This is not a serious issue but I want to discuss it. I have an 1997 6120 and I noticed at the very beginning that the gold plastic pickup cover developed minor cracks around the screws. The cracks were growing, even on side parts, not just at the corner but I never touched the screws, never removed it. I wanted to remove it this morning, and it just started to fall apart. To dozen pieces It's not a big deal, I order new once for few bucks but what is the reason of it? Why this is happening on both rings? Anyone base experienced anything like this before?

You see it on that picture:

http://www.peterlukats.com/IMG_2043.jpg

This has also happened, though not to the same extent, on my '97 6128 duo jet. The bridge pup ring has cracked in the middle, almost like it had tried to warp. From your pic, most of the cracks appear at the screws as though they had been over tightened- which is odd if you haven't touched them. I'm thinking that gretsch have used a slightly brittle or inflexible type of plastic for these rings.

From your pic, most of the cracks appear at the screws as though they had been over tightened- which is odd if you haven't touched them. I'm thinking that gretsch have used a slightly brittle or inflexible type of plastic for these rings.

Someone at the factory may have over-tightened them. Everybody has a bad day now and again.

They all seem to crack to some extent. Being only a trim ring, you need only tighten them enough to keep them in place.

I've noticed this on some older Gretschs so it may well be just Brittle Plastic Syndrome.

Plastic shrinks over time as the petroleums and other oils in it leak or turn to vapor slowly. This also makes plastics less flexible or elastic to stress.

Sometimes the screws can be over-tightened which will cause more stress to occur sooner from this process. Its pretty normal for plastic to shrink.

I've noticed this on some older Gretschs so it may well be just Brittle Plastic Syndrome.

It started pretty early, after 4-5 years. But whatever... I ordered new once from ebay for 10 bucks... genuine parts.

But I really liked this look. But once you loose the screws, you wouldn't be able to put back again, it falls apart...