2014 Gretsch G9555 Acoustic/Electric Hollowbody Archtop Guitar

Above: electric clip

Above: acoustic clip

What's interesting about this guitar is that it's built a lot like an old Gretsch jazzbox from the '40s or early '50s, but it has 1930s leanings in some ways compared to the actual Gretsch products of the period -- the top is solid spruce while the back and sides are ply-maple. Most New York-made Gretsch archtops at the time were ply throughout. It also has a larger, soft-V neck shape which is more in line with vintage Gibson offerings from the '30s than the medium-C necks Gretsch was mostly putting-out towards the '40s and '50s.

The single-coil DeArmond Rhythm pickup, with its monkey-on-a-stick mounting, is a huge nod to the aftermarket units found on many acoustic archtops (to electrify them) during the '40s and '50s as well. This pickup's even hotter and a little warmer-sounding than the originals and it's a great match with the D'Addario Chromes flatwound strings that are on the guitar at the moment. It gives it an instant, classic, punchy, '40s jazzbox sound when amplified.

As an acoustic, it's no slouch as well -- it's roughly-comparable in voice to some of the Gibson Kalamazoo, lower-end Epiphone, and Regal archtops of the '30s. Even with the (more-dead-sounding) flatwound strings it puts-out good volume and snap.

The single-ply tortoise pickguard and amber knob are a nice touch, too, giving it some classic looks.

After a quick setup, it's playing spot-on and is ready to go.

Repairs included: setup and adjustments.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: ply maple

Bracing type: tonebar

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: rosewood family

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: hair over 1/16" bass and 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: feels like 52w-12

Neck shape: medium-bigger soft V

Board radius: 12"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25"

Nut width: 1 13/16"

Body width: 16"

Body depth: 3 3/8" + arching

Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz

Condition notes: it's almost new with essentially no fretwear and only the most minor of playwear in evidence on the body and neck. It's also all-original.