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Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
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Playability
63
Sound
73
Build
78
Value
56
Score
71
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Playability
68
Sound
74
Build
77
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon vs G6136I Bono Falcon

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon over G6136I Bono Falcon

Release Year
2016 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon over G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
58 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon vs G6136I Bono Falcon

No Key Differences Found

Shared Features
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon vs G6136I Bono Falcon

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
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
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
V
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium Jumbo
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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
  • 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Professional Collection series
  • Stephen Stills Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo bridge
  • Vintage Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover Imperial Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2015 Professional Collection series
  • Bono 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 High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch G Cadillac Tailpiece bridge
  • Bono Falcon Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's switch options
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon'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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 74

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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon compares to the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon.

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 Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon'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 Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon'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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
Quality of materials 70
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 78
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon and Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon'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 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon Neck Profile
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's neck profile
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon Neck Profile
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon'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.

Both the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon and the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon have a V-shaped 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.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's Fingerboard radius
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon.

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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon favors large hands more than the Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon.

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon Frets Size
Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's Frets Size
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon Frets Size
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon's Frets Size

The Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon's Vintage 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 G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 50
Playability 63
Gretsch G6136I Bono Falcon
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon vs G6136I Bono Falcon
General Gretsch G6136-1958 Stephen Stills Signature Falcon G6136I Bono Falcon
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2016 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: White Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Maple Laminated Maple
Bridge: Bigsby B6G Vibrato Tailpiece with Gretsch Logo Gretsch G Cadillac Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Imperial Die-Cast Grover Imperial Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Mother of Pearl Humpblock with Feather Engraving
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Vintage Bono Falcon
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch High Sensitive Filter'Tron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 3 3
Tone Controls: 0 0