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Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
60
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
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Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner over Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Mahogany 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 AM Expressionist
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Hollowbody
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
P90P90 vs HH
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Avg. Weight
5.825lbs (2.6kgs) vs 6.075lbs (2.8kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
78 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist over Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner

Neck Profile
AM Expressionist vs Thin U
Thick neck that gives you a better grip
Pickup Mods
Tri-Sound vs None
Grants 3 ways to modify the sound of the pickups
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Semi-Hollow
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs P90P90
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch FideliSonic 90 vs Super 58
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch FideliSonic 90 vs Super 58
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Nato vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
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 vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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 G2655-P90 Streamliner is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner is the better choice.

The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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 G2655-P90 Streamliner
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

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 G2655-P90 Streamliner Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2021 Streamliner series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Mahogany top
  • Mahogany body
  • Nato neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch FideliSonic 90 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • V-Stoptail bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 5.65lbs (2.6kgs) and 6lbs (2.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 AM series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • 3pc Nyatoh/Maple neck
  • Bound Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gibraltar Performer bridge
  • AM Expressionist Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Weight between 6lbs (2.7kgs) and 6.15lbs (2.8kgs)
  • 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 Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner

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

Nato a hard and dense wood similar to Mahogany, but cheaper and not quite as hard. Tone-wise, it's also similar, but it doesn't have quite the same attack as 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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

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

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.

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner has an P90P90 configuration while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist has HH pickups.

P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

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

The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller 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 G2655-P90 Streamliner.

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.

Only the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist comes with some kind of pickup modification: Tri-Sound.

Tri-Sound gives you the choice of using the pickup coils at the same time, splitting them or connect them im parallel for a brighter sound.

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner's switch options
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist'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: Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 65

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 G2655-P90 Streamliner compares to the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist.

Country of Origin

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

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.

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 Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner has a Synthetic Bone nut. 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist comes with 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.

Winner: Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner's are Die-Cast while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's are Ibanez

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
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
  • Expensive Wood
  • Tri-Sound Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner
Quality of materials 60
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 60
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Quality of materials 46
Features 60
Quality Control 65
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 G2655-P90 Streamliner Nut Width
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner Nut Width
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist, 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 G2655-P90 Streamliner and Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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 G2655-P90 Streamliner Neck Profile
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner's neck profile
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Neck Profile
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist'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 Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner has a U type of 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.

The Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist, on the other hand, has a Vintage neck. This means that it's thicker than most modern necks, and makes it a better fit for playing chords and slow solos. Some people prefer this type of neck because it gives them a better grip thanks to the extra mass. Still, the vast majority prefer a thinner, faster, and more ''modern'' neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner 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 G2655-P90 Streamliner and the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist favors large hands more than the Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner.

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner Frets Size
Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner's Frets Size
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Frets Size
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's Frets Size

The Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist'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

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
General Gretsch G2655-P90 Streamliner Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Brand: Gretsch Ibanez
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: P90P90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Streamliner AM
Colors: Brown Burst, Red Burst Black, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Hollowbody
Body Material: Mahogany Basswood
Bridge: V-Stoptail Gibraltar Performer
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Ibanez
Fretboard: Laurel Bound Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Nato 3pc Nyatoh/Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Oval Abalone dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U AM Expressionist
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch FideliSonic 90 (Single Coil / Passive) Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch FideliSonic 90 (Single Coil / Passive) Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None Tri-Sound
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2