The latest comer to Grosh’s popular
ElectraJet stable, the ElectraJet VT ($2,799
retail/street N/A) cops the same offset body
styling as the rest of the series, but decks it out
with a T-style hardware and electronics treatment
that gives a “what if?” spin to a couple
of American classics. “The shape of the body
gives the guitar a much bigger bottom end,”
says Don Grosh. “And it’s also a little bit more
scooped sounding. We designed a new pickup
for it, because our standard Retro Classic Vintage
T pickup didn’t have enough midrange.”
As such, this guitar makes for an interesting
lesson in the subtle variables wrought by
blending classic ingredients into something
slightly other.
The ElectraJet VT starts with a light, onepiece
swamp ash body with a prominent grain
beneath its transparent butterscotch nitrocellulose
finish, and a one-piece 25.5"-scale maple
neck with a medium-C profile. The rounded “C”
neck, with its depth of .850" at the first fret and
.950" at the 12th, has a comfortable palm-fitting
feel to its satin-finished back. Gently rolled
shoulders make it easy to wrap your fingers
around the fretboard for a playing experience
that’s further enhanced by the immaculately
polished and profiled jumbo frets—22 of ’em,
thanks to a fretboard “lip” extension.
The bridge is a traditional T-style with compensated
brass saddles, tuners are locking Klusons,
and the control plate is the traditional
single Volume and Tone setup, with a 4-way
switch that gives you both pickups in series
for a thick humbucker tone in addition to the
traditional selections. Powering it all is a pair
of Grosh’s own T-style pickups with “hot vintage”
leanings for a little more mustard.
Tested through a 1958 Fender Pro Amp
and a Matchless DC30, the ElectraJet VT definitely
exhibited all the spank and twang of a
good Tele, but with a meatier midrange than
most—a sign that this Grosh bridge pickup
design must be doing the trick. The guitar’s
core tone has a piano-like low end and
smooth highs wihtout any ice-picky harshness.
In addition to making a perfect platform
for traditional country picking, these characteristics
help the VT maintain great clarity
amid heavy overdrive and distortion. It
kicks out a singing, cutting tone that proves
a surprisingly great rock lead tool, with juicy,
thick Les Paul-ish tones available from the
bonus both-in-series pickup setting.
All in all, the ElectraJet VT offers everything
that has helped to make the Fender
Telecaster one of the world’s most versatile
guitars, with the added versatility of
chunkier lows and a fat fourth pickup selection.
As such, it makes a great choice for
any “T” fanatic looking to step outside the
box, or any fan of retro-modern styling who
wants a guitar that’s a little more traditional
sounding.
Specifications
CONTACT Grosh Guitars, (855) 476-
7444; groshguitars.com
ElectraJet VT
PRICE $2,799 retail/street
price N/A (includes
hardshell case)
NUT Width 1 5/8"
NECK Maple, bolt-on, C-profile
FRETBOARD Maple, 10" radius
FRETS 22 jumbo (6100)
TUNERS Kluson locking
BODY Solid swamp ash
BRIDGE T-style with compensated
brass saddles
PICKUPS Two Grosh single-coil
T-style
CONTROLS Volume, Tone,
4-way selector
FACTORY STRINGS SIT nickel-coated, .010-.046
WEIGHT 7.2 lbs
BUILT USA
KUDOS A fun twist on the T-style
theme. Plays beautifully.
Sounds great.
CONCERNS None.