[Hellafax]

Hey Hey,
Apparently I get 1 free setup to my specs with my new 5120 when it comes in. Anyone have any tips/recommendations as to what I should have looked at immediately by the tech when it comes out of the box?

I'm used to playing (on a semi-hollow, Epiphone ES-175) Flatwound 12s. I'm thinking normal electric nickel 11s, but I still want to be able to push out nice warm Jazz tone. Hoping for low action, but I'm a rhythm player mostly. The Gretsch is my entry into building my strength with lead I hope.

Should I have the Nut looked at or replaced with a Tusq? Bridge considerations -- do I need to worry about slip with 11s?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Insults?

[Pappy]

I was reading a tech's post one time that said when anyone came in for a set up he would have the customer play a guitar in front of him for a little while so he could see how he plays. Is he rough? Does he have a light touch? Does he bear down on the strings, etc. He went more off of his observations than what the customer said they wanted. Tons of people came in looking for low action but would later complain that there's too much fret buzz (because they play too hard) and now he has to fix it again.

I'm not saying you don't know what you want, I'm just sharing the story.

Personally I would have the tech give it a really thorough once-over and I would change the bridge (either to a Tru Arc or a Compton) before I changed the nut. I would also put a taller spring in the Bigsby.

[Bengal65]

Originally Posted by Pappy

I was reading a tech's post one time that said when anyone came in for a set up he would have the customer play a guitar in front of him for a little while so he could see how he plays. Is he rough? Does he have a light touch? Does he bear down on the strings, etc. He went more off of his observations than what the customer said they wanted. Tons of people came in looking for low action but would later complain that there's too much fret buzz (because they play too hard) and now he has to fix it again.

I'm not saying you don't know what you want, I'm just sharing the story.

Personally I would have the tech give it a really thorough once-over and I would change the bridge (either to a Tru Arc or a Compton) before I changed the nut. I would also put a taller spring in the Bigsby.

I'll 2nd what Pappy said.

[Thunderball]

Yeah, just drop in a Compton bridge. That's all these guitars need.

I would also suggest GHS Brite Flats -- they are incredible strings that really play like both flats and round wounds. They'll do wahtever you want them to. You want jazz, they'll give you that. You want twang, they'll give you that. I have a set of .10s on my 5120. They work real nice on it.

[Hellafax]

Will definitely try out those GHS strings -- sound like what I'm looking for.

[tartanphantom]

And make sure he removes that stupid foam piece from under the bridge!

[Bengal65]

Originally Posted by tartanphantom

And make sure he removes that stupid foam piece from under the bridge!

LOL! Yeah, or you'll get that muffled sound.