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Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
59
Value
71
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Specs Comparison
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
General
Brand: Gretsch Ibanez
Year: 2023 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: Electromatic AM
Colors: Sunburst Black, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Basswood
Bridge: Bigsby-Licensed B70 Gibraltar Performer
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Ibanez
Fretboard: Laurel Bound Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple 3pc Nyatoh/Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Abalone dot
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U AM Expressionist
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: NuBone Plastic
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None Tri-Sound
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Gold
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic's switch options
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's switch options

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic over Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2023 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Thin U vs AM Expressionist
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Hollowbody
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
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
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
74 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist over Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
AM Expressionist vs Thin U
Thick neck that gives you a better grip
Pickup Mods
Tri-Sound vs None
Grants 3 ways to modify the sound of the pickups
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Semi-Hollow
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad’Tron vs Super 58
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Black Top Broad'Tron vs Super 58
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic vs Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
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
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 vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist favors large hands more than the Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic.

Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

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

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 Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic

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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist.

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 G5655T-QM Electromatic has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist. 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 G5655T-QM 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.

Only the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist comes with some kind of pickup modification: Tri-Sound.

Tri-Sound gives you the choice of using the pickup coils at the same time, splitting them or connect them im parallel for a brighter sound.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
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 G5655T-QM Electromatic compares to the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic is built in China while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist is made in Indonesia.

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.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist

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 G5655T-QM Electromatic 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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Gretsch G5655T-QM 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's 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.

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 G5655T-QM Electromatic.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic's are Die-Cast while the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's are Ibanez

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 G5655T-QM Electromatic
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
  • Expensive Wood
  • Tri-Sound Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 60
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Quality of materials 46
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59

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 G5655T-QM Electromatic Nut Width
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic Nut Width
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist, 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic's Scale Length
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic's Scale Length
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's Scale Length
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist'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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G5655T-QM 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic Neck Profile
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic's neck profile
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Neck Profile
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist'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 G5655T-QM 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 Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist, on the other hand, has a Vintage neck. This means that it's thicker than most modern necks, and makes it a better fit for playing chords and slow solos. Some people prefer this type of neck because it gives them a better grip thanks to the extra mass. Still, the vast majority prefer a thinner, faster, and more ''modern'' neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G5655T-QM 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic and the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist 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.

Fret Size

Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic Frets Size
Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic's Frets Size
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist Frets Size
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's Frets Size

The Gretsch G5655T-QM Electromatic has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist's Medium 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 G5655T-QM Electromatic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Ibanez AMH90 Artcore Expressionist
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73