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Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
VS
Playability
75
Sound
70
Build
75
Value
63
Score
73
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Playability
78
Sound
83
Build
75
Value
69
Score
79
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Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet vs E-II Eclipse Evertune

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet over E-II Eclipse Evertune

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2019 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Vintage V vs Thin U
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.84'' (21.3mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Evertune
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

Reasons to Get
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune over Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Vintage V
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.84'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Evertune vs Bigsby Tremolo
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
69 vs 63
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet vs E-II Eclipse Evertune

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic vs Seymour Duncan Pegasus
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic vs Seymour Duncan Sentient
Different Neck Pickup

Shared Features
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet vs E-II Eclipse Evertune

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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 ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune is probably the better product overall with its final score of 79 compared to the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune is the better choice.

The ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 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 Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B3CB bridge
  • Vintage V Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.75lbs (3.5kgs) and 8lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune Overview

  • From ESP E-II's 2014 Eclipse series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune's online:

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 ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's switch options
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune'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: ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 83

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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet compares to the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver 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 ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune's is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

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: ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

Tuners

The ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune 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: ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver 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
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet Nut Width
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet Nut Width
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune Nut Width
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet, 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's Scale Length
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's Scale Length
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune's Scale Length
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune'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 ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet Neck Profile
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's neck profile
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune Neck Profile
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune'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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet 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 ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune, on the other hand, has a U 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet and the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune 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 G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet favors large hands more than the ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune.

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet Frets Size
Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet's Frets Size
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune Frets Size
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune's Frets Size

The ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet'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.

Final Playability Scores

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet vs E-II Eclipse Evertune
General Gretsch G6129T-59 Vintage Select ’59 Silver Jet E-II Eclipse Evertune
Brand: Gretsch ESP E-II
Year: 2019 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Eclipse
Colors: Gray Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby B3CB Evertune (F model)
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany 1Pc Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Flags
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Vintage V Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 0 1