Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins vs G5120 Electromatic Guitar

[darrelsultana]

Is your 6120 a late model, or is an old guy? I'm just a bit wary of the craftsmanship of the new guys... I've heard they've gone shabby since Fender took over...

[Aceguitar11]

@darrelsultana Mine is an '07 model. In all honesty, I would take a Fender era Gretsch over a 1990's or early 2000's model Gretsch. The reason I say this is because the Fender Gretsch's are much more consistent. The craftsmanship is quite good in all honesty, they're durable, and built to original, pre-Baldwin specs. The 1990's were sometimes a bit inconsistent. You could find one that was wonderful, and the very next one wouldn't be anything close to the same.

[blackberryblossom]

Thank you for this helpful video. I like the fact that you don´t show off although I´m sure you could. One can clearly hear the difference between the two guitars. But I couldn´t afford a 6120 anyway, so... I got me a 5120 and it´s the best guitar I´ve ever had. The sound of the 6120 is deeper and richer, but the 5120 is still good enough. It looks and plays great.

Would you mind accepting a little video response? I´ve made some demos to show what the 5120 sounds like in a band context.

[mak5201965]

I clearly see and hear the 6120 just sounds more richer and sweeter sounding,,, And you must feel a difference in the hold and feel of the 6120? Am I Right?? Seems like the 5120, you would be changing pups and more kinda almost adding up to the dollars for a 6120? I mean not as much but it would put you in the 1500 range for sure....

[Aceguitar11]

@mak5201965 The feel of the 6120 is much better than the 5120 in my opinion, but then again that's one man's opinion and I know people that swear by the 5120. I personally love the ebony fretboard among many other features, and you can find a used 6120 for around 1500-1600 if you're patient.

[mak5201965]

@Aceguitar11 Yeah I went for the G6120SSUGR And had a 5120,, There is a major difference. The New 6120 is bloody amazing and well worth the price!! Thanks again!!!

[william20100]

the 6120 is a lot warmer, the 5120 is much harsher. the 5120 has mini humbuckers stock, which is why it doesn't have that natural sort of twang that the 6120 has. it also sounds like the 5120 has not been intonated very well, the chords are a bit out of tune. i'm not too keen on dropping a couple grand for a guitar though. i own a 5120 and i had the humbuckers replaced with tv jones filtertrons, it sounds pretty damn good to me.

[bundr]

This video has helped a lot of people, including me... thanks for the clarifying answers!! I have to say, I have to play on a G6xx, because I own a G5120 and i'm couldn't be happier the the way it plays. For me, the neck, frets, craftmanship, its all GREAT. Plays real smooth. And the sound with the Jones is awesome. When you say the G6120 plays lot better, I find it hard to imagine!! Must be a hell of a guitar.

[Aceguitar11]

@bundr I'm really glad the video and comments have helped! I will say that most of the Electromatics are great guitars, but my vote is for the G6120 having owned both of them.

[ealiagac]

Fantastic video!

[Aceguitar11]

@ealiagac Thanks!

[ParthoMusic]

I don't know why but it sounds like your G5120 is simply muted, sounds like the humbucker poles might need to be raised under the gretsch covers. I've done an A/B between a G6120 (not chet atkins model), and a G5120 and there was a difference but not in volume like yours. It sounds like your G5120 is at least -5 dB less. If you listen to GreasyGroove's comparison, you'll see something is off with your G5120. Thanks for the video though!

[Gooseberry51]

If r=this is an hones comparison, no reason to doubt that, the 5120 sounds terrible wich surprises me because there are guitars of about that pricelevel dat actually do sounds good

[FDelRei]

Hi!

So, I'd like to ask you, if after changing the stoks pickups from G5120, the sound got nearly to the G6120 sound. Did you do a video?

Thank you very much!

[Aceguitar11]

@FDelRei Hi, unfortunately I did not get around to making a new video. I sold the G5120 in order to buy a Gretsch G6196 Country Club. I am sorry I did not make a new video because trust me when I say you are not the first person to ask about it.

[FDelRei]

@Aceguitar11 Oh, I see. Anyway, thanks. So, considering 6120 as a "10" grade, what grade grade do you give to 5120 + TV Jones...?

Thank you, again!!



[Aceguitar11]

@FDelRei That's a tough one... I would have to say that if I were doing the ranking purely on tone, the G5120 is an 8 with the TV Jones. VERY good sounding, but the wood still plays a role, albeit a smaller role than the pickups when amped up. The big difference is going to be in playability and quality. Don't misunderstand me, I am in no way saying the G5120 is cheap. It is a great guitar, but all I can say is play the two side by side.

[FDelRei]

@Aceguitar11 Hum!! Man, thank you VERY MUCH!

I can't afford a 6120 now, and just bought the 5120. I'll install the TV Jones on 2 or 3 months.

Thanks again!

Have a nice day!

:)

[Aceguitar11]

@FDelRei Congrats on your new Gretsch! I do have to warn you though, Gretsch's can become a lifestyle and VERY addictive. When you're modding your G5120, check out the TV Jones website, they have a very good video walk through of exactly how to do it. Also, look into joining a forum like Gretsch-Talk if you want to do other mods like a bar bridge or something. The guys on there can help tremendously.

[FDelRei]

@Aceguitar11

Hehehe... Thanks, man! I'm sure I'll be happy with it!! Maybe someday I get a TOP one! I saw the video changinc pickups! Ii is perfect! Thanks!!! By the Way, I was wondering about changing to a Tru Arch birdge. Is it better than a Roller bridge... ? The 5120 has a common one, just like the tune-o-matic... Maybe I'll have to change it, to help keeping it in tune. I'll look for this Gretsch-Talk!!

Very good to have people that knows about gear and is helpfull, like you!

Thank you!!!

[Aceguitar11]

@FDelRei Yeah, definitely check Gretsch-Talk. The bridge shouldn't really have as much to do with staying in tune (unless you use the bigsby a lot), but it should improve the tone of the guitar immensely. Think of it like this, the more pieces the sound has to resonate through, the more those vibrations die down. So a single bar is going to help reduce the amount of lost resonance. At least that's how I understand it. If anyone has anything different, chime in! (pun intended)

Thanks!

[Guitarooster52]

What is the playability difference between the two? Are the necks different?

[Aceguitar11]

@Guitarooster52 The frets and fret work is much more comfortable on my G6120 versus the G5120 and the fretboard is ebony instead of rosewood. Those make the neck feel so great. I like the tuners more too. They are much more smooth.

[Aceguitar11]

@Guitarooster52 The body depth of the G5120 is 2.75 and the G6120 is 2.5. It's a little bit less bassy. Honestly, it's a lot of small things like that which, when added together, make the G6120 a step above in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, the G5120 is wonderful and anyone should be proud to own one!

[LifesonsStrangiato]

Can you get close to the same sound as the g6 with the g5 if I were to change the pickups to the tv jones classic?

[Aceguitar11]

@LifesonsStrangiato You can get fairly close to "That Great Gretsch Sound" with some TV Jones in a 5 series. I think the difference will lie in the workmanship and quality, along with the playability of the two guitars. After owning my 6120 a while, I have noticed a considerable difference when I go back and play the 5120. Just food for thought. I'm not putting down the 5120, it's a wonderful guitar!

[blumenthol]

I'll be saving up another grand or better for the 6120 now - I could heard a definate difference. Nice vid - appreciate it. For the money - for my time playing it's worth the extra cash.

[blumenthol]

I'll be saving up another grand or better for the 6120 now - I could heard a definate difference.

[disciple43]

Excellent video! I love that you played the exact same lick on both guitars on all three settings. This was actually extremely well done. I've been itching for a high end Gretsch for a couple of years now, but I can't afford one yet. I've been thinking about getting an electromatic and throwing some TV Jones filtertrons in it. How do you like your modded electromatic after playing it for a while?

[Aceguitar11]

@disciple43 Thanks! Yeah, I would definitely suggest doing that if you can't go for one of the "professional" models. The Electromatic series guitars are great for the price. After having it a while I still enjoy it. I like playing rockabilly on mine because it has that sorta sound and I'm not too scared of swinging it around! However, if you've seen some of my other videos I've gotten hooked on vintage Gretsch's so the Electro has taken a back seat for a bit, haha.

[Peacefrog35]

This is a very very helpful video. Thank you for posting it. If anything it really shows now nice the 5120 really is... Its like a 6120 on a budget. Great vid. Thank you.

[Aceguitar11]

@Peacefrog35 Very true! Those are great guitars for the price. Thanks for watching.

[bundr]

Awesome video, thanks por uploading. Now that you`ve changed the g5120 pups, you should do another video comparing to the g6120.

[Aceguitar11]

@bundr Thanks you! I want to do a video soon. I haven't uploaded any in a bit because this semester got really hectic, but I'm on Christmas break so I'll be posting more soon. Got a new Telecaster so I'll be posting a review on that too!

[The170460]

you can't compare the two guitars they have completely differents pickups. Removed the cheap pickups from the 5120 and put Filtertron on it and you have the same sound than the 6120

[Aceguitar11]

@The170460 The whole point of comparing the two models was to show what a stock 5120 sounds like versus a stock 6120. Also, you're wrong about having the exact same sound... I've since modified the 5120 with TV Jones, and although it has a great sound, the tonal quality still does not stand up due to the inferior wood. Still, it's a nice guitar for those that can't afford the real thing.

[The170460]

@Aceguitar11 you can't compare à 2000 dollars guitar with a 700 dollars guitar.

[Aceguitar11]

@The170460 AGAIN, that was the whole point of this video was to show the differences between the cheap guitar and the real thing. If you have any more comments send them to my personal message inbox, because at this point it's rude of you to continue an argument on my video that you're clearly not understanding in the first place. Thanks.

[Aceguitar11]

@The170460 Also, what would be the point of comparing two guitars with the exact same pickups...? 

[kdkmo]

Both guitars seem to be solid in the bass range but the 6120 obviously has a more brilliant tone in the middle to treble range.

[mikecazzx]

Thank you for doing this. The difference is very clear.  I would guess with the same pickups it would be much much closer. I would guess the pickups are 90% of the tonal difference plugged in.

[Aceguitar11]

@mikecazzx Thanks! Plugged in, I believe there would still be a slight difference. Granted, it would not be as noticeable as the difference is in this video, however unplugged the tonal quality of the two guitars do differ. I think that has to do with the tonal quality of the wood. The G6120 is heavier, and has a warmer, more full sound, while the G5120 has a bit more treble and can sound thin at times. This is all unplugged of course. However, if you got a G5120 and dropped some TV's in it...

[Aceguitar11]

@Aceguitar11 I don't think anyone would complain about the tone at all!

[ElectromaticG5120]

I wish you'd do this test again and use a 512X in stead of a 5120. Or even a modded 5120 with TV Classics. I very much want to hear that! Thanks for this report!

[FernandoPaul]

No comparison, the G6120 is MUCH better. Nice vid!

[Aceguitar11]

@FernandoPaul Thanks! Yeah, I love my G6120, but the G5120 is not bad at all for the money.

[strykah12]

hey is the orange stain the same or different on the guitars

[Aceguitar11]

@strykah12 I sent you a very long PM, haha. It was too long to put in here. Thanks again for watching!

[prettyoddtj]

the 6120 sounds a bit more clearer and brighter than the 5120. but the 5120 is still an amazing guitar to get. cheers ! god bless 

[Aceguitar11]

@prettyoddtj I totally agree. The 5120 was my first Gretsch, and I am actually in the process of planning a pickup switch with it. I think once I drop some TV Jones in it, the 5120 will be a monster. You're right, great guitar! Thanks for watching.

[lennyedwards62]

can you tab out the little pattern at the 3.00 minute mark please?

[Aceguitar11]

@lennyedwards62 Actually, I am going to make a short lesson on Country Fingerstyle guitar, and I am planning on making that small riff the lesson. I will include tabs at that point. So feel free to subscribe, or just keep an eye out. Thanks for watching!

[lennyedwards62]

@Aceguitar11

Cheers. Subscribed.