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Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
Gibson Les Paul Modern
VS
Playability
75
Sound
73
Build
79
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
78
Build
82
Value
68
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr vs Gibson Les Paul Modern Specs Comparison
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Gibson Les Paul Modern
General
Brand: Gretsch Gibson
Year: 2017 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: Professional Collection Modern Collection
Colors: White, Blue, Green Black, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Bigsby B7GP String-Thru Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gotoh Locking Grover Locking Rotomatics w/Keystone buttons
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail Mother of Pearl Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Standard U Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 10" to 16"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Gretsch Full'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gretsch Full'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Tap, Phase Out
Volume Controls: 3 2
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Gold Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr's switch options
Gibson Les Paul Modern pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Modern's switch options

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr over Gibson Les Paul Modern

Neck Profile
Standard U vs Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Comfortable neck with more grip
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
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
Gibson Les Paul Modern over Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr

Decorative Top
Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2019 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
10" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Asymmetrical Slim Taper vs Standard U
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
68 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr vs Gibson Les Paul Modern

Bridge Pickup
Gretsch Full'Tron vs Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gretsch Full'Tron vs Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood

Shared Features
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr vs Gibson Les Paul Modern

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
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
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
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

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Gibson Les Paul Modern Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr favors large hands more than the Gibson Les Paul Modern.

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Les Paul Modern:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Gibson Les Paul Modern meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr 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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Les Paul Modern
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr

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 Gibson Les Paul Modern

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.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul Modern.

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.

Only the Gibson Les Paul Modern comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap, Phase Out.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul Modern.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 73
Gibson Les Paul Modern
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78

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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr compares to the Gibson Les Paul Modern.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr is built in Japan while the Gibson Les Paul Modern is made in United States.

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.

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.

In this case, both have Ivory Tusq nuts. 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.

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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr'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 Gibson Les Paul Modern'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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr.

Tuners

They both have 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: 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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Les Paul Modern
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap, Phase Out Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
Quality of materials 66
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 79
Gibson Les Paul Modern
Quality of materials 70
Features 80
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 82

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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Nut Width
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Modern Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Modern Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul Modern 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 Gibson Les Paul Modern, 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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr's Scale Length
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr's Scale Length
Gibson Les Paul Modern's Scale Length
Gibson Les Paul Modern'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 Gibson Les Paul Modern has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr 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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Neck Profile
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr's neck profile
Gibson Les Paul Modern Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul Modern'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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr has a U type of 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.

The Gibson Les Paul Modern, on the other hand, has a Asymmetrical neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

Fretboard Radius

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr Fingerboard Radius
Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr's Fingerboard radius
Gibson Les Paul Modern Fretboard Compound Radius
Gibson Les Paul Modern's Compound 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.

In this case, the Gibson Les Paul Modern is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Fret Size

Gretsch G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr and Gibson Les Paul Modern 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 G6659TG Players Edition Broadkaster Jr
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75
Gibson Les Paul Modern
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73