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Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
VS
Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
75
Sound
73
Build
78
Value
60
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
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Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman vs G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman over G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Strings
12 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
66 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman over G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Release Year
2017 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Strings
6 vs 12
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman vs G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Headstock
6-6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman vs G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
3
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
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
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
3-Ply Laminated Maple vs Laminated 3-Ply Maple with Simulated F-Holes
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
Vintage
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • 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

Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
  • Comfortable shape
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 12 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 3-Ply Laminated Maple top
  • 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
  • Gretsch G-Cutout Tailpiece bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2017 Professional Collection series
  • Chet Atkins Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated 3-Ply Maple with Simulated F-Holes top
  • 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 B6G Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover Imperial 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's switch options
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman'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 G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 74
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman compares to the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

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 Bone nuts. 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.

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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's 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.

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 G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's are Grover Die-Cast while the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman's are Grover Imperial Die-Cast

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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Quality of materials 70
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 78

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 G6122-6212 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 considered a narrow width for a 12-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman'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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country 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 G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and the Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman 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 G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman favors large hands more than the Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman.

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Frets Size
Both have a similar Vintage fret size

Both have a Vintage fret size. These are shorter frets than what's found in most modern guitars. Vintage frets barely stick out from the fingerboard, which means that pressing notes cleanly will be more difficult. Bendings are also harder to perform due to the extra friction from the fretboard. This size is for those who prefer the feeling of a really old guitar and it's not recommended for new players.

Final Playability Scores

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 80
Gretsch G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman vs G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
General Gretsch G6122-6212 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman G6122T-62 Vintage Select Edition '62 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2016 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 12 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: Brown Brown
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Laminated Maple
Bridge: Gretsch G-Cutout Tailpiece Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Die-Cast Grover Imperial Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 24.6" 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 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 3 3
Tone Controls: 0 0