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Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
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Playability
75
Sound
73
Build
77
Value
60
Score
75
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Playability
75
Sound
69
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
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Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins vs G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins over G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins

Release Year
2020 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Vintage V vs Standard U
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Nut Material
Bone vs Aluminum
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
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
Value Score
60 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins over G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Standard U vs Vintage V
Comfortable neck with more grip
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
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

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins vs G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic vs Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic vs Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Aluminum
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins vs G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck 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
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
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Vintage 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
  • 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

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Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins 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 G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins meets only 2. 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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
  • Comfortable shape
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2020 Professional Collection series
  • Chet Atkins Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6C Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo bridge
  • Vintage V Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Professional Collection series
  • Chet Atkins Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Flame Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6CBVF Vibrato Tailpiece bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back 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

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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame 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.

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

Winner: Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins.

Pickup Configuration

The Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins has an HH configuration while the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins has SS pickups.

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.

On the other hand, 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.

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 G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins 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 G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins.

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 Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins's switch options
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins'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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 69

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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins compares to the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins.

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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins comes with a Aluminum nut. It's a hard, resistant material with good sustain. It's rare because most people prefer bone nuts.

Winner: Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins.

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. Both come with Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back.

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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74

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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition
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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins and Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins'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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins Neck Profile
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins's neck profile
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins Neck Profile
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins'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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins 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 G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins, 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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins 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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins and the Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins 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 favor large hands .

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins Frets Size
Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins's Frets Size
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins Frets Size
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins's Frets Size

The Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins's Vintage 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 G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Gretsch G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins vs G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
General Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins G6120T-55 Vintage Select Edition '55 Chet Atkins
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2020 2016
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: Orange Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Laminated Flame Maple
Bridge: Bigsby B6C Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo Bigsby B6CBVF Vibrato Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Aged Pearloid Blocks
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.6"
Shape: Vintage V Standard U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Aluminum
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 0 1