Gretsch Electromatic CVT Baritone review: a sub-$600 baritone that opens new sonic directions

# What this review covers This is a focused look at Gretsch's Electromatic CVT Baritone: how it's put together, what it sounds like and who it will suit. The CVT is the short-scale baritone in Gretsch's Electromatic line and is priced below $600, positioning it as an affordable way into low-tuned guitar work.

# Quick summary Guitar World's verdict calls the CVT Baritone "a truly intriguing proposition" and says, "for under $600 it does something quite special: it opens up a new sound-world." The instrument aims to make baritone tuning and tonal territory accessible without the intimidation or cost of longer-scale baritones.

# Design and specs that matter The CVT is a double-cut baritone built around a solid mahogany body with beveled edges. The neck is a 22-fret maple neck (coated in black gloss paint on the review sample) and a bound rosewood fretboard. Gretsch specifies a 685.8mm (27") scale for this model — short for a baritone, which makes fretting and fingering more familiar to players used to standard scales.

• Pair of Sphera Twin Six humbuckers with 12 adjustable poles. On the CVT models these humbuckers use Alnico 5 magnets. The Twin Six design is intended to sit between modern clarity and vintage warmth.
• 22 frets on a 27" scale, rosewood-bound fretboard, maple neck.
• Finish on the reviewed guitar: smoky Bristol Fog sunburst. That is the only finish option mentioned for this model in the review.

# Playability and feel The 27" scale is described as hand-friendly, which will suit players who want baritone pitch without the wide-stretch feel of longer-scale models. The neck and fret count are familiar to electric players, so adapting to the lower tuning should be straightforward.

# Tone and musical uses Six humbuckers and mahogany body deliver a mix of tonal characters. The review highlights two practical areas where the guitar shines:

• Girth for high-gain riffs: the pickup and body pairing supports heavy, chunky low-end suitable for modern riffing.
• Brooding, evocative cleans: the same ingredients also produce full-sounding clean tones useful for moody or cinematic writing.

# How it compares in Gretsch's line Gretsch offers other baritones, including an Electromatic Jet Baritone with a 755.65mm (29.75") scale. Compared with that longer-scale option, the CVT's 27" scale is easier for players who prefer shorter necks and smaller stretches.

# What to buy it for—and what to expect Buy this if you want an affordable, playable way into baritone tuning and tonal colours. Expect solid build quality for the price and an instrument that encourages experimentation with lower tunings.

Caveats: Gretsch offers this model in only one finish, and the review notes that additional finish options and an included gigbag would be welcome. Those are described as minor negatives rather than dealbreakers.

# Bottom line Baritone is presented as an inspiring, easy-playing entry into baritone guitars. At the review price point it's framed as a practical choice for players curious about lower tunings and new riffing textures without committing to a bigger, longer-scale instrument.