Electromatic CVT Double Cut | Fender Music Australia | RRP $699
Guitar players are seriously spoiled for choice nowadays. Whether you’re a fan of the classics or you’ve got a penchant for all things modern and pointy, there’s seriously something out there to appease everyone in 2025. One of latest unveiling from Gretsch, the Electromatic CVT, falls somewhere between these two aforementioned categories. It’s sleek, but solid: a combination of bulky mahogany and smooth contours, with an enticing neck profile and appointments that celebrate Gretsch’s longstanding legacy as a disruptor within the guitar manufacturing market.
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Straight out of the box, the Electromatic CVT is a certified head-turner. It boasts a space-age silhouette reminiscent of older Gretsch Corvette models of yesteryear, with a double-cut design allowing for uninhibited fretting high up the neck. The CVT’s beveled contours also add a touch of class and comfort, making for an extremely pleasant playing experience whether seated, slouched or standing.
Electromatic CVT
This playing experience is only enhanced further by the CVT’s somewhat unique 24.6” scale length – a happy comfortable shorter scale. Traditional single-cut guitars employ a 24 ¾” scale length while classic Fender designs harness 25.5”. These proportions make the CVT a natural choice for younger players or guitarists being pigeonholed into a rhythmic role for the betterment of the band (guilty), and really help unlock some seriously punchy tones to boot.
The Electromatic range is typically considered as Gretsch’s most affordable series, with manufacturing for the CVT being handled in China. Upon detailed inspection, it appears that the company has cut no corners when putting the CVT together.
As if the sleek contours and chunky mahogany body wasn’t enough, the CVT also delivers a bolt-on mahogany neck with a bound laurel fretboard and classic Gretsch “Neo-Classical” fret markers, with a comfortable Performance ‘C’ shape neck and a real bone nut for improved sustain and playability.
The three finish options – Wychwood, the Vintage White reviewed here, and Havana Burst – also add a touch of class, and once you throw in the wraparound bridge with adjustable saddles, knurled control knobs and nickel hardware to top it all off, you’re looking at a real workhorse built for the needs of the modern player.
Twin Six humbucking pickups
Sonically, the Gretsch Electromatic CVT is a proper musical multi-tool, with dual Twin Six humbucking pickups delivering plenty of punch and nuance at either end of the guitar. It’s worth noting that the CVT’s simplel knobs take care of master tone, master volume and a simple pickup switch. This means you’ll need to take a detailed approach to dialing in your tones, and get used to rolling off the controls to cut and add frequencies where required.
While some may wish for the convenience and creature comforts of a blend control or toggle switch, it’s barebones features like these that really help you gain confidence and familiarity with your instrument, and it’s not a feature that’ll make or break a purchase.
Nevertheless, it must be said that the Electromatic CVT is an incredibly versatile sounding instrument that’s ultra-playable and oozes charm. The mahogany body is weighted nicely, the neck is smooth to navigate, and the laurel fretboard is slick and provides a subtle warmth that fits perfectly behind the mix. The fact that there’s no jagged frets, blemishes or crackly electrics also speaks volumes of Gretsch’s quality control.
Plugging into just about any amp, it absolutely rocks, with the neck humbucker producing an impressive response when paired with a plectrum and a dollop of natural gain. This combination unlocks the kind of tone that’d even raise the eyebrows of the most discerning players – plenty of woof, lots of character and dynamics deluxe. However, it’s also wonderfully responsive to fingerstyle or faster picking styles with the tone rolled back, dishing out low-end tones reminiscent of the best jazz and blues gurus from years bygone.
Move onto the bridge pickup, and you’ll find a surprisingly bright and dare-I-say funky tone that slices the mix like a knife through butter. It’s a great choice for disco or brittle post-punk guitar, and can really heat up when paired with a few effects pedals – it must be said a splash of chorus on this thing sounds like a treat. With a bit of tone tweaking and careful attention to amp settings and playing dynamics, it’s possible that the Electromatic CVT is capable of covering any genre.
With its unique aesthetic charm, inviting scale length, solid tones and a clear focus on ease of playability, the Gretsch Electromatic CVT delivers all you’d expect from a guitar at this price point, plus some. It’s perfect for newer players and multi-instrumentalists looking to get their first ‘serious’ six-string instrument, and even seasoned pros will appreciate what this little beast dishes out.
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