Review: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Bass Double Cut

Gretsch fans have long enjoyed their CVT range of six string guitars, a fantastic solid body design with a highly accessible double cutaway and plenty of modern appeal. Now, the legendary brand are bringing the CVT shape to their range of basses with the new Electromatic CVT Bass, a stylish, modern and very affordable addition to their repertoire. 

The CVT Bass features a refined body shape that really suits the larger instrument. With a generous double cutaway, asymmetrical horns and bevelled contours, it looks great and is super comfortable. The body is made of solid mahogany and features a beautiful Bristol Fog finish, which is like a dark smokey burst that looks really classy. The finish also has a nice glossy feel to it which only adds to the allure. 

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The CVT features a bolt on mahogany neck that is a thin, fast ‘performance’ C shape. With a medium scale length of 32”, the CVT feels very balanced and is really easy to play even for somebody like me who is more at home on a guitar. The combination of the shorter scale length and the thin neck makes it pretty easy to zip around on so I’d say it would be an excellent choice for any genre including those where speed is paramount. 

The Laurel fretboard looks lovely and is adorned with classic Gretsch thumbnail fret makers along with a classy white binding and a genuine bone nut. In terms of hardware, the CVT is loaded with a direct-mount 4-saddle bridge, knurled metal control knobs and classic Gretsch machine heads, all made of Nickel. 

Low Down Alnico pickup

The CVT is a really comfortable instrument with its smooth contours, rounded neck heel and slender neck and its dark aesthetic definitely says ‘heavy metal’ to me. In saying that, this bass would work well for any genre thanks to its extremely versatile sound. The CVT features Gretsch’s fantastic Low Down Alnico pickup combination of a single coil in the bridge and a humbucker in the neck, creating a myriad of tonal options. 

In the absence of a pickup selector, the CVT simply has independent volume controls for each pickup, allowing the player to blend the two sounds to their taste. With both pickups on full, the CVT sounds warm, bouncy and balanced with an immense low end, warm mids and a nice amount of top end sizzle. As you roll the bridge pickup off, more of the humbucker’s round, full bottom end starts taking over and you get a warmer sound. With the bridge pickup on full and the neck turned down, you get a brighter, thinner sound with a nice woody plonk in the midrange. 

The characteristics of both pickups make for a great combination and the ability to dial in as much or as little of both pickups creates a really wide spectrum of tones. This is aided by the presence of a master tone control, which acts as a nice linear treble roll-off. Dialled in to be bridge pickup dominant with the tone rolled off a little results in some really nice J-bass tones, whereas the neck pickup on full blast will get you more into P-Bass territory but with a more modern edge and a vaster bottom end. All in all, the Low Down pickups have both gut punching low end power and excellent balance and clarity. 

A great thing about this bass that sets it apart is the medium scale length, which makes for a really balanced feel and sound. Boasting the blooming lows of a short scale bass and the increased harmonic resonance of a long scale, the 32” length of the CVT is right in the goldilocks zone. The tone of the CVT is bouncy enough and has enough zing to cover a lot of ground but it also definitely has the low end power and output to handle heavy music. Whilst not an active bass, it certainly has the look and the power that appeals to metal players, as well as a lightning fast neck. 

The body itself is quite thin which adds to its modern appearance but the solid mahogany construction ensures that this bass is anything but flimsy. A bolt on neck ensures rock solid durability, making this a bass worthy of the road, despite the very accessible price tag. Like all the Electromatic range, affordability is the name of the game, but not at the expense of quality. The CVT looks every bit as classy as you’d expect a Gretsch to be, with a cool modern edge that places it firmly in the 21st century. Although a great choice for a beginner’s budget, this is anything but just a beginner’s bass. 

Gretsch Electromatic

Once again the Electromatic series has delivered an affordable but gig-worthy instrument that looks slick, plays great and has a professional quality sound. The CVT would be a great choice for somebody looking to upgrade from a cheap student model or an entry level bass when they are ready to start gigging. It would also be a great choice for a seasoned player looking to add a new flavour to their arsenal with a bass that provides a different vibe from more traditional choices. 

The CVT Bass is immediately eye-catching thanks to its slim body, mean looking double cutaway and its smokey Bristol Fog finish. More importantly, it has the sound to back it up. Packing an enormous low end wallop, this bass will help you get dance floors moving and stages shaking without breaking a sweat. With its super versatile pickup layout, rock solid construction and balanced feel, there’s a lot to like about this new addition to Gretsch’s lineup. 

Not every guitar design translates well into a bass version but this one certainly does. If anything, this body shape may have found its true home in this model. I can see it becoming a popular instrument for up and coming players not just for its low price tag but for something it has in spades, attitude.

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