[SOLVED!] The Saga Of Gretsch: Gretsch Electromatic Vs. Streamliner

As one of the icons of the guitar world, Gretsch is known for producing high-quality lines of guitars including Electromatic and Streamliner. Compared to their competitors on the market, Electromatic and Streamliner guitars give a good account of themselves while remaining inexpensive. That being said, one question still gives guitarists headaches: which one is the winner in Gretsch Electromatic vs. Streamliner. If you also struggle to tell the two lines of guitars apart, you have come to the right place.

My article can tell you everything you must know about Electromatic and Streamliner lines of guitars. Once you know what to expect from the guitars, you should be able to get the right guitar for the right gig.

A Summary Of Guitar Lines 

 

 

	Gretsch Electromatic	Gretsch Streamliner
Pickups	Filter’Tron	Broad’Tron
Body	Hollow, semi-hollow and solid	Hollow, semi-hollow and solid
Color	Various	Various
Hardware	Intermediate	Basic
Price	Economical	Cheap

Gretsch Electromatic Vs. Streamliner: Insights

Gretsch Electromatic

Over the years, many Electromatic and Streamliner models have reached the market which means both lines achieve similar scores regarding the options for color, design, …However, since Gretsch designs Electromatic to be a step up of Streamliner, guitars in the Electromatic line usually outmatch their Streamliner counterparts. Needless to say, in terms of hardware, Electromatic is the one that comes out on top in Gretsch Electromatic vs. Streamliner. Everything comes at a price though: in most of the cases, Electromatic guitars fall behind those from the Streamliner line once it comes to affordability.

Gretsch Streamliner

Put together from the ground up to be an entry-level line of guitars, Streamliner is popular among budget-minded guitarists. While models in the Streamliner line only use basic hardware, their performance is sufficient for a wide range of gigs. Short on money but still want to pick up a guitar that can hold up on stage? Then it’s strongly recommended that you add a couple of Streamliner guitars to your shortlist.

Decision

Overall, Electromatic and Streamliner don’t target the same customer segment so it’s up to individual guitarists to decide the winner in Gretsch Electromatic vs. Streamliner. In the case that you have little money but still want something of quality, Streamliner is your best bet. If you like Streamliner yet find guitars in the line insufficient, you should go for Electromatic. Think about what you expect from your instrument and you will be able to make a wise investment.

Best Guitars From Gretsch

Today, Gretsch is capable of offering quite a few guitars to guitarists but if you care about all-around performance, check out the following models:

Gretsch G2655T Streamliner Jr Double-Cut P-90

Slim and sleek, Gretsch G2655T Streamliner Jr Double-Cut P-90 is held in high esteem by those who appreciate compact instruments. Boasting superb handling characteristics, the guitar from the Streamliner line rarely gives guitarists on stage. Aside from that, despite its size, Gretsch G2655T Streamliner Jr Double-Cut P-90 features significant firepower owing to P-90 pickups. In play, the Streamliner guitar consistently presents a rich mid-range that suits various styles and genres.

Characteristics:

• Reduced feedback and enhanced sustain.
• U-neck.
• For the right-handed.

Gretsch G5420T Electromatic

The integration of tried-and-true features means Gretsch G5420T Electromatic is manageable for most of the time and it performs well in quite a few settings. In addition to that, the laminated body and rounded neck of the Electromatic guitar make it aesthetically pleasing. If you seek a guitar that looks nice and can hold its own on stage, you won’t regret investing in G5420T.  Since G5420T is available at a reasonable price, there is no need to scale back your spendings to buy it.

Characteristics:

• Inexpensive
• Clear and twangy tone.
• Fantastic level of comfort.

Gretsch G2420 Streamliner

From the outside, Gretsch G2420 Streamliner looks like a vintage Gretsch but in reality, it’s capable of delivering a contemporary tone. Thanks to the Broad’Tron BT-2S humbucker, G2420 provides tight bass response as well as aggressive midrange in play. Consequently, once it comes to blue rock gigs, a lot of people consider the Streamliner guitar to be one of the best instruments. The build quality of  Gretsch G2420 Streamliner is tip-top too, thus, it’s going to be years before you must find a replacement.

Characteristics:

• High endurance.
• Various color options.
• Resonance is second to none.

Gretsch G5622T Electromatic Centre Block

Owing to the integration of a spruce centre block, Gretsch G5622T Electromatic Centre Block manages to outmatch many of its competitors at high-gain settings. The lack of feedback means people can focus on playing to their heart’s content throughout the performance. Besides that, a combination of 12-inch fingerboard radius and 22 medium jumbo frets guarantee a high level of comfort. As a result, G5622T is a solid instrument for guitarists that play loud and intense genres in draw-out gigs.

Characteristics:

• Affordable
• Aesthetic value is outstanding.
• Next to no feedback.