Guitar-Bass.net has posted a review of the Gretsch G9555 New Yorker Archtop with Pickup, awarding it a 9 out of 10!
After a breakdown of its features, the reviewer offers an extensive download on its tonal qualities.
“Plugged into a small tweed combo, we’re again reminded how liberating a single-pickup guitar can be,” noted Guitar-Bass.net. “Naturally, given the pickup position at the end of the fretboard, there’s no shortage of bass – the low end is huge and sonorous, and suited particularly to open D tuning – but thankfully that doesn’t mean the high end is woolly; in fact, it’s as sweet or as biting as your right hand dictates.
“There’s a wide frequency separation between thumb and fingers when fingerpicking, and the New Yorker would make an excellent choice for solo live performers. The rosewood bridge lends character to the sound; dig in with a pick down at the bridge, into lots of spring reverb, and you’ll be rewarded with a woody lead voice that’s ideal for early 1960s Brit R&B.
“Despite its primitive appearance, the New Yorker does more than retro sounds; it would be equally at home in the context of latter-day Radiohead. Hollowbody construction means volume and gain bring feedback, but working with the limitations produces inspiring results – try using a looper to lay down clean chords, then play overdriven single-note lines on top, using swelling feedback for an Ebow-like effect.”