If you’re wondering whether Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 guitar is worth it or not, don’t worry – today’s review is going to solve your problems! Undoubtedly, this model is a really popular among both beginners and more intermediate players. It’s not overly expensive, but is it actually the best option out there?
Absolutely! The Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy is a truly amazing and inexpensive guitar. It sounds and looks fantastic it has a really cool vintage vibe. This model will be particularly great for lovers of fingerstyle and folk music. In addition, it’s a bit smaller than regular acoustic guitars, so it’s perfect for traveling.
I have to admit that this model made a really good impression on me when I had it in my hands for the first time. The overall quality makes it one of the coolest budget parlor guitars available on the market right now. And I’m sure that if you decide to get it for yourself, you’ll feel the same.
Let’s dive deeper with research and find out what makes this guitar so good!
My Experience With Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500
I had the pleasure to test out this guitar a few weeks ago and what I liked the most was actually the compact size. It’s just so comfortable to play and it makes you want to sit on your couch and play around for a few hours.
So watch out – this guitar will significantly reduce your productivity. You’ll be just too busy having fun!
Another thing that I liked about this guitar is the vintage look, it just looks so classy and retro. If you’re a lover of folk music from the ’60s, you’ll definitely enjoy playing on the Jim Dandy. Who knows, maybe you’re the next Bob Dylan?
There was one disadvantage though – the strings. If you decide to buy this guitar, make sure to put a new set of strings on it. I did it and it significantly improved the overall sound and comfortability of playing.
When it comes to tone, it sounds warm and it’s actually pretty loud. You would expect a smaller-sized guitar to produce more quieter and mellow sounds, and of course, you’ll get this kind of vibe when you’re fingerpicking. But things change when you’re strumming, so that’s also a big plus!
Here’s my quick demo of Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 – have a look and hear it for yourself. I encourage you to check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel on which you’ll find lost of reviews and demos of other cool guitars.
In my opinion, this is a really solid acoustic tone for such a compact guitar. What do you think? Leave a comment under today’s post, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this beautiful guitar.
Specs & Pricing
The guitar features a body made of Agathis wood. For those who don’t know, this type of wood is pretty similar to mahogany as a tonewood. It’s not the highest quality wood and the costs of this material is pretty low, but somehow the guitar manages to produce a really nice and warm sound.
It is also worth mentioning that the guitar has a really comfortable C-shaped neck made of nato wood. In addition, there’s a really good looking rosewood bridge and a white pickguard with the letter G that obviously refers to Gretsch.
In terms of pricing, the Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 can be considered as a budget parlor guitar. Although the acoustic guitar market is really saturated right now, this model really stands out from the competition. I think that at this price it will be really difficult to find something better. The guitar is worth every cent!
Who Is Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 For?
I think that Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 will be perfect for all-level players and it doesn’t really matter whether you’re an amateur or a pro guitarist. You may think that due to its size it’s a guitar for kids adolescents, but it’s not true – anyone can play it and adults will absolutely love it!
And of course, the Jim Dandy model is really versatile. Whether you like folk, pop, blues or country, this guitar will be perfect for all of these genres. I think that it will work particularly well for all the singer-songwriters who enjoy playing folk and indie folk music.
The Jim Dandy G9500 will be perfect for small and intimate live performances. Undoubtedly, this is a guitar for real artists. But of course, if you want to use it for gigs in large venues, you’ll have to use an additional microphone to amplify it.
What’s interesting, professional musicians tend to love the quality of this guitar just as much as me. James Bagshaw, an English musician from a psychedelic rock band called Temples is a great example of such an artist – check out his performance below. You have to admit that his Jim Dandy sounds really good on that live acoustic session!
Verdict?
To be honest, I had dozens (or even hundreds) cool guitars in my hands throughout my own musical journey. I played on expensive Martin and Taylor guitars and of course – they are incomparable with the Jim Dandy. But I think that the Jim Dandy doesn’t need to be compared with anything else. It’s a really exceptional, one-of-a-kind acoustic guitar.
I have no hesitation with recommending this instrument to any guitarist out there. Whether you’re a beginner or a more intermediate player, I’m telling you with all honesty – this guitar is totally worth and you won’t be disappointed.
About Gretsch
Gretsch is a legendary American manufacturer of musical instruments. The company has a really long and interesting history and they’re currently owned by FMIC (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation).
It is worth mentioning that they’re absolute leaders when it comes to hollow and semi-hollow body guitars. And although acoustic guitars aren’t their main area of focus, they still manage to produce amazing and affordable guitars, such as Jim Dandy G9500.
What is a parlor guitar?
A parlor guitar is a type of acoustic guitar which is slightly smaller than a regular sized acoustic guitar. The guitars of this type have a shorter scale, which means that the distance between their frets is smaller than usual. As a result, parlor guitars are really comfortable for players with small or fat fingers. Due to the compact size, they’re also frequently used as travel guitars.
Where is Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 made?
Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 is manufactured in Eastern Asia. The company has factories in China and Indonesia, so their low-shelf guitars usually come from these regions. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the quality of these guitars is poor, so don’t worry about it!
The truth is that the vast majority of guitars from this price level come from these countries. Moreover, this model features Agathis wood which is really common and cheap in this part of the world. That’s why it makes sense for Gretsch to manufacture the Jim Dandy in there.
What strings come on a Gretsch Jim Dandy?
The guitar is equipped with D’addario E16 Phosphor Bronze strings. These strings are not bad, but my brand new Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 didn’t sound well with this set of strings. That’s why I highly recommend using some new and fresh strings if you decide to buy a new model.
Summary
As you can see, the Gretsch Jim Dandy G9500 is a really unique guitar. This model proves that great instruments don’t have to cost thousands of dollars. And it is totally possible to get an amazing piece of gear at a really affordable price! So if you’re looking for an exceptional parlor guitar, the Jim Dandy model is the way to go.
What do you think about the G9500? Would you add it to your collection? Let me know what you think, I’m really curious! Thanks for checking out my blog and today’s review. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
