Gretsch G5700 2515902548 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Gretsch G5700 Electromatic Hollow Body guitar provides classic Gretsch style and tone at an accessible price point. This hollow body electric guitar features a double-cutaway hollow body design with a spruce top, maple back and sides, and finished in an elegant Gloss Walnut stain.

The G5700 aims to deliver an authentic vintage tone and playing experience. It has dual Gretsch humbucking pickups for rich, warm tone. The controls are simple for dialing in your sound. Hardware includes Gretsch's Adjusto-Matic bridge and Bigsby-licensed B70 vibrato tailpiece for rocking those classic Bigsby warbles and dives.

Overall, the G5700 Electromatic appeals to guitarists seeking the iconic hollow body sound and style of a Gretsch guitar without breaking the bank. This review will cover the G5700's design, sound, playability, pros, and cons to help you determine if it’s the right affordable hollow body electric for you.

Body Style and Design

The Gretsch G5700 is a hollow-body electric guitar with a classic single cutaway design. It features a laminated maple body with f-holes, allowing the guitar to resonate and project sound acoustically.

The hollow body construction makes the G5700 lighter in weight than a solid body electric. It's a comfortable guitar to play while seated or standing, especially during long practice or gigging sessions.

The single cutaway allows easy upper fret access on the maple neck. Overall, the G5700 has an elegant, vintage-inspired look and feel reminiscent of jazz-era hollow body electrics. Players who like a traditional hollow or semi-hollow sound and playing experience will appreciate the G5700's design and body style.

Another popular hollow body electric guitar is the Gayetana Guitars ATTO A77-C. This guitar features a hand-carved mahogany body with a maple top, giving it a rich, resonant tone. The f-holes allow the mahogany to resonate freely for a full-bodied acoustic sound when unplugged. When amplified, the guitar has a warm, vintage tone perfect for jazz, blues, and classic rock.

The ATTO A77-C has a sleek double-cutaway design that allows easy access to upper frets. The mahogany neck has a comfortable C-shaped profile that feels smooth and fast. It comes equipped with two hand-wound humbuckers for thick, singing lead tones. Between the resonant hollow body, warm electronics, and slick playability, the ATTO A77-C is an excellent choice for players looking for a great hollow body electric guitar.

Comparing the Gretsch G5700 and Gayetana ATTO A77-C, they share some similarities in their hollow body construction and vintage vibe. However, they have some distinct differences as well. The G5700 has a maple body while the ATTO uses mahogany. Maple tends to be brighter sounding while mahogany has more midrange emphasis. The G5700 goes for a classic single-cutaway design in contrast to the ATTO's sleek double cutaway.

In terms of electronics, the G5700 likely uses Gretsch's standard pickups while the ATTO has custom hand-wound humbuckers. And the ATTO seems aimed more for jazz, blues, and rock while the G5700 evokes an old-school jazz box feel. Either way, both are excellent hollow body electric guitars. The choice comes down to preferred aesthetics, tonewoods, electronics, and playing feel.

Pickups That Deliver Versatile Tones

The Gretsch G5700 Electromatic steel guitar is equipped with dual Black Top Broad’Tron humbucker pickups that provide a wide range of tones.

The neck pickup produces warm, round tones that are great for blues and jazz. The bridge pickup delivers brighter, punchier tones perfect for rock and country styles.

The broad construction of the pickups generates increased output and dynamics. Their ceramic magnets and open coils allow for articulate and balanced tones across the tonal spectrum.

By combining the two pickups, you can achieve complex tones that blend the best of the neck and bridge pickups. There's also a master volume control to shape the overall output level.

Overall, the Gretsch's dual humbucker design allows the guitar to effortlessly produce classic Gretsch tones, from smooth jazz to twangy country and everything in between. The pickups give you exceptional tonal flexibility no matter your preferred musical genre.

The versatile tonal palette of the Gretsch G5700 is one of its standout features, but it's not the only electric guitar that offers flexible tones. The Ortega Guitars RCE125SN is another great option with two single-coil pickups that enable a wide range of tones.

The RCE125SN has a maple neck and solid spruce top, producing bright, articulate tones. The two single-coil pickups provide a classic strat-like tonality, with the neck pickup offering warm, round tones and the bridge pickup providing crisp bite.

Between the five-way pickup selector switch and master tone control, you can dial in everything from glassy cleans to gritty overdrive. The slim neck and comfortable body shape also make this a very playable guitar for rock, blues, country, and more.

So if you're looking for an electric guitar that gives you tonal flexibility for various genres, the RCE125SN deserves a close look alongside the Gretsch G5700. Both guitars showcase quality construction and thoughtful electronics to craft inspiring tones.

Whether you prefer the fuller humbucker tones of the Gretsch or the spanky snap of the Ortega's single-coils, either guitar will allow you to chase a wide range of musical inspiration. Their versatile pickups let you evoke anything from warm jazz to searing rock leads.

For guitarists who want the freedom to explore new styles and tones, guitars like the G5700 and RCE125SN are excellent choices. Their flexible pickups and electronics provide the foundation to craft your unique voice as a musician.

Controls

The G5700 features simple yet versatile controls that allow you to shape your tone. It has a master volume control, as well as individual volume controls for each pickup.

The master volume knob controls the overall output level of the guitar. Turn it up for your leads and solos, or dial it back for rhythm playing. Having a master volume allows you to go from sparkling clean tones to crunchy overdrive just by adjusting your picking attack and guitar volume.

There are also independent volume controls for the neck and bridge pickups. This allows you to blend the pickups to your liking. For example, you can turn down the bridge pickup while soloing on the neck pickup for a smoother, rounder tone. Or turn up both pickups to combine their distinctive voices. Having individual pickup volume knobs gives you tonal flexibility without having to modify your amp settings.

The controls are easy to adjust on the fly. Just a simple tweak of the knobs can dramatically influence your tone. Whether you want a bright, biting bridge pickup sound or a warm, throaty neck pickup voice, the G5700 puts control at your fingertips.

Hardware

The Gretsch G5700 features quality hardware that enhances its playability and functionality. It has a fixed Adjusto-Matic bridge and tailpiece, which provides solid intonation and tuning stability. This is preferable for many players compared to a tremolo or floating bridge.

The G5700's machine heads are die-cast chrome sealed tuning keys. They hold the strings firmly in tune, even under heavy playing. The chrome finish matches the chrome hardware on the bridge. Overall, the hardware components on the G5700 are durable and reliable.

The fixed bridge and quality tuners keep this guitar in tune even during vigorous playing. Players can depend on the hardware to deliver clear tone and intonation.

Sound and Tone

The Gretsch G5700 offers a warm, rich tone that is versatile for a variety of styles like blues, jazz, and rock. The Electromatic body style utilizes a chambered spruce center block and maple sides to create a focused tone with great resonance and articulation. The thick and chunky neck and mahogany body also add to the warm sound.

The dual Black Top Broad'Tron humbuckers provide a smooth, well-rounded tone. The neck pickup has a mellow jazz sound while the bridge pickup is hotter and suited for heavier styles. When used together, they produce a classic, balanced rock n' roll tone. The controls allow further tone shaping through the master volume and tone knobs.

Overall, the G5700 is tonally flexible enough for clean jazz chords or overdriven blues/rock riffs. The resonant hollowbody design and quality pickups give it that unmistakable old-school Gretsch sound. Players looking for diverse tones across genres will appreciate the tonal palette offered by this guitar.

Playability

The G5700 features a thin and comfortable C-shaped neck profile that allows for fast and smooth playing across the fretboard. Though slim, the neck still has a bit of soft V-shape to it that conforms nicely to your hand.

The neck is topped with 22 medium jumbo frets that give you ample room for string bending and vibrato techniques. The medium-large frets are an ideal size for achieving clarity and sustain when fretting notes without being overly huge or distracting.

The smooth satin finish on the back of the G5700's neck also enhances playability by allowing your hand to easily glide up and down during solos or chord changes. Overall, the G5700 offers a very fast and comfortable playing feel that lends itself well to versatile guitarists who want to play varied styles of music with ease.

Pros

The Gretsch G5700 offers great value compared to similar hollow body electric guitars. You get the iconic Gretsch look and quality components at an affordable price point.

Some key pros include:

• Great value - For the price, the G5700 packs in a lot of guitar. The build quality and electronic components exceed expectations for this price range. Beginners and budget-minded guitarists will appreciate the value.

• Iconic design - The G5700 features Gretsch's famous hollow body design with elegant binding and classic styling. It looks great on stage and stands out from the crowd. The Gretsch logo and elegant pickguard make this an iconic, recognizable instrument.

• Quality components - Gretsch didn't cut corners on the hardware and electronics. The G5700 features a solid spruce top, quality tuners, pickups and controls. The components come together to deliver bold Gretsch tone at this affordable price point.

Cons

• Feedback at high volumes: Some users report issues with feedback and unwanted distortion at very high volume levels. The semi-hollow body can pick up vibrations and cause feedback. This may limit the guitar's ability to be played at extremely loud volumes.

• Heavy weight: The G5700 is on the heavy side for a semi-hollow electric guitar, weighing in around 9 lbs. The solid center block and durable construction add some weight compared to a fully hollow-body guitar. The weight could cause fatigue over long practice or playing sessions, especially when standing. Consider using a supportive strap or resting between songs if weight becomes an issue.

Summary

The Gretsch G5700 Electromatic Steel Guitar provides classic Gretsch style and sound in an affordable package.

With its single-cutaway hollow body, the G5700 offers the iconic Gretsch look. The guitar features a comfortable C-shaped maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The dual Black Top Filter'Tron pickups provide classic twangy Gretsch tones. Controls are simple with just master volume and tone knobs.

The G5700 plays smoothly and has great sustain. The guitar stays in tune well and Intonation is accurate across the neck. The pickups and controls give a good variety of tones from sparkling cleans to growling overdrive.

Overall, the Gretsch G5700 is an excellent choice for players looking for an authentic hollowbody electric guitar with real Gretsch vibe. It nails the iconic design and sound, while keeping the price accessible. If you're a fan of classic rockabilly, country, blues, or rock tones, the G5700 is a great guitar option worth strong consideration.