Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst vs Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
Reasons to Get
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst over Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 over Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst
Other Key Differences
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst vs Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
Shared Features
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst vs Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
Common Strengths
- 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
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Which One is Better Overall?
After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst's 67 score, although not by a lot.
The Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.
If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst is easier to play.
Which One is Better for Beginners?
If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst is the better choice.
The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 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
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Short scale
- Locking tuners
New Player Friendliness
Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120- Comfortable shape
- Comfortable fretboard
- Short scale
- Comfortable neck
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- 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.
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst Overview
- From Guild's 2020 Newark St. Collection series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 24.75"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Mahogany body
- Mahogany neck
- Pau Ferro fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Guild HB-2 Humbucker Gold Bridge (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Guild HB-2 Humbucker Gold Neck (Humbucker/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Guild Tune-O-Matic Gold bridge
- Guild Newark St. Collection Set neck
- 22 Medium Jumbo frets
- Guild Vintage Style Open Gear with Oval Buttons in Gold tuners
- Compare Specs >
Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 Overview
- From Gretsch's 2010 Professional Collection series
- Eddie Cochran Signature
- Made in Japan
- 6 strings
- 24.6"'' scale
- 9.5" Fretboard Radius
- Arched Laminated Maple top
- Laminated Maple body
- 2-Piece Maple neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Gretsch DynaSonic (Single Coil/Passive)
- 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Bigsby B6CBVF Vibrato Tailpiece bridge
- Eddie Cochran Set neck
- 22 Vintage frets
- Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back tuners
- Weight around 7.1lbs (3.2kgs)
- 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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst
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.
Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.
Woods Used in the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
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.
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: Tie.
Pickup Configuration
The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst has an HH configuration while the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 has SP90 pickups.
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.
On the other hand, The single-coil pickup at the bridge will give you a really bright sound with low output, while the neck pickup brings slightly more output with a warmer tone. This is thanks to the P90-style tone, which is often used for blues and classic rock.
Pickups Quality
The Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 pickups from a more specialized brand than the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.
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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120.
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.
Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.
The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst doesn't come with pickup switching 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: Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst compares to the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst is built in Indonesia while the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 is made in Japan.
Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.
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: Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst 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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 comes with a Brass nut. Guitarists used to love brass nuts due to the bright tone and good sustain they help achieve. However, now they use Bone more often since it can also produce a bright tone and longer sustain, but it's also oily, which helps to keep the guitar in tune.
Winner: Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst.
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst'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 Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120's 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.
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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120.
Tuners
Both come with regular tuners. The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst's are Guild Vintage Style Open Gear with Oval Buttons in Gold while the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120's are Grover V98 Sta-Tite Open-Back
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:
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Coil Split Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Final Build Quality Scores
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42.8mm (1.687''). This is a 0.1mm (0.00099999999999989'') difference
This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst has the longest scale: 24.75". The Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 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
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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst 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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120, on the other hand, has a V 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
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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst'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 Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst.
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 G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120 favors large hands more than the Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst.
Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst:
Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120:
Fret Size
The Guild Aristocrat HH Trans Black Burst has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature 6120'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.
