Distributor: Fender Music Australia | RRP: $1199
It’s fair to say that baritone guitars are having a moment. From slide virtuoso Joey Landreth to Countrygaze songstress Karly Hartzman, everyone seems to be reaching for a baritone these days. Luckily for those who want in on the fun, the good folks at Gretsch have provided the beautiful Electromatic Jet Baritone to fulfil all your low-down needs at a very reasonable price.
Before we get into the Jet though, what is a baritone guitar exactly?
A baritone is a long scale six string guitar designed to occupy the space between a traditional bass guitar and a normal six string. Typically tuned to B Standard (B-E-A-D-F♯-B), a perfect fourth below standard tuning, a traditionally set up baritone plays just the same as your average six string, only a fourth lower.
This is different to a six string bass like the Fender VI, which has a longer scale length and is generally tuned E to E, a full octave below a standard guitar. Those low-down solos you hear on old surf and country songs that seem to be in a bass register but with a guitar’s tonality may have been your first exposure to a baritone, but these days there’s plenty of downtuned heavy metal that features them as well.
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The Electromatic Jet Baritone captures essential Gretsch power and fidelity at bone rattling frequencies. A thing of beauty, with a lovely mahogany body and maple top stained to be the same deep brown hue, the Jet Baritone has a scale length of 29.75”, which as we’ve discussed sits between a traditional guitar’s scale length and that of a bass. The mahogany body and bolt on maple neck combine for excellent resonance and punch and this thing is set up for immaculately smooth playability even if you’re used to a smaller instrument.
The Jet’s mahogany body is chambered for a nice bit of weight relief and the stunning maple top is bound and carved beautifully. Featuring sculpted forearm and body contours and a rounded neck heel, it’s a super comfortable guitar.
The neck heel provides excellent fret access, the contours prevent any ribcage poking and it’s a surprisingly light guitar for its size. Designed for exceptional acoustic balance, the combination of tonewoods is tailored for a strong attack, rich midrange, thunderous lows and shimmering musical highs.
The rounded C shaped neck is also very comfortable, crafted with tapered shoulders and with just enough mass to ensure precise playability in all positions. Maple construction also ensures the stability to withstand the extra string tension of the baritone’s heavy gauge strings.
The Jet’s lovely rosewood fingerboard is silky smooth and has a classy aged white binding that ties it all together nicely. The fretboard has a 12” radius which is optimal for easier string bending and also allows for a super low set up if that’s your thing. Completing the look are Gretsch’s iconic pearloid Neo Classic Thumbnail Inlays and a GraphTech NuBone Nut for superior tuning stability. The GraphTech nut delivers enhanced resonance and sustain and superior playability whilst a carefully calibrated break angle prevents strings sticking or slipping. These features result in rock-solid tuning stability that won’t let you down on stage.
Now let’s talk about the sound. The Jet is loaded up with two PureVolt Twin Six humbuckers that deliver serious power whilst maintaining Gretsch’s famous articulation. These pups are very dynamic, allowing you to go from clean and fragile to hard hitting and dirty using picking dynamics alone. Each pickup features twelve adjustable pole pieces for precisely tuned attack and flexible setups.
The neck pickup features Alnico IV magnets and has a smooth, warm tone that allows the baritone’s lowest frequencies to shine. With plenty of bottom end punch and a woody midrange, the neck pickup is a good choice for beefing up or doubling a bassline in the studio. The bridge pickup on the other hand is Alnico V and has a noticeably brighter sound with less low end, a better choice for getting your Wichita Lineman on and ripping a classic country solo. Specially calibrated coil winds create incredible balance and raw power in both pickups with amazing clarity while vacuum wax-potting keeps noise and interference to a minimum.
As usual, Gretsch’s circuitry layout really comes in handy with this guitar. A master volume with a treble bleed circuit provides precise adjustment while maintaining treble as you roll off the volume and individual pickup tone controls provide a linear EQ adjustment calibrated for stellar tone at every setting. Push/Pull tone controls unlock snappy and glassy true single-coil tones for each pickup, and better yet, in the middle position each single coil combines for a hum-cancelling pair. How’s that for versatile!
Overall this Jet is a fantastic introduction to the world of baritones. Its modest price point, manageable weight, smooth playability and versatile sound make it a great choice for anyone looking to get in the game. Rock solid tuning and a reliable Adjust-O-Matic bridge ensure it’s definitely gig-ready so it’s a great pick for working musos too. Whether you’re looking to throw back to ‘60s Bakersfield, create some heavy downtuned mayhem or you just want a new tool to experiment with in the studio, Gretsch has got your back with this one.
From its lovely dark woody stain to its shimmering nickel hardware and classy cream binding, this is a beautiful guitar that anyone would be proud to wield on stage. The Electromatic series has always delivered absolute stunners at a very accessible price and this model is no exception. The baritone’s return to the spotlight is an excellent opportunity to experiment and find new uses for this very cool and at times undervalued instrument. Who knows what new creative roads it might take you down?
So as always, don’t just listen to me, get out there and try one yourself and I’m sure if nothing else you’ll have a tonne of fun especially if you haven’t played a baritone before.
Now, excuse me while I go learn some Glen Campbell songs.
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