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Epiphone ES-339
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
60
Value
71
Score
66
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Playability
75
Sound
70
Build
59
Value
73
Score
68
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Epiphone ES-339 vs Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

Reasons to Get
Epiphone ES-339 over Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

Release Year
2020 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Rounded C vs Standard U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Hollowbody
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.84'' (21.3mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.94'' (23.9mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic over Epiphone ES-339

Neck Profile
Standard U vs Rounded C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Semi-Hollow
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.84'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.94'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Epiphone ES-339 vs Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

Bridge Pickup
Alnico Classic PRO vs Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Alnico Classic PRO vs Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Flame Maple vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
NuBone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone ES-339 vs Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 G5422TG Electromatic is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Epiphone ES-339's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Epiphone ES-339 has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Epiphone ES-339 is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone ES-339 is the better choice.

The Epiphone ES-339 meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic meets only 3. 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.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone ES-339
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Epiphone ES-339 Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Inspired by Gibson Original ES Collection series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Layered Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Rounded C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatic tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 5-Ply Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 6.9lbs (3.1kgs) and 7.5lbs (3.4kgs)
  • 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 the Epiphone ES-339

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

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.

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

Woods Used in the Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Epiphone ES-339.

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 G5422TG Electromatic pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone ES-339. 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 G5422TG 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:

Epiphone ES-339 and Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone ES-339 and Gretsch G5422TG 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 G5422TG Electromatic.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone ES-339
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70

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 Epiphone ES-339 compares to the Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

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: Tie

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 Epiphone ES-339 has 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.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

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 Epiphone ES-339'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 G5422TG 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 G5422TG Electromatic.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone ES-339's are Grover Rotomatic while the Gretsch G5422TG 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
Epiphone ES-339
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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 G5422TG Electromatic
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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

Epiphone ES-339
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 60
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 59

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

Epiphone ES-339 Nut Width
Epiphone ES-339 Nut Width
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Nut Width
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone ES-339 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone ES-339, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Epiphone ES-339's Scale Length
Epiphone ES-339's Scale Length
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5422TG 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 Epiphone ES-339 has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.15'' (3.8mm) 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

Epiphone ES-339 Neck Profile
Epiphone ES-339's neck profile
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5422TG 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 Epiphone ES-339 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 G5422TG 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

Epiphone ES-339 Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Epiphone ES-339 and the Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 G5422TG Electromatic favors large hands more than the Epiphone ES-339.

Epiphone ES-339:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone ES-339 and Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone ES-339
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone ES-339 vs Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
General Epiphone ES-339 Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic
Brand: Epiphone Gretsch
Year: 2020 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Inspired by Gibson Original ES Collection Electromatic
Colors: Blue, Red, Natural, Vintage Sunburst White, Brown
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Hollowbody
Body Material: Layered Maple 5-Ply Maple
Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Rotomatic Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dots Pearloid Hump Block
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.6"
Shape: Rounded C Standard U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: NuBone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 1