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frontpage Posted by iconian | Staff • 3d ago
frontpage Posted by iconian | Staff • 3d ago

Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single-Cut Maple Electric Guitar (Mariana)

+ Free Shipping

$449

$1,000

55% off
Adorama
16 Comments 8,346 Views
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Deal Details
Adorama has Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single-Cut Quilted Maple Electric Guitar (Mariana, G5655TQM) on sale for $449. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • Slightly smaller 14" single-cutaway quilted maple body with chambered spruce center block
  • 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 volume controls
  • Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • Graph Tech NuBone nut
  • Nickel hardware

Editor's Notes

Written by SubZero5 | Staff
  • About this Deal:
  • About this Product:
    • Gretsch 2 Year Limited Warranty

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Adorama has Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single-Cut Quilted Maple Electric Guitar (Mariana, G5655TQM) on sale for $449. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • Slightly smaller 14" single-cutaway quilted maple body with chambered spruce center block
  • 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 volume controls
  • Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece
  • Graph Tech NuBone nut
  • Nickel hardware

Editor's Notes

Written by SubZero5 | Staff
  • About this Deal:
  • About this Product:
    • Gretsch 2 Year Limited Warranty

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+25
Good Deal
Get Deal at Adorama

Price Intelligence

Model: Gretsch Electromatic Center Block Jr. Single-Cut Maple w/Bigsby Electric Guitar Mariana

Deal History 

Sale Price
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  • Today

Current Prices

Sort: Lowest to Highest | Last Updated 6/2/2025, 02:56 PM
Sold By Sale Price
Adorama$999.99
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Top Comments

LOL! This isn't a junior model. It has a smaller, Les Paul-sized body which MANY of us VASTLY prefer. You go ahead and wait for the oversized model. I bought the non-quilted version when it went on sale for $399 6 weeks ago, and it's the best guitar I own (out of 17 and counting).

Maybe learn a little bit about guitars before commenting again?

15 Comments

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2d ago
1,005 Posts
Joined Aug 2016
2d ago
AntiEggroll
2d ago
1,005 Posts
I don't play guitar but I always come into these threads the check out the deals. That's a good looking guitar for $500 I'll say that much
2d ago
161 Posts
Joined Oct 2018
2d ago
JohnnySlick777
2d ago
161 Posts
Wonder why there's no mention of the model?
It's a G5655TQM Junior guitar.
For an extra $50-$100 more, I'd wait for a sale on the G5420T.
4
2d ago
167 Posts
Joined Jan 2023
2d ago
Slickweasels
2d ago
167 Posts

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

Quote from JohnnySlick777 :
Wonder why there's no mention of the model?
It's a G5655TQM Junior guitar.
For an extra $50-$100 more, I'd wait for a sale on the G5420T.
LOL! This isn't a junior model. It has a smaller, Les Paul-sized body which MANY of us VASTLY prefer. You go ahead and wait for the oversized model. I bought the non-quilted version when it went on sale for $399 6 weeks ago, and it's the best guitar I own (out of 17 and counting).

Maybe learn a little bit about guitars before commenting again?

1
3
2d ago
10,094 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
2d ago
jplee3
2d ago
10,094 Posts
Quote from Slickweasels :
LOL! This isn't a junior model. It has a smaller, Les Paul-sized body which MANY of us VASTLY prefer. You go ahead and wait for the oversized model. I bought the non-quilted version when it went on sale for $399 6 weeks ago, and it's the best guitar I own (out of 17 and counting).

Maybe learn a little bit about guitars before commenting again?

I noticed this has BT broadtron pickups - i have a couple Gretsches that have BT broadtrons (g5220) and also a regular broadtron (g2215-p90) and dont really prefer the sound of either. On the 2215 i replaced the broadtron with a bt filtertron and prefer it a lot more. My understanding is that broadtrons are on the cheaper-end of the Gretsch pickup spectrum as well, so would have thought a guitar like this would at least have filtetrons or higher on it? Unless there is some broadtron variant thats much nicer that I am unaware of…? I know they have the newer broadtrons that can do split coil but i dont think those are what is on this model…
Last edited by jplee3 May 31, 2025 at 08:14 AM.
2d ago
3 Posts
Joined Sep 2024
2d ago
FeistyHerring3631
2d ago
3 Posts
Seems GONE at 11:51 EDT.....do I need a coupon or some other magic?
Global Mod
2d ago
2,408 Posts
Joined May 2008
2d ago
pur
Global Mod
2d ago
2,408 Posts
Quote from FeistyHerring3631 :
Seems GONE at 11:51 EDT.....do I need a coupon or some other magic?
Looks like it's still available if you click through the link (searching the Adorama might show a different price)
2d ago
152 Posts
Joined Nov 2023
2d ago
Alternaut
2d ago
152 Posts
Quote from pur :
Looks like it's still available if you click through the link (searching the Adorama might show a different price)
It's the url parameter `&emailprice=t` that makes the difference!

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2d ago
167 Posts
Joined Jan 2023
2d ago
Slickweasels
2d ago
167 Posts
Quote from jplee3 :
I noticed this has BT broadtron pickups - i have a couple Gretsches that have BT broadtrons (g5220) and also a regular broadtron (g2215-p90) and dont really prefer the sound of either. On the 2215 i replaced the broadtron with a bt filtertron and prefer it a lot more. My understanding is that broadtrons are on the cheaper-end of the Gretsch pickup spectrum as well, so would have thought a guitar like this would at least have filtetrons or higher on it? Unless there is some broadtron variant thats much nicer that I am unaware of…? I know they have the newer broadtrons that can do split coil but i dont think those are what is on this model…
I am not one of those people who obsesses over the pickups. In my experience, they don't sound much different in the mix, and cheap pickups do not sound worse than expensive ones, just ever so slightly different. These come with Black Top Broad'Tron humbucking pickups, which are not as Gretsch-y as Filtertrons, but also aren't as weak as Filtertrons. I play jazz on mine, so I am only using the neck pickup and it is perfect for that (like a neck PAF on a Les Paul).
1
2d ago
847 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
2d ago
LorenL3113
2d ago
847 Posts
I buys the guitar foe the best price at salvation army. my friend is a music guy and he says they're the best guitars. Beat that!
4
Yesterday
254 Posts
Joined Aug 2015
Yesterday
Carl69
Yesterday
254 Posts
Ever wonder why Gretsch constantly pops up as a Front Page deal? Don't be fooled.
Yesterday
10 Posts
Joined Dec 2020
Yesterday
HIgrpwdd
Yesterday
10 Posts
I bought the one last time that is not the Flame top,, it's an awesome guitar! I'd get this too, since its the one I originally wanted, but I just cant keep buying everyone that pops up!
Yesterday
161 Posts
Joined Oct 2018
Yesterday
JohnnySlick777
Yesterday
161 Posts
Quote from Slickweasels :
LOL! This isn't a junior model. It has a smaller, Les Paul-sized body which MANY of us VASTLY prefer. You go ahead and wait for the oversized model. I bought the non-quilted version when it went on sale for $399 6 weeks ago, and it's the best guitar I own (out of 17 and counting).

Maybe learn a little bit about guitars before commenting again?
Okay guitar God... lol
A junior is a smaller sized body, just as you said!
Maybe someone needs to know more before commenting.
1
Yesterday
508 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
Yesterday
Unfocused
Yesterday
508 Posts

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

Quote from Carl69 :
Ever wonder why Gretsch constantly pops up as a Front Page deal? Don't be fooled.
"Don't be fooled" indeed. Gretsch is owned by Fender. These Gretsch and the Jet series are one of Fender's answers to Epiphone and Gibson LPs and chambered LPs. Fender has always delivered better dollar for dollar value than Gibson, and these are no exception. If you want a genuine LP, you'll pay the extra. Nothing wrong with that if it's what you want.

Gretsch pop up frequently because Adorama is a deep discount seller moving lots of the best sellers. They can cut prices this much because they don't actually hold much inventory of Gretsch's best sellers except maybe the returns that they sell as "open box".

Most of the Gretsch product Adorama sells new is drop shipped to you directly from Fender's warehouses, these included. Because Adorama doesn't pay to buy inventory or the storage costs of holding it, they can mark the best sellers way down and still make good money on them.

I have the Hudson Sky (blue) version of this, and a good friend bought the solid color Cerulean Smoke finished model from another front page deal. Both guitars are clearly better than any Epiphone either of us have, and are equal or better than some Gibsons.

One odd fact: the quilted maple on the back of mine is a little more deeply quilted than the front. The front is very nice, but the back of mine is even better.

And the Broad'Tron pickups sound fabulous across a wide range of genres. Tons of YouTube videos are out there. Playing the solo from Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky" on this is sublime.

I put a roller bridge on mine to enhance the tuning stability, but it wasn't required. Eventually I'll probably put locking tuners on, too, just because I like those.
1
1h ago
134 Posts
Joined Sep 2016
1h ago
AlKrio
1h ago
134 Posts
Quote from Unfocused :
"Don't be fooled" indeed. Gretsch is owned by Fender. These Gretsch and the Jet series are one of Fender's answers to Epiphone and Gibson LPs and chambered LPs.
.
Gretsch isn't "owned by Fender". Gretsch is owned by Gretsch family, that has an agreement with Fender, according to which all design, manufacturing, distribution, etc. is done by Fender.
"Jet series" isn't some discounted line, it's how Gretsch names its solid body guitars. You can still buy made in Japan (model numbers start with "6") Jet guitar for $2-3k. "Electromatic" (model numbers start with "5", previously made in Korea, now - in China) and "Streamliner" (model numbers start with "2", made in Indonesia), are cheaper lines made to compete with the Epiphones and other cheaper guitars. That includes Electromatic Jet guitars.
Last edited by AlKrio June 2, 2025 at 08:55 AM.

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21m ago
509 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
21m ago
Unfocused
21m ago
509 Posts
Quote from AlKrio :
Gretsch isn't "owned by Fender". Gretsch is owned by Gretsch family, that has an agreement with Fender, according to which all design, manufacturing, distribution, etc. is done by Fender.
"Jet series" isn't some discounted line, it's how Gretsch names its solid body guitars. You can still buy made in Japan (model numbers start with "6") Jet guitar for $2-3k. "Electromatic" (model numbers start with "5", previously made in Korea, now - in China) and "Streamliner" (model numbers start with "2", made in Indonesia), are cheaper lines made to compete with the Epiphones and other cheaper guitars. That includes Electromatic Jet guitars.
Fair enough about ownership. Control of marketing, production and distribution is still Fender. Fender is direct shipping Gretsch guitars ordered by Adorama customers from Fender's own distribution centers.

And yes, Jet is their name to indicate solid body models, some of which are chambered but without sound holes. Nothing about what I wrote was intended to imply that the Jet guitars were a discount line. Quite the opposite. They are worthy competitors to LPs from Epiphone and often Gibson, too.

These Gretsch have been front page deals so often because they're absolutely fabulous guitars for the money. I think there is no better guitar on the market at this price, bar none.

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