Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey Acoustic Electric Guitar, Smokestack Black, with Soundhole Pickup

I really like this guitar. It's not my main guitar or even my backup, I mainly play a Stratocaster in a rock and roll cover band. But this Gin Rickey is a fun guitar, it sounds pretty good and it looks killer. My story- I randomly saw a review of the Jim Dandy on a YouTube video one day and I was intrigued. The Jim Dandy is the version of the Gin Rickey without a pickup. After learning about the history of this type of guitar and its roots in blues, I started thinking maybe I should check one out. I saw that my local guitar center had a Jim Dandy in stock, and I went there with the intention to possibly walk out with one. I liked it. I just didn't like the color that they had in stock, apparently the black ones were on order. In fact, there were no Jim Dandy's available online anywhere in black. However, there were Gin Rickeys available. Maybe it's GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) but I just couldn't get the idea of owning one of these guitars out of my head. I waited a couple of days and still felt the strong desire to own one, so I bought a Gin Rickey from Amazon. I have to say, I'm glad I went with the Gin Rickey. It looks so much better than the Jim Dandy to me. Even though there's only a bit of extra binding and the pickup, it classes up the whole aesthetic, makes it feel more worthy of the price tag. The pickup is pretty good, it sounds more like an electric guitar than an acoustic. I can plug it into my Blues Jr and it has none of the compression that comes with piezo pickups. I personally like the way it sounds. But then again, I really dislike how piezo pickups sound. Acoustically there isn't much there if you compare it with the big boys. I mean, it's loud enough for a living room/small lounge or ...parlor. It's not super resonant like a guitar with rosewood back/sides and spruce top. It's affordable and it's meant to be like the affordable catalog guitars from 100-ish years ago. It has its own sound and characteristics. The same sound and characteristics that helped define the blues. I've had it for about half a year and I play it occasionally. It's a fun small guitar with good action that I can play anywhere in the house. If you're expecting a $1000 Martin for a quarter of the price, you're going to be disappointed. I could see some eclectic individual making this their number one. Maybe it's the size and sonic qualities but this is guitar that feels more like an electric guitar than an acoustic. I plan on leaning into the electric quality of this guitar and stringing it with a set of Ernie Ball Rock and Blues (10-52) and potentially making it my dedicated slide guitar. TLDR: It's a fun guitar that feels more like an electric than an acoustic but more acoustic than a semi-hollow

I really like this guitar a lot. It's not an expensive guitar but it sure doesn't seem like a "cheapo" guitar, no sirree... It plays nice! If anything I may have the string height massaged by a pro, to lower the strings at the bridge end. At the nut they are already pretty low. It's fun to play and gratifying, it has a nice feel. And for those that hanker to rock or play some electric blues, the pick-up is surprisingly effective. It is really easy to make it growl. But even just played acoustic, it's tons of fun.

De verdad que si son como yo que necesitamos una guitarra versátil para tocar con amplificador de guitarra eléctrica, esta es. Super cómoda, el acabado mate es precioso, entona a la perfección, viene en muy buenas condiciones (la envié a América del Sur desde USA) y para su precio tiene buenas prestaciones.

This is the guitar you want to take to the beach, camping, or on vacation. Parlour body size makes it easy to take around, the finish is some sort of acrylic or plastic, but its super tough and seems to be water resistant (this is important if you go camping.) This guitar looks like it can take a lot of abuse and still play. It was close to perfect out of the box, all I had to do was adjust the neck a little bit over the first few days, and I may lower the bridge a little bit. It does not have big sound and projection, and it's not the most sonorous guitar, but it's very a very competent instrument, functional and sturdy. If you are going to the studio, you don't want this one. If you are going to hang out with your loser friends to have beers and sing, this is the one you bring.

It came set up and ready to go. Personally, I changed the strings to 11ga and didnt have to do any further work. Pickups are very okay. It definitely needs eq if recording through the pickups.

Other than the constant niggling about "baby guitar" or whatever, this is the best guitar I've ever purchased for the money. Love this thing to noodle around on. It helps that I have baby sized hands, but that's genetic, leave me alone.....ok?!

I love this guitar. I’ve used it for several gigs already. The sound while amp is dreamy…..& the cost is worth it. My favorite new guitar

I broke my finger so I got this to play as a lapsteel. The neck is adjustable enough that you can set up for a slide and the machines hold tune well. sounds good. Gretsch guitars are renowned as the hot rod of guitars. Putting your own mark on them is really the reason to buy them. Hot iron branding, dice knobs, custom nut covers, pin-striping... I'll post some photos later if I do anything really wild with it.

Very good value. sounds great . plays amazing

I bought it to try and learn slide playing. Has a great sound. After lots of experimenting with string types I tried making different nut saddles out of bits of plastic to raise the action (and allow fingering behind the slide). Succeeded in the end by fashioning one from a a piece of electrical conduit. This model is no longer available as they have changed it (the electric equivalent Jim Dandy) to have string pegs but I guess it will be just as good, especially for non-slide.

J'ai reçu cette superbe guitare deux jours après l'avoir commandée. Elle était parfaitement emballée et protégée. Elle sonne super bien, un peu style western. Branchée sur ampli ça donne ! Je ne peux que recommander l'instrument et le vendeur.

llego bien embalada, suena increíble, no tiene fallas en construcción ni electrónica, 10 de 10

I love this guitar - its a genuine parlour guitar and so suitable as i dont have much space. marvelous sounds so high and clear.