Gretsch G2420T STRML HLW SC HVNA

Gretsch G2420T STRML HLW SC HVNA review

The Gretsch G2420T STRML HLW SC HVNA pairs a full hollow body with two Broad'Tron BT-3S humbuckers and a Bigsby B60 tremolo. Its Havana Burst finish and classic Gretsch details make an immediate impression. The supplied player feedback, however, raises practical concerns about playability, intonation, and tremolo stability. Those issues are significant enough that a buyer should consider the quality of the individual setup before choosing this guitar.

The listed price is $555, and the model has been available since July 2023. It is a hollowbody with a cutaway, not a semi-hollowbody. The laminated maple body and laminated maple top are finished in high-gloss Havana Burst. The listing gives conflicting neck wood information: one section specifies maple, while the detailed specification names nato. Check with the seller about the actual instrument rather than relying on either entry alone.

Construction and playing feel

The neck has a soft C profile, a high-gloss finish, and a laurel fingerboard with a 305 mm radius. Pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays mark its 22 medium-jumbo frets. The bone nut is 42.9 mm wide, and the scale length is 625 mm. These dimensions describe a familiar, full-size electric guitar layout, while the hollow body gives the instrument its distinct construction and appearance.

Gretsch fits the G2420T with a three-ply tortoiseshell pickguard carrying a gold-colored logo. Die-cast sealed nickel tuners handle tuning, and the supplied strings are nickel-plated steel in.010 to.046 gauges. No case or gig bag is included, so factor in a separate purchase if the guitar will need regular transport or storage protection.

The player report describes a serious problem right out of the box: the guitar was difficult to play, and remained only partly playable afterward. The reviewer specifically points to the nut slots. The third, fourth, and fifth strings reportedly lose their sound after a half-step bend. Switching to.010 to.044 flatwound strings and lubricating the nut did not solve the issue. This is one player's experience, not proof that every G2420T has the same fault, but it makes a careful inspection and return policy especially important.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

The two Broad'Tron BT-3S humbuckers are the clearest positive in the supplied feedback. The player says they sound as expected, though no detailed tonal comparisons or recordings are provided. The controls include separate neck and bridge pickup volume knobs, a master tone, and a master volume with a push-pull coil split. A three-way switch selects the pickup configuration. That layout offers straightforward control, with the coil-split function adding another option for changing the response.

An Adjusto-Matic bridge sits alongside the Bigsby B60 tremolo. The reviewer reports that the bridge posts were positioned so the available intonation adjustment could not properly compensate the scale. As a result, tuning accuracy reportedly varied depending on whether the player focused on open strings, frets five through eight, or notes above the 12th fret. That is a specific setup and hardware concern, not a minor preference. A prospective buyer should check intonation across the fingerboard before keeping the instrument.

The tremolo drew a separate complaint. The Bigsby unit has three rubber feet intended to rest against the body, but on the reviewer's guitar only one made contact, with the other two left suspended. The player avoided using the arm because doing so quickly disrupted tuning. This report does not establish how common the fit issue is, but it is worth checking that all three feet sit correctly and that the guitar returns to pitch after the arm is used.

Verdict

The G2420T has an appealing hollowbody format, polished Havana Burst finish, distinctive Gretsch trim, and humbuckers that received a positive response from the player who supplied the feedback. Its specification also includes useful switching flexibility through the push-pull coil split. On paper, it covers the expected ground for a hollowbody electric with a Bigsby-style vibrato.

The reported problems change the buying calculation. Nut slots that choke notes during bends, limited bridge adjustment for intonation, and a tremolo base that does not sit flat can all interfere with basic use. Buyers should test bends on the middle strings, compare intonation from open notes to higher frets, and inspect the Bigsby feet before the return window closes. A competent guitar technician may be able to address setup faults, but the supplied account does not confirm that these particular problems were repaired.

At $555, the Gretsch G2420T STRML HLW SC HVNA is best considered with a hands-on inspection and a clear return option. Its looks and Broad'Tron pickups make a favorable first impression, but the reported example needed substantial attention before it could be trusted as a playing instrument.