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
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 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
Tim Tournier of Myles Kennedy shows off his prototype EVH Gear bass, a prototype four-string that was given to him by Wolfgang Van Halen.
“There’s only two of these on the planet”: Myles Kennedy bassist Tim Tournier on the EVH bass Wolfgang Van Halen gave him
 
 
The new models of theMartin Road Series 2026 are photographed in a living space.
Has Martin redefined the workhorse acoustic? Legendary brand announces blockbuster refresh of its Road Series
 
 
Jared James Nichols turns up the heat during his 2025 UK tour as he plays fingerstyle blues on his split-V headstock Gibson Explorer
Jared James Nichols on why he took his Klon off his pedalboard – and what players get wrong about drive pedals
 
 
Strymon Fairfax review
"Like a good valve amp, it responds to your pick attack and guitar volume with proper character": Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive pedal review
 
 
Slash wears a top hat and plays a Gibson SG live with Guns N' Roses, with pink and blue lights in the background.
“The SG that I had at the Ozzy gig, that guitar needed a louder pickup but I still wanted that true-to-life guitar sound that I like”: Slash and Seymour Duncan dial up the raunch with the Guns N’ Roses legend’s signature 3.0 humbuckers
 
 
Electro-Harmonix Effects Interface
EHX’s new Effects Interface is a stompbox-shaped device that lets you integrate your pedalboard with your DAW
 
 
Latest in News
The Police - Stewart Copeland, Sting And Andy Summers, black and white photo 1983
Police royalties case – Sting has paid $800,000 to Summers and Copeland
 
 
Robbie Williams performs during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw
“I want that more than anything in my career”: Robbie Williams is gunning to break the Beatles' UK albums record
 
 
akg c series
“Our goal was simple: let’s design a mic that creators would reach for every day”: AKG unveils new C-Series condenser mics inspired by studio classics
 
 
Young boy listening to headphones
The kids are alright?: Over half of under-44-year-olds spend 2 to 3 hours a week consuming AI music
 
 
Popumusic PartyStudio
Hands-on with the Popumusic PartyStudio: we tried “the world’s first wireless MIDI synthesizer speaker”
 
 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
"Music has the power to connect hearts": Japan and South Korean leaders cap diplomatic summit with a drum duet
 
 

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...