-
Can you help me identifying this Gretsch?
Hey guys and gals,
undeniably we are looking at a Gretsch, I made pictures
To me it looks like a Gretsch G2420T, as it was below 800 € it can’t be an Electromatic.
The Streamliners I see online have very different Pickups to mine. So maybe its not even a G2420.Background:
2009 I got this guitar as a reward to myself. And no, I can’t remember a thing about it anymore. I knew LITERALLY nothing about guitars back then and just liked the look and feel of it.
It was priced something between 600 und 700 EUR. It was the first Guitar I got that was more than 69 EUR (new!), so the first “good” guitar to me.
I stopped playing during my time as a student completely and only now are trying to get back to it. I can’t make this Guitar sound great (imho) so right now I wonder “Is this a good Guitar?”. To determine whether I take it to a shop to overhaul and adjust or get something new, I need to know what model this is to do my Research on its general quality.
Thank you in Advance.
-
5 Replies
-
Hello @MiRu ;
If I was going to track down this guitar, the first thing I’d do would be look inside the f holes and find the serial number, then look up the “code” for Gretsch serial numbers. And then I’d send an email to Gretsch asking them for more info.
Either that, or go to someone who’s into vintage guitars. Chances are, they will be fair with you about what it is.
Lastly, I’d hold off on getting rid of it. Making a guitar sound good means having skill on the guitar. It might be a while before you can do that. But someday, you might realize what you had and find you can’t replace it.
I hope this helps.
MG 😀
-
AFTER 2003
In January of 2003 the serial number scheme changed from the system previously used by Gretsch Guitars. The first two digits identify the year of production and the second two digits identify the production month. The remaining numbers identify the sequential yearly factory unit number, and include all instruments, in all models, built in that factory, in that specific year.
For example, serial number JT03074463 would break down as:
- 03: 2003
- 07: July Production
- 4463: 4,463rd guitar built in 2003 (all models combined from that factory)
The last four numbers are sequential for the given year (all models combined) and are broken into two categories as follows:
- 0001 through 0100: Reserved for prototypes, samples, one-offs
So, your guitar was made in 2008, July production. This factory made over 3000 guitars by July. So it’s not very rare. This guitar is the 3434th guitar made by that factory that year.
However, keep in mind that this is ALL models, so this may be more special because it’s an anniversary issue, I don’t know. And I don’t know what the “KS” stands for. Since the example was made in Japan and has “JT” and yours was made in Korea and has KS, I’m gonna guess that this identifies the factory.
Beyond this, I’d go to a shop that specializes in used or vintage guitars if you have one in your area. Maybe send and email to a vintage shop.
That’s the best I can do. Let us know what you find out.
MG 😀
-
Hey there @MikeGaurnier and @Bill_Brown,
thank you very much for your answers.
Big thanks for the tip to check inside the f holes… Sometimes you feel dumb, not seeing the forrest for all the trees.
It is now established that we are looking at a G5129, Electromatic from 2008.
All I gotta do now is to find out whether this certain guitar modell is considered good or garbage.
Thanks 🙂
-
Oh, @MiRu , trust me on one thing, it is not garbage. It may not be a $2000 guitar, but price has very little to do with how good a guitar is. Gretsch makes some guitars for under $500, but Gretsch never made a garbage guitar.
MG 😀
-
-
Maybe this will help you to identify the model class @MiRu
https://chasingguitars.com/gretsch-history/https://chasingguitars.com/gretsch-history/
Log in to reply.