Gretsch

G5420T Electromatic2023

The Gretsch G5420T Electromatic is a step up into true hollow-body territory, chambered for that airy, resonant Gretsch chime, with a Bigsby fitted for old-school vibrato wobble.

9 mods reviewed: 4 drop-in, 2 need verification, 3 need modification.

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Andertons

£719.00

The Gretsch G5420T Electromatic is a step up into true hollow-body territory, chambered for that airy, resonant Gretsch chime, with a Bigsby fitted for old-school vibrato wobble. It uses genuine Filter'Tron-family pickups (Black Top Filter'Tron), which are smaller and mount differently than a standard humbucker, so standard aftermarket humbuckers will not drop in without a Filtertron-specific mounting ring or pickguard. The tailpiece is specifically a Bigsby B60, not a generic Bigsby, which matters when sourcing a direct replacement. Graph Tech NuBone nut.

Quick facts

Tailpiece

Bigsby B60

String spacing

50.8mm (2")

Scale length

24.6" (625mm)

Nut width

42.9mm (1.689")

Not published by Gretsch: tuner hole size and bridge mounting spacing. Measure these before buying tuners or a bridge.

Watch out

Tuner hole size sources conflict for this model, one figure cites the modern 10mm standard, another cites a smaller roughly 8.7mm vintage-style figure. Genuinely unresolved, measure before ordering replacement tuners.

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Bridge

2 options

Illustration, photo coming soon

Schaller GTM Tune-o-Matic Roller Bridge (Gretsch Post Spacing)

Likely drop-in

Built specifically for Gretsch bridge post spacing rather than adapted from a Gibson-style Tune-o-matic. Should drop onto the existing posts.

Why we say this

Schaller markets the GTM specifically for Gretsch post spacing, 74.0 to 74.5mm, a purpose built alternative to adapting a Gibson market Tune-o-matic. This range matches the genuine Gretsch Adjusto-Matic post spacing of 74mm per Gretsch's own OEM part listing.

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Gotoh GE103B-T Tune-o-matic Bridge (Metric)

Needs verification

Reports on whether this fits are mixed. Measure your existing bridge post diameter before ordering, some owners get a clean fit and others do not.

Why we say this

Owner reports are mixed. Some Gretsch owners confirm the GE103B-T as a drop-in on guitars with genuine Adjusto-Matic bridges, while at least one owner reports it did not fit their guitar. Stud diameter, 4mm ABR-1 style versus 6mm Nashville style, needs confirming before buying.

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Pickup

5 options

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Lollartron Filter'Tron-Style Humbucker Set

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Built to match the pickup route already on this guitar. Should fit without route work.

Why we say this

Built to genuine Filter'Tron dimensions, matching the Black Top Filter'Tron route already on this guitar.

Illustration, photo coming soon

TV Jones TV Classic Filter'Tron Pickup Set

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Built to match the pickup route already on this guitar. Should fit without route work.

Why we say this

Purpose-built to Filter'Tron dimensions, matching the Black Top Filter'Tron route and mounting already on this guitar.

TV Jones TV Classic Plus Bridge Pickup

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Built to match the pickup route already on this guitar. Should fit without route work.

Why we say this

Purpose-built to Filter'Tron dimensions, matching the Black Top Filter'Tron route already on this guitar.

DiMarzio DP151 PAF Pro Humbucker

Requires modification

SolderingRouting

This is built for a standard humbucker route, larger than this guitar's Filter'Tron route. Route work or adapter hardware is needed, not a straight swap.

Why we say this

Standard humbuckers are built to a larger footprint than the Black Top Filter'Tron route on this guitar, the same route size mismatch that applies to the Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 listed for this guitar. Route work or Filter'Tron-specific adapter hardware would be needed, not a straight swap.

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Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 Humbucker (Black)

Requires modification

SolderingRouting

This is built for a standard humbucker route, larger than this guitar's Filter'Tron route. Route work or adapter hardware is needed, not a straight swap.

Why we say this

Standard humbuckers are built to a larger footprint than the Black Top Filter'Tron route on this guitar. Fitting this means route work or Filter'Tron-specific adapter hardware, not a straight swap.

Help confirm this fit

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Tuner

1 option

Grover 502 Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatics Tuners 3 x 3

Needs verification

Post hole size on this guitar has varied by production year in owner reports, from around 8.5mm up to a full 10mm. Measure your existing tuners before ordering.

Why we say this

Owner-measured tuner post holes vary by production year on this guitar family. A 2016 owner measured 8.5mm, while other Electromatic-era owners have measured 9.75mm to a full 10mm on similar models, the last requiring shimming for a clean fit. Confirm your own guitar's post size before ordering this 10mm-post tuner.

Help confirm this fit

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Tailpiece

1 option

Illustration, photo coming soon

Bigsby B6C V-Cut Vibrato Tailpiece

Requires modification

Drilling

Even though this is a genuine Bigsby-to-Bigsby swap, owners consistently report the mounting holes do not line up. Budget for filling the old holes and drilling new ones.

Why we say this

Multiple Gretsch owner reports describe swapping between Bigsby models on this bridge and body style as consistently needing new mounting holes. The center screw sometimes lines up, but the outer mounting holes almost never do, and the old holes stay visible under the new plate unless filled first.

Help confirm this fit

This page has 5 open questions

If you have fitted any of these to this Gretsch G5420T Electromatic, tell us what you found and we'll update the data.