Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2022.08: Highest Rated Acoustic-Electric Guitar Under $300
• 2021.09: Highest Rated Parlor Guitar between $200 and $500

Gearank Recommended

We first recommended the Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey in our guide to Beginner Acoustic Guitars in July 2021 which we did until September 2022.

The G9520E appeared on our recommended list for Parlor Guitars Under $500 from our first edition in September 2021 and it's strong ratings have kept it on that list since.

It also appeared on our recommended list for Acoustic-Electric Guitars Under $300 in August 2021 and it remains our top recommendation in that price bracket today.

The Gretsch G9520E takes you back to the era of the "blues box" with its compact parlor body, while adding the option of having a gritty amplified tone thanks to its magnetic pickup.

The use of Gretsch' Deltoluxe magnetic soundhole pickup strays from the typical piezo and preamp system found in many acoustic-electric guitars.

With some tweaks on an amp, this gives it a distinct throaty tone that works great for blues, rock and similar styles.

Basswood is used for the top, back and sides, all of which follow the traditional parlor guitar shape with its small body size, resulting in warm tones that you won't get from regular sized acoustics. The resulting unplugged and plugged-in tone is quite fitting for slide playing.

Being small also means that the G9520 is easy to carry around, and ideal for couch guitar duties. Like the G9500, its reduced scale length gives it a noticeably more relaxed playing feel.

If you're looking for a "blues box" sounding couch guitar with a special stage sound, then the Gretsch G9520E is for you.

Specifications

• Body Shape: Gin Rickey Parlor
• Top: Basswood
• Back and Sides: Basswood
• Finish: Black Semi-Gloss
• Bridge: Walnut
• Neck: Nato
• Neck Profile: C Shape
• Fingerboard: Walnut
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"
• Number of Frets: 18
• Frets to Body: 12
• Scale Length: 24"
• Nut Width: 1.6875"
• Electronics: Gretsch Deltoluxe Acoustic Magnetic Soundhole Pickup (Passive)

Overview

The Gretsch G9520E is an acoustic-electric guitar with a compact parlor style body that both older musicians and young students appreciate.

Its compact body shape means that it produces a distinct midrange emphasized tone that many experienced musicians prefer. While its shorter scale length makes it easy to play.

Instead of the usual undersaddle pickup with preamp setup, the G9520E comes with a magnetic soundhole pickup, which gives it a gritty amplified tone ideal for blues, folk and rock. This pickup also compliments its "blues box" style sound, which highlights the mid frequencies.

In keeping with its parlor guitar stylings, it has old school visuals that appeals to fans of older style guitars.

Demo