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expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Feb 7, 2025
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Feb 7, 2025

Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr. Electric Guitar (Amethyst)

+ Free Shipping

$449

$900

50% off
Adorama
30 Comments 14,626 Views
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Deal Details
Adorama has Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr. Electric Guitar (Amethyst, 2509700561) on sale for $449. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • Slightly smaller 14" single-cutaway maple body with a chambered spruce center block
  • Lower set maple neck for effortless access and performance
  • 12"-radius laurel fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays
  • Dual Black Top Broad'Tron humbucking pickups
  • Master volume with treble bleed circuit, master tone and individual pickup controls
  • Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • Anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge
  • Graph Tech NuBone nut
  • Gold hardware

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from customer reviews.
  • At the time of this posting, our research indicates that this is $270.99 lower than the next best comparable prices starting from $719.99.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Adorama has Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr. Electric Guitar (Amethyst, 2509700561) on sale for $449. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • Slightly smaller 14" single-cutaway maple body with a chambered spruce center block
  • Lower set maple neck for effortless access and performance
  • 12"-radius laurel fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays
  • Dual Black Top Broad'Tron humbucking pickups
  • Master volume with treble bleed circuit, master tone and individual pickup controls
  • Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • Anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge
  • Graph Tech NuBone nut
  • Gold hardware

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from customer reviews.
  • At the time of this posting, our research indicates that this is $270.99 lower than the next best comparable prices starting from $719.99.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+18
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Price Intelligence

Model: Gretsch Guitars G5655tg Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single-Cut With Bigsby Electric Guitar Amethyst

Deal History 

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Sort: Lowest to Highest | Last Updated 7/3/2025, 02:19 PM
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Adorama$599.99

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Top Comments

littlericky325
1 Posts
10 Reputation
A B70 Bigsby is installed with 3 screws. It's not rocket science. Have you ever played a guitar with a Bigsby? It's not a Floyd.

There are only 2 contact points for each string, the bridge saddle and the nut slot. You smooth and polish the saddle contact point and slot the nut properly. Unless you paid less than $50 for your guitar you need a new luthier
jasonjeremiah
224 Posts
261 Reputation
I couldn't agree more. I find it hard to believe that you received two Electromatics that had issues, especially something as big as the bridge being installed incorrectly. The appearance and placement of the roller bar can make the bridge look askew, but I can assure you it is not. I find the Streamliners to be a little more susceptible to QC issues, but not the Electromatics.

I also agree that this "luthier" sounds extremely suspect. Not all luthiers are created equal. Turns out, some people consider themselves a luthier just because they've worked at a Guitar Center for a few weeks.

If you're looking for something to dive bomb, go elsewhere. Bigsbys are for adding subtle shimmer to ringing chords, not playing the intro to Kickstart My Heart.

You won't find a better value for your dollar than these Electromatics Adorama has been selling for under $500 PERIOD!!! How I've managed to only buy two over the past year is a miracle.

29 Comments

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Feb 8, 2025
63 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Feb 8, 2025
GeoffreyG4121
Feb 8, 2025
63 Posts
Do NOT buy these.

I returned 2 back to back with major tuning issues.

Bad Bigsby installs according to my luthier.
4
Feb 8, 2025
667 Posts
Joined Dec 2022
Feb 8, 2025
PortabelloRoad
Feb 8, 2025
667 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank PortabelloRoad

Buy these. The one I got is in excellent shape and only required tuning up the strings.
1
1
Feb 8, 2025
136 Posts
Joined Mar 2019
Feb 8, 2025
ADFSpanky
Feb 8, 2025
136 Posts
"Buy these."

"Do NOT buy these."

The duality of Slickdeals. Big Grin
3
1
Feb 8, 2025
63 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Feb 8, 2025
GeoffreyG4121
Feb 8, 2025
63 Posts
Quote from hwrhs87 :
"Buy these."

"Do NOT buy these."

The duality of Slickdeals. Big Grin
If you type in the model and "tuning issues" you will find it's pretty common to have major tuning issues.

My luthier said it would cost more than the guitar is worth to fix all the issue both models have.

But they were pretty guitars
3
Feb 9, 2025
10 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Feb 9, 2025
nier2011
Feb 9, 2025
10 Posts
I got this model different color same price a month ago from adorama stays in tune fine .
Feb 9, 2025
63 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Feb 9, 2025
GeoffreyG4121
Feb 9, 2025
63 Posts
Quote from nier2011 :
I got this model different color same price a month ago from adorama stays in tune fine .
Right.

I got the Cerulean Blue.
It was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.
Feb 9, 2025
1 Posts
Joined Jun 2013
Feb 9, 2025
littlericky325
Feb 9, 2025
1 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank littlericky325

Quote from GeoffreyG4121 :
If you type in the model and "tuning issues" you will find it's pretty common to have major tuning issues.

My luthier said it would cost more than the guitar is worth to fix all the issue both models have.

But they were pretty guitars
A B70 Bigsby is installed with 3 screws. It's not rocket science. Have you ever played a guitar with a Bigsby? It's not a Floyd.

There are only 2 contact points for each string, the bridge saddle and the nut slot. You smooth and polish the saddle contact point and slot the nut properly. Unless you paid less than $50 for your guitar you need a new luthier
1

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Feb 9, 2025
224 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
Feb 9, 2025
jasonjeremiah
Feb 9, 2025
224 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jasonjeremiah

Quote from littlericky325 :
A B70 Bigsby is installed with 3 screws. It's not rocket science. Have you ever played a guitar with a Bigsby? It's not a Floyd.

There are only 2 contact points for each string, the bridge saddle and the nut slot. You smooth and polish the saddle contact point and slot the nut properly. Unless you paid less than $50 for your guitar you need a new luthier
I couldn't agree more. I find it hard to believe that you received two Electromatics that had issues, especially something as big as the bridge being installed incorrectly. The appearance and placement of the roller bar can make the bridge look askew, but I can assure you it is not. I find the Streamliners to be a little more susceptible to QC issues, but not the Electromatics.

I also agree that this "luthier" sounds extremely suspect. Not all luthiers are created equal. Turns out, some people consider themselves a luthier just because they've worked at a Guitar Center for a few weeks.

If you're looking for something to dive bomb, go elsewhere. Bigsbys are for adding subtle shimmer to ringing chords, not playing the intro to Kickstart My Heart.

You won't find a better value for your dollar than these Electromatics Adorama has been selling for under $500 PERIOD!!! How I've managed to only buy two over the past year is a miracle.
1
Feb 9, 2025
224 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
Feb 9, 2025
jasonjeremiah
Feb 9, 2025
224 Posts
Quote from GeoffreyG4121 :
Do NOT buy these.

I returned 2 back to back with major tuning issues.

Bad Bigsby installs according to my luthier.
I suggest you find another "luthier" because the one you have now sounds unqualified, lazy, or some combination of the two.
Last edited by jasonjeremiah February 9, 2025 at 08:50 AM.
Pro
Feb 9, 2025
329 Posts
Joined Jan 2014
Feb 9, 2025
RobertJason
Pro
Feb 9, 2025
329 Posts
Beautiful guitar. If I didn't already have the Midnight Sapphire Streamliner version of the same model I'd get this! It's only $40 more than I paid for my streamliner G2655T.

This is their "Junior" body. Not Junior as in, meant for kids, just more normal size than their huge ones. Think Les Paul sized.
Feb 9, 2025
13 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
Feb 9, 2025
RockAndRolla
Feb 9, 2025
13 Posts
Can anyone comment on the gold hardware? I've seen similar models but with silver hardware. My understanding is that gold tends to discolor/peel off over time. Is that true?
Feb 10, 2025
81 Posts
Joined Oct 2010
Feb 10, 2025
crxfluffy
Feb 10, 2025
81 Posts
I got this guitar from the GC warehouse (they were able to price match).

Regarding Bigsby equipped guitars in this price range, it is mandatory you have a luthier do a proper setup. Most tuning issues have to do with the nut and reducing friction / sticking points with Bigsby.

I highly recommend getting the Brick's Bigg Fix and getting the nut cut. That'll solve 90% of tuning issues. You may want to get a replacement bridge (Compton, D Bridge, TruArc) or an ABM roller bridge.
Feb 10, 2025
514 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
Feb 10, 2025
Unfocused
Feb 10, 2025
514 Posts
Quote from GeoffreyG4121 :
Do NOT buy these.

I returned 2 back to back with major tuning issues.

Bad Bigsby installs according to my luthier.
Buy these.

Your "luthier" must not know anything about Bigsbys. That's not uncommon in shops that cater to metal players, where Floyds and various Fender trems are the norm and the Bigsby equipped guitar is hung high on the wall, or the oddball over in the corner.

A Bigsby is not like others.

First, you have to cycle through the strings many times to get them all in tune and intonated. Each changes the others when tuned much more than most guitars. On the plus side, by the time you get done, your strings are probably well stretched. On the minus side, by the time you get done, your strings probably need changed. Wink

Bigsbys have a big sturdy lever on a chunky large baseplate, but they are not primarily for giant dive bombs or huge climbs. It's best used for more subtle work. You can put roller saddles under the strings to get more consistent tuning when doing bigger bends, but that's not how they come standard.

You can get a "Guyker" or "Musiclily" roller bridge for only fifteen bucks if you want to try that upgrade. It wasn't a huge change, but I'm very satisfied with that small additional investment. I put roller saddles on all my electric guitars other than the wrap-around stop tails. (And I bought inexpensive intonation-adjustable wrap around stop tails to upgrade those.)

I've found that my Bigsby with roller saddles stays in tune better than either style of Fender Strat trem. Floyds are even better, but they have the advantage of a locking nut.
Feb 10, 2025
63 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Feb 10, 2025
GeoffreyG4121
Feb 10, 2025
63 Posts
Quote from jasonjeremiah :
I suggest you find another "luthier" because the one you have now sounds unqualified, lazy, or some combination of the two.
Backstory:

The guy that originally looked at it has a little over 100k in guitars and identified the original issues (there were 3 big ones, I don't remember the other 2). He is quite a player, collector, and is a bit OCD about guitars.

THEN I took it to the luthier who fixed antique 30k Martins and knows more than me.

I live in the Nashville area, and they know a little bit about guitars Smilie

The tuning issue symptom was using the Bigsby and one or two strings would go out of tune 1/2 step after that.

Something about the strings not being returned to their original position.

It's 35 mins each way for me to return these to a pickup site, quite PITA to return these.

The other thing Adorama did was NOT refund my money originally, but decided to give me store credit instead, which I told them NOT to do.

Quite a shitty experience for me.

But I didn't want anyone else to go through this, so I posted on here.

I've bought a DAngelico Excel 59 since then that cost 4x as much but I haven't had any issues with so far.

Guess I was the dummy at buying cheap guitars 1/2 off and expecting decent function.
1

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Feb 10, 2025
1,656 Posts
Joined Feb 2017
Feb 10, 2025
imalwayscold
Feb 10, 2025
1,656 Posts
gorgeous guitar

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