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Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
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Playability
70
Sound
71
Build
77
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
78
Value
67
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie vs G6228 Players Edition Jet BT

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie over G6228 Players Edition Jet BT

Neck Profile
C Shape vs Standard U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Type
Hollowbody vs Solid Body
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT over G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie

Neck Profile
Standard U vs C Shape
Comfortable neck with more grip
Body Type
Solid Body vs Hollowbody
Feedback free
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
67 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie vs G6228 Players Edition Jet BT

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus vs Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Spruce vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie vs G6228 Players Edition Jet BT

Neck Pickup
Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65
Same Neck Pickup
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
3
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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
Decorative Top
Solid Spruce vs Laminated 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
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie meets only 4. 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck

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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Artist Signature Edition series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Laminated Maple with Solid Spruce Top body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6CBST with String-Thru Shaft bridge
  • C Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Imperial tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch V Stoptail bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium 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 the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

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.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT

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: Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie and Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie and Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT'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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 75

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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie compares to the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie is built in United States while the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT is made in Japan.

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.

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.

The Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie 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 Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie'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 G6228 Players Edition Jet BT'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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie.

Tuners

The Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT 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: Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT.

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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • 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
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
Quality of materials 70
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
Quality of materials 70
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 78

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie Nut Width
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie Nut Width
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT Nut Width
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0029999999999999'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT, 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie's Scale Length
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie's Scale Length
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT's Scale Length
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT'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 Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.9'' (22.9mm) 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie Neck Profile
Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie's neck profile
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT Neck Profile
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT'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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie has a C type of 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.

The Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT, 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie and the Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT 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 G6228 Players Edition Jet BT favors large hands more than the Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie.

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie and Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT 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 G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Gretsch G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie vs G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
General Gretsch G6136T-CSTRR Custom Shop Rich Robinson Magpie G6228 Players Edition Jet BT
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2019 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: Artist Signature Edition Professional Collection
Colors: Blue Black, Green, Red
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Hollowbody Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple with Solid Spruce Top Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby B6CBST with String-Thru Shaft Gretsch V Stoptail
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Imperial Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid Big Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.6"
Shape: C Shape Standard U
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones TV Classic Plus (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 3
Tone Controls: 1 1