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Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
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Playability
75
Sound
69
Build
73
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
75
Sound
73
Build
80
Value
66
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 vs G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 over G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

Neck Profile
Duane Eddy vs Standard U
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary over G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120

Release Year
2022 vs 2011
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Standard U vs Duane Eddy
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Brass
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Value Score
66 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 vs G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch DynaSonic vs Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch DynaSonic vs Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Brass vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 vs G6118T Players Edition Anniversary

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
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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 Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2011 Professional Collection series
  • Duane Eddy Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • 2-Piece Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch DynaSonic (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch DynaSonic (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6CBDE Vibrato Tailpiece bridge
  • Duane Eddy Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2022 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6CP String-Thru bridge
  • Standard U 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

The Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 has an SS configuration while the Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary has HH pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, 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.

However, the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120.

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.

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120's switch options
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary'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 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 69
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 73

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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 compares to the Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Japan.

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: 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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 has a Brass nut. Guitarists used to love brass nuts due to the bright tone and good sustain they help achieve. However, now they use Bone more often since it can also produce a bright tone and longer sustain, but it's also oily, which helps to keep the guitar in tune.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary 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: Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary.

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 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary 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 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary.

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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 73
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
Quality of materials 70
Features 75
Quality Control 95
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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 and Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary'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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 Neck Profile
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120's neck profile
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary Neck Profile
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary'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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 has a V type of 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.

The Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary, on the other hand, has a U 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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 and the Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary 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 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary favors large hands more than the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120.

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 Frets Size
Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120's Frets Size
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary Frets Size
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary's Frets Size

The Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120'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 G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Gretsch G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 vs G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
General Gretsch G6120DE Duane Eddy Signature 6120 G6118T Players Edition Anniversary
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2011 2022
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: Orange Brown
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Laminated Maple
Bridge: Bigsby B6CBDE Vibrato Tailpiece Bigsby B6CP String-Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: 2-Piece Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Hump Block Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.6"
Shape: Duane Eddy Standard U
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Brass Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch DynaSonic (Single Coil / Passive) Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch DynaSonic (Single Coil / Passive) Gretsch FT-67 Filter’Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 3
Tone Controls: 1 1