I plan on keeping it till it just can't be played any more - and then getting it repaired. To me this is guitar is a keeper. I've turned down more than I paid for it. It is not my only guitar but it is one of my favorites out of the twenty-four I own at this time. I like it mostly for the sound and playability and the Bigsby. what I like least I guess are the strap buttons.

Sound
The sound surprised me. Sure it sounded good in the store, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. Pickups respond to your touch - clean and sweet when played softly and rough and raunchy when you play hard. Without an amp acousticly the sustain is good and no dead spots on the neck. It could use a set of tuning keys, but the originals tune okay and hold tune very well. I owned the guitar for about two years before gigging with it - I'm not a real big Gretsch fan, I recently got rid of two others, a 120th Anniversary model and a Tennessee Rose. I didn't really like either of them. I was very plesantly surprised when I took it to a gig for a spare. I picked it up first and my Les Paul stayed on the stand the rest of the night. I've since grown very fond of this "cheap" Gretsch.

Features
Good mini humbuckers, Bigsby tailpiece, nice Tunomatic bridge, tuning keys could be better - Grovers would be nice. No case. Setup could have been better but I set up all my guitars anyway. Finish good. Has those Gretsch strap buttons - I could do without them.… read more

Ease of Use
Sound is great for me. It isn't a heavy metal guitar, but it works for real music. Sounds great thru all my amps tube and ss.

Quality
Like all Asian instruments, I'm sure there are cheap copies out there but I'd put the quality of this guitar up with almost any Asian or US made.

Value
no complaint

Manufacturer Support
no opinion

The Wow Factor
Cosmetics don't really make much difference to me. Altho I won't waste a dime on so called "relics" that look like they've been in the trunk of Kieth Richards car under the spare tire for six months. Tho I don't buy guitars for the flashy looks, I won't play something that looks like it's been thru a terrerist attack.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Rock and Roll from '50's thru '80's, Blues, Motown, Pop, Country read less