Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I am in a 3-piece rock & blues band that has been on a 3-year search for a bass player. When the last bass player we added didn't work out, I bit the bullet & purchased this Gretsch bass, deciding to end our search & just switch from rhythm guitar to bass. The price made it a not-so-serious commitment & the short scale intrigued me as a guitar player. I also knew the Gretsch brand as well-respected & iconic in the rockabilly scene, & absolutely loved the sunburnt finish on this thing. When I first took it out of the box, it had the feel of a guitar & I still find myself bending out blues riffs on the strings like I used to play on the guitar. This bass has been instrumental in our success as a 3-piece: I was immediately comfortable with it, it has never felt awkward in my hands; the short scale makes it easier for my guitar-player hands to transition during those long, finger-stretching bass lines; and it is simply a fun little bass to play. I seriously do not think I would have picked up the concept of the bass as fast had I purchased another. Like another reviewer said, this bass will surprise the heck out of you. I was even humbled at a recent concert when the bass player for the band we were opening for said, "Man, where did you get that bass? I've never seen anything like that!"

That said, I would love to give this bass 5 stars, but alas the ridiculously low price for this Gretsch-brand product does reveal a few cut corners. There is slight fret buzz sometimes, which can be avoided the more you become familar with this bass. The tone knob within the first 2 weeks came unglued & just spun uselessly, so I had to unscrew the back plate & remount the knob from the inside myself using small screws. And I'm not an expert on bass pickups, but the awesome tone I get just playing this thing unplugged doesn't seem to get elevated or enriched by these pickups, no matter what position. They just kind of get the sound to the amp & that's about it.

But for those few drawbacks ... man, this is a solid little bass for a guitar player looking to make the transition. And you cannot beat the value.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

Good buy.
No frills, but everything works. Simple volume and tone controls. Good adjustable bridge and good tuners. Small bass, but the body is thick and has enough mass for good tone. 30-inch scale works well for me, as I am a guitarist by trade and play bass as a second instrument.
Excellent quality for the price. The feel and playability compare favorably to a 70's Gibson SG bass I used to have. Action was set too low from factory, a little too much buzz. Easy fix with good adjustable bridge saddles, and intonation screws work well. Strings were OK but flatwounds have made this bass sing. Unplugged, I can actually hear every note acoustically in a quiet room!
Great value at this price.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

The first one I received had a few issues. Fret buzzing which is sometimes normal with a low set up. The one issue I noticed was the nut appeared to be cut too low on the G string so no matter what adjustments that could done you were going to get buzzing. The second was the pickup switch had too much noise and would even just cut out totally on the neck pick up unless the switch lever was moved around. It also clicked every time the lever was moved to a new position. With mass produced guitars this can happen with any brand. I am glad I did not doubt the quality that the Gretsch production line could produce. Tiffany made sure I had another one shipped immediately and when I got it I was very pleased. The variety of sounds is awesome. The nut was cut properly and the pickup switch is quiet and smooth. All electronics work great. The action is low and the way it plays I will probably not make any adjustments. This guitar looks great, sounds great and plays just awesome. I love it.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

This Gretsch 2220 Junior Jet II is everything the rest of these reviews say it is. NO, it isn't going to totally blow you away... but it's gonna surprise you. Great for guitarists, great for smaller hands. Using just a small Zoom B2 effects box, this thing more than suits the home studio. (You'll want to change the strings.) Wish my Les Paul had volume knobs that felt this good. Might buy another in case Gretsch discontinues it...

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

My fingers got a little rocked playing. Definately need to order some Fender strings for it.
I started with the Gretsch Junior Jet I and for X-mas this year stepped up to the G2220. What an incredible leap I made with this bass. I used it for practice last night with "The Kattie Laney Band"and my playing improved tremendously.This bass has incredible tone. The wood makes the sound very solid and beefy. For a short scale bass I am getting a large scale tone. The neck is incredibly smooth and makes it very easy for me to move up and down on it. I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for the Junior Jet III. bring it on.
I would highly recommend this bass guitar. It is a little heavier than the Junior Jet I, but for the sound coming out, I will put up with the weight difference. Thanx for such a great product.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I really like this bass and it is fun to play.
The pickups are well balanced and do a very good job of covering the spectrum of high and low notes.
Workmanship andd setup were very impressive right out of the box. The bass is a little heavy due to the density of the wood but the sustain makes up for the extra weight. Buy yourself a good soft leather strap and you will good to go. There is no neck dive and the bass is comfortable to hold whether you stand or sit.
Very good value for the quality of build.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

If you have small hands like me this is the best bass to get. It's super easy and fun to play. I get complimented on the sound of the bass all the time. It looks great, sounds great and plays like a dream. There is a small amount of fret buzz but not enough to sour the tone.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

This seems to me a high quality instrument and a great value for the price. As a lead guitar player the shorter scale length makes the transition very comfortable. I have an old Yamaha 115 watt bass amp and I am getting all the tone and rumble I seem to want. I am having a lot of fun playing this bass and in my opinion I've already got my money's worth! My only critique is get rid of the pick guard - it's not needed and distracts from the great unique visual style of this bass; especially on the sunburst. I removed it because I like the look better, but then you are left with the screw holes. After 3 tries I finally found a case that fits: The Epiphone EAKCS Allen Woody fits perfectly! Gretsch does not make a hard case for this size so don't bother with that.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

First off, this bass was priced way under retail because of its "Level 2 Used" condition. This must have been a mistake, because I received a brand new instrument with plastic protective stickers and all.

I would strongly recommend this short-scale bass to any guitarist looking to add some low end to recordings. You're really not going to find more bang for your buck. The pickups aren't top-of-the-line, but they are remarkably quiet (no unwanted noise, which is ideal for recording), and the split position produces a distinct, punchy bass tone.

It will definitely need a quick action & intonation adjustment straight out of the box, but I had it playing beautifully after a mere 10-minute setup. It might be a cheap Gretsch, but a Gretsch nonetheless!

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I purchased to play bass on songs I am writing and recording. I can give my band's bass player the general idea of what I want. Full size basses are too hard for me to play and I don't want to invest the time developing that skill. This is a solid, well-made, simple bass with good tone that is perfect for plugging into a DAW and then using software to shape the tone.

It stays in tune, required just a little time setting up; it's simplicity on construction makes that easy.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I still can't believe the tone and quality for this price. I bought this for my son who outgrew his Ibanez Mikro but is still too small for a full-scale bass. It's been a few weeks now, and every time we play, I'm still blown away by the tone that comes out of this instrument. The quality is superb. Beautiful bass. At this price, you cannot beat this deal.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I received this guitar today and I have to say I am really impressed with it. I chose the short scale because these fingers just don't stretch like they used to. Some say there are compromises with the short scale in tone but I have to say I didn't notice any. Out of the box it plays really well, great action, great tone, superb fit and finish and will totally suit my needs playing 250 - 300 seat clubs. Cant say enough about this bass guitar!

Comments about G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I normally play guitar but I wanted to add the base to a small group that I perform with. I was drawn to the short scale, other reviews and the price. I'm very pleased with my purchase. It sounds great and is a comfortable reach for the fretting hand. Fellow band mates like it too and one is considering buying one. I recommend it.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I was looking for a short scale bass and after reading the reviews, I decided on this. I'm a novice at bass so I can't comment on the tone, but I like the feel. It's easy to play and sounds good. I'm looking forward to using this in a small group. I'm trying to find a case. I saw a comment about the Epiphone Allen Woody case fitting perfectly but it isn't available anywhere. It is on back order and the delivery date keeps getting further into the future. Any ideas?

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

Smaller hands will like this no frills bass.I have played full scale basses,and with this one you give up very little tone if any being short scale.I immediately put some flat wounds on it.Be sure to get strings that are for a short scale bass 45s-105s.An Allen Woody bass case fits this bass perfectly.A bit heavy,but that helps give it a great tone I believe.Best SS base out there.Mid tone notes really shine on this bass.I got the sunburst one,beautiful finish.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

My son ,14, is starting out with the bass, and he loves jamming with it. He is pretty small for his age, so it's good for smaller or younger kids. For the price you can't beat it.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I got one of these last year and loved it immediately. It has a thin neck which may trick you into thinking that it's wider than it really is. I find it terrific that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good bass these days. The need has arisen for me to have a base permanently tuned down a half step so After playing it extensively for about a year I've decided to get another one

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I have 9 bass guitars: 3 G&L, 2 Fenders, 3 Ibanez and this G2220. I love everything about it, and I have been playing bass for fifty years. I have ditched Rics, Gibsons, and Guilds, but this one is a keeper!

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

Aside from one of the tuning pegs being a little loose I am pleased with my purchase.

Comments about Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II Electric Bass Guitar:

I bought this bass and loved it, like a fool I left it at the venue I was playing and it was stolen. I would recommend this bass for any level of player and I will have another as soon as I can.