Help - need guidance. 6119T vs 5232 vs 5655 jr.

[Gretsch Kiwi]

I am lucky to have slowly wheeled and dealed and accumulated a few nice guitars (the more expensive ones were acquired as used bargains scouring eBay etc.). For this discussion a 6119 Tennesee Rose and a 6122 II Double cut (as per avatar).

I just recently bought new a 5232t (the double cut model) in Midnight Saphire and LOVE it. While I was leaving the store with it I noticed a hollow body in an amazing metallic blue, what mostly caught my eye was the size.






It appeared to be similar to a Les Paul but with F holes.

One of my dream guitars IS an F-Hole hollow body Les Paul. I don't even know what Gibson calls that model but given my affinity for Gretsch Hollow body and the sound that tends to produce it strikes me as a guitar I would really like.






I doubt I would ever spend Gibson money again (and love my Gretsches) so I wondered if you guys could help with experience in any of these guitars in comparison to what I think must have been a 5655 jr.

First of all, IS the 5655 jr a near Leas Paul body size or is it more in line with the Tennesee Rose size?

Does anyone have the 5655 and can they provide some thoughts on it?

 

[Marv666]

It's closer to a les Paul in Size than a Tennessee Rose.

Not sure but i Think someone previously has written here that the junior (semi) hollowbodys are a little bit bigger than a jet .... and a jet is almost les Paul Size

 

[Stefan87]

I don't own one but as Marv666 just said it is closer to your jet then a 6119, the jr hollow bodies are 14' across the lower bout opposed to 16' on the 6119.

Just to throw something else in the works though Epiphone did do a ES Les Paul which I have heard good things about, not Gibson money but still might be what you want.

 

[GlenP]

5655 is a tad larger than a Les Paul, but probably much lighter in weight. The cases look really close in size but the 5655 will not fit in the LP case. I think the scale length is about the same and both join the body at the 16th fret. I have a 5422 and 6120 Nashville which are probably similar in size to your double cut and TN Rose and those are both larger than the center block jr. My 5655 is a limited edition with blacktop filtertrons, those are pretty respectable typically Gretschy pickups and articulate. The Center Block Jr is a comfortable lap guitar and pretty versatile.

I am not sure what the standard 5655 pickups are like, they may be the punchier BroadTron variety of 'Trons, but still not quite PAF territory, so I have heard, I don’t actually have either of those types of pickups in any of my guitars.

 

[Julio Iguana]

My G5655T Jr. (dark metallic cherry) is a semi-hollow I can comfortably play!

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

Thanks, everyone for the advice, it seems like it really does play into an F-Hole LP kind of area. Very tempting.

Further internet research shows there is a 5655t and a 5655tg....does anyone know what the difference between the T and the TG might be?

I thought maybe pickups but that doesn't seem to follow through.

EDIT: I think perhaps it might be G for "Gold"....?

 

[GlenP]

Further internet research shows there is a 5655t and a 5655tg....does anyone know what the difference between the T and the TG might be?…EDIT: I think perhaps it might be G for "Gold"....?

Yes the G is for Gold and the T is for The Bigsby.

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

Jeez, $200 increase here in New Zealand for the Gold version.

 

[Paulie26]

5655TG is extremely comfortable to play.

Most underrated Gretsch guitar ever

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

5655TG is extremely comfortable to play.

Most underrated Gretsch guitar ever

I ended up with the Jade Metallic and am very happy with it. It really is comfortable and I'm loving it!

To answer my original question. The 5655T/G IS almost LP size, It is a very similar width but is slightly longer in the body by a few centimetres. It "might" be very slightly thinner as well.

As said above it is very similar sounding to the 5232 but a bit smoother/warmer.

 

[tolm]

It's closer to a les Paul in Size than a Tennessee Rose.

Not sure but i Think someone previously has written here that the junior (semi) hollowbodys are a little bit bigger than a jet .... and a jet is almost les Paul Size

Pretty sure my Jet is just a tad “wider” across the top than my Les Paul - like maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch more at the wise point - but probably less “long”. If any of those directional references make any sense!!!

 

[tolm]

Yes the G is for Gold and the T is for The Bigsby.

Ah yes, the ol’ “T for tremolo” … which it isn’t … but Gretsch are far from the only guitar company to get that wrong … they’re not even the only guitar company beginning with “G” to get it wrong!!

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

Here is a lineup for size comparison. I do think the 5655 is longer in the body than the LP but definitely thinner too.

 

[tolm]

Here is a lineup for size comparison. I do think the 5655 is longer in the body than the LP but definitely thinner too.



View attachment 183434

*ugh* the double-cut Gretsch Duo Jet on the end is slightly longer than the Les Paul - quick, swap them around before my OCD gets … ah, too later …

(Nice collection )

 

[Gretsch Kiwi]

Ha, we are the same. I struggled with this too, swapping them around multiple times BUT concluded the body top was lower and it looked the least worse this way