Some NAMM news for the Gretsch fans...

[Steve DeRosa]

In order:

• Some new colors for the Brian Setzer line - blue burst, lime gold, magenta, green sparkle - a black lacquer version with ebony board, and an antiqued "smoke orange" model with new TV Jones "Ful-Fidelity" PU's modeled after the first Filter'trons
• Still nothing to fill the $1K gap between the Korean Electromatics and the MIJ Professional Series; come on, guys - with your level of QC you could have the $1K-2K segment of the hollow/semi-hollow market all to yourselves
• Laurel fingerboards on all Chinese/Indonesian instruments
• The high-value 5600-Series has been deleted from the Korean lineup and transferred to Chinese production (at a similar price, BTW); with the shift go the Super Hi-lo'trons/Filter'trons and rosewood fingerboard of the originals, replaced by the aforementioned laurel board and full-size (and tonally inferior IME) Broad'tron pickups - and if you've experienced the quality/value of the still-available Korean models, you might want to grab one while you still can
• One of the few bright lights of the new lineup, a MIK black 5420 " '50s" with gold hardware and tortoise trim; this is one classy axe, with all the quality and value associated with the Korean E-Matics - and I'd love to see a '59 Tennesseean "Flagstaff Sunset" red version
• A Midnight Sapphire option for the double-cut 5422 hollowbody - another very classy axe that looks far more expensive than its $1K street price
• Last year's E-Matic 5655 "White Sparrow" 3/4-size single-cut semi has been joined by "Country Club" (Cadillac Green) and "Brian Setzer" (Azure Metallic) versions at the same ($899 street) price
• New colors (dark cherry metallic, jade gray metallic, casino gold, Tahiti red, and the aforementioned Midnight Sapphire) for the 5200-Series E-Matic solids
• A P-90 2622 - candy-apple red with gold hardware - has been added to the entry-level Streamliner lineup; had a chance to play one this past Thursday at GC, could've been a real contender as a MIK E-Matic - unfortunately in its current configuration it falls far short of its promise IMO
• A would-be revival of the cult-favorite 3-pickup/cats'-eye 5622T-CB as a member of the Streamliner series (now designated G2627) which, in the fish-or-fowl argument, comes off as more fowl than fish, lacking both the tonal spectrum of the Super Hi-lo'Tron pickups and the combination of classic Gretsch design cues that made the original look/sound like it could have come out of the Brooklyn factory in 1964 - for your reference:
  
  https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar
  
  I also played the new version at GC and, speaking as the (very satisfied) owner of a 2016 original, if you missed out the first time around I'd recommend that you start searching Reverb/E-bay/CL for a clean used one while they can still be had for $600-800...

[PTony]

Thx for the update Steve. I’m a big fan of Gretsch guitars. As always, I appreciate your insight into the Gretsch line.

I agree that they could really have a monopoly in the 1k-2k market. Not sure why they’re not taking advantage in that retail space.

I LOVE my black 5620T-CB with “Cats Eyes”.

Disappointed to hear of the changes to this model lineup. I think the Super Hi’lo Tron/Blacktop pickups that come in this model is a fantastic pickup combo. Unfortunately I’m not a fan of gold hardware, and it seems many of their models now sport such hardware. I’m sure many will prefer this, it just isn’t my personal favorite. I REALLY wish they’d release the 5620T-CB in Red Sparkle again! Kick myself for missing that window.

I do love my 5230T, yet after updating the wiring and adding some higher quality hardware, it hasn’t replaced my 5620 as my go to stage guitar, although the 5230 is a fine backup. I will say I haven’t hated the black walnut fingerboards on the 5230’s and haven’t experienced any finger staining as some have experienced. And, they’re surprisingly well built for the price point. But again, the 5620 model line is superbly well built.

Guess I’ll have to be on the lookout for a sweet deal on another 5620/5622 before the news travels too far.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by PTony

...I agree that they could really have a monopoly in the $1k-2k market. Not sure why they’re not taking advantage in that retail space...

Neither am I, and considering the hold their competitors have in that segment of the market (albeit mostly solidbodies) they could really make an impact with some innovative new hollow/semi-hollow instruments in the spirit of the original E-Matic cats'-eye 5620/5622, modern in execution but nevertheless paying unquestionable homage to the Brooklyn "Golden Era" - while your 5620 is a virtual dead-ringer for the rare 6117 cats'-eye of 1964-66, its 3-PU/double-cut companion could easily have found its way to the Shea Stadium stage had it been available in '65. I hope there's something major coming down the pipeline, and soon; I love their current reissues and near-reissues, but the spirit of the original Gretsch company was one of sometimes quirky but always interesting innovation - and with the exception of Martin, "same-old-same-old" won't sustain you over the long haul...