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Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
60
Value
66
Score
71
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Playability
75
Sound
70
Build
62
Value
74
Score
69
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Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic vs G5422T Electromatic

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic over G5422T Electromatic

Decorative Top
5-Ply Arched Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Tim Armstrong vs U Shape
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic over G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic

Country of Manufacturing
South Korea vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2016 vs 2010
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
U Shape vs Tim Armstrong
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
NuBone vs Graphite
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
74 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic vs G5422T Electromatic

Nut Material
Graphite vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic vs G5422T Electromatic

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
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
Fretboard Radius
12.6'' (320mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

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

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic Prices

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Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic wins when it comes to sound, playability. On the other hand, the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic has the upper hand when it comes to build quality, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic is the better choice.

The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic meets only 4. 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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G5422T 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.

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2010 Electromatic series
  • Tim Armstrong Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 12.6" Fretboard Radius
  • 5-Ply Arched Maple top
  • 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)
  • 3 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Harp Style Tailpiece bridge
  • Tim Armstrong Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Electromatic series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12.6" 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
  • U Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style Open Back 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 Both

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: Tie.

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

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

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:

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic and Gretsch G5422T Electromatic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic and Gretsch G5422T 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 G5422T Electromatic.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 55
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 74
Gretsch G5422T 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 Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic compares to the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic is built in China while the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic is made in South Korea.

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.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

Winner: Gretsch G5422T Electromatic

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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5422T 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 G5422T 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 Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic'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 G5422T 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 G5422T Electromatic.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic's are Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast while the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's are Vintage-Style Open Back

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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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 G5422T Electromatic
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • 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

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
Quality of materials 55
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic Nut Width
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

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5422T 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 Gretsch G5422T Electromatic has the longest scale: 24.6". The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic is only 24" long. This is a 0.6'' (15.2mm) 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

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic's neck profile
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5422T 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 Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic 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 G5422T 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

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic 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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic and the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic have the same fretboard radius of 12.6". It's very similar to most Gibson guitars but slightly flatter, which makes soloing more comfortable. But it's not bad for playing chords as it still has a slight curve to it.

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 G5422T Electromatic favors large hands more than the Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic.

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic Frets Size
Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic's Frets Size
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic Frets Size
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's Frets Size

The Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G5422T Electromatic's Medium Jumbo 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 G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 100
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80
Gretsch G5422T Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic vs G5422T Electromatic
General Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Signature Electromatic G5422T Electromatic
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2010 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China South Korea
Series: Electromatic Electromatic
Colors: Black Matte Black, Orange
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: 5-Ply Maple 5-Ply Maple
Bridge: Harp Style Tailpiece Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast Vintage-Style Open Back
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Block Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 24" 24.6"
Shape: Tim Armstrong U Shape
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12.6" 12.6"
Nut: Graphite NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 2 1