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D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
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Playability
72
Sound
62
Build
59
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
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D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS vs Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic

Reasons to Get
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS over Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
C-Shape vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Semi-Hollow
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic over D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS

Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Thin U vs C-Shape
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Hollowbody
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
74 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS vs Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic

Bridge Pickup
Duncan Designed HB-101 Zebra vs Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Duncan Designed HB-102 Zebra vs Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Flame Maple vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS vs Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic is probably the better product overall with its final score of 69 compared to the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS Overview

  • From D'Angelico's 2021 Premier series
  • Fabrizio Sotti Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Flame Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Duncan Designed HB-101 Zebra (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Duncan Designed HB-102 Zebra (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Black Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • C-Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover 109 Super Rotomatic tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2020 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B70 bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.2lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.3lbs (3.3kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Winner: D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic pickups from a more specialized brand than the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS and Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS and Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic.

Final Sound Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 62
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS compares to the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS is built in Indonesia while the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic is made in China.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic comes with a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

Winner: Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's are Grover 109 Super Rotomatic while the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's are Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
  • Expensive Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 60

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

D
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42.9mm (1.688'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's Scale Length
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's Scale Length
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS has the longest scale: 25". The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.4'' (10.2mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS Neck Profile
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's neck profile
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS Fingerboard Radius
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's Fingerboard radius
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic favors large hands more than the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS.

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS Frets Size
D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's Frets Size
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Frets Size
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic's Frets Size

The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS vs Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
General D'Angelico Premier Fabrizio Sotti SS Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
Brand: D'Angelico Gretsch
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Premier Electromatic
Colors: Blue Gold, Blue, Green, Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Laminated Flame Maple Laminated Maple
Bridge: Black Tune-O-Matic Bigsby B70
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover 109 Super Rotomatic Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Pearloid Block Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 25" 24.6"
Shape: C-Shape Thin U
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12"
Nut: Plastic NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Duncan Designed HB-101 Zebra (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Duncan Designed HB-102 Zebra (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 3
Tone Controls: 2 1