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Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
78
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
75
Value
64
Score
74
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Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman vs G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman over G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet

Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet over G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Nut Material
Bone vs Brass
Good quality nut with rich tone
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
3 vs 1
More volume control
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
64 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman vs G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet

Neck Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Paul Yandell Duo-Tron vs Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Brass vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman vs G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm)
Same neck comfortability
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
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 Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
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
  • 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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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman has the upper hand when it comes to sound, build quality.

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?

Both meet 3 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 G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
  • 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
  • Steve Wariner Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Paul Yandell Duo-Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • String-Thru Bigsby B6GP bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.55lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.65lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2021 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B3C Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Die-Cast 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman

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 G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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: Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet.

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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman's switch options
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet'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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 74
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71

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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman compares to the Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet.

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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman 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 G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet comes with 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.

Winner: Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet.

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 G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman 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 G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman.

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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
Quality of materials 60
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 78
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75

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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman 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 G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman's Scale Length
Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman's Scale Length
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet's Scale Length
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet'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 Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet 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

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman and the Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet have a U-shaped 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman and the Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet 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-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman and Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo 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.

Final Playability Scores

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67
Gretsch G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman vs G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
General Gretsch G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville Gentleman G6128T-89 Vintage Select '89 Duo Jet
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2019 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: String-Thru Bigsby B6GP Bigsby B3C Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gotoh Locking Gotoh Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid Hump Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.6"
Shape: Standard U Standard U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Brass Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Paul Yandell Duo-Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 3
Tone Controls: 1 1