Semi-Hollow Body Shootout - Epiphone Vs Gretsch

Short video on direct sound comparison between the Gretsch G2655T and the Epiphone Dot. Clean and distortion tones, time stamps below .
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Gretsch clean tones neck Pup
01:45 Gretsch both pups
02:02 Gretsch bridge pup
02:25 Epi clean tones neck pup
02:45 Epi both pups
03:05 Epi bridge pup
03:30 Gretsch simple lead tone
04:04 Epi simple lead tone
04:42 Gretsch distortion bridge pup
05:34 Epi distortion bridge pup
06:22 Conclusion
06:40 How much do they cost?
06:48 Bigsby
06:55 What I think

[georgehorner]

Epi, they are turning out works of art.

[SuperJ]

I often can't hear any major differences in these YouTube comparisions, even using headphones, but the Gretch sounded way better, so what it's like live I don't know, but on here, that bridge pickup really rocks!

[easygurps]

Thanks for the video. I agree with your Gretsch preference. Those streamliners come setup so well from the factory it's surprising for the price. And the neck feel for some reason has become my all time favourite over my Gibson SG, Epiphone LP or even Fender strat. The new Gretsch guitars really are hitting it out of the park these days and are very underrated I feel.

[Guitarinseconds]

Nice playing! Functional comparison! Thanks for putting in the effort and the great results! 🙏

[kurtfroberg]

I own the Epi Dot, so of course I’ve had a lot more time to play with it- but this video is a great comparison of two very similar beasts. Hats off to you, sir, for comparing the two.

My personal preference is brightness of tone, so naturally I’ll lean more toward my own little beauty. The Gretsch, however, would probably be more alluring to heavier players than myself who like to scoop the mids. (Ah, the artistry of the Subjective Ear. ‘Tis a wonderful thing!)

[colinsibthorpe]

Hi Steve, just came across your comparison video& really enjoyed the content & your playing. I have had the Gretch Streamliner 2655T since May 2021 & it suits me. At the time I was awaiting an Epiphone Casino but it was unavailable on back order so opted for the Gretch. I love the look & sound of the ES 335 & it was good to see the comparison, thank you.

[abhishekbhattacharya]

Thanks for this review. I had a Dot in my radar but got a 2655T in '21. Now i feel theres no regret. I team it with my Marshall and it sounds glorious. Handles drives better. But yes tend to go bassy nothing which cannot be sorted out with using controls on amp, guutar or pedals. No regrets in getting the Gretsch.

[weasel]

I have the Epi-335, the sound was thin and horrible until I adjusted the pickups, they were at 7mm but once moved to 2 and 2.5mm the sound is full and round. My Gretsch Jet has the broad'ton pickups, they sound deeper and fuller but less high end, the 335 is more a rockabilly sound IMO, twangy top end.

[DaVinci]

Good comparison. To my ear the Epi was a bit brighter, and I like bright, but the Gretsch has more to offer. I own a Gretsch solid body and it is well built and has good tone. I vote Gretsch.

[antoncracco]

Ty, yes she's friendly open sounds, the epiphone academic rock...i prefer the Gretsch

[GRBAquatics]

Very Cool, Thankyou. I have 2 Gretsch a G5215very basic solid body single cut single pickup rock machine and a G5248T Chambered body Double Jet with Bigsby. Both are amazing guitars and so much fun and a pleasure to play, but each has it's own personality. Love Gretsch, they provide quality instruments. Cheers

[EricTViking]

Great video Steve! I couldn't hear much difference in the clean tones, but the Gretsch has more drive and body with distortion. Maybe my ears aren't tuned for clean tones lol 🤘 But if you're going to do a cover of The Ventures play thrash, use the Gretsch 😂

[MichaelThomas-llhw]

I’ve been playing these 2 guitars back to back for the last month-ish… the Epiphone sounds rich and full with a very balanced tone. The pickups are crisp, it’s a great guitar.
The Gretsch is more twangy, much lighter in weight, and it’s perhaps a bit more finicky… but there’s just something about it that feels right, and I can overlook, or even embrace some of its imperfections. And in terms of looks, I without a doubt prefer the Gretsch.

The Epiphone 339 I’m playing was brand new, the Gretsch is used (but still relatively new, last 5-7 years), and while I feel like I should like the Epiphone more, I have to say that the Gretsch has really won me over

[Universus.Official]

Thanks for this. The only side-by-side comparison I've seen. Originally I was wanting a Casino, then started looking at Gretsch and Coronados, but might be settled back on the casino just on the clean sound alone, even though I also need some solid power chord distortion (this in addition to a tele and strat).

[genebrenner]

I found that hollow body Gretsch to be neck heavy. standing. Excellent workmanship from Indonesia though. The Epiphone Dot is of course semi-hollow.

[andrewbutcher]

They both sound good but interesting what you say about the Gretsch. I would like another hollowbody….I did for a time own a White Falcon…beautiful guitar….Where are these both made Steve? Thanks for doing the video.

[theblytonian]

That model Gretsch is the smaller bodied version of that Streamliner series double cut centre blocks. i.e. ES-339 vs ES-335 or like Ibanez's AS to AM models. The Dot is the larger 335 sized body. Gretsch's G2622T would be the same guitar in the 16" body equivalent of the ES-335 & Epiphone Dot. All that said, I'm with you. The Gretsch in this instance, although I'd probably buy its sibling G2622T.

[homerdilldoc]

The 330 is cleaner, but the streamliner is my fav by far.

[Focal_Paradox]

What's the difference in size, body width and overall length?

[davepearce]

Do you have trouble with the Gretch staying in tune? I have the exact guitar but have to retune it after every song.
Can you tell me what I am doing wrong?