Review of the Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic guitar. Where to buy it?

I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I list the features of the Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top guitar. Then you have a video or two, purchase links and useful comments from other users and then you have one of the most useful parts; comparison tables with similar items so you can compare.

  • From the Roots Collection
  • Body shape: Flat Top Parlor
  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Nato
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Body width: 330.2 mm
  • Body depth: 98.5 mm
  • 18 Frets
  • Scale: 610 mm
  • Nut width: 42.85 mm
  • Sound hole diameter: 87.3 mm
  • Bridge: Rosewood with compensated saddle
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Open back geared machine heads
  • 1-Ply white pickguard with “G” graphics
  • Colour: Vintage Sunburst semi gloss
  • Dimensions: 93 x 33 x 9.5 cm
  • Compatible case: Article Nr 238870 (not included)

review gretsch-g9500-jim-dandy-flat-top

This guitar usually has a price around 155.00 €

Now that we’ve seen the features of this guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top watch these related videos to learn more.

Gretsch - G9500 Jim Dandy Demo at GAK

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Some comments from people who come to the forum about this model:

Comment:

Well I opened the guitar and first impressions were, ‘wow’!
As I tuned it up, it became clear to me that there would be some minor issues that needed addressing. (Which is pretty much standard for any new guitar, they all need adjusting to your style & liking at first)

– Firstly – The guitar (Body only) is very slightly warped, but that does not effect the tone or playablility. You can only tell when looking really close.

– Secondly – The bridge saddle was high so I had to sand it down a tad.

– Thirdly – The Bridge slightly bellies out under medium/heavy string tension. Not badly, but I was a bit worried at first. This made the action even higher than I would have liked. Bellying Significantly decreased after installing lighter gauge strings.

– Fourth – Two or three frets needed filing down. Easy job. 5 Minutes.

– Build quality? For a Gretsch within this price range, I’d have to say overall good. The neck is also very slighly warped. After adjusting the truss rod it was made better, again. Only visible when looking for it and doesn’t affect the sound, tone or playability.

It must be said. That I am, at best, an intermediate when it comes to adjusting anything on a guitar.
So don’t let any of this put you off the Jim Dandy!
A few small adjustments to personalise your guitar to your play style & liking is often needed when buying a new guitar.
The Jim Dandy is beautiful. It sings the blues better than anything I have heard or played.
The sustain is something I did not expect for a guitar of this price.

No guitar, whether you pay £100 or £1000 is going to be perfect, look close enough and you will find an imperfection.

Also, something worthy of noting, when I ordered this guitar, I did a lot of shopping around, not only did Thomann have the best price, but it arrived fast!
The guitar looks better when you see it with your own eyes. Miles better in person than it looks on any picture or video I have seen of it.

Overall – A beautiful guitar, with imperfections but the imperfections only make it more unique in my opinion.
Comfortable to play, plays and sounds beautiful. String bends sound almost too pleasing, adds a bit of class and a vintage look to any room you keep it in.

Buy one! You won’t regret it.

P.S. Please don’t use heavy strings on this guitar.

Comment:

I mostly play bass and was looking for a guitar to play on the couch, therefore it should be easy to play, smaller than jumbo and fun.

Pros:
+ The Jim & Dandy came well set up, I only adjusted the neck slightly to get a low action, still there is no buzzing.
+ Tuners work very well, I almost never have to touch them.
+ Finish is also nice, really nothing to complain on my guitar.
+ Since it’s a small guitar, it never get’s in the way and it is also never to loud so I often play while watching something. It’s also very light.
+ Played in a finger picking style, the guitar has some kind of Delta Blues sound.

Cons:
– Depending on the plek the guitar can sound kinda cheap/plasticy. I think nylon pleks sound the best but even better is to play with your hands.
– In the first week I got black fingertips from the strings that came with the guitar.
– The ‘G’ on the pickguard looks a bit like the ‘G’ of a big search engine.
– I play a lot more guitar now and feel bad about my bass guitars.

Overall this is a fun little guitar, of course it lacks the big tone of guitars with bigger bodies but it plays nice, it’s size is perfect to play it on the couch, you don’t annoy neighbours, it looks cool, sounds bluesy and all of that in a budget.

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top vs Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-15MCE

The guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top is usually 34 € cheaper than Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-15MCE, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top

Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-15MCE
  • From the Roots Collection
  • Body shape: Flat Top Parlor
  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Nato
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Body width: 330.2 mm
  • Body depth: 98.5 mm
  • 18 Frets
  • Scale: 610 mm
  • Nut width: 42.85 mm
  • Sound hole diameter: 87.3 mm
  • Bridge: Rosewood with compensated saddle
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Open back geared machine heads
  • 1-Ply white pickguard with “G” graphics
  • Colour: Vintage Sunburst semi gloss
  • Dimensions: 93 x 33 x 9.5 cm
  • Compatible case: Article Nr 238870 (not included)
  • Design: Dreadnought with cutaway
  • Dovetail construction
  • Top: Solid mahogany
  • Scalloped X-bracing
  • Body: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Pau Ferro
  • Neck profile: Modified oval C
  • Fretboard inlays: Snowflakes
  • Body binding: Wooden
  • Scale: 643 mm
  • Nut width: 43 mm
  • 20 Frets
  • Nut: Bone
  • Compensated saddle
  • Bridge: Pau Ferro
  • Machine heads: Chrome-plated diecast DLX
  • Strings: D’Addario XTAPB1253 Light (Article Nr 471307), .012 – .053
  • Pickup system: Fishman Presys-II preamp system with built-in tuner
  • Colour: Natural matte

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-15MCE

Harley Benton Custom Line CLD 15MCE Review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-15MCE review

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top vs Harley Benton D-120CE NT

The guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top is usually 89 € more expensive than Harley Benton D-120CE NT.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top

Harley Benton D-120CE NT
  • From the Roots Collection
  • Body shape: Flat Top Parlor
  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Nato
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Body width: 330.2 mm
  • Body depth: 98.5 mm
  • 18 Frets
  • Scale: 610 mm
  • Nut width: 42.85 mm
  • Sound hole diameter: 87.3 mm
  • Bridge: Rosewood with compensated saddle
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Open back geared machine heads
  • 1-Ply white pickguard with “G” graphics
  • Colour: Vintage Sunburst semi gloss
  • Dimensions: 93 x 33 x 9.5 cm
  • Compatible case: Article Nr 238870 (not included)
  • Build type: Dreadnought with cutaway
  • Top: Spruce
  • Back and sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany (Sapele / Entandrophragma cylindricum)
  • Neck profile: C
  • Dovetail neck joint
  • Fretboard: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • 20 Frets
  • Scale: 650 mm
  • Bridge: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • Pickup with preamp with volume knob and 4-band EQ
  • Chrome-plated diecast machine heads
  • Strings: .010 – .047
  • Colour: Natural high-gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton D-120CE NT

€75 Harley Benton D120CE NT Acoustic Guitar Review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton D-120CE NT review

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top vs Harley Benton D-120CE BK

The guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top is usually 89 € more expensive than Harley Benton D-120CE BK.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top

Harley Benton D-120CE BK
  • From the Roots Collection
  • Body shape: Flat Top Parlor
  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Nato
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Body width: 330.2 mm
  • Body depth: 98.5 mm
  • 18 Frets
  • Scale: 610 mm
  • Nut width: 42.85 mm
  • Sound hole diameter: 87.3 mm
  • Bridge: Rosewood with compensated saddle
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Open back geared machine heads
  • 1-Ply white pickguard with “G” graphics
  • Colour: Vintage Sunburst semi gloss
  • Dimensions: 93 x 33 x 9.5 cm
  • Compatible case: Article Nr 238870 (not included)
  • Design: Dreadnought with cutaway
  • Top: Spruce
  • Body: Mahogany (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard inlays: Dot
  • Cream-coloured bindings on the body and neck
  • Scale: 650 mm (25.59″)
  • Nut width: 42.5 mm (1.67″)
  • 20 Frets
  • Bridge: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • Pickup includes preamp with volume control and 4-band EQ
  • Machine heads: Chrome-plated diecast
  • Strings: .010 – .047
  • Colour: Black, high-gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton D-120CE BK

The Harley Benton D-120CE TB Bundle Unboxing and review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton D-120CE BK review

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top vs Harley Benton D-120CE TB

The guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top is usually 89 € more expensive than Harley Benton D-120CE TB.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top

Harley Benton D-120CE TB
  • From the Roots Collection
  • Body shape: Flat Top Parlor
  • Body: Agathis
  • Neck: Nato
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Body width: 330.2 mm
  • Body depth: 98.5 mm
  • 18 Frets
  • Scale: 610 mm
  • Nut width: 42.85 mm
  • Sound hole diameter: 87.3 mm
  • Bridge: Rosewood with compensated saddle
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Open back geared machine heads
  • 1-Ply white pickguard with “G” graphics
  • Colour: Vintage Sunburst semi gloss
  • Dimensions: 93 x 33 x 9.5 cm
  • Compatible case: Article Nr 238870 (not included)
  • Body shape: Dreadnought
  • With cutaway
  • Body: Mahogany (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
  • Top: Spruce
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Neck profile: C neck profile
  • Roseacer fretboard
  • Dot fretboard inlays
  • Cream bindings on the body and neck
  • Scale: 650 mm
  • Nut width: 42.5 mm
  • 20 Frets
  • Roseacer bridge
  • Pickup system with pre-amp
  • Controls: Volume and 4-band EQ
  • Chrome die cast machine heads
  • String thicknesses: .010″ – .047″
  • Colour: Translucent blue high gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton D-120CE TB

The Harley Benton D-120CE TB Bundle Unboxing and review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton D-120CE TB review

Where to buy the guitar Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top

Thomann

  • Free Shipping.
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • Leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually Best price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalogue and information.

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
  • Sometimes better price.
  • He’s got worse stock than Thomann.

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Jaime Echagüe

Hi! I'm Jaime Echagüe, a musician and an authentic fan of musical instruments. With this blog I want to give general information about musical instruments in an easy, direct and honest way. I hope you enjoy my website and that you find it very useful.

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