aching solid body 1980 Gibson LP. I’ve since come to better appreciate the tonal differences between the two and continue to enjoy them both.

I own both these guitars and love them.

Terrific presentation sir! Being a budget minded George Harrison fan, I was pretty much set on the Jet w/Bigsby until I saw the Fairlane Blue 5420 (😨). Now I want both. But seriously, as you pointed out, the 5420 is the quintessential Gretsch design and since I already have a bunch of Teles, Strats & Les Pauls, I need to expand my sonic horizons. Also, at the end of the day I preferred the sound of the 5420 over the Jet. And that color... THAT COLOR.

I am a beginner, looking to step up from the big-box store package guitar that I bought 10 years ago and never learned to play. The 5220 is one I'm considering, if for no other reason that my local guitar store carries Gretsch. Lesson learned: buy a guitar somewhere you can get service. Right now I've got a lot of time to watch reviews and decide as it is the middle of the stay-at-home orders for Covid-19. In the meantime I'm playing at setting up the cheap Starcaster I own (it is possible to make big improvements just with a homebrew setup!). Anyay, thanks for the review.

Good review here of both guitars. My first Gretsch was also the 5420. I always felt intimidated by it's size when I was buying and looking at guitars but after actually pulling one off the wall and playing it, it was actually amazingly comfortable for me and I'm not a big guy by any means. The tone of the 5420 was what sold me on purchasing it. Lots of resonance and actually a really good sustain as well. That hollow ring that is absolutely perfect for country and jazz was also a little off-track for my style, or so I thought. It adds more than it detracts from your sound to be honest, IMO. To me at least, it adds a little nuance to your sound and style for rock that you won't get from any other brand of guitar, even comparing it to an ES-335. The Gibson is somewhat close but a little more in the jazz grinding sound to my ear and when used for rock it's powerful but a little empty also. I know that's the preferred sound for a lot of musicians and artists but the Gretsch brand has a sound all of it's own that's impossible to copy. The high end ring just gives it more punch which is likely a combination of the pickups and body depth but it's very pronounced and the mid-range is equally as impressive. I'm in no way knocking the 335 at all, it has it's place definitely in the music realm. I just think the Gretsch's offer a more unique and robust sound. It might seem unfair to compare the two because of their difference in size but overall they are fairly similar. I liked the 5420 so much that 6 months later I purchased the G7593t BD White Falcon. That's the Billy Duffy (The Cult) model with much stronger and louder pickups and Chrome finish as opposed to the traditional White Falcon's Gold accents which wear off over time. I'm also not a big fan of pick guards which are more aesthetics than function to be honest. For the price, I think you can't beat the quality or sound of the 5220. It's got the Les Paul comfortable feel with that Gretsch sound for a really affordable sum. I already have a beefed up Epi Les Paul but would absolutely consider getting a 5220 to add to the arsenal. I mean let's be honest here, you can never have too many guitars :).

A year ago I got the 5220 (see below comment), but my LGS got a used 5420 at a good price... and I'm thinking. So I rewatched this video. Not sure it helped... I still want the 5420, but the 5220 is probably still the right guitar for me. More thinking to come. Thanks for the great analysis.

Great. great comparison. Thank you for your demo.

Another exceptional video,Thank you Jack..That 5420 will be added to my arsenal very soon.

If I had one of the hollow bodies I would be tempted to put a second tone knob on it like the Tim Armstrong model. It would be hard to do on one of the solid/chambered models but easy on a hollow body.

Hey Jack, Thank you man, Yours are definitely the best reviews on the whole of the internet......Basically because you love what you do and are completely impartial...... And have Such lovely Tone.....Always extremely tasteful and especially beautiful, beautiful clean tones too......which are essential because you can actually hear the tone of the guitar especially enhanced through your batsman....... Also I was Just wondering what strings you're playing on each of the Gretsch's as I've been playing daddario xl 12's for ages because I love the tone and response but find some guitars struggle to take the extra tension....Although i have been experimenting with gently coaxing out the extra soft yet fuller bloom and feel of 11's and sometimes even 10's but also find that on a 24 3/4" scale length 11's aren't quite enough to make the guitar resonate chime and sing........ But whatever you're using on this sound absolutely perfect for the instrument and the clarity of tone is just amazing and they just really chime....So be really Grateful if you could let me know......But like I said Your's are definitely the best and most enjoyable and informative reviews on the internet So also gratefully received and much enjoyed s please keep them coming too..... Thanks So much Chris :)

My favorite is the middle ground. The G5655T Jr Center Block gets the most use, out the my other Electromatics (G5410T and a G5230T).

A very good Review , thanks ! And yes , Gretsch is something Special , and I like the G5420 . What I do like to , you tell the People no shit ! But Pure Experience , and good for the Customers..... 💕💕💕

Just picked up a dark cherry 5220 and your videos definitely helped with the decision. Any insight on pickup heights? Also finding the low E string buzzes when played hard. Any issues with yours? Love your playing and videos, keep it up!

Seems that a Gretsch g5220 is on my now. Will play it for an year or two then will go for Gretsch player g6228

I really like the look of the G5622T, 335 style guitar at a decent price.

I do agree - it has that spanky Telecaster vibe. How cool is that!

I prefer the big hollowbody with the bigsby, since that guitar sounds more what I like.

i got both . 135th annivesary and a 5230 tg.

Great. I thought watching this would help me decide which of the two I should get. Nope. I still want them both.

This is a very helpful comparison review. Thank you. Both guitars look and sound good. I am tempted to go for the hollowbody for the reasons you say, plus it does epitomise for me what a rock and roll guitar should look like.

Just flogged my old Epipi Casino and getting one of these

A better and more direct comparison would have been the g5230, the semi-hollow model with the bigsby bridge. It has the same black filtertrons while the red model you have in your video has “broadtrons” which are supposedly more like a gibson typical humbucker.

Ugh 😩 paid $599 today 🤦‍♂️ but I like it

Wish you'd compare the G5420t to the smaller G5655T Jr. That might be interesting.

Awesome 😎

Call me shallow, but with both guitars and girlfriends I find myself more interested, more proud of, I can put up with negatives more easily, and want to play with them more often when they're better looking. And the Gretsch 5220 gold finish I just got is totally gorgeous. The finish, the chrome/black/white contrast is stunning. And like personality of a girlfriend, the tone of this guitar is awesome and has two quite distinct sounds between the bridge and neck. I love the shape, it's a little bit bigger than a Les Paul. I don't like music man and PRS guitars because I think they're a bit too small. I like big butts...I mean big guitars and I cannot lie...

I would be hesitant to call the burgundy guitar a solid body since it is chambered and we know chambering almost makes it more similar to a semi hollow body in someways.

As of 2019 at least, both these guitars use Blacktop Filter'trons, the broadtrons are more a filtertron "voiced" traditional humbucker used on the streamliner line

I've been wanting to buy a Gretch for a few years now. I primarily play PRS. I have 7 or 8. And a dozen or more various other guitars and basses. I don't like bigsby's. I generally have hard tails. I use my PRS Hollowbody II just as much as my 2 Mira's, Vela, '94 CE24...so Hollowbody or semi hollow or solid really isn't something that drives my decisions about what guitars I like. Tone quality and playability are my benchmarks. So, what I really have boiled it down to is, I want something made I'm the South Korean factory at a reasonable price. But it's been hard to tell which models are made in China as opposed to South Korea. U have any insight on this? Thanks.

Thanks for this video. So what do you think smaller semi hollows like g5655tg?

I just ordered a G5222 Duo Jet BT they it has BroadTron pups your one also have the same pickups ? Which do you like better the FillerTron vs Broad Tron. I know ppl like Malcolm Young Ted Nugent … stuffed t shirts & socks in the hollow body gtr to squelch the feedback

My plunge into Gretsch was similar to yourself only in reverse. I went for the G5220, and honestly, it feels like a LP when playing it, but with it's own sound. Being more of a Tele player, I prefer to take off a slight bit of bottom end with an EQ pedal to get tone I like on the G5220. Man, the bridge pickup on overdrive really rocks. I then took another plunge and bought the bigger hollow body with the trem (or should it be called vibrato), but didn't want to spend too much on what would be a niche guitar for me, so I bought the Streamliner G2420T. Both guitars are very nice and have their own place. I predominately use them when playing in a worship band so to have a different tone/sound to the other guitarist.

I think i go with the G5422TG :) nice comparisson and playing though!

Any opinion on the older G5420T's, Jack? I have my eye on a 2013, but am curious if the 2016 updates were notable enough for me to hold out for a newer model.

Isn't "more comfortable" subjective?

broadtrotns? they look like blackface filtertrons… ok i figured that out - the inlays are encoding the pickups for gretsch. Thumb = filtertrons, dots = p90, squared gibson ones = broadtrons

You sold me on the Supro Delta King and you’re about to sell me on the g5220

Left handed no bigsby. Add bigsby or not to 5420?

I have the G5420 and I love it, but recently I'm thinking whether to swap the stock pickups with HS Filtertrons, can't decide yet. The Blacktops sound great, but don't know the HS Filtertrons might have something else. Anybody experienced here to give an advice?

Nice playing. I'm considering getting the 5220 after playing the model with the bigsby vibrato, which I don't need or want. I read another review that the pickups lack some punch, and that you need to turn the amp up. Do you find this to be true?

should have bought this last year there now 549

5220 ufff

I'd play one and live in the other 😆

👲💖

Electromatic guitars. I see.asia's country "s at low cost ....

Unfortunately we lefties get the shaft to the tune of $100 for being left-handed when it comes to the 5220 and the 5420 in left hand, without a Bigsby, is the same price as a right handed model with one. To even get a Bigsby as a lefty, we have to step out of the Electromatic range and into the Players at 4x the price. It's a curse sometimes. All that said, I love the sound of a Gretsch and will suck it up. I'll have a 5220 on order here in a week or two.

I had the solid Jet in the exact same color, it was only 400$, it was a pos, wouldn't stay in tune, pickups cut out, made in indonesia, if you are a seasoned guitar player, go for an american made. I traded it in on new PRS ce 24 hollowbody in black/gray, made in the USA, what a guitar, say what you want, but, guitars made in Mexico are just as good as american made, indonesia and Korean made guitars are crap.