Gretsch G2202

Mine is a 125th anniversary made in China Gretsch G2202 short scale. The TV jones pickup can growl or be fairly smooth and deep. But, that's about it. I'd like to call it a 2 tone mini monster. It sound especially great with Chrome Flats. I found a pair of vintage gretsch chrome knobs and threw them on and it looks superb.

I'd like to have a 2nd pickup on it, but I can't complain. It's easy and there is no back and forth between knob adjustments. Just plug it in and play.

I play in 2 bands. One funky and one grungy alternative country. It sounds great in both. But, I prefer my semi hollow for the alt country band. The pickups are hot hot hot. It makes a fantastic bass for both live and studio applications. It is very responsive to a wah pedal.

It comes very close in quality to some of the higher end basses I have played.

It needed some adjustment out of the box. The intonation was poor and the neck has to be turned slightly. I dropped my pickup fairly low to give it a little for brightness and grit. It took me some time to get the adjustments to my liking. But well worth it.

Its a very easy bass to play. Great for beginners and pros alike.

I have had mine for a year now and the only problem I have had is the nut on the output plug started coming loose and caused the bass to short out. Easy fix.

I gigged with this dozens of times with no back up. It has help up very well. After a year, the finish looks brand new.

I can get a little aggressive in the funk band. For example, beating on the body to create some strange sounds with an effects pedal. I have beat on this thing so hard that it bruised my hip. I hit it so hard one time that my strap broke and I had to finish the song on my knees. This bass has survived it all.

No experience

Good bass for a great price. I am not sure if I'd buy another. I am partial to mine. That's not b/c its a bad bass, but I'd rather spend the cash on a high end J style bass.

I bought a brand new (2008) Chinese model because I wanted something cheap to travel with. It has a very compact, solid but light Les Paul-Style body. There are only two knobs (volume and tone) which I like. Simple has always been better for me, and I've played professionally for 15+ years. It has a single passive humbucker pickup, which allows me to very comfortably rest my thumb on it while playing. The finish is a beautiful, slick jet black which is transparent on the top allowing the grain to show through. It is accented with a small white pearl pick guard. The tuners (and the rest of the hardware) are chrome and stout. It stays in tune just fine. The neck is painted black with a rosewood fingerboard. It's thin and fast, though it may feel awkward to those used to long-scale basses. It may not offer enough bells and whistles for some, but for me it works well.

I brought my custom bass into the shop with me to compare the tone - it's easier than dragging my rig in. My custom bass uses a Danelectro lipstick pickup that produces a round, warm bass tone. Initially, the little Gretsch's E string would "fade" or lose volume when I hit it too hard. I suspected that a better set of strings would fix it. I asked the guys at GC to put a pair of flat wounds on, which they did, no prob. With the flats on, the little bass sang! The single soapbar TV Jones humbucker is a pitbull!. I was playing it through a 300W Line 6 combo amp and it had it all - punch, power, sustain, and lots of bottom end. Great! I never will, but you'll get a bit of a growl out of it if you put the tone up all the way.

For my taste, the action was a little high straight from the factory, and the pickup needed to be seated evenly. It was no problem to straighten those things out. No annoying rattles or buzzes.

I've only owned it a couple of weeks, so I can't say how it'll hold up. The hardware and the body are very solid. I'm taking it on the road for three weeks, including a couple of flights, and I'm not worried. For the price, if it breaks down after a few years I'll be buying another.

I have no idea.

Like I said, I've played professionally for 15+ years. My standard rig is a custom replica of a '58 kay semi-hollow body (medium scale). I play it through a GK 800RB and a ported single 15 cabinet. I wanted something small and inexpensive to fly and travel with. I was prepared to hate whatever I ended up with, but I am very happy with my new Gretsch. This little Gretsch looks and sounds great, and it plays like buttah! I'm sold on it.

This is a pretty bare-bones instrument. Four strings, two knobs, one pick-up. However, as a bare-bones bass goes, it's pretty amazing. The mini humbucker is very effective. It's placed in just the right spot to get tone ranges from a punchy, slightly twangy treble to a very smooth and resonant bass with a minimum of fiddling. The instrument is surprisingly light compared to other shortscale basses that I tried -- the Squier Bronco and the Epiphone EB-0 -- and the hadware is spot-on. The neck is very fast and guitar-like.

It was the sound that sold me on this instrument. I was looking for a good, mid-60s punchiness, and I was suprised at how good the tone was for a short scale instrument. Again, I think this is mostly the pick-up, but the overall construction has a lot to do with it. It's really amazing for the price.

Once again, compared to some of the other short scale basses I tried, this one was pretty perfect. No complaints. It's a really nice looking instrument, too. Good color and finish. The fretboard and neck are flawless.

I haven't had the instrument long enough to know how well it'll hold up. It's pretty simple, so that's a plus... We'll see.

I'm a guitarist, mostly, and I got this to take up some bass as necessary in my band. It is everything that I would have wanted: simple, playable and great looking. I would certainly buy it again, and I really look forward to having more opportunities to play it.

Made in China, 4-string short scale, single humbucking pickup, volume and tone control, rosewood bolt on neck, fairly light body. Apparently it's produced in only one finish, a smoky black sunburst with a pearl look pickguard.

This little bass produces a beautiful, punchy and tight sound from bottom to top. I was amazed at the output from its single passive pickup. If you like that classic old school sound, this is it.

It was playable right out of the store. The short scale makes playing a breeze. The finish is classic and pretty which is why I picked it up in the first place.

I just bought it, so I don't know how well it will hold up over time. I'm pretty gentle with my guitars and it seems to be well constructed, so I expect to get many years of use from it.

I've been playing bass for over 30 years. This is my first short scale bass. I have two Peavey Fury basses, 5 and 6 string models, and a G&L L-2500. All three are great instruments for which I paid much more than the Gretsch. All I can say is that cost doesn't always tell the story, and "Made in China" isn't necesarily something to run from. This little bass is a great value whether you're just learning to play or are a seasoned player. Its sound, playability, and good looks add up to a fine addition to my arsenal.

Features are simple. Neck has only 20 frets and the electronics is but one soap bar style humbucker pickup with one volume & one tone control. The body is a flat-surfaced Les Paul style. The weight is decent though a lttle "neck heavy" on balance. It was made in China in 2005. It came with no case and finding one to fit was a bit of a pain. I ended out putting it in a COFFIN CASE designed for regular guitars. It barely fit but was snug.

The GRETSCH produces a ruch, full sound and I'm playing through either a BEHRINGER BX600 and/or FENDER RUMBLE 100. I can only imagine how it would sound through a big rig!

It has a very fast action but, like all short scales, is limited on the high end of the neck. Unfortunately, as well-designed as this instrument is there is, in my opinion, a design flaw in that both the "G" & "E" strings set to close to the edge.

I once dropped on a stage, having come loose from the strap. It first hit the stage then tumbled over a floor monitor. There is absolutely no physical or technical indication that this ever happened! Fear turned to total admiration for the construction & durability!

N/a

I was very heavily involved in music in the KC area from 1965 through 1987. Amongst bass guitars owened were a GIBXON EB-3, HOFNER BEATLE BASS and two FENDER PRECISIONS. Recently, I came out of retirement for a 30 year reunion with one of the best bands I played with. Knowing my restrictions of polio in the left arm (fingerboard hand), a small hand and short fingers, I opted for the GRETSCH G2202 shortscale bass, purchased at a local GC for $250. It got me back up and running quickly with its fast action! And the sound? A super bonus for sure! Unrivaled by all other shortscales I tried! I've since purchased a fretless IBANEZ SR300DXF but still lean on "Junior" when a hard-driving song is played! It rivals the lows of the full-scaled 24-fret IBANEZ! I can't play any runs much passed the 2-dotted octave fret but, then again, 98% of all bass lines fall below this anyway! My only recommendation to GRETSCH is to not place the end strings (G & E) so close to the edge of the neck. If I am not consciously careful, I sometimes push the string right off the edge of the neck, killing the sound of a particular run! All in all, I would rate this bass a solid "9" for its sound, neck speed and easibility of play. I would highly recommend this bass for anyone with small hands or just wanting speed!

My GRETSCH G2202 is relatively light, well-balanced & nice looking in a subtle way. I like the LES PAUL designed body. I wished it was arched, however. The hype on the one soap bar shape humbucking pickup is that it is of high quality and strategically placed on this guitar (where the 24th fret would be normally) to capture the optimal resonance of the strings. BELIEVE IT.......IT DOES! The neck is very "user friendly", especially for me (having small hands & fingers plus polio in my neck playing arm). It truly allows me to play riffs at speeds & accuracy I wouldn't dare trying on a full-scale neck. I've yet to experience it going out of tune so I would say the tuners are excellent. I've played for 25 years straight and have owned a HOFNER, EB3 & 3 PRECISIONS during this time. I've been "retired" for 20 years and am coming out of it for a 30 year "reunion tour" with this one band I was in that was very well known in my area at that time! Playing bass was my therapy for polio...kept my forearm & wrist strong and fingers somewhat fast. After a 20 year sabatico, I quickly realized I had no finger speed per se, no calluses, and wrist / forearm were in pain during my first practice sessions. Within a month, I was back to 90%, thanks in large part to the playing ease my GRETSCH G2202!

For a one-pickup, shortscaled bass this guitar is hard to beat! Don't let its little size fool you! Most of sound volume & quality comes from the amp more so than the guitar, in my opinion. That being said, my GRETSCH G2202 powered by my BEHRIGER BX1200 produces a variety of sounds that support my every need!

The only adjustment I made to my bass was to lower the pickup to ensure the strings would not "click" against it. My only negative about this guitar is that, at times when running a fast riff leading up to the "G" string, I sometimes press the desired fret on the "G" string at a slightly downward motion. The string sits so close to the edge of the neck that it slides right off, killing the riff & sound! Now, I know a lot of this is me...and the polio thing, and that practice will hopefully correct it. But, still, I never experienced this problem previously, even on my first ever bass, a SEARS SILVERTONE! I am contemplating have a guitar specialist re-bridge & re-nut the bass, so to move the "G" string

My rating on this category is based on around 100 personal practice hours + 5-6 practice sessions with the band. But there has never been a reliability / durability issue under the playtime it has had thus far

Have yet to use any customer support so no rating to give.

I was a rock 'n roller from 1965 through 1986. Played with many bands, three of them very well known in my area. I have owned an mid 60s HOFNER, mid 60s GIBSON EB3, and a few FENDER Precisions. Now one of the 3 bands decided on a 3-gig local "reunion tour", which meant I needed equipment & fast! I purchased the BEHRINGER BX1200 plus an additional BEHRINGER 15" bass cabinet. Because I have short fingers (and polio), I opted for the GRETSCH G2202 for my "axe". GREAT CHOICE! It took little time to recapture speed & precision, mostly do to the shortscale neck! My fear was sound. Would it punch? How deep & pure could I get with this shortscale? Fear not! It is advertised that the soap bar humbucking pickup is strategically placed for the optimal resonance of the strings and that is a true fact! I love this little axe....its sound, easibility, the style (Les Paul type of body! My only issue with it (and this is probably just me...and because of the angle I have to use do to the polio), is that if I get on a fast run I sometimes do not hit the G-string squarely, kind of push it slightly towards the edge of the neck. Well, this string sits so close to the edge, it takes little effort to slide right off, thus killing the note(s) I was trying to play. I never experienced this problem with all the other guitars I had mentioned. Of course, I should correct this with more practice but am contemplating taking it to a guitar shop to have the strings re-bridged & re-nutted where they would be slightly closer to each other and both the "E" & "G" strings a little more removed from the neck's edges. Bottom line: I would recommend this bass to anyone, beginner or otherwise, who wants speed, quality sound & balance without paying a fortune to obtain it!

I bought this guitar on ebay for $150 and it is one of the best purchases that I have ever made. Solid guitar with much better fit and finish than I expected. The single pickup is very powerful and puts out alot of sound. I play jazz thru a Peavey Max 112 and it sounds fantastic for that purpose. Due to it being a short scale it plays fast too. I'm still getting used to the finished neck, though. Great buy.

Full sound that can even sound like an upright bass with flat wounds on it. Played with a Peavey Max 112 it puts out plenty of full tone and great sustain. I'm thinking about buying another so I have a good back up.

Came right out of the box with decent strings, great action, and much better than expected finish/quality. Great job at the Gretsch plant in Korea!

So far, everything seems pretty solid. I've only had it for 4 months but it's help up to some fairly aggressive playing.

The warranty is 2 years but I bought it on ebay and the store is more than 700 miles away.

I've played bass since 1976 but had about a 15 year hiatus due to marriage and kids. I own an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar also. My amps are Peavey, Marshall, and a Behringer. If I lost this bass I would buy another in a heartbeat. The only draw back is that it does not have an active pickup.

I have a An electromatic Gretsch 4 strings, short neck bass. 19 frets.
1 volume
1 tone
Its a rosewood fingboard, its black with a "cheesey" pearl white pickguard.

the only color it comes in Black burst, it is pretty nice looking.

jet body style

I play Christian rock! I New this was my guitar when I laid my hands on it.

I am playing in my band with a Behringer, with a 12 volume control, I have more volume than Spinal Tap! hehe. Ulta-bass 300 with a diamonizer. It works Great Together excellent sound, like the bass and guitar were made for each other. At Church I usually put it on 6, and everyone Praises.
It sounds sweet, and clean. Its got excellant Sustain.
I haven't played it in the studio, I will in 4 days. Worked Great on Stage!!!
This guitar was a blessing from God. Jesus Rocks!!! And so do I with this guitar. I am blessed to be a blessing!!

loose tuning peg, but I tightend it. its still loose. I am going to take it back to the guitar center to see if they can do something.
bolt for the pickup was loose, tightened that too.
action is ok
the intonation needs work. I have no harmonic on the fifth fret.
hard to tune guitar on the fifth and seventh fret.
The E-string broke the first night I bought the Guitar. (which was Sat.) was excited to play in church on Sunday, So I put my old dead E-string off a long neck onto this shortneck. Still works!!! STill sounds great.

I bought this guitar for $250
even with all it flaws still worth every penny. sounds great!

I have been playing off and on for 15 years. I would buy it again if it were stolen or lost. I love the short-neck and the sound.
The pickguard and the loose nuts. Its weight is my favorite feature. I choose this base because of its neck. No other shortnecks in the store. It was lightweight, and my short fingers can play better with this one. Just have to get use to the short-neck.