Gretsch G9310 New Yorker Mandolin Review (Hands-On & In-Depth)

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a solid mid-range mandolin with a classic design. But is it a good mandolin? Does it sound good? In this article we’ll dive deep into this high-quality instrument and its unique features.

After playing this mandolin for a year, I slowly started to appreciate and understand it. The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a vintage beast adapted to the modern age, a piece of the past in a renewed form.

I’m a mandolin player and a music composer with several years of experience creating soundtracks and folk music. I really enjoy using this unique instrument in many of my compositions, as it adds a special rustic and vintage flavor to any piece.

Join me as we explore the Gretsch G9310 New Yorker in this article.

Gretsch G9310 New Yorker Review: About the Gretsch G9310 New Yorker

This mandolin is highly inspired by the classic Gretsch mandolins from the 50s. It has a simple A-style shape with a minimal finish, which is the traditional style of the old models made by this company.

Gretsch is one of the biggest producers of acoustic instruments, dating back to the 1900s. Their masterful craftsmanship made them famous all around the world. Even the Beatles loved their designs and often used their guitars in their songs and live performances.

There is little information about the first steps of this company in the mandolin business, but it appears that they started building their own mandolins around the 50s, some time after the Second World War ended.

Gretsch used their enormous experience with acoustic and semi-acoustic guitars to create elegant and beautiful mandolins, which rapidly caught the eye of the public.

Nowadays, Gretsch mandolins aren’t the most popular or famous ones, but they stand strong in their vintage and classic niche.

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a reproduction of the old ways with some modern upgrades. A remake of sorts. Something older generations would love to give to the younger ones, so they remember the past.

Body

This instrument is made of solid mahogany for the top, back, and sides. Mahogany isn’t the best tonewood out there, but the craftsmanship of this model certainly compensates for that. And let’s not forget that mahogany is commonly used in many vintage acoustic instruments.

Overall, this mandolin has a decent solid body. It might not be the best one out there, but it’s certainly quite good for this price range.

Neck

The neck of this Gretsch is also made of mahogany. It’s quite a wide neck, but it’s really comfortable to play on. The action is fast and smooth action over most of the fretboard.

I personally had no trouble playing this mandolin, but it might differ from player to player.

Fretboard

The fretboard is made of rosewood, which is normal for this price tag. And again, the craftsmanship is really good, with a smooth and even finish all across the fretboard.

As with the neck, this fretboard offers a fast and smooth action, which also felt quite comfortable for me personally.

Bridge

The bridge is also made of rosewood. It has simple construction and is sturdy enough for the price. You might need to adjust it before playing.

I had to change my bridge after a few years. The hardware lacks quality on these models, which is no big deal, but you might need to spend more money on it in the future.

Finish

The finish is antique semi-gloss. Gretsch was going for a simple and minimal style here.

The finish of this mandolin seems like nothing special the first time you see it, but it really starts to grow on you later. This model is a pure mandolin, in a way.

The Gretsch G9310 is a simple instrument that embraces its roots.

What I Like & What I Don’t Like

Gretsch G9310 New Yorker Review: My Experience with the Gretsch G9310 New Yorker

This mandolin first caught my eye when a friend of mine was playing it in a small venue. It sounded very warm compared to other mandolins I’ve played. But it also was quite loud, which surprised me.

The design first struck me as something too simple and bland. But with years of experiencing its unique nature, I started to appreciate it more and more.

I personally found the action very fast and easy, which can’t be said for many A-style mandolins.

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is also quite lightweight and easy to transport, as it fits in most A-style cases.

I have a long history with this mandolin. First I somewhat disliked it, then little by little, I started to fall in love with its puristic nature. The tone is what sealed it for me. To this day, it’s one of my favorite sounding mandolins.

But this mandolin isn’t for everyone, as many bluegrass and country players might find it quite bland and without enough punch. This is why I always recommend trying out the instruments before buying them or even watching some YouTube videos to get an idea.

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a good model, however, for folk musicians and mandolin purists, as it’s simple but effective.

For this price tag, Gretsch G9310 is also a great deal for intermediate players and guitarists trying to learn to play the mandolin.

Gretsch G9310 New Yorker Review: The Sound

The sound can be described as mellow but rich. This mandolin has its own style, although it’s a remake of old vintage designs.

For me personally, the Gretsch G9310 has the best sound in this price range. It has a unique and sweet tonality with a delicate flavor.

Gretsch G9310 New Yorker Warranty

The warranty for this model can vary quite a bit, depending on the retailer. Some offer a 2-year warranty for construction and shipping defects.

Where to Buy the Gretsch G9310 New Yorker?

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a somewhat rare model to find, but there are several retailers that sell it for a reasonable price.

Amazon

Amazon is the most important online retailer of the last decade. On Amazon, you’ll find the biggest selection of instruments for a very low price. When buying on this website, you can feel assured that your item will come in good condition, and if not, you can always contact customer support and have your problem solved in a few hours.

I appreciate the customer reviews, as you can find really honest opinions on almost any item. I highly recommend checking it out before buying anything.

Order Online

There are numerous online retailers that offer a large selection of instruments at great prices. Some of them might have an exclusive deal with world-famous brands such as Kentucky, Gibson, Eastman, Rogue, and Gretsch.

Here at Into Strings we highly recommend Sweetwater.com, Fiddlershop.com, and GuitarCenter.com, as they offer the best selection of instruments with some special discounts for loyal customers.

Your Local Store

In your local store you might find a limited selection of instruments and probably not many models of mandolins, as this instrument is practically a rarity in the string instrument family. But the best thing about going in-person to a store is that you can try out any instrument they have in stock.

Trying the instrument yourself is the best way to find out if you really like it and if it fits your playing style.

Conclusion

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker is a brilliant mid-range mandolin with a vintage design and finish. I would easily recommend this model to any intermediate and entry-level players.

It might require some setup before playing, and you might need to change some hardware. But overall this mandolin is very worth the price tag.

The Gretsch G9310 New Yorker will bring you years of joy in the form of its unique and beautiful tonality. It did for me.

I hope you enjoyed this Gretsch G9310 New Yorker review. I learned a thing or two about this unique mandolin, and I hope that I could help you with some of the doubts you may have had.

If you liked this article or have any doubts or questions, feel free to drop a comment or share this article on your favorite social media.

Stay safe and as always, good luck with your sonic adventures!