Gretsch G2420 Strml VLAM

Gretsch G2420 Strml VLAM review

The Gretsch G2420 Strml VLAM is a full hollowbody electric guitar with a cutaway, finished in Village Amber. Its listed price is 444, and it has been available since September 2024. The supplied specifications describe a laminated maple body and top, two Broad'Tron BT-3S humbuckers, and a coil-split function on the master volume control. That combination gives the guitar a clear practical focus: traditional hollowbody construction with an added way to vary the pickup response.

One detail in the supplied specifications needs clarification before purchase. The general specification list identifies the neck as maple, while the detailed model specification identifies it as nato. Those descriptions conflict, so the neck wood should be confirmed with the seller. The other neck details listed are a soft C profile, a 42.9 mm nut width, and a 305 mm fingerboard radius.

Body and construction

The laminated maple body and top are paired with a hollowbody design and a cutaway. The guitar is not semi-hollow, and it has no tremolo. Its Village Amber finish is high gloss, with a three-ply tortoiseshell pickguard carrying a gold-colored Gretsch logo. Nickel hardware, sealed die-cast tuning machines, and an Adjusto-Matic bridge complete the listed hardware specification.

A customer report describes the finish as paler and less yellow in person than it appeared in product photos, and calls it attractive. That is useful context if the exact shade matters to you, though appearance can vary with lighting and display settings. The same report praises the build quality and says there were no loose or rattling controls.

Neck, fingerboard, and setup

The fingerboard is laurel, with pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays and 22 medium-jumbo frets. The scale length is 625 mm. The nut is bone, and the original strings are nickel-plated steel in a.010 to.046 gauge set. These are specific details worth checking against your own preferences, particularly if you usually play a different scale length or string gauge.

The reported playing experience is strongly positive. One owner describes the neck as comfortably narrow and easy to play, with no rough fret ends. They also say the string height arrived well adjusted, which meant the guitar felt ready to play without an immediate setup. That is one user's experience, not a guarantee that every instrument will arrive with identical setup or fretwork.

Pickups and controls

The two Broad'Tron BT-3S humbuckers sit in the neck and bridge positions. Controls include separate volume knobs for each pickup, a master tone control, and a master volume with a push-pull coil-split function. A three-way switch selects between the pickup positions. The coil split gives the player another tonal setting beyond the standard humbucker sounds, without requiring a separate switch.

The owner report says the guitar sounds excellent both unplugged and through an amplifier, and describes it as suitable for a range of musical styles. The review does not provide measured output, frequency response, or controlled comparisons with other pickups, so those impressions are best treated as personal listening feedback. Still, the combination of two humbuckers and a selectable coil split offers a useful range of options on paper.

What stands out in use

The strongest practical points in the feedback are the comfortable neck, good initial string height, stable tuning, and controls that worked without looseness. The owner also praised the tuning machines and said they held pitch. They had owned another Gretsch before this guitar and reported a positive experience with both instruments. That supports the favorable impression, while remaining a single owner's account rather than a broad reliability record.

At a listed price of 444, the G2420 Strml VLAM offers a laminated maple hollowbody, two humbuckers, and a push-pull coil-split control. The supplied feedback also reports solid workmanship and an enjoyable playing feel. The main caveats are the conflicting neck-wood descriptions, the lack of a case or gig bag, and the possibility that the amber finish looks paler in person than it does in photos.

Verdict

The Gretsch G2420 Strml VLAM looks like a well-equipped hollowbody for players who want a comfortable neck and more than one pickup configuration. Its reported setup and tuning stability are encouraging, and its controls provide a straightforward way to explore different sounds. Confirm the neck material with the seller before ordering, and budget separately for a case or bag if you need one. The guitar is supplied without either.