Gretsch G9200 Boxcar – The Ultimate Blues Device

Body And Neck:
Electronics:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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If you're a guitarist and a fan of blues music, you simply have to rock out on a resonator guitar at one point in your musical journey. Some say that these instruments epitomize the very essence of blues, and we understand why.

As our favorite for an affordable high-quality resonator six-string with a kick-ass sound, we opted for the G9200 Boxcar from Gretsch. We took this puppy out for a spin, check out our thoughts in the review below.

Body & Neck

The instrument sports a highly resonant mahogany body with two classy F holes, a strong round mahogany neck, 25-inch scale length, a rosewood fingerboard, 19 frets, white dot markers, and an Ampli-Sonic cone.

It doesn't take long to realize that this thing simply screams resonance. Mahogany is a booming tonewood with a punchy and mellow vibe, and the presence of the cone only adds further natural depth to the tone.

The neck is playable and slim enough, a bit chunky on the lower registry, but sleek on the higher notes. Kinda like a classic '50s Gibson guitar.

It is also worth noting that the this is a very compact instrument. It's not a 3/4-body guitar but it is as compact as a full-size six-string can get, only making it more surprising that this Gretsch can deliver such an audio boom.

As you probably noticed from the very first glance, this is a gorgeous guitar with very memorable looks, a shiny headstock and a classy natural finish.

Hardware

The guitar utilizes a spider bridge, a set of six tuning pegs, and a bone nut. The fret job is quite solid with merely minor buzz and fuzz issues. Each of the components was designed to maintain decent intonation and hold the tuning as long as possible, and the was indeed accomplished.

Sound

The listed tonewood combination secures plenty of boom, power, bite, and punch, but there's also mellow side to the whole concept that enriches the sonic capabilities of what this six-string can express.

If you want to grind away in that raw Delta blues style, there's plenty of twang this bad boy can deliver, but the mellow side allows you to tackle anything from light finger-picking in the style of modern country to old-school blues slide bits.

This fella is significantly louder than any classic Dobro guitar, with a sonic attack that's more rooted in the middle-range frequencies and clear trebles. It's crisp, loud, and very clear!

Value/Conclusion

They say this is the best resonator guitar under 500 dollars, and we certainly agree that it belongs in the Top 5, maybe even Top 3. The sound is pure blues class with a distinctive twang, the looks are gorgeous, and value for money is high. If you're a blues guitarist, getting a resonator guitar is a must if you want to explore all the intricacies of this genre.

But if you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on it and would rather just get a decently priced instrument that delivers a top-notch sound, the G9200 Boxcar is your winning ticket!

For more info about the Gretsch G9200 Boxcar, click here.
For more Blues electric guitars, click here.