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Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
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Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
75
Value
64
Score
74
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
72
Value
62
Score
72
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Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet over Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Neck Profile
Standard U vs Slim Taper
Comfortable neck with more grip
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
64 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s over Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet

Release Year
2019 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Slim Taper vs Standard U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond vs Gibson Burstbucker 61T
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond vs Gibson Burstbucker 61R
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple vs AA Figured Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s is the better choice.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet meets only 3. 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2017 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B3CCB bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Original Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • AA Figured Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 61T (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 61R (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons tuners
  • Weight between 9lbs (4.1kgs) and 10.05lbs (4.6kgs)
  • 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

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

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet has an SS configuration while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, 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.

However, the Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet.

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.

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet's switch options
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s'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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet compares to the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet is built in Japan while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s is made in United States.

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.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet 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 Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet'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 Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s'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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet's are Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s's are Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
Quality of materials 70
Features 50
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72

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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet Nut Width
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet's Scale Length
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet's Scale Length
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s's Scale Length
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s'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 Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.15'' (3.8mm) 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet Neck Profile
Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet's neck profile
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s'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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet has a U type of 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.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet and the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet favors large hands more than the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s.

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet and Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s 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 G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
General Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select ’53 Duo Jet Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
Brand: Gretsch Gibson
Year: 2017 2019
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: Professional Collection Original Collection
Colors: Black Brown Burst, Yellow, Yellow Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby B3CCB ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast Grover Rotomatics w/ Kidney Buttons
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Aged Pearloid Blocks Acrylic Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Standard U Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 61T (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones T-Armond (Single Coil / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 61R (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2