If you’re wondering if Gretsch G5024E Rancher is a good acoustic-electric guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that famous model. It’s a really popular Gretsch guitar, but is it actually worth the hype?
The truth is that Gretsch G5204E Rancher offers a great value for the money. It’s affordable and it works particularly well during live performances. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best acoustic guitars made by Gretsch!
Let’s dive deeper with research to investigate what exactly makes this guitar so good and so popular. Firstly, we’ll start with a quick overview of the specifications and the main advantages of that guitar. Of course, you’ll also be able to hear how it sounds! We’ll also see if it has any serious disadvantages.
Specs & Pricing
Gretsch G5024E Rancher is a dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar designed for the most demanding guitar players. In fact, this is one of the most popular acoustic guitars made by this legendary American brand.
This particular model features a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides. It also has a really comfortable mahogany neck with a smooth laurel fingerboard. The high quality of these materials results with a remarkable guitar tone.
It is also worth mentioning that the manufacturer equipped this model with a Sonicore under-saddle pickup and a Fishman Isys+ preamp system. This is a really big advantage of that model, because it allows you to easily use that guitar on stage during live performances.
What’s important, the Rancher offers a really nice, balanced and rich tone. Whether you’re playing unplugged or with an amp, you can be sure that this guitar will produce a natural, high quality sound.
When it comes to pricing, this is a really affordable guitar. It’s not the cheapest guitar in the world, but it definitely stands out from other acoustic-electric guitars available at this price level. That being said, the G5024E offers a great value for the money. It’s worth every cent, that’s for sure!
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out.
Who Is It For?
Gretsch G5024E Rancher is suitable for both amateur and more intermediate guitar players. Because of the fact that it’s an acoustic-electric model, it seems like a particularly good choice for all gigging musicians.
As I mentioned before, this is a really versatile instrument. This means that it can be used in a lot of different genres of music. Whether you prefer strumming or fingerpicking, the sound quality of the Rancher won’t disappoint you.
It is also worth mentioning that this is a really affordable guitar. Although the market is full of various different guitars made by other brands, the G5024E model seems to be one of the best guitars of this type. In addition, it looks a bit different than most of other acoustic-electric guitars.
It is clear that the vast majority of guitar players will appreciate the high quality of Gretsch G5024E Rancher. It sounds great, it looks cool and it’s actually not that expensive. Isn’t it all that really matters?
Here’s an another sound demo.
Disadvantages Of Gretsch G5024E Rancher
Although Gretsch G5024E Rancher is generally a really good guitar, it’s not a perfect instrument. Don’t worry though – the disadvantages of that model aren’t that serious!
Here’s what you need to know about the potential cons of that guitar.
Firstly, the original strings in the Rancher model aren’t the best. If you’re a beginner guitarist, you probably won’t even notice the difference. But if you’re a more advanced player, you’ll most likely benefit from replacing the original strings with the new ones. If you don’t know which strings are the best, check out my article about 10 Best Acoustic Guitar Strings For Fingerpicking & Fingerstyle.
Additionally, this guitar normally comes without a case or gig bag. So if you plan on traveling or commuting with that guitar, you’ll have to find it somewhere else. Nevertheless, it fits in most of dreadnought guitar cases, so finding the right case shouldn’t bee a too big problem for you.
Lastly, the G5024E Rancher has a pretty narrow neck. A lot of guitarists will consider it as an advantage, although it may not be ideal for players with large hands and fat fingers.
Summing up, the main disadvantages of the Rancher are:
- the original strings aren’t the best
- it comes without a gig bag
- the neck of that guitar is pretty narrow, so it’s not the best for guitarists who prefer wide necks
In my opinion, the advantages of the Rancher outweigh the disadvantages of that model. Bear in mind that no cheap guitar is perfect. And the G5024E is still one of the best acoustic-electric guitars at this price level!
Would I Get It?
Yes, I would definitely get it! Like I said before, this is a fantastic acoustic-electric guitar. It certainly looks and feels like a much more expensive guitar.
In fact, I’d be really happy to choose that model over some of the Martin, Takamine and Fender guitars available at this price level. There’s just something really cool about the Rancher that makes me immediately fall in love with it.
I have no hesitation in recommending Gretsch G5024E Rancher for all guitarists who are searching for a reliable, affordable and high quality acoustic-electric guitar. If you’re frequently performing live, you’re going to absolutely love that guitar!
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the look or the sound of Gretsch G5024E Rancher, that’s totally fine! There’s still quite a few really good and inexpensive acoustic guitars out there. Of course, it all depends on your own personal preferences and how much are you willing to spend.
Here’s a few other acoustic guitars that can potentially be a great alternative to the Rancher model.
Firstly, I highly encourage you to check out Gretsch Gin Rickey. This is a really cool parlor-sized guitar which is also available at a relatively low price. It’s a bit smaller than the Rancher, but it sounds absolutely amazing. This model will be a particularly good choice for all lovers of folk and blues music. If you like that kind of vibe, you should definitely check it out!
Alternatively, you can also consider getting Takamine GD11MCE. This particular model offers the all-mahogany construction, which results with a really nice, balanced and warm guitar tone. This kind of sound is perfect for fingerpicking and fingerstyle playing, so if that’s what you want to play, you should definitely check it out.
If you’re on a really tight budget and you don’t necessarily need the acoustic-electric features, you can also check out Epiphone DR-100. This is a cheap acoustic guitar designed mainly for amateur guitarists. It’s not the best guitar in the world and it’s not as cool as the Rancher, but it definitely does the job. It was actually my first acoustic guitar which I bought back in 2008, so I can definitely recommend checking it out!
On the other hand, Gretsch Rancher has everything you need from an acoustic-electric guitar. It’s affordable, it looks cool and it sounds great. Who needs anything else? That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!
FAQ
Where is Gretsch G5024E Rancher manufactured?
Gretsch Rancher guitars are manufactured in several different locations. They’re usually made in Indonesia or China, although it’s possible to find some older Ranchers that come from Japan and Korea.
What strings does Gretsch G5024E Rancher have?
Gretsch G5024E Rancher is originally equipped with D’Addario .012-.053 strings.
What’s so special about Gretsch guitars?
Guitars made by Gretsch offer a very high quality and they’re available at relatively affordable prices. The company specializes in manufacturing hollow and semi-hollow body guitars, although they also make stunning acoustic guitars as well.
Are Gretsch guitars good for rock?
Yes, Gretsch guitars are perfect for rock music!
Who uses Gretsch guitars?
Gretsch guitars are used by a lot of famous musicians all around the world. They were also used by some of the most legendary guitarists in the history. That includes Chet Atkins, John Lennon, Bono, Bo Diddley and many more!
If you want to see the full list of musicians who use Gretsch guitars, you can check it out on the official website of Gretsch.
Summary
As you can see, Gretsch G5024E Rancher is a truly exceptional acoustic-electric guitar. If you’re searching for an inexpensive, reliable and great sounding guitar suitable for live performances – you should definitely consider adding it to your own collection.
What do you think about the Rancher model? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you’re searching for more gear recommendations, here’s a few more articles that you may also like:
