I've been told that most Duo Jets have a 12" radius.
I just got a 2005 6128-1957 and I'm measuring the fretboard radius for a new bridge. Here are the pictures of the measurements with the two tools, the 9.5" and the 12 "

I have a 9.5" radius, right?

It's to tell from the pictures - to me it looks like you have the template on the pickup and the strings are too tight over it, with the 12" tool, to make an absolute judgement call.

Here is with flash. The tools are sitting of the fretboard.

You may want to trace the curve on to a piece of paper (Slacken the strings and put a piece of paper to the heel of the neck)

Then see which radius tool fits the line best, This is what I did because I couldn't tell by using radius tools.

Good Luck :) Dan

If you are checking the NECK/FINGERBOARD, I'd say it's a 9.5.

Check the STRINGS coming right off the bridge (which is what I originally thought you were checking) to see if they are a match.

If you are checking the NECK/FINGERBOARD, I'd say it's a 9.5.

Check the STRINGS coming right off the bridge (which is what I originally thought you were checking) to see if they are a match.

But, not all guitars have accuratly matching neck radius and bridge radius (Gretsch is quite guilty of this).

So, all you would be measuring is a possibly incorrect bridge radius....right?

Cheers

Mr Marlin

I'm ordering a new bridge and they come in 9.5" and 12" flavors.

I would go 9.5 :)

I agree with the 9.5" also. Sometimes it is easier to tell by putting the guage directly on top of the fret wire.
Pop's

But, not all guitars have accuratly matching neck radius and bridge radius (Gretsch is quite guilty of this).

So, all you would be measuring is a possibly incorrect bridge radius....right?

Cheers

Mr Marlin

Yes. My 2005 SSLVO with 9.5 neck radius had a ~20" bridge - it was more than 16" for sure - that's why I dumped it (at a $300 profit).

There seem to be lots of 9.5 radii on the instruments the are kinda of vintage replica...
I wonder if its deliberate? As opposed to the gretsch factory making mistakes?

Definitely the 9.5

Definitely the 9.5

+1! :)

Thanks, all. I'm glad we're in agreement.

Hey, Bob. I note reading this thread that your 5126 has a stainless steel compton and the (dearmond 2000?) dynasonics. I have just ordered the same bridge for my 5120 and am trying to decide between dynasonics and tvjones classics as a pup upgrade. (I'm aware of the differences between these two pickups, but I'm struggling to find guitars in NZ I can actually play to get a handle on the reality of how they will sound, and which sound I will be happiest with). Can you offer any comment on this combination on your guitar? And are you going for a replacement of the compton? Really interested to hear what you're hearing...

Hey, Bob. I note reading this thread that your 5126 has a stainless steel compton and the (dearmond 2000?) dynasonics. I have just ordered the same bridge for my 5120 and am trying to decide between dynasonics and tvjones classics as a pup upgrade. (I'm aware of the differences between these two pickups, but I'm struggling to find guitars in NZ I can actually play to get a handle on the reality of how they will sound, and which sound I will be happiest with). Can you offer any comment on this combination on your guitar? And are you going for a replacement of the compton? Really interested to hear what you're hearing...

What I'm hearing is a very percussive sound, a very unforgiving ,(you can hear every mistake) but thrilling for a specific punchy sound, most suited for clean, finger picking and Chet Atkins style. If I want a dirty sound for blues with pedals, I switch guitars, but that's just me. Some people have reported success with this setup and overdrive, just not me. The combo of the DeArmonds and the Stainless Compton is so damn punchy that I've had to learn a new way to play. I'm heading toward a more Jeff Beck sort of style. Very cool but not so useful so far for playing with others. The TV Jones would much more versatile and with the Compton, would be sweet for Chet type stuff and Brian Setzer type stuff all the way to psychobilly.
Good luck finding your tone(s).

What I'm hearing is a very percussive sound, a very unforgiving ,(you can hear every mistake) but thrilling for a specific punchy sound, most suited for clean, finger picking and Chet Atkins style. If I want a dirty sound for blues with pedals, I switch guitars, but that's just me. Some people have reported success with this setup and overdrive, just not me. The combo of the DeArmonds and the Stainless Compton is so damn punchy that I've had to learn a new way to play. I'm heading toward a more Jeff Beck sort of style. Very cool but not so useful so far for playing with others. The TV Jones would much more versatile and with the Compton, would be sweet for Chet type stuff and Brian Setzer type stuff all the way to psychobilly.
Good luck finding your tone(s).

Thanks, Bob. That's really useful. I have been heading back to Beck a lot myself lately as a reference point. I have also been heading towards playing with no pedal overdrive for a few years. For me, too, this has demanded greater sensitivity in my playing and especially my accuracy. I have been toying with discarding my pick for a while, and one of my intuitions is that I'll keep a bit more snap and attack with single coils, hence considering the dynas. The ss compton should arrive in a couple of weeks, so I'll install that first and see what effect it has on the stock gretschbuckers on the 5120. Then I guess I'll get a better idea of whether to go tv classics or dynas.

By the way, I had a freaking spine-chilling moment as I checked out your guitar in your gallery... I was thinking, "this is the set up I've been thinking about", when I noticed your guitar strap has a little design on it that I've had as a tattoo for twenty odd years! Has to be a sign, I thought...

Thanks, Bob. That's really useful. I have been heading back to Beck a lot myself lately as a reference point. I have also been heading towards playing with no pedal overdrive for a few years. For me, too, this has demanded greater sensitivity in my playing and especially my accuracy. I have been toying with discarding my pick for a while, and one of my intuitions is that I'll keep a bit more snap and attack with single coils, hence considering the dynas. The ss compton should arrive in a couple of weeks, so I'll install that first and see what effect it has on the stock gretschbuckers on the 5120. Then I guess I'll get a better idea of whether to go tv classics or dynas.

"Snap and attack" are the exact words to describe what I felt when I first tried the compton, but then I already had dearmond 2000s on the 5126.

By the way, I had a freaking spine-chilling moment as I checked out your guitar in your gallery... I was thinking, "this is the set up I've been thinking about", when I noticed your guitar strap has a little design on it that I've had as a tattoo for twenty odd years! Has to be a sign, I thought...

I love the sun sign.

Yeah, the only difference is mine is winking!

Just had to drop a little Chet and Jeff in here...

YouTube - ‪Chet Atkins - Mr. Sandman (TV 1954)‬‏

YouTube - ‪Jeff Beck - She's A Woman (Live) (High Quality)‬‏

Yeah, the only difference is mine is winking!

I like that. Maybe I can make mine wink with a pair of scissors and a needle and thread.

Just had to drop a little Chet and Jeff in here...

YouTube - ‪Chet Atkins - Mr. Sandman (TV 1954)‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-c66SJPuUI&feature=related)


YouTube - ‪Jeff Beck - She's A Woman (Live) (High Quality)‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZlFTbvfKPE)


You can hear the sound I'm describing when Chet picks with his fingers.

Just doesn't sound quite as Jeffish with a pick and a Les Paul,

You can hear the sound I'm describing when Chet picks with his fingers.

Just doesn't sound quite as Jeffish with a pick and a Les Paul,

Yeah, I was thinking that middle section here he loses the pick. But I guess the footage of him with the duo jet is more what we're talking about. Interesting how the version of Twenty Flight Rock with Beck and Brian Setzer sets the tvjones classics off against the LP, too. No comparison in my mind.