So I've had this nice little Corvette for a good number of years now since they were introduced, and it being my first real guitar (and still my favorite), it's seen its fair share of abuse already. I really love its unique sound, but it's not without its faults.

Pretty much I want to give her the old run through and do what I can to make it a solid rock machine again, and I figure there are enough Gretsch-heads here to give me some help with an otherwise very uniquely designed instrument.

First up is the pickguard. It's had holes tapped in it for extra controllers, it's warped due to heat, and the neck pickup slot has been routed out extra for other modifications. So it's kinda shot, and I need a new one. Really would like a copper plate under it though so I can go about fully shielding the whole control cavity. But where do I go to get a new pickguard? Am I going to have to get one custom made? I never see them anywhere.

Second is pickups. I dig the megatrons but I often wonder if I'm going to benefit from a REAL set of TV Jones in it. Can anyone comment on the closest sounding TV Jones set, or a more suitable upgrade for this axe?

Also having problems with the input jack cup. It tears out entirely too much, and it has grooved the wood so much that no tape in the world can keep it in any longer. Someone pointed me in the direction of the Electrosocket but from what I hear they will not fit on a Corvette? Is there another solution I might be able to obtain? Maybe just a square plate I can bolt over it?

I apologize if these answers are readily available. Kind of my first post here and I don't really have the time to search through the forum. Any help at all would be much appreciated though.

Welcome aboard! :)

1. Contact one of the members here, Paul Setzer about your pick guard. He's definitely the go-to guy for any decals and the plastic bits on your guitar.

2. Do not touch those excellent MegaTron pickups until you have installed a >Compton (http://www.comptonbridges.com/home)< bridge! You will be amazed at how much tone you've been robbed of by the stock bridge! Contact member Wayne Compton (workknot). Here is my Lil' Red Corvette with a chambered titanium Compton bridge installed:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h230/WestofDeerfoot/G5135/DSCF3826.jpg

3. Browse through the >Guitar Fetish (http://www.guitarfetish.com/Guitar-Hardware_c_37.html)< website to find a jack plate that suits you. I'm still using the stock cup, so I don't know for sure if any of them cover the hole entirely.

4. Oh, yeah:

Rule #1: Pix, or it never happened!

A big plus one to the Compton and to giving the Megas a second chance thereafter.

Hmm will do. Like I said, I dig the MegaTrons a lot, they are extremely dynamic and sparkly with enough of that almost single-coil choke that they've stayed in it for years. But I'm having some feedback issues that I don't get with my other main guitar (Carvin DC127). Albeit, I know a lot of this is due to shielding which is why I intend to get that out of the way as well, but I was just curious towards the benefit a different set of Trons would give.

Those Compton bridges look rad though. Muchos gracias. Any personal reccomendations towards brass/copper/stainless? That titanium seems cool but I don't think I can throw $125 towards a bridge.

Hmm will do. Like I said, I dig the MegaTrons a lot, they are extremely dynamic and sparkly with enough of that almost single-coil choke that they've stayed in it for years. But I'm having some feedback issues that I don't get with my other main guitar (Carvin DC127). Albeit, I know a lot of this is due to shielding which is why I intend to get that out of the way as well, but I was just curious towards the benefit a different set of Trons would give.

Those Compton bridges look rad though. Muchos gracias. Any personal reccomendations towards brass/copper/stainless? That titanium seems cool but I don't think I can throw $125 towards a bridge.
The Megas should be as well shielded as Filters.

Titanium is worth the extra cost. I've had every model Compton on my 6120 N and titanium is the ticket, IMHO, YMMV.

The Megas should be as well shielded as Filters.

Titanium is worth the extra cost. I've had every model Compton on my 6120 N and titanium is the ticket, IMHO, YMMV.

^^^What he said. ^^^

The chambered Ti CCC brings out amazing response to picking dynamics. Even more than a plain titanium. If you have the chops, it's very satisfying, but there's nowhere to hide, so it can be a bit intimidating. It's making me a better player! :cool:

Welcome Crow!
Personally I've always been a touch underawed by the Megas, I changed them for a pair of TVs Powertrons, that's a definite upgrade in my book. Greater clarity and dynamics, better expression of that clangy jangly G sound we all love.
As Lats says, don't forget the Compton. I put a SS on my vette and another on my Eastwood Ichiban, great improvement on sustain. Never had any of the other Comptons so can't compare. As the man says, no pix is nowhere so here's mine
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nGRCGWh6GKg/T0u_n49ZOXI/AAAAAAAAAMI/PujdC4c6P3Y/s448/Gretsch%2520Corvette%2520002.jpg?gl=FR

Welcome aboard Crow, congrats on the Vette! :D

The jack cup is a tough one - you could drill a small hole or two in it & screw it into the body to keep it in place. A BIG +1 on the compton call!

Good luck!

^^^What he said. ^^^

The chambered Ti CCC brings out amazing response to picking dynamics. Even more than a plain titanium. If you have the chops, it's very satisfying, but there's nowhere to hide, so it can be a bit intimidating. It's making me a better player! :cool:

Guess that works for me. I mainly play pretty clean through a '64 Gibson Mercury , usually only ever warmed up with an OCD (or occasionally some fuzz), so my tone is pretty unforgiving anyways. Can't believe you bastards just got me craving a bridge that costs a third of what I paid for the guitar. :p

I'm intimidated by trying to screw the jack cup to the body though. I don't want to goof it up and ruin things. I'd much rather find a simple plate to put over the hole. Someone here has to have swapped out that cheaply designed cup for something else.

Also, the tuning pegs on the D and G string are broke. I've been using an old Gibson tuner for the G, but the D is kinda just bent and barely hanging in there. Where might I be able to get a few reasonably priced replacements? Those vintage tuners are normally $40-$60 a pack everywhere I can find them, and I only need 2...

A simple Les Paul style plate may solve one of the issues.