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Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
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Playability
67
Sound
61
Build
54
Value
71
Score
61
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Playability
70
Sound
71
Build
78
Value
58
Score
73
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Harley Benton Big Tone Trem vs Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem over Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

Number of Frets
20 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Harley Benton C vs Standard U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.898'' (22.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.931'' (23.6mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
71 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie over Harley Benton Big Tone Trem

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Decorative Top
Solid Spruce vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Standard U vs Harley Benton C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Gretsch vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Number of Frets
22 vs 20
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.898'' (22.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.931'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) 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

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem vs Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

Bridge Pickup
HB Humbucker vs Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
HB Humbucker vs Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Spruce
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem vs Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
3
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
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 Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Prices

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Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Harley Benton Big Tone Trem's 61 score, which is a significant difference.

The Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton Big Tone Trem has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

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?

Both meet 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2015 Vintage series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: HB Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: HB Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic Roller Bridge With A Floating Ovangkol Base bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 20 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Diecast Imperial-Style Machine Heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie Overview

  • From Gretsch's 2021 Artist Signature Edition series
  • Rich Robinson Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Maple Back and Sides body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B6CBRR String-Thru bridge
  • Standard U Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Imperial 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

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 Harley Benton Big Tone Trem

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Woods Used in the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

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

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.

Winner: Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie.

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

The Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie pickups from a more specialized brand than the Harley Benton Big Tone Trem. 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 G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie.

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:

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem and Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem and Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
Pickups 60
Sustain 65
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 61
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71

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 Harley Benton Big Tone Trem compares to the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton Big Tone Trem is built in China while the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie is made in Japan.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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 G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie

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 Harley Benton Big Tone Trem has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie comes with 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.

Winner: Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie.

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: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Harley Benton Big Tone Trem's are Deluxe Diecast Imperial-Style Machine Heads while the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie's are Grover Imperial

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
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Strap Lock
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
Quality of materials 46
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
Quality of materials 70
Features 65
Quality Control 100
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

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Nut Width
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Nut Width
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie Nut Width
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton Big Tone Trem has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.2mm (0.008'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Harley Benton Big Tone Trem, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem and Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie'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

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Neck Profile
Harley Benton Big Tone Trem's neck profile
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie Neck Profile
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie'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 Harley Benton Big Tone Trem 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 G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie, 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

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem 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 Harley Benton Big Tone Trem and the Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie 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 are balanced for most hand sizes.

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem and Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie 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

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67
Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton Big Tone Trem vs Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
General Harley Benton Big Tone Trem Gretsch G6136T-RR Rich Robinson Signature Magpie
Brand: Harley Benton Gretsch
Year: 2015 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Japan
Series: Vintage Artist Signature Edition
Colors: White, Orange Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Maple Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Maple Back and Sides
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic Roller Bridge With A Floating Ovangkol Base Bigsby B6CBRR String-Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Deluxe Diecast Imperial-Style Machine Heads Grover Imperial
Fretboard: Purpleheart Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Blocks Fretboard Inlays Mother of Pearl Neo-Classic Thumbnail
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton C Standard U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: HB Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch TV Jones Filter'Tron Classic (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: HB Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 3 3
Tone Controls: 1 1