“The ultimate affordable semi-hollow”: Gretsch G2604T Streamliner Rally II Center Block review

Over the past few years, Gretsch’s Streamliner range has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity thanks to their wallet-friendly pricing, superb build quality, and the ability to replicate the classic twang of their flashier siblings. 

Speeding into the catalog is the G2604T Rally II, which promises an abundance of horsepower from the duo of Super HiLo’Tron pickups, perfect handling with its lightning-fast neck, and classic styling with the vintage-inspired go-faster-stripes. But can it deliver? 

Our first impression of this retro-inspired semi-hollow is that it’s absolutely stunning. The lemony hue of the Bamboo Yellow top with the dark and subtle Copper Metallic back is a pairing that screams elegance and sophistication. 

Throw in the radio-style G-branded control knobs, the iconic Neo-Classic Thumbnail fret markers, as well as a glistening chrome Bigsby, and you have a guitar that’s most definitely worthy of the Gretsch name on the headstock.  

Now, putting that gorgeous aesthetic aside for the moment, let’s move on to playability, where this guitar really comes into its own. Gretsch describes the neck as a “Thin U” – and boy, is it thin. Okay, it may not be in Ibanez Wizard territory, but it’s undoubtedly slimmer than some players may be expecting. 

That said, it’s very comfortable and despicably quick to navigate. Pair the slight profile with the 12” radius of the fingerboard and medium jumbo frets, and you get a playing surface that feels distinctly modern and a joy to hold. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Gretsch without a Bigsby, and the B70 model used here perfectly illustrates why so many players find it difficult to separate these two legendary brands. This vibrato unit feels smooth and responsive, and even when we got a little more aggressive, it held its tuning remarkably well. 

Progressing to the pickups, we are greeted with the Super HiLo’Tron set. Delivering a higher output than your typical Filter’Tron, these humbuckers are radiant in their top end, with plenty of mid-range and just enough lows. 

As you’d imagine, this vintage-style Gretsch is ideal for clean, sparkly country and slightly pushed blues, but it can even handle the rockier side of things, too. 

Thanks in part to a chambered mahogany center block that runs the body’s length and the slightly louder pickup set, we found that the G2604T could more than walk on the wilder side of rock and heavier alternative.  

Gretsch has knocked it out of the park with the latest entry to the Streamliner pantheon. Yes, the Rally II may be affordable, but Gretsch certainly hasn’t held anything back. Indeed, it may very well be the ultimate affordable semi-hollow.

Specs

• PRICE: $699 / £569
• BODY: Arched Laminated Maple
• BUILD: Center Block
• BODY DEPTH: 1.75” (44.45 mm)
• NECK: Nato
• NECK PROFILE: “Thin U”
• FINGERBOARD: Laurel
• FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
• NUT: Synthetic Bone
• BRIDGE: Anchored Adjusto-Matic 
• TAILPIECE: Bigsby B70
• PICKUPS: Super Hilo’Tron
• CONTROLS: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Volume, Master Tone
• FINISHES: Bamboo Yellow and Copper Metallic, Oxblood, Rally Green
• CONTACT: Gretsch