If you’re wondering if Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is a good guitar or not, don’t worry – today’s review should answer all of your questions! I recently wrote an article about the Jim Dandy, so I figured it’d be great to focus on this a bit more expensive model as well. Surely, it’s a really popular guitar, but is it actually good?
The truth is that Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey offers a great quality, vintage look and a very nice sound. It sounds particularly fantastic once you plug it in into an amp – the pickup significantly improves the overall tone of that instrument.
Let’s dive deeper wit research to find out what exactly makes this guitar so good. Hopefully, today’s review will help you to understand if Gin Rickey is a good fit for you and your style of playing. Firstly, we’ll start with the specs. There will also be a sound demo included, so you’ll be able to hear how it sounds!
Specs & Pricing
Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is a parlor-style acoustic guitar which offers a great playability and a very unique vintage aesthetic. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most interesting guitars of this type available on the market right now.
The guitar features a lightweight basswood body and a very comfortable nato neck with a walnut fingerboard. This selection of woods guarantees a great guitar tone. Overall, the guitar looks and sounds more expensive than it actually is.
The manufacturer decided to equip Gin Rickey with a Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup, which allows you to use that guitar for live performances. This pickup does the job very well and it significantly improves the overall sound quality of that instrument. It actually makes the guitar sound a bit like an electric guitar.
When it comes to pricing, it’s surprisingly cheap. Considering its price, it’s definitely one of the most affordable parlor-sized acoustic-electric guitars that you can find online. That’s why I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all guitar players who are searching for a new parlor guitar.
Here’s the sound demo.
Who Is It For?
Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is suitable for both beginner and more advanced guitarists. If you’re just starting out, choosing this model will be an excellent option for you. At the same time, if you’re searching for a compact-sized guitar that will be good for live performances, this guitar will be a great choice as well.
It is also worth mentioning that this is a very versatile instrument, so it can be used in a lot of different genres of music. Whether you’re into bluegrass, blues, country or folk – you won’t be disappointed! It works well for various different styles of playing, so all lovers of strumming and fingerstyle playing are going to love it too.
Lastly, this is a really affordable guitar, so it’s made for guitarists who don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on new guitars. Although it’s a budget guitar, it looks and sounds like a way more expensive model. That’s why I think that it’s so great!
Here’s an another sound demo.
Disadvantages of Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey
To be honest, it is not that easy to find major flaws of G9520E Gin Rickey. Of course, no guitar is perfect, but the truth is that Gretsch did an absolutely fantastic job with that model.
Firstly, remember that this is a parlor-sized guitar, so it’s significantly smaller than regular dreadnought guitars. This is not necessarily a disadvantage, but if you’re looking for a “normal” acoustic guitar, you should probably look somewhere else.
In addition, the overall vibe and aesthetic of the G9520E model is not for everyone. If you like vintage gear and olschool vibes, you’ll definitely love it, but if you prefer more modern instruments, this guitar may not be the best for you. It offers a very characteristic sound which is really tough to compare with anything else. While some people love it, others may absolutely hate it!
Considering its price, it’s definitely one of the coolest parlor guitars available on the market right now. Personally, I’m a huge fan of all guitars made by Gretsch. I never had any problems with their guitars, so I’m sure that you’ll be really satisfied if you decide to choose the Gin Rickey.
Gretsch Gin Rickey vs Gretsch Jim Dandy
As I mentioned earlier, this guitar is really similar to an another popular guitar manufactured by Gretsch – the famous Jim Dandy. I recently reviewed Gretsch Jim Dandy on my blog, but a lot of guitarists wonder which of these models is actually better. Here’s what you need to know!
The main difference between the Gin Rickey and Jim Dandy is the fact that the Gin Rickey is an acoustic-electric guitar. Gretsch Jim Dandy doesn’t have a pickup, so you can’t plug it into an amp to perform in a live environment. In that way, the G9520E Gin Rickey model is a bit more versatile.
Both of these guitars are a bit smaller than regular-sized guitars, so they’re really easy to travel with. Still, the Gin Rickey model will be better for all performers and singer-songwriters who want to play gigs.
Overall, both of these guitars are great for casual strumming and fingerpicking on your couch. In my opinion, if you are willing to spend a bit more to get an acoustic-electric guitar, the Gin Rickey will be a better option for you. On the other hand, if you’re searching for a cheap option, stick to the Jim Dandy.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the look or the sound of Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey, don’t worry! There’s a lot of great acoustic guitars out there. It all comes down to your budget and your own preferences, but here’s a few guitars that you can also check out.
Firstly, if you’re searching for your first acoustic guitar, I highly recommend checking out Epiphone DR-100. I started my journey as a guitarist with that model over 14 years ago and I have a lot of great memories with that guitar. It’s cheap, it sounds good and it does the job very well – who needs anything else?
If you’re searching for something a bit better and suitable for more advanced guitarists, I highly recommend checking out the guitars manufactured by Takamine. I recently wrote an article about 10 Best Takamine Guitars Under $1000, so feel free to check it out if you’re looking for the best possible gear.
Lastly, I also encourage you to check out guitars made by Dowina. For those who aren’t aware, this is a small manufacturer of guitars from Slovakia. I used their gear on several occasions and I can totally recommend their guitars.
Where is Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey manufactured?
Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is manufactured in Indonesia.
Summary
As you can see, Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is a very interesting acoustic-electric guitar. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all guitarists who are searching for a great sounding and great looking piece of gear. You won’t be disappointed!
What do you think about the Gin Rickey model? Would you add it to your own collection of guitars? I’m really interested to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below!
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