Fender & Gretsch caught LYING to you! – Uncovering the Gretsch G2220 Deception – LEL Investigates
SUPREME FINAL UPDATE: https://youtu.be/bl6NNewD5ZY
MEGA UPDATE- Gretsch has updated their website and now lists these pickups as having “Gretsch Single Coils”. https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/build/bass/g2220-electromatic-junior-jet-bass-ii-short-scale/ The pajama clad lobster man was correct!
UPDATE – Here’s a closer look at the pickup: https://youtube.com/shorts/2CMPRfDDWsU?feature=share
Correction: The inner bit is just two bits of steel mushed together, not magnetized. The only magnetic bits are the two bar ceramic magnets underneath. Thank you!
EDIT: I incorrectly stated that Gretsch was purchased by Fender in 2019. Sorry about that! Bigsby was purchased by Fender from Gretsch. Gretsch is still maintains ownership of their brand, though production was handed over to FMIC in 2002. These instruments have been made under the Fender umbrella their entire lifespan. Thank you for the correction!
Hey everyone! This is a different type of video. We have stumbled upon some really troubling information in regarding the Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II bass. This instrument is being marketed as having “Gretsch Dual Coil Mini Humbuckers” and has been produced for nearly a decade. However, it appears that these “Dual Coil Mini Humbuckers” are actually single coil pickups in a mini hum housing. I was shocked to discover this, as the Junior Jet II has been highly regarded among bass players as an excellent short scale value. Why would they lie and deceive customers like this for a $300 bass? How have they not become aware of this after making these basses for nearly a decade? Fender has been responsible for manufacturing these instruments since their inception, and we as consumers deserve answers!
I am awaiting Fender’s response.
Magnetic Viewing Film: https://www.amazon.com/Luganni-Magnetic-Viewing-Film-inches/dp/B07CGMG1JL
Talkbass Discussion: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/has-gretsch-been-lying-to-us-for-over-a-decade.1557548/
Info on my signal chain, setup and more: https://youtu.be/QtZdeV7Ngv0
Discord: discord.gg/dzrFMzD
Facebook: fb.me/LowEndLobster
Instagram: Instagram.com/LowEndLobster
Reverb Shop: reverb.com/shop/lowendlobster
#Fender #Gretsch #caught #LYING #Uncovering #Gretsch #G2220 #Deception #LEL #Investigates
Originally posted by UClpTFnWcfIg4pcgFZ8dRTyg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xOrEwSk9s
This genuinely makes me curious where the disconnect or miscommunication between teams happened where it got labeled as "humbucker"; or maybe they genuinely just said "screw it, tell em it's a humbucker who cares".
Either way, I'm happy you're bringing this up, Detective Lobster
Nice video dude, i definetly wont by this SHIT. Liars.
Is this really a question of deception, or, as I suspect, just really an error within the relationships between the build and design teams and the marketing and communication teams.
There's no reason to believe that Fender is going to intentionally gamble with soiling 2 of their brand identities to save $20 on a $300 bass. I think you might be making a bit of an overly dramatic take on this, given what the margins are. Curious to see Gretsch/Fender respond.
Been gigging with this bass for a good 3~4 months. And I love the sound. Has anybody swapped the pickups for real humbuckers? Wondering what it would sound like. I bought mine used. And cheaper. So for me sounds good, but don't know what effect could it have if I would change pickups for real humbuckers.
Not true. Gretcsh ordered the basses manufactured in China with hambuckers and no one checked that they weren't hambuckers. When they found out, they removed the literature saying it was.
You made your point my friend – but how does it play/sound?
The Junior Jet was great with the TV Jones pickup.
Ibanez looking better every moment
This is the second reason I don’t intend on giving fender my money anymore.
Fk em the lying cants They don’t deserve anyone’s money regardless of what brand label it is beneath their umbrella
I was surprised when I heard this considering mine has no noise issues at all.
????✊????????
Bravo! ????????????
There was something about mine that I wasn't happy with, but couldn't figure out. Especially with distortion, and I'd bought that bass for fuzz/distortion. Ended up selling it. This makes so much sense! Thanks for uncovering this! Still have the single pickup version, and I think it's a humbucker because it's pretty quiet and fat sounding, but you make me wonder!
What can I do about ?
Ty for your due diligence, I was looking into buying but that won’t ever happen thanks to your video. I don’t own any fender guitars, I am a fan of their rumble amps but that’s where my relationship with fender ends. A company that, (I’m sure makes huge profits), relies on its reputation and now that has been totally destroyed in my eyes thanks to you, I applaud you, love your site and videos and look forward to more updates and content moving forward ????
Sad because the aura and popularity of a name like Fender or Gretsch is built in large part on public trust. Break that and you will be faced with public skepticism about all products under those names.
So you're the one they call Rock Lobster. I dig it, subbed!
Halfway through the video I noticed your shirt
I called Gretch customer support and they wanted some info but I'm curious as to are there really many humbuckers to be had for that Gretch or do I have to buy them from someone else I'm going to Google it with fender and see if they even make any and see how I can move forward not that I don't like the sound of this guitar but I really don't like getting ripped off because that's fraud and I think they should make it right. If there were thousands sold then they need to make thousands right I'm really kind of perturbed
Thanks. I just checked Sweetwater today and this bass is listed as having single coil pickups..
Can you raise the pickups on this bass? Thank you.
Sounds like gretsch was being mislead by fender making gretsch guitars cheaper to produce!
Thanks for the info! ????????✌️????
please come back Lobster !
It’s a great bass though and there’s no hum. Not so much a fraud, more a case of the marketing/press office being totally incompetent.
Can Humbuckers be put in?
At what cost?
i regret buying fender vintage p bass pick up too …
I bought one I like it but disappointed in the lie but not with the bass
Has there been an update on this video !? ????
Well, I bought one before I saw this. It played great, sounded great, was real ugly. Then I found out. Dang, it still played great and sounded great. It did get a little uglier I think. I guess I'll burn it.
BRAVO for your honesty and truthfull information!
On Musicians Friend the G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass now states under the "features Header"
Features:
Basswood top and body
Bolt-on maple neck with C profile
Black walnut fingerboard
Gretsch single-coil bass pickups
Sweetwater also says for the G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass:
Mini Bass Single-coil
Does it make any sense to keep the bridge pickup at the bridge and only replace the bridge pickup at the neck with a neck pickup from another source, or do the pickups have to be paired? Also, with two single coils isn't this essentially a jazz bass?
Yes, sounds like a class action law suit is in order. #Fender
I was contemplating a Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone with Bigsby… NOT ANY MORE!
They’ve done the same thing for years, putting regular humbuckers into Wide Range cases to give the illusion that you’re buying a 72 reissue. But they only just recently began making the true Wide Range CuNiFe pickups.
Wow. Still bought one.
I own two fender basses (P and J) and one Gretsch 2220, and I regret it. Thanks for debunking this sh*t!
Did you ever get an "official" response from either Gretsch or Fender? Failure to do so would definitely qualify as willful salt in the wound & would call into question not only standards & integrity but also (& rather unfortunately) the level of (perhaps existence of would instead be more accurate) commitment to selling a good product (which includes being accurate & honest. Whether a mistake or a lie the end result is the same, though only one intentionally led us down their twisted path) whilst demonstrating respect for the customer. Well done! Excellent detective work identifying the issue & making it publicly know. It's quite disappointing to learn that instead of viewing this as an opportunity to correct a mistake (or find redemption from employing deception) it's met with the same hubris & concern that got us here in the first place!! #Don't throw your legacy in the shitter! …sounds about right to put it concisely ????????♂????????????????
Did fender respond?
Pretty shameful! Either malicious greed or unacceptable ignorance. Good catch!
Still a great bass though.
Get em! Friggin liars
I bought one exactly one year ago, thinking it had humbuckers. I didn’t question it because this bass is louder and more responsive than my other 2 short scale basses of different brands. I didn’t even notice any hum or noise… until I added effects pedals, at which point the noise was so obnoxious. I eventually bought a noise gate pedal which works wonderfully. I have no regrets about buying the Gretsch. It’s so playable, feels just right in my hands and over my shoulder. It has a nasty bite and punch when pushed, is loud AF, flush frets, and the knobs are so well made and smooth-turning. It’s the best short scale bass of the 4 I own.
I have a fender squire cabronita p bass with the fidelitron bass pickup which is also advertised as a humbucker have Ibeen hoodwinked also ?
let's sue them!
Andy Mooney is running Fender into the ground at this point.
Anything for a buck. Buyer beware. It’s a jungle out there. Low End Lobster is hereby promoted to Special Forces, where he shall be part of the newly reactivated LRRP; the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. You are now a full bird Colonel! Just kidding. Good job on the not so QT Gretsch pickup debacle.
fender n gibson are over priced garbage.????????