$189/£189, gretschguitars.com

The Jim Dandy line has been an attention-grabbing facet hustle for Gretsch. For many of the final two or three many years, it’s felt like the trendy Gretsch firm was wrestling with what to do with its acoustic guitars. For a model so closely steeped in archtop heritage, it doesn’t fairly have the pedigree with regards to flat-tops, and that was obvious within the stop-start nature of its productions of guitars just like the Nightbird and reimaginings of the distinctive Rancher design, and the restricted success these fashions loved.

First launched in 2013, the unique Jim Dandy was a particular departure from the standard Gretsch script, impressed because it was by the Rex-branded catalogue guitars that have been produced by Gretsch within the Nineteen Twenties and 30s. The unique Jim Dandy was low cost, however much more than cheerful – with undeniably cool seems to be, spectacular construct and genuine old-school parlor guitar sound, they have been genuinely good devices that even discovered skilled admirers within the form of Eric Bibb, Daniel Johns, Megan Lovell and of all individuals, Buzz Osbourne.

Over the next decade, Gretsch has expanded and advanced the Jim Dandy vary with completely different physique kinds and finishes, and even the addition of a sequence of suitably Thirties-inspired electrical pickups so as to add to the guitar’s utility. What they’ve not accomplished earlier than nonetheless, is go huge – and that’s the place this Jim Dandy Dred is available in.

Why is the Gretsch Jim Dandy Dread so low cost?

For those who’re trying on the price ticket up high and questioning simply how this guitar prices south of $200 bucks, nicely a look on the spec sheet goes some method to explaining it – you gained’t discover a entire lot of strong wooden on this guitar because of its laminated basswood high again and sides, and we’re hitting all of the price range wooden packing containers with a nato neck and walnut bridge and fingerboard.

There’s additionally no electronics on this mannequin, although should you needed so as to add some kind of soundhole pickup, there’s a strap button on the heel that ought to minimise the quantity of drilling you’ll must do.

Elsewhere you’ll discover some frequent bits of {hardware} with the unique Jim Dandy (not too long ago rechristened the Jim Dandy Parlor), together with the three-in-line vintage-style tuners and the parchment-colour ‘G’ pickguard.

There’s little question that the ‘semi-gloss’ (learn satin) end to the guitar might be saving Gretsch a bit of cash too, although it’s additionally fully acceptable for the Melancholy-era vibe of this guitar – it fits the guitar’s good-looking ‘Rex burst’ high and black again sides and neck completely. Whereas the above may clarify why this guitar is as low cost as it’s, nonetheless, we shouldn’t lose sight of the truth that it stays an distinctive discount, as I’ll attempt to clarify under.

Curiously, the bridge on all Jim Dandy guitars has now been swapped from a top-loading design to a standard bridge pin state of affairs – one thing that opens up the potential to swap these out for various/larger high quality choices if that’s one thing you’ve gotten robust emotions about.

Is the Gretsch Jim Dandy Dred straightforward to play?

Earlier than we get into the playability of the Dread, a phrase about that nomenclature. In comparison with the bijou Parlor and Live performance guitars within the Jim Dandy vary, this guitar actually feels extra like a dreadnought, however anybody anticipating capital D dread could be considerably nonplussed – with a size simply over 19” and a width simply shy of 15 within the backside bout, it’s nearer to an OM or 000 in profile, with a physique depth of 4.3” sitting someplace between a 4.1” 000 and a D-18’s 4.8”.

This compact really feel is aided by the guitar’s splendidly elegant sloped shoulders, giving it the appear and feel of a J-45 that’s holding its breath to look extra svelte in its promenade picture. The sense that it is a dread for individuals who discover dreads a bit too huge is sustained with the neck – whereas a D-18 would normally have a 25.4” scale size, right here now we have a Gibson-esque 24.75” scale, and 20 vintage-style frets, with the glued-in neck becoming a member of the physique on the 14th fret.

Regardless of its larger measurement, the Dread additionally sports activities a nut width that’s truly a little bit wider than the unique Jim Dandy – transferring to 42.7 from 43mm – which makes the C-shaped neck and 12” radius fingerboard a little bit extra snug within the hand.

One of the vital spectacular points of the unique Jim Dandy – and an enormous a part of why it was such a beautiful guitar to play – was the fretwork, and it’s actually reassuring to see that pattern proceed right here. The vintage-style frets are properly polished and even, and the perimeters are impressively rolled into the plastic binding, ensuring there are not any sharp edges as you progress up the neck.

The cumulative impact of all that is an accessible compact participant that invitations mild strumming of cowboy chords and fingerpicked first-position numbers. For those who needed to enterprise additional up the board the 14-fret physique be part of is considerably accommodating in that regard, however it’s finest to consider this guitar as a picker and strummer.

Does the Gretsch Jim Dandy Dred sound good?

One other notable side of the unique Jim Dandy guitar was that it didn’t simply seem like a well-loved previous Melancholy-era parlor guitar, it gave the impression of one too – with Delta vibes aplenty. There’s one thing of that about this Dread model, and I’d think about it in these phrases relatively than as a real dreadnought – you’re not going to get the projection of a D-18 right here in fact, however even in comparison with an all-solid Sigma it’s most likely missing within the heat and rounded tone skilled gamers will anticipate. Additionally it is price remembering that stated all-solid Sigma dread will nonetheless set you again greater than double what this guitar streets for.

As an alternative of a bona fide dreadnought then, that is successfully a Jim Dandy Plus – it has the identical balanced however barely reedy acoustic tonality as its smaller siblings, only a bit larger and with a extra pronounced backside finish. That does imply it could sound a little bit piercing on the unwound strings at instances, however for picked chords and delicate campfire strumalongs it has a pleasant steadiness of projection and readability that newbie guitarists will recognize.

Is the Gretsch Jim Dandy Dred the perfect worth acoustic guitar?

As a seasoned participant, particularly somebody who has performed his share of classic Martins and Gibsons, and high-end acoustics of many fantastic sorts, it’s tempting to rattling this guitar for its barely underwhelming sonic efficiency – I began writing that very paragraph earlier than I took a look on the high of this text and remembered what kind of persons are more likely to be shopping for this instrument.

For those who’re searching for a very great-sounding price range instrument that may be your companion for many years and can solely sound higher the older it will get, nicely the aforementioned all-solid Sigmas and Yamahas should not onerous to seek out. You’ll additionally must principally double your price range.

For newcomers who’re searching for the very best acoustic expertise for the least sum of money nonetheless, the Jim Dandy Dread could be the best choice on the market. The sound is completely good for taking part in at house or for unamplified gigs, it’s acquired the most effective taking part in and feeling necks of any price range guitar and admittedly, have a look at the rattling factor. It seems to be cooler than some guitars that value 10 instances the value, and could be a tremendous companion as you began your journey into the fantastic world of music.

Gretsch Jim Dandy Dread options

From the identical FMIC secure (and sure from the identical manufacturing unit) comes the equally inexpensive Fender CD-60S Dreadnought ($199/£189) – go for the all-mahogany model and also you’ll even get a strong high. Yamaha is at all times an influence participant at this value level, and the Tobacco Brown Sunburst FG830 (the $349/£499 favouring the US market right here) gives related old-school vibes with a strong spruce high. Eastman’s acoustics are additionally excellent at this value level, and the PCH1-D ($349/£329) includes a ‘Thermo-Cured’ high for aged seems to be and really feel.