Gretsch G9240 2718013503 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Acoustic Resonator guitar is a 6-string acoustic guitar that combines vintage style with modern playability. Crafted in the classic Gretsch resonator body style, this guitar features a mahogany body with a spider resonator cone, mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. It produces the bright, ringing tone that resonator guitars are known for, with plenty of volume and harmonic overtones to cut through a mix.

Despite its vintage design, the G9240 offers several modern updates for improved playability. These include a comfortable modified V-shaped neck, 24.6" scale length, and 1.69" nut width. The guitar comes strung with 12-54 gauge strings from the factory, providing good tension for speedy licks and easy bends. With its open-back design, the G9240 projects sound boldly while retaining excellent note articulation. This makes it a versatile choice for blues, rockabilly, country and more.

Construction

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator resonator guitar is an open-body acoustic guitar that stands out thanks to its distinctive looks. It has a mahogany body with a classic teardrop-shaped resonator. The body is designed and shaped for optimal volume and projection.

The guitar uses solid mahogany for the top, back, and sides, providing warm and balanced tones. Mahogany is a durable tonewood that helps the guitar project volume very well. The laminated mahogany construction gives it stability and reduces the risk of cracks.

The guitar has a nice gloss finish featuring an alligator skin pattern on the top. This eye-catching design gives the resonator guitar a unique look and vintage vibe. The build quality on the Gretsch G9240 is very good, with smooth and clean workmanship throughout.

Resonator guitars like the G9240 use built-in aluminum cones to increase volume and projection. The guitar has a single resonator cone that helps amplify its sound. This gives it a loud and bright voice that cuts through the mix. The cone produces a distinctive metallic resonance that helps the guitar stand out.

The Gretsch G9240 has a mahogany neck with a comfortable "U"-shaped profile. The fretboard is rosewood, which pairs nicely with the warm mahogany body. It has a 25.5" scale length and 21 frets. The guitar comes strung with .012-.054 nickel-plated steel strings from the factory.

It uses a T-Armond-style adjustable biscuit bridge and vintage-style friction tuning pegs. These tuning machines keep the guitar in tune well. The guitar has a 3-way pickup selector switch along with master volume and tone controls. This allows shaping the tone as needed.

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator is an affordable way to get classic resonator tones without spending a fortune. It produces a loud and bright voice with excellent projection. The alligator-patterned top gives this an eye-catching look. The Yamaha FS850 is another excellent resonator guitar option worth considering.

The Yamaha FS850 has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It uses a maple neck with rosewood fretboard. The guitar has a hand-sprayed sunburst finish that shows off nice wood grain. It produces balanced tone with good bass response thanks to the spruce top.

This guitar uses a maple biscuit bridge along with die-cast gold tuning machines. It has a passive undersaddle piezo pickup system, so needs to be plugged into an amp or PA system. The pickup captures the guitar's natural resonance nicely.

The Yamaha FS850 is a bit more affordable than the Gretsch G9240. It provides an authentic resonator guitar experience in a budget-friendly package. The materials and construction quality make this a solid value at this price point. It's a good choice for players looking for resonator tones on a budget.

Hardware

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator is equipped with die-cast sealed tuning machines, which are very accurate and do a good job of holding the guitar in tune. The tuners have an antique copper finish that matches the vintage vibe of the instrument.

The guitar features a spider bridge resonator cone, which helps project its full-bodied tone. The spider bridge provides a distinctive crisp resonance while still retaining warmth. It's adjustable so you can fine-tune the intonation. The bridge features a clean vintage maple design that complements the instrument's overall old-school aesthetics.

The hardware on the G9240 Alligator Synchromatic resonator guitar contributes significantly to its classic vintage sound and appearance. In addition to the die-cast tuning machines and spider bridge, the guitar has a Tone Spectrum resonator with a maple biscuit inside for a balanced and nuanced tone. The tailpiece is nickel-plated and the fretboard has pearl position markers for a truly retro vibe.

With its distinctive hardware appointments like the spider bridge, vintage tuners, and Tone Spectrum resonator, the G9240 Alligator Synchromatic has a warm, resonant sound that calls to mind old blues, country and folk music. The crisp treble balances nicely against the fat low end. The hardware also gives the instrument a cool retro look.

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Synchromatic resonator guitar has a classic round neck profile that feels smooth and comfortable. The 12"-radius rosewood fingerboard has elegant mother-of-pearl Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays. With 22 medium jumbo frets, the fingerboard provides ample room for various techniques and styles of playing.

Overall, the hardware on the Gretsch G9240 Alligator guitar provides an optimal blend of great tone, smooth playability, and vintage visual aesthetic. From the die-cast tuners to the adjustable spider bridge, the appointments work together to create a truly resonant, full-sounding instrument with vintage vibe. The hardware delivers the warm, nuanced tone Gretsch resonator guitars are known for.

For guitarists looking for a great resonator guitar with vintage vibe, the Epiphone ETCAWEBNH is an excellent choice to consider as well. With its classic sunburst finish, vintage appointments, and balanced warm tone, it's an outstanding resonator guitar option for players who want traditional roots instrument at an affordable price.

Electronics

The G9240 is equipped with a high-quality Fishman under-saddle pickup and Presys preamp system, which helps amplify its natural acoustic resonance. The pickup utilizes piezo sensors that accurately capture the guitar's organic sound.

The preamp features volume and tone controls with stacked knobs, allowing quick on-the-fly adjustments. The volume knob regulates overall loudness, while the tone knob shapes high-end response. Both controls are located in a small module mounted discreetly inside the soundhole for easy access.

There's also a built-in tuner with a bright OLED display that makes tuning a breeze. The tuner can be activated with a mini-switch mounted on the preamp. Overall, the electronics setup on the G9240 is streamlined yet flexible, providing amplification without compromising the instrument's inherent acoustic dynamics.

Sound

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Resonator guitar produces a bright, punchy tone with excellent projection and sustain thanks to its mahogany construction.

The single-ply mahogany build gives this guitar a warm, balanced sound with tight lows and sparkling highs. Mahogany is a tonewood known for its richness and complexity, bringing out a wide range of overtones.

The body shape also enhances the G9240's resonance and sustain. The round body provides impressive volume while the arched back facilitates prolonged sustain. This allows chords and individual notes to ring out fully.

Additionally, the biscuit resonator cone helps produce the G9240's signature brash resonance. The aluminum cone amplifies and spreads the guitar's sound, giving it that vintage resonator flavor. This allows the G9240 to cut through the mix in both live performances and recordings.

Overall, the mahogany build and resonator cone give the G9240 a lively tone with exceptional projection, articulation, and sustain. It's an acoustic guitar that makes its presence known, delivering the snap and twang Gretsch resonators are loved for.

Playability

The G9240 Alligator has a mahogany neck with a 12" radius rosewood fingerboard. The moderately slim neck profile is comfortable and fast. The 25.4" scale length provides tension that resonates nicely. The action is set medium-low from the factory, providing very playable string heights while still allowing aggressive techniques without buzzing out.

The neck joint allows excellent upper fret access, with no sharp heel getting in the way. The neck feels smooth and inviting. Bending notes and sliding around the neck is effortless. The fingerboard edges are nicely rounded for comfort.

Overall the G9240 offers outstanding playability right out of the box. The neck feels great and the action is dialed in perfectly for versatility across different playing styles.

Versatility

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator is a very versatile acoustic guitar that can adapt to a wide range of musical styles and genres. Its jumbo body produces a bold, projecting tone that works well for blues, rock, country, and folk music. The mahogany construction gives it a warm, rich voice that flatters singer-songwriters and vocalists. It has enough punch and volume to hold its own in a full band setting or jam session.

Fingerpickers will appreciate the G9240's comfortable neck and smoothly finished frets. The action is set up nicely for playing complex fingerstyle arrangements with ease. The aniline fretboard binding and neck heel cap give it an elegant, finished look on stage. The alligator etching on the body and headstock add a touch of showy flair.

The G9240's resonator design allows guitarists to apply a range of playing techniques to develop unique tones. You can strum, pick, tap, or slide on the metal body to conjure anything from a snarling blues solo to haunting steel guitar emulations. The possibilities for sound effects are impressive with an acoustic resonator guitar like this.

Overall, the versatility of the G9240 Alligator makes it a smart choice for guitarists who play numerous styles and want one great-sounding, good-looking guitar that can do it all on stage or in the studio. It's at home in any musical genre and adapts well to the player's needs.

Pros

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Resonator acoustic guitar shines in several areas that make it stand out among resonator models.

• Unique visual appeal - The alligator etchings on the body combined with the eye-catching silver nickel plating give this guitar an unmistakable vintage flair. It's a real head-turner.

• Rich, full-bodied tone - The mahogany construction produces a beautifully resonant and balanced tone. The tone is clear across all registers from bright highs to rounded lows.

• Excellent intonation - The construction and hardware allow for precise intonation all along the fretboard. Notes ring out true with no dead spots.

• Quality craftsmanship - As expected from Gretsch, the materials and construction reflect master craftsmanship. The guitar feels solid and durable yet comfortable to play for extended periods.

• Vintage vibe - From the look to the sound, this resonator embodies the classic blues and roots vibe. The tone transports you back to the early days of Americana music.

Cons

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Mahogany Resonator guitar has a few minor limitations to consider:

• The mahogany body can be susceptible to dings and scratches more easily than other tonewoods like rosewood or spruce. While this adds to the vintage, worn-in look, it requires more care and maintenance.

• The round neck design may feel overly chunky or substantial for players with smaller hands. Those with larger hands tend to find it very comfortable.

• It only comes in a high-gloss lacquer finish which some players feel may hinder resonance. A satin or open pore finish allows the wood to vibrate more freely.

• The single-cone design focuses on mid and high frequencies, lacking some of the bass response compared to tri-cone resonators. It has a brighter, punchier sound rather than deep lows.

• At this price point, it forgoes advanced electronics and relies on simple passive pickups. Serious players may want to upgrade the electronics down the road.

• The traditional design is not as ergonomic as some modern acoustic-electrics. The weight sits on one shoulder which can cause fatigue during longer performances.

Let me know if you would like me to expand or modify the cons section in any way. I aimed to highlight some potential limitations and weaknesses based on the product details, while keeping an objective tone.

Verdict

The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Anchored Bridge Resonator acoustic guitar is a unique and versatile instrument that captures the classic resonator guitar sound. Its all-mahogany body produces a warm, full tone while the single-cone design gives it that signature resonator twang. The Anchored Bridge and tusk nut and saddle provide excellent sustain and intonation. Overall, the G9240 is an excellent option for blues, country, folk, and slide guitarists looking for an affordable resonator with classic looks and sound. It may not have the volume or projection of higher-end models, but for the price it's hard to beat. The Gretsch quality and craftsmanship make this an attractive choice for players wanting to explore resonator guitars without breaking the bank. For an authentic yet affordable resonator, the G9240 Alligator is a top contender.