Gretsch Launches Black Limba Electromatic CVT & Jet Guitars
Gretsch launches limited-edition Black Limba Electromatic CVT and Jet guitars with sunburst finishes, exotic wood, and premium style
Gretsch has officially expanded its lineup with a striking new release: limited-edition Black Limba versions of its affordable and highly sought-after Electromatic CVT and Jet electric guitars. Moving beyond standard tonewoods, this exciting drop pairs West African hardwood with sunburst finishes, letting the wood's famous dark brown and black streaks shine beneath a clear gloss finish.
Designed for tone-chasers and gigging musicians alike, these new limited-edition instruments blend vintage-inspired style with modern playability and upscale appointments.
Gretsch Limited Edition Electromatic Black Limba CVT
Officially priced at $599.99 / £549 / €649, the Electromatic Black Limba CVT breathes fresh life into a classic sixties-inspired offset silhouette.
Built with a solid, lightweight, resonant Black Limba body and a matching bolt-on Black Limba neck, this guitar delivers a lively, immediate response under the fingers. Beveled contours enhance the offset aesthetic while ensuring the instrument sits comfortably against the body during long rehearsal sessions and live gigs.
Key CVT Specifications:
- Neck: Bolt-on Black Limba with Gretsch’s fast "Performance C" profile, gloss finish, and a rounded heel.
- Fingerboard: 12-inch radius bound rosewood fingerboard featuring 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnail inlays.
- Pickups: A pair of Twin Six humbuckers delivering tight lows, clear mids, and articulate highs.
- Hardware: Anchored adjustable wraparound bridge, Graph Tech NuBone nut, and die-cast sealed tuners.
- Controls: Master volume (with an integrated treble bleed circuit), master tone control, and a three-way toggle switch.
Gretsch Limited Edition Electromatic Black Limba Jet
Dialing things up a few notches, the Gretsch Limited Edition Electromatic Black Limba Jet ($749 / £629 / €739) introduces more upscale appointments and advanced electronics to the exotic hardwood series.
With a full Black Limba construction, a chambered body, and a carved top, the Jet delivers incredible natural resonance, rich mid-range presence, and sustained power while staying lightweight and comfortable.
Key Jet Specifications & Upgrades:
- Construction: Chambered Black Limba body with a carved top and a set Black Limba neck featuring ergonomic contours.
- Fingerboard: 12-inch radius bound ebony fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid Neo-Classic thumbnails.
- Pickups: PureVolt Twin Six humbuckers—utilizing an Alnico IV magnet in the neck and an Alnico V magnet in the bridge for dynamic, expressive power.
- Advanced Electronics: Push-pull coil-split controls on the tone knobs unlock authentic single-coil snap on each pickup. When split and used in the middle position, it creates a unique hum-canceling ‘bucker sound. Includes a Master Volume with treble bleed.
- Hardware: LockDown locking adjustable wraparound bridge, Graph Tech NuBone nut, die-cast sealed tuners, premium gold hardware, and a distinctive split V headstock.
Availability
Whether you lean toward the gritty, offset charm of the CVT or the luxurious, versatile tone of the chambered Jet, Gretsch's new Black Limba line delivers exceptional aesthetics, good value-for-money, and modern performance.
We rate these two new limited-run models and can see them both being popular choices for Gretsch fans.
Both models are available now via official Gretsch dealers and the Gretsch official website.
- +Exotic Black Limba wood delivers lively, resonant tone and striking visual appeal with natural grain visible through sunburst finish
- +CVT offers classic offset silhouette at affordable $599.99 price point with solid construction and modern playability
- +Jet's chambered body, set neck, and advanced electronics including coil-splitting provide upscale features at mid-range price
- +Both models feature Graph Tech NuBone nuts, die-cast sealed tuners, and ergonomic contours for comfortable extended play
- +Jet's Alnico IV/V magnet setup provides dynamic, expressive pickup response with hum-canceling single-coil option
What is Black Limba and why did Gretsch use it for these guitars?
Black Limba is a West African hardwood known for its dark brown and black streaks. Gretsch chose it for these limited-edition models to deliver a resonant, lively tonal response while creating a striking aesthetic, with the wood grain visible through a clear gloss sunburst finish.
What's the difference between the CVT and Jet models?
The CVT ($599.99) is an offset-body design with a bolt-on neck and Twin Six humbuckers. The Jet ($749) features a chambered body, set neck, ebony fingerboard, PureVolt Twin Six humbuckers with Alnico IV/V magnets, and push-pull coil-splitting for single-coil tones.
Do these guitars have coil-splitting?
Only the Jet model includes coil-splitting via push-pull controls on the tone knobs. When split in the middle position, it creates a hum-canceling tone. The CVT does not have this feature.
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