Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod over G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville over G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
Shared Features
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
Common Strengths
- Locking Tuners
- High-Quality Nut
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- From a High-Quality-Standards Country
- Strap Lock
- Top Pickup Brand
- Expensive Wood
Common Weaknesses
- Neck-Through Build
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- High-Quality Frets
- Luminescent Sidedots
- 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 G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod's 75 score, although not by a lot.
The Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod in every aspect.
If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville.
Which One is Better for Beginners?
If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville is the better choice.
The Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod meets only 5. 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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod- Comfortable shape
- Locking tuners
- Comfortable fretboard
- Tall frets
- Short scale
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- Easy-to-use bridge
New Player Friendliness
Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville- Comfortable shape
- Locking tuners
- Comfortable fretboard
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
- 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 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 >
Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville Overview
- From Gretsch's 2019 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
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity (Humbucker/Passive)
- 3 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Bigsby B6CGH bridge
- Vintage V Set neck
- 22 Medium Jumbo frets
- Gotoh Locking tuners
- Weight between 7.4lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.55lbs (3.4kgs)
- 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 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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
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.
Woods Used in the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
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.
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.
Only the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville 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.
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-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod compares to the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville.
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.
In this case, both have Delrin nuts. 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.
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
They both have 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: 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:
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
Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Final Build Quality Scores
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0029999999999999'') difference
This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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
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.
Both the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod and the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville have a V-shaped 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
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 have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.
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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod favors large hands more than the Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville.
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod:
Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville:
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.
