Head to head
Gretsch Prelude D100 Dreadnought vs Ibanez PJ50E Performance Series
The short answer is that the scale lengths are not the same (25.3" against 25.5"). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 18 rows that actually differ marked out.
Prelude D100 Dreadnought
Black
An all-laminate dreadnought that survives being carried around, and sounds like one
PJ50E Performance Series
Open-Pore Vintage Amber Sunburst
A jumbo body and a working preamp, at a price where you usually get neither
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Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Gretsch Prelude D100 Dreadnought6.0
- Ibanez PJ50E Performance Series6.8
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Specification by specification
| Prelude D100 Dreadnought | PJ50E Performance Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gretsch | Ibanez |
| Model | Prelude D100 Dreadnought | PJ50E Performance Series |
| Finish | Black | Open-Pore Vintage Amber Sunburst |
| Instrument | Acoustic guitar | Acoustic guitar |
| Fretline score | 6.0 / 10 | 6.8 / 10 |
| Value for money | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.4 / 5 (60) | 5.0 / 5 (1) |
| Price | Under $300 | Under $300 |
| Type | Acoustic guitar | Acoustic-electric guitar |
| Body | Dreadnought | Jumbo |
| Body wood | — | Meranti |
| Top | Laminated basswood | Laminated spruce |
| Back & sides | Laminated basswood | Laminated meranti |
| Bracing | X-bracing | — |
| Neck joint | Set neck | Set neck, joining at the 14th fret |
| Neck wood | Nato | Meranti |
| Neck profile | "C" shape | — |
| Scale length | 25.3" (643 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Walnut | Nandu, bound |
| Radius | 12" (305 mm) | — |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Fret size | Medium | — |
| Nut | Synthetic bone | Plastic |
| Nut width | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) | — |
| Bridge | — | Nandu, with black Ibanez Advantage bridge pins |
| Tuners | Sealed gear | Chrome Ibanez |
| Electronics | — | Under-saddle pickup with Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp, onboard tuner and 2-band EQ |
| Controls | — | Volume, bass, treble, onboard tuner |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Styles | Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Worship, Indie | Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Worship, Blues |
| In the box | — | — |
A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Best value
Ibanez PJ50E Performance SeriesHighest editorial value-for-money score of the instruments compared.
Most versatile
Ibanez PJ50E Performance SeriesHighest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Gretsch Prelude D100 DreadnoughtHighest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Ibanez PJ50E Performance SeriesStrongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for rock
Ibanez PJ50E Performance SeriesStrongest overall score among the instruments suited to rock.
Best for the studio
Ibanez PJ50E Performance SeriesBuild and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.
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