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Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
VS
Playability
65
Sound
70
Build
72
Value
54
Score
69
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
69
Value
61
Score
71
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Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon vs Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon over Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA

Decorative Top
Arched Laminated Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2016 vs 2010
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Vintage vs Washburn Nuno Bettencourt
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA over Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Washburn Nuno Bettencourt vs Vintage
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Locking vs Delrin
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
61 vs 54
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon vs Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Custom Duncan Dyno vs Bill Lawrence L-500
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan DynaSonic vs Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Padauk
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Padauk
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Delrin vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon vs Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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 Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2016 Gretsch USA Custom Shop series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Arched Laminated Maple top
  • Laminated Maple body
  • 3-piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Duncan Dyno (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan DynaSonic (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch G Cadillac Tailpiece bridge
  • Vintage Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover Imperial Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Overview

  • From Washburn's 2010 Nuno Bettencourt series
  • Nuno Bettencourt Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Padauk body
  • Padauk 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Bill Lawrence L-500 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Original bridge
  • Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome 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

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA

Padauk wood pattern used for guitar building
Padauk

Padauk is similar to Rosewood in terms of tonal properties, although it looks completely different with its intense red color.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon has an SS configuration while the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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: Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon.

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's switch options
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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: Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 70
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon compares to the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon has a Delrin nut. It's a fabricated nut material made to be similar to bone, but a lot more slippery. It's good for tuning stability as long as it's cut well.

On the other hand, the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon'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 Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

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: Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's are Grover Imperial Die-Cast while the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA's are Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome

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.

The Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon has 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.

On the other hand, the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
Quality of materials 60
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 69

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Nut Width
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Nut Width
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Nut Width
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA 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 Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA, 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon and Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Neck Profile
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's neck profile
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Neck Profile
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon 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 Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA, 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's Fingerboard radius
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Fingerboard Radius
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA'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 Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon favors large hands more than the Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA.

Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Frets Size
Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon's Frets Size
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA Frets Size
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA's Frets Size

The Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA has Medium frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White 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 G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 50
Playability 65
Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon vs Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
General Gretsch G6136CST Custom Shop White Falcon Washburn N4-Nuno Padauk USA
Brand: Gretsch Washburn
Year: 2016 2010
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Gretsch USA Custom Shop Nuno Bettencourt
Colors: White Natural Matte
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Padauk
Bridge: Gretsch G Cadillac Tailpiece Floyd Rose 1000 Series Original
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover Imperial Die-Cast Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3-piece Maple Padauk 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Humpblock with Feather Engraving Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Vintage Washburn Nuno Bettencourt
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Delrin Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Duncan Dyno (Single Coil / Passive) Bill Lawrence L-500 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan DynaSonic (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 0