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Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
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Playability
68
Sound
70
Build
58
Value
70
Score
65
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Playability
70
Sound
71
Build
57
Value
71
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop vs G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop over G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone

Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Spruce vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Pickups
XXH vs HH
Single pickup at the neck for jazzy warmth
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
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
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 29.75'' (755.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone over G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop

Release Year
2022 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs XXH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 20
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
29.75'' (755.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
71 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop vs G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone

Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop vs G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone

Neck Pickup
Gretsch Mini Humbucking
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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 Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • 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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Prices

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Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone is probably the better product overall with its final score of 66 compared to the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone is the better choice.

The Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop 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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • 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.

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Spruce top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Middle pickup: (/)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • Chromatic bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 20 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2022 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 29.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 8.8lbs (4kgs) and 9.1lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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 Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
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.

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop has an XXH configuration while the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone has HH pickups.

XXH means there's no pickup in the bridge or middle position. It's a rare pickup combination used for soloing. It's often found in acoustic-electric guitars to give you more power for soloing.

On the other hand, 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

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

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: Tie.

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

The Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone gives you 3 switch options while the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop gives you 0. This means that the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

The Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop doesn't come with pickup switching options.

Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone'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 G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 44
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 70
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 59
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 Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop compares to the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

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.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

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 Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop'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 G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone'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 G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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.

The Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop has 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.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone 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 Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
Quality of materials 60
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 58
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 57

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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Nut Width
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Nut Width
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone Nut Width
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0029999999999999'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop's Scale Length
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop's Scale Length
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone's Scale Length
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone'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 Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone has the longest scale: 29.75". The Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop is only 25.5" long. This is a 4.25'' (108mm) 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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop Neck Profile
Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop's neck profile
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone Neck Profile
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone'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.

Both the Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop and the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone have a U-shaped 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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop 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 Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop and the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone 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 G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop favors large hands more than the Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone.

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop and Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone 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

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68
Gretsch G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop vs G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
General Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic Archtop G5260T Electromatic Jet Baritone
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2016 2022
Configuration: XXH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Electromatic Electromatic
Colors: Black, Natural Black, Blue, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Chromatic Bigsby
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Die-Cast Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Big Block Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 25.5" 29.75"
Shape: Standard U Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Mini Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1