Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod over Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star over Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Shared Features
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Common Strengths
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
Common Weaknesses
- 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
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Which One is Better Overall?
After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star's 69 score, although not by a lot.
The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.
If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star is easier to play.
Which One is Better for Beginners?
If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is the better choice.
The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star 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 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
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star- Easy-to-use bridge
- Locking tuners
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable shape
- Comfortable fretboard
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
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 >
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star Overview
- From Jackson's 2020 Artist Signature series
- Gus G Signature
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Mahogany body
- Maple neck
- Pau Ferro fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
- 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece bridge
- Speed Neck-Through neck
- 24 Jumbo frets
- Jackson Sealed Die-Cast 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 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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.
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.
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
The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star. 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.
The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod's pickups are Passive while the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star's are Active.
Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.
Winner: Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.
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:
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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.
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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is built in Japan while the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star is made in Indonesia.
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.
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: Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod
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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod has a Delrin nut. 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.
On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star 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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.
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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod'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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star'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 G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod.
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.
The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod has 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.
On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.
Winner: Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star.
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
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Neck-Through Build
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in Indonesia
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
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, 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
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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.9'' (22.9mm) 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
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-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod 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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.
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.
In this case, the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.
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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star.
Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod:
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star:
Fret Size
The Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6120T-HR Brian Setzer Signature Hot Rod's Medium Jumbo 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.
