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Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT
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Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
72
Value
59
Score
74
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
78
Value
67
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo vs G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo over G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT over G6199 Billy-Bo

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Decorative Top
Laminated Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Value Score
67 vs 59
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo vs G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

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

Shared Features
Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo vs G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
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

  • 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 G6199 Billy-Bo Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT is the better choice.

The Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo meets only 2. 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 G6199 Billy-Bo
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6199 Billy-Bo Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Power'Tron Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Power'Tron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gretsch G-Cutout Tailpiece bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Flame Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony 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 Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

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 Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

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.

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.

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 G6199 Billy-Bo and Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo and Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6199 Billy-Bo compares to the Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT.

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.

The Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo has a Synthetic Bone nut. 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.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G6228FM 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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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: Tie.

Tuners

The Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6228FM 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 G6199 Billy-Bo
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6199 Billy-Bo
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Gretsch G6228FM 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 G6199 Billy-Bo 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 G6199 Billy-Bo and Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT'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 24.6".

This is a vintage-style scale length that's relatively short when compared to modern standards. A short scale makes the string tension lower, which makes the strings feel looser. This makes it easier to bend the strings, but it also makes fret buzz more likely if the action is set too low.

The shorter length also means a shorter separation of the frets. It also makes the overall tone sound warmer since the harmonics and overtones will have less space to breathe.

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 G6199 Billy-Bo Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 G6199 Billy-Bo and the Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT have a U-shaped 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 G6199 Billy-Bo 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 G6199 Billy-Bo and the Gretsch G6228FM 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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor large hands .

Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo Frets Size
Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo's Frets Size
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT Frets Size
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT's Frets Size

The Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo'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 G6199 Billy-Bo
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 77
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo vs G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT
General Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT
Brand: Gretsch Gretsch
Year: 2019 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Professional Collection Professional Collection
Colors: Red Orange, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Gretsch G-Cutout Tailpiece Gretsch V Stoptail
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Die-Cast Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Pearloid Big Block
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.6"
Shape: Standard U Standard U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Power'Tron Plus (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Power'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 3
Tone Controls: 1 1