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Gretsch G5622 Electromatic
Epiphone ES-335
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Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
79
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
57
Value
70
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G5622 Electromatic vs Epiphone ES-335

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic over Epiphone ES-335

Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Rounded C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) 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
Avg. Weight
7.625lbs (3.5kgs) vs 8.025lbs (3.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
79 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone ES-335 over Gretsch G5622 Electromatic

Neck Profile
Rounded C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic vs Epiphone ES-335

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron vs Alnico Classic PRO
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron vs Alnico Classic PRO
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic vs Epiphone ES-335

Fretboard Wood
Laurel
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Semi-Hollow
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
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

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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 G5622 Electromatic is probably the better product overall with its final score of 69 compared to the Epiphone ES-335's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G5622 Electromatic wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Epiphone ES-335 has the upper hand when it comes to.

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 G5622 Electromatic is the better choice.

The Gretsch G5622 Electromatic meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone ES-335 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 G5622 Electromatic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone ES-335
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • 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 G5622 Electromatic Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2021 Electromatic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple 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 Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch V-Stoptail bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast Sealed tuners
  • Weight between 7.35lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.9lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone ES-335 Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Inspired by Gibson Original ES Collection series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Layered Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Rounded C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Epiphone Deluxe tuners
  • Weight between 7.95lbs (3.6kgs) and 8.1lbs (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 Both

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 Gretsch G5622 Electromatic

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone ES-335

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple

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.

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Winner: Epiphone ES-335.

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

The Gretsch G5622 Electromatic has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone ES-335. 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 G5622 Electromatic.

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 G5622 Electromatic and Epiphone ES-335 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic and Epiphone ES-335'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 G5622 Electromatic
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Epiphone ES-335
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
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 G5622 Electromatic compares to the Epiphone ES-335.

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 G5622 Electromatic has 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.

On the other hand, the Epiphone ES-335 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: 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

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G5622 Electromatic's are Die-Cast Sealed while the Epiphone ES-335's are Epiphone Deluxe

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 G5622 Electromatic
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 ES-335
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G5622 Electromatic
Quality of materials 60
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 57
Epiphone ES-335
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 60
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 G5622 Electromatic Nut Width
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic Nut Width
Epiphone ES-335 Nut Width
Epiphone ES-335 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone ES-335 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 Epiphone ES-335, 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 G5622 Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic's Scale Length
Epiphone ES-335's Scale Length
Epiphone ES-335'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 ES-335 has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G5622 Electromatic 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 G5622 Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5622 Electromatic's neck profile
Epiphone ES-335 Neck Profile
Epiphone ES-335'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 G5622 Electromatic 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 ES-335, on the other hand, has a C 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.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G5622 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 G5622 Electromatic and the Epiphone ES-335 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 are balanced for most hand sizes.

Gretsch G5622 Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone ES-335:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G5622 Electromatic and Epiphone ES-335 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 G5622 Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 77
Epiphone ES-335
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G5622 Electromatic vs Epiphone ES-335
General Gretsch G5622 Electromatic Epiphone ES-335
Brand: Gretsch Epiphone
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Electromatic Inspired by Gibson Original ES Collection
Colors: Gold, Brown, Brown Burst Red, Vintage Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Laminated Maple Layered Maple
Bridge: Gretsch V-Stoptail LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Sealed Epiphone Deluxe
Fretboard: Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Dot
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U Rounded C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2