My Review of the Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single Cut (G5655TQM)
Friends, have I got something beautiful for you today! I’m diving into the stunning Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single Cut—or, as it’s officially known, the G5655TQM in Hudson Sky. What a name!
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This is a gorgeous semi-hollow body guitar, and I start the video with a rhythm segment from King’s X to let you hear its unique voice right away.
In this in-depth review, I cover everything you need to know about this instrument:
- Size and Body: I love the size of this guitar. It’s a single-cut semi-hollow body with a center block and Trestle block bracing [02:07]. At about 14.5 inches across the lower bout, it’s a great, compact size—like an ES-339—that feels fantastic to play [06:45].
- Aesthetics: The Quilted Maple top is what drew me in, and I think it looks absolutely stunning [07:00]. It also features beautiful Indian Laurel for the fretboard, classic Neo-Classic Thumbnail inlays, and double binding [10:07].
- The Bigsby: I’ll be sharing how to properly set up the Bigsby B70 vibrato [07:04]. While many people complain about tuning stability, with a proper setup—which I walk you through—it performs just fine!
- The Hiccups: I’m honest in my reviews, and I have to talk about the tuners. I found the unbranded tuners to be terrible, causing binding and making the tuning experience rough [14:02]. I also recommend immediately changing the stock strings for a better sound and feel.
Despite needing a little setup work, I think this is a great-sounding guitar that delivers a fantastic rockabilly and rhythm tone, making it an excellent tool for making music.
Check out the full video to hear a ton of sound demos, including rhythm and lead fills, and see why I think this guitar is worth the money!
