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Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
63
Value
75
Score
70
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
80
Value
60
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod over G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod

Neck Profile
Standard U vs Vintage V
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
NuBone vs Delrin
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Volume Knobs
3 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.84'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Value Score
75 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod over G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Vintage V vs Standard U
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.84'' (21.3mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron vs Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron vs Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
NuBone vs Delrin
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod

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
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod has the upper hand when it comes to 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod meets 5 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2020 Artist Signature Edition series
  • Brian Setzer Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6C bridge
  • Vintage V Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • 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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod'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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 52
Tuning Stability 75
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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.

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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is made in Japan.

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.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod comes with a Delrin nut. It's a fabricated nut material made to be similar to bone, but a lot more slippery. It's good for tuning stability as long as it's cut well.

Winner: Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod.

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

The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod 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: Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.

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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 63
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Quality of materials 55
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 80

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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod'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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod Neck Profile
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod'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 G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod 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 Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod's Fingerboard radius
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod Fretboard Compound Radius
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod's Compound 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.

In this case, the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 large hands .

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod and Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod vs G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
General Gretsch G5410T Electromatic Rat Rod G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Japan
Series: Electromatic Artist Signature Edition
Colors: Black Matte, White Matte Gold, Green, Blue Burst, Red, Purple
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Laminated Maple
Bridge: Bigsby Licensed B60 Vibrato Tailpiece Bigsby B6C
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style Open-Back Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.6"
Shape: Standard U Vintage V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5" to 12"
Nut: NuBone Delrin
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones Brian Setzer Signature Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 1
Tone Controls: 1 0