In its November issue, Vintage Guitar reviews the Gretsch G5655T-CB Electromatic Center-Block, which features a solid-spruce center block designed to cut feedback when things get loud.
The magazine reviews the instrument’s key feature set, finish and set-up, and also details some of the sounds wrangled from this little beauty.
“A Black Top Filter’Tron pickup near the bridge provides all the early George Harrison jangle and super-clean Chet Atkins single notes anyone could ever use,” writes Bob Dragich. “Beatles songs are channeled almost involuntarily through the ’Tron. And even though Tom Petty doesn’t normally use a Gretsch, the G5655T-CB is great for reproducing the rhythms of nearly every song he’s ever done.”
The guitar also held up well when it came to feedback testing.
“Feedback testing involved running the G5655T-CB through an early-’80s Fender Super Champ in a 15×15 room with an eight-foot ceiling. All-tube and point-to-point wired, the Super Champ dished out Paul Rivera levels of gain. Pushed to window-rattling, 911-calling levels, the little Gretsch refused to squeal unless it was aimed directly at the amp’s speaker, and then only in close proximity.”
Pick up the magazine to read the full review.