Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway Electric
Specimen S0
The Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo is a single-cutaway jumbo acoustic-electric guitar with a triangular soundhole, a solid spruce top, laminated flame maple back and sides, and an onboard Fishman pickup and preamp.
What it is
The G5022CE belongs to Gretsch's current acoustic line, which revives the Rancher name. Gretsch says the original Rancher appeared in the early 1950s with a triangular soundhole and a sweeping pickguard. Gretsch describes the G5022CE as the biggest, fullest-sounding Rancher. It adds a Venetian cutaway for access to the upper frets, plus onboard electronics. GuitarFella and Music Minds both describe it as a far cheaper take on the vintage 6022 Rancher. The guitar has a jumbo body with a solid spruce top, laminated flame maple back and sides, and scalloped X bracing. Other features are gold-plated hardware, pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays, and a 3-ply tortoiseshell pickguard with the Gretsch logo. One owner on the Gretsch-Talk forum reported that the back is arched, similar to a Guild F-50. According to that forum post, the G5022CE replaced an earlier Rancher Jumbo, the G5055C. The post says the newer model has a much deeper "super jumbo" body, white binding where the older one had aged cream, and added binding on the neck heel. Production details have changed over time. Listings show either a rosewood or a laurel fingerboard and bridge, and at least two Fishman preamp versions.
Specifications
- Model number
- 2714022522 (Savannah Sunset)
- Body
- Jumbo with single Venetian cutaway; triangular soundhole
- Top
- Solid spruce
- Back and sides
- Laminated flame maple
- Bracing
- Scalloped X
- Body finish
- Gloss polyester
- Neck
- Mahogany, gloss polyester finish
- Scale length
- 25" (635 mm)
- Fingerboard
- Laurel per Gretsch spec table; rosewood in many retailer listings
- Fingerboard radius
- 12"
- Frets
- 21, vintage-style
- Inlays
- Pearloid Neo-Classic "thumbnail"
- Nut
- Delrin, 1.6875" (42.86 mm) wide
- Bridge
- Laurel (or rosewood) with compensated synthetic bone saddle
- Electronics
- Fishman Presys III (volume, bass, middle, treble, low-battery light, tuner on/off) per Gretsch table; older listings show Fishman Sonicore pickup with Isys+ preamp (volume, treble, bass, phase, tuner, battery indicator)
- Hardware
- Gold-plated; die-cast tuners; knurled strap knobs
- Pickguard
- 3-ply tortoiseshell with Gretsch logo
- Strings (factory)
- D'Addario EJ16 phosphor bronze light, .012–.053
- Case
- Not included; optional G6294 Jumbo hardshell case or G2187 Jumbo gig bag
- Finish
- Savannah Sunset (an older Guitar Center listing uses the name Western Orange Stain)
- Estimated street price
- US$599.99 (Gretsch)
How it's used
Retailers present it as a stage acoustic. guitarguitar aims it at singer-songwriters who want a loud, full sound live, and Sweetwater points to strumming, rhythm playing and gigging. GuitarFella found it crisp and clear, and suited to fingerstyle and slide. Other reported uses include a jazzy/bluesy lounge trio (fatsound blog) and playing through a Marshall amp on an acoustic setting (a Thomann buyer). Several reviewers and buyers found it sounds better plugged in than unplugged.
Suggested usage
Use the preamp EQ
Owners on zZounds and Sweetwater preferred its amplified sound to its unplugged sound. One said adjusting the Fishman EQ was what got him a good tone when plugged in.
Expect lighter bass than the size suggests
Reviewers and buyers commonly report less bass and less unplugged volume than a jumbo body would suggest. Plan to shape the low end with the onboard EQ or the amp.
Check case fit
Sweetwater buyers say the Gretsch jumbo hardshell case fits tightly at first. A zZounds owner said the neck strap button stopped the case from closing until he pressed the padding down.
Consider the body size
The deep jumbo body can be awkward to play. One forum member found it hard on an arthritic shoulder, and Music Minds flagged the size as its main reservation for live use.
Use the factory setup specs
The Gretsch product page links to a setup-specs PDF and a manual for reference when adjusting action and intonation.
What reviewers said
- GuitarFella
Rated it 4.7/5. Praised the retro looks, build and playability, and found the tone crisp and lively. Noted thin bass and less acoustic volume than the body size suggests.
- Music Minds
Rated it 9.1/10 (2020). Liked the 1950s-style looks and the electronics; its main reservation was the body size for live use.
- fatsound (personal blog)
A 2012 owner's write-up that found the action low with no fret buzz and liked the tone across the range.
- Sweetwater customer reviews
About 4.5/5 from 26 reviews. Buyers praised the looks, value and plugged-in sound; some found the jumbo case a tight fit at first.
- Thomann customer ratings
About 4.5/5 from 48 ratings. Buyers were generally positive, though some expected more bass and unplugged volume from a jumbo.
- zZounds customer reviews
About 3.5/5 overall. Owners found it better plugged in than acoustic, and one reported a case-closing issue caused by the neck strap button.