Shoutbox

sysmalakian: Birthday month starts now!
362 days ago

diceophonic: Vampiro Classics 2024 reissue
343 days ago

SabedLeepski: Sunburn Surf Fest for some scorching hot surf music: https://sunb...
300 days ago

skeeter: I know a Polish sound guy.
228 days ago

skeeter: I know a Czech one too!
228 days ago

PatGall: Surfybear metal settings
148 days ago

Pyronauts: Happy Tanks-Kicking!
126 days ago

midwestsurfguy: Merry Christmas!
94 days ago

sysmalakian: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
88 days ago

SabedLeepski: Surfin‘ Europe, for surf (related) gigs and events in Europe Big Razz https://sunb...
49 days ago

Please login or register to shout.

Current Polls

No polls at this time. Check out our past polls.

Current Contests

No contests at this time. Check out our past contests.

Donations

Help us meet our monthly goal:

100%

100%

Donate Now

Cake March Birthdays Cake
SG101 Banner

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Gretsch G5232T

New Topic
Page 1 of 1

Hi everyone!

Wanted to see who on here plays a Gretsch G5232T ?

Are you able to get twangy with it?

thinking about pulling the trigger on one on sale but wanted to ask here first to see if it would be a good choice for twangy surf instros.

I had a Gretsch Streamliner a while ago and the pickups were the muddiest , darkest pickups I’ve ever heard, literally the exact opposite of twang. But that was the bottom of the barrel budget guitar. The G5232T is the mid range so I’m hoping the sound is good.

Thanks!

I picked up a G5230T in Jet Firebird Red about a year and a half ago. It is the same basic guitar in single-cutaway. They both have the Black Top Filtertron pickups, which sound plenty classic-Gretsch twangy to me. I played 50s 6120 and 6121 Gretsches for years, and my main Gretsch these days is a 2004 1960 6120 reissue. A friend wanted the G5230T and I sold it to him. But if I didn't have that 6120, the 5230T would have been just fine and I never would have parted with it.

I personally would steer clear of anything but actual 50s-60s style Filtertron, Dynasonic, or the Black Top Filtertron types of reissue pickups. I played some "Broadtron" pickups, and I did not like them, nor have I found the pickups on the cheaper models to my liking. Of course, subject to personal taste, but that's what I found.

The classic Gretsch sound is not the classic Fender sound. But it's a great sound, and can be plenty twangy. I surfed those 50s Gretsches for a long time, of course along with my Strats. Of course, it would be best if you could try the guitar first to hear for yourself.

The Delverados - surf, punk, trash, twang - Facebook
Chicken Tractor Deluxe - hardcore Americana - Facebook and Website
The Telegrassers - semi-electric bluegrass/Americana - Facebook

Last edited: May 24, 2023 08:50:48

I have one in Tahiti red. It’s a fun guitar for some rockabilly stuff or Link Wray style instrumentals (or some AC/DC)) but I could not find any usage for it in my surf context. After buying G2604T with super Hilotrons (that are super surfy as for me) I am selling it. I highly advise this new Rally reissue.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai wrote:

I have one in Tahiti red. It’s a fun guitar for some rockabilly stuff or Link Wray style instrumentals (or some AC/DC)) but I could not find any usage for it in my surf context. After buying G2604T with super Hilotrons (that are super surfy as for me) I am selling it. I highly advise this new Rally reissue.

Cool!

You mean the new Streamliner Rally ?

weird_oh84 wrote:

Samurai wrote:

I have one in Tahiti red. It’s a fun guitar for some rockabilly stuff or Link Wray style instrumentals (or some AC/DC)) but I could not find any usage for it in my surf context. After buying G2604T with super Hilotrons (that are super surfy as for me) I am selling it. I highly advise this new Rally reissue.

Cool!

You mean the new Streamliner Rally ?

Exactly
image

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

What I like specifically about Filtertrons (either the 50s/60s style Filtertrons or the Black Tops) is the ability to go between surf, country/rockabilly, and Link Wray type stuff with a slight twist of a tone knob. And that stuff pretty much defines the range of my surf/punk/trash/twang band.

I haven't tried the Super Hilotrons, which are marketed as a humbucker somewhere between the Filtertron and original Hilotron. I've had a bunch of old Gretsches with the single-coil 60s Hilotrons, and I personally found them a bit thin but without the sparkle of the 50s DeArmond Dynasonics. But on the other hand, that never was an issue for George Harrison with his '60s double-Hilotron Tennessean.

There are a couple of threads on the Gretsch forum on Super Hilotrons -

https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/gretsch-super-hilotron-analysis.202665/

https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/how-do-super-hilo-trons-fit-with-other-gretsch-pickups.187702/

The Delverados - surf, punk, trash, twang - Facebook
Chicken Tractor Deluxe - hardcore Americana - Facebook and Website
The Telegrassers - semi-electric bluegrass/Americana - Facebook

DaveMudgett wrote:

What I like specifically about Filtertrons (either the 50s/60s style Filtertrons or the Black Tops) is the ability to go between surf, country/rockabilly, and Link Wray type stuff with a slight twist of a tone knob. And that stuff pretty much defines the range of my surf/punk/trash/twang band.

I haven't tried the Super Hilotrons, which are marketed as a humbucker somewhere between the Filtertron and original Hilotron. I've had a bunch of old Gretsches with the single-coil 60s Hilotrons, and I personally found them a bit thin but without the sparkle of the 50s DeArmond Dynasonics. But on the other hand, that never was an issue for George Harrison with his '60s double-Hilotron Tennessean.

There are a couple of threads on the Gretsch forum on Super Hilotrons -

https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/gretsch-super-hilotron-analysis.202665/

https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/how-do-super-hilo-trons-fit-with-other-gretsch-pickups.187702/

I think they have just nailed it with super Hilotrons. Usual Hilotrons were too thin and weak for my taste and Blacktop Filtertrons too full, bassy and “humbuckerish”.
Just love this guitar.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Page 1 of 1
Top