Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody: First look

News
By Matthew Parker published 2 March 2010

The Rancid frontman's rockabilly signature

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The guitar

The guitar

With a name like the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody, this guitar is certain to catch your eye, if for no other reason than the label that can fit that title on it will likely be as large as the instrument itself.

The latest signature guitar from the Rancid frontman, it's a semi-acoustic that features Black Top Filter'tron pickups, Grover tuners and a rather nice matt black finish with gold fixtures. It's got an RRP of over £1,000, but we can't help but wonder how many Rancid fans can pull together that kind of cash. Perhaps, they'll make a budget one in the near future.

It's certainly a lovely-looking instrument, but whether it's worth a grand… Well, you'll just have to check out the review in TG201 (on sale 16 April) to find out.

View more First Look posts

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
The Body

The Body

With a name like the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody, this guitar is certain to catch your eye, if for no other reason than the label that can fit that title on it will likely be as large as the instrument itself.

The latest signature guitar from the Rancid frontman, it's a semi-acoustic that features Black Top Filter'tron pickups, Grover tuners and a rather nice matt black finish with gold fixtures. It's got an RRP of over £1,000, but we can't help but wonder how many Rancid fans can pull together that kind of cash. Perhaps, they'll make a budget one in the near future.

It's certainly a lovely-looking instrument, but whether it's worth a grand… Well, you'll just have to check out the review in TG201 (on sale 16 April) to find out.

View more First Look posts

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
The Headstock

The Headstock

With a name like the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody, this guitar is certain to catch your eye, if for no other reason than the label that can fit that title on it will likely be as large as the instrument itself.

The latest signature guitar from the Rancid frontman, it's a semi-acoustic that features Black Top Filter'tron pickups, Grover tuners and a rather nice matt black finish with gold fixtures. It's got an RRP of over £1,000, but we can't help but wonder how many Rancid fans can pull together that kind of cash. Perhaps, they'll make a budget one in the near future.

It's certainly a lovely-looking instrument, but whether it's worth a grand… Well, you'll just have to check out the review in TG201 (on sale 16 April) to find out.

View more First Look posts

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
The finish

The finish

With a name like the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody, this guitar is certain to catch your eye, if for no other reason than the label that can fit that title on it will likely be as large as the instrument itself.

The latest signature guitar from the Rancid frontman, it's a semi-acoustic that features Black Top Filter'tron pickups, Grover tuners and a rather nice matt black finish with gold fixtures. It's got an RRP of over £1,000, but we can't help but wonder how many Rancid fans can pull together that kind of cash. Perhaps, they'll make a budget one in the near future.

It's certainly a lovely-looking instrument, but whether it's worth a grand… Well, you'll just have to check out the review in TG201 (on sale 16 April) to find out.

View more First Look posts

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
The Label

The Label

With a name like the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic Hollowbody, this guitar is certain to catch your eye, if for no other reason than the label that can fit that title on it will likely be as large as the instrument itself.

The latest signature guitar from the Rancid frontman, it's a semi-acoustic that features Black Top Filter'tron pickups, Grover tuners and a rather nice matt black finish with gold fixtures. It's got an RRP of over £1,000, but we can't help but wonder how many Rancid fans can pull together that kind of cash. Perhaps, they'll make a budget one in the near future.

It's certainly a lovely-looking instrument, but whether it's worth a grand… Well, you'll just have to check out the review in TG201 (on sale 16 April) to find out.

View more First Look posts

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Latest in Guitars
Gibson Custom Shop Aged Greenybucker Set: with the nickel housings given the Murphy Lab treatment, these are exacting replicas of the pickups found in the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul, complete with the out-of-phase middle position sound.
Gibson unveils the $449 Murphy Lab aged humbucker set that will make your Les Paul sound like ‘Greeny’
 
 
Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett in 1986
"Cliff took Kirk's solo, which I think is just so cool": Robert Trujillo on the time Metallica mixed up their solos
 
 
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
 
 
Harley Benton R-458MN LH WH MultiScale
Harley Benton just dropped an 8-string for southpaw players that has a multi-scale fretboard, high-gain humbuckers and offers change from 300 bucks
 
 
Billy Corgan holds his picking hand to his head as he holds a note on his Reverend signature model
Billy Corgan says virtuosic guitar solos mean nothing in the social media age – and argues guitar influencers need to make a bigger impact on popular music
 
 
Gibson Original Collection (L-R) featuring the SJ-200 60s, J-160E, and the LG-2 50s.
The Beatles-approved J-160E makes its return as Gibson unveils a trio of Original Collection flat-tops celebrating the golden era of acoustic guitar making
 
 
Latest in News
Clyde Lawrence and Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes schools Clyde Lawrence on how to play the piano part in Toto’s Rosanna correctly
 
 
Concert crowd arms raised in mosh pit
“What kind of ecosystem do we want for live music in Europe?”: New research shows the grip four companies have on live music
 
 
Guitarist Greg Brown is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Cake on November 12, 1996
His creative contributions were immense”: Greg Brown, co-founder of 90s band Cake has died
 
 
British New Wave & Pop musician Howard Jones plays keyboards as he performs onstage at Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, New York, August 3, 1984. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
"It will always be my favourite”: Howard Jones takes you on a tour of the synth he’s owned since 1983
 
 
Claw.fm screenshot
“Give your agent a music career”: New online radio station launches for AI agents’ music
 
 
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
A whopping $900 discount on a stunning Gibson Les Paul is the headline act of Guitar Center's early Presidents' Day sale, plus a generous up to 30% off a range of music-making gear
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...