Hi Guys,
I am about to buy my first Gretsch, I have 2 locally that fit my budget but am not sure which will be better for me, the first is a 2008 5122 in black all original no mods looks like new. the second is a early 2004 5126 silver sparkle
with fixed bridge and a B60, 12-52 strings if that matters.
I plan to get a compton bridge regardless of which one I get I assume thats still possible with the fixed bridge. Also TV jones pups if I get the 5122.
Amp is a fender super champ xd.
Wanna play stuff like straycats, eagles, clash, the cult, zz top, white stripes,70's Rock, Blues Rock etc
Will spend a fair amount of time playing/practising unplugged - small house and my man cave is under 3 1/2 year olds bedroom so no cranking it up while shes sleeping which is mostly when I practice.
If I had the money I would get both lol, bad case of gas
Any advice/opinions gratefully accepted
Thanks Karl

Greetings Karl...firstly welcome to the forum...getting your first Gretsch eh!!!! very exciting time...well you really can't go wrong either way...either the single coil US Dearmond 200O's with the 5126 or the humbuckers with the 5122...whether you prefer double cut or single cut...i'm a humbucker man so l would go the 5122...i've heard a lot of good things about the 2000's too, so it will just come down to personal preference ...both are great guitars...really your just going to have to pick one now & buy another later on...it's very rare for a Gretsch owner to stop at one...i'd probably go the classic/classic plus TVJ Combo for that guitar based on the music your playing.. the 2000's would also cover those genres quite well...l wish you all the best in advance ..cheers!!!!!!!

if you get the 5122, you might keep in mind you will swap the pickups later on (i suggest HS filtertrons), wit the 5126, the pickups are the best part, so you have to decide if you like them

Hi Kiwi Karl, welcome to the forum!

Personally I love the sparkle.

Get one of each!
I love the sound of the single coil Dearmonds, and the silver sparkle being more rare is likely to keep a better value over time. I like the sound of the G-Buckers too; once you dial them in you can get a good tone. I tried the 22 in the local shop, and it's nice too. Either way you wont be disappointed.

If the 22 has the later pickups with 3 height adjusters (one hidden under the guard) on the top of the mount ring, they come with uprated pickups which are much improved over the earlier versions.

The 26 with the fixed bridge means you can run lighter strings without risk of the bridge slipping (if you're a bender!) whereas the 22 would probably benefit from heavier strings (49-11) and maybe some violin rosin under the bridge.

My 26 is a tad louder unplugged than the 20 (even with the compton aboard) probably due to the slightly larger f-holes, but they're both much louder than my Tele.

with the 5126, the pickups are the best part, so you have to decide if you like them

The Sparkle is also the best part. Seriously, the 5126 is a babe magnet!

If it was me, the 5126 in a heartbeat. Make no mistake, the 5122 is a fine guitar but not in the same league as the 5126. IMO, YMMV, etc etc.

I have a 5127... So, you can only imagine which way I will lean.

The Dearmond 2000's in the '26 are magnificent pickups. Unplugged, the 5127 is a nice sounding guitar. Plugged in, it's magical! Considering what I paid for it (and i bought it new) it's crazy good!

I'd always push someone towards one of the 512x series over a 5120 or 5122. But, I like the pickups better, by a mile! By your plans, with the 5126, you only have the expense of a bridge, it seems with the 5122 it would be the bridge and pickups.... Seems like an easy decision to me.

I would LOVE a 5126. I really want a sparkle hollow body. I'd even consider trading my silver 5246 for one.

5126-sparkly guitar, sparkly pick ups!

Thanks for all the replies, have just hit the go button on the 5126 it was the sparkles that did it to me. Will figure out how to post some pics when it arrives, any one done a compton on the fixed bridge version?

Thanks for all the replies, have just hit the go button on the 5126 it was the sparkles that did it to me. Will figure out how to post some pics when it arrives, any one done a compton on the fixed bridge version?

I put Compton bridges on my 3140, 3141 & 3156, also fixed bridge post versions, and there were no intonation problems.

Thanks for all the replies, have just hit the go button on the 5126 it was the sparkles that did it to me. Will figure out how to post some pics when it arrives, any one done a compton on the fixed bridge version?

Great stuff!! congrats on your 5126...:D

You may not need the compton straight away. My 5126 has a solid bigsby bridge, therefore no rattles, and already has a great tone with the Dearmonds.

Try it first, and if you want to experiment with the tone, you can chose the material to suit on the Compton. Stainless= bright, Brass=warm etc.

The Compton on my 5120 made a great difference, and helped to brighten the tone no end. Now its almost as good as a 5126!

I put Compton bridges on my 3140, 3141 & 3156, also fixed bridge post versions, and there was no intonation problems.

Dammit now theres another model to add to my gas:eek:

Dammit now theres another model to add to my gas:eek:

Which one? Some of these have been popping up on Ebay recently at reasonable prices.

the black one, will add it to my gas list ;)

The black 3141 was the hardest one to find. My searches are still running, if one turns up would you like me to PM you? Mine has been upgraded with TVJ Powertrons, Bigsby B6C, and Compton Titanium tone chamber bridge. It's my answer to a 335.

The black 3141 was the hardest one to find. My searches are still running, if one turns up would you like me to PM you? Mine has been upgraded with TVJ Powertrons, Bigsby B6C, and Compton Titanium tone chamber bridge. It's my answer to a 335.

That would be great but the gas fund is somewhat empty at the moment.

NGD today :D:D

it's got D'Addario ECG25 Chromes Flat Wound, 12-52 which are a little heavy for me but really like how the strings feel under my fingers, any string suggestions welcomed as this is my first electric having played Acoustic and Banjo for the last year or so. Haven't got my amp yet but have a mate with a Super Champ SD that I like the sound of and am leaning in that direction

anyway gotta go play with my sparkly thing now, it's calling to me;):cool:

Congrats on the new guitar.

I use D'Addario XL115 11-49s on my 5120.

I've got 12-52 Chromes on a Jazzbox - love the feel. I like them for jazz, but find them too heavy for bending.

NBD today, compton arrived got a s/steel one didn't think brass would look right on the sparkle, cause it's all about the look right?;):p:D got some 10-46's and 11-48's to try out as well.