Swap
Swap
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
VS
Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
63
Value
75
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
Add more to comparison

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod over G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet

Country of Manufacturing
South Korea vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Avg. Weight
6.925lbs (3.1kgs) vs 8.05lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
75 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet over G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet

Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
NuBone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron
Same Neck Pickup
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
3
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod wins when it comes to build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet is the better choice.

The Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
  • 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2020 Electromatic series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated 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 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style Open-Back tuners
  • Weight between 6.85lbs (3.1kgs) and 7lbs (3.2kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2021 Electromatic series
  • Nick 13 Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B50 bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight around 8.05lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod

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.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet

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

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.

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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod compares to the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod is built in South Korea while the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet is made in China.

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.

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: Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod

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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod has a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet comes with 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.

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: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod's are Vintage-Style Open-Back while the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet's are Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 63
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 60

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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet'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 24.6".

This is a vintage-style scale length that's relatively short when compared to modern standards. A short scale makes the string tension lower, which makes the strings feel looser. This makes it easier to bend the strings, but it also makes fret buzz more likely if the action is set too low.

The shorter length also means a shorter separation of the frets. It also makes the overall tone sound warmer since the harmonics and overtones will have less space to breathe.

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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod Neck Profile
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod's neck profile
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet Neck Profile
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet'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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod favors large hands more than the Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet.

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Gretsch G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
General Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod G5230T Nick 13 Signature Electromatic Tiger Jet
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea China
Series: Electromatic Electromatic
Colors: Black Matte, White Matte Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece Bigsby B50
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style Open-Back Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid TigerBat
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.6"
Shape: Standard U Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: NuBone Synthetic Bone
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 Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 3
Tone Controls: 1 1