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Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
VS
Playability
80
Sound
72
Build
55
Value
79
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT vs Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT over Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Neck Profile
Thin U vs Slim
Comfortable neck with more grip
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
79 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins over Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT

Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Slim vs Thin U
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT vs Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron vs Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron vs Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT vs Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 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 Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT is the better choice.

The Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins meets only 5. 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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2020 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 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 Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch V Stoptail bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Matt Heafy Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Slim Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.5lbs (3.9kgs)
  • 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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 Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Winner: Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

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.

Only the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT's switch options
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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: Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78

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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT compares to the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

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 Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT 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 Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 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.

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

The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • 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
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 67

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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT Nut Width
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT Nut Width
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Nut Width
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.2mm (0.008'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins, 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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT's Scale Length
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT's Scale Length
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's Scale Length
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT 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

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT Neck Profile
Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT's neck profile
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Neck Profile
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT 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 Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT 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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT and the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT and Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 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 G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 80
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT vs Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
General Gretsch G5222 Electromatic Double Jet BT Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Brand: Gretsch Epiphone
Year: 2020 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Electromatic Artist Collection
Colors: Blue, Brown, Natural, Gray White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Gretsch V Stoptail Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons
Fretboard: Laurel Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Custom Blocks
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U Slim
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split, Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2