Removing "Electromatic" from headstock

BBQ Boogie · March 2nd, 2010, 02:09 PM

Greetings fellow twangers! I'm new to the forum.

Has anyone succesfully removed the vertical "Electromatic" lettering from their headstock?

My 5120 is on the way and was wondering if this were possible. I have done it with other logos on other guitars with some mild nail polish remover with no problems.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Peace,

BBQ Boogie

dafreeze · March 2nd, 2010, 02:13 PM

BBQ, Boogie and GreTschs...3 of the finer things in life.

Congratulations on your new GreTch, BBQ. Good to have you here.

I don't recall if it's quite that easy, don't think so, but know of guys who've had stencils made that cover it nicely. Imagine others will chime in.

Jukebox · March 2nd, 2010, 03:23 PM

If you go to the members list, look up Setzer, he makes a film that covers the Electromatic up. You have to look awfull close to see it it's even there.

rockabilly-rebel · March 2nd, 2010, 04:40 PM

I've used one of Setzers headstock overlays - they work great! - as Jukebox says - you have to look VERY close to notice it!

Sarah93003 · March 2nd, 2010, 08:21 PM

Welcome to the forum, BBQB.

DW_Dillinger · March 2nd, 2010, 08:29 PM

Its easy, just do what I did. Just destroy the overlay while drilling out the tuning machine holes and pay for someone to repair it

All kidding aside (I wish it wasnt true). I dont think the nail polish remover will work on the gretsch, the "Electromatic" is printed onto the plastic headstock overlay and cleared over. i think all you will do is put an ugly mark on the headstock.

If you really want it gone you could lightly sand the clearcoat, mask the gretsch inlay, spray it black, then reclear.

I'd go with the decal if you can live with it due to the difficulty and invasiveness of the repaint method. also, you may get some weird depth changes where you don't spray the black due to the black plastic, clear, black, clear sandwich.

araT · March 2nd, 2010, 09:02 PM

Welcome aboard!

I also vote Paul Setzer's cover up film, I've seen it in action and it's all but invisible!

BBQ Boogie · March 3rd, 2010, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the good advice and for the welcomes! I'm looking forward to all the gear-talk!

BBQ

getbent · March 3rd, 2010, 08:24 PM

just remember.... removing it will only fool people who didn't know it was there in the first place...

we'd all look at it and say, "is that an electromatic?" and you'd look down and say, "well, yeah, but I put a sticker over it" and your girlfriend would say, "what did it say?"

Anni_Lover · March 3rd, 2010, 08:40 PM

I don't see why you'd want to cover the Electromatic name seeing as the headstock overlay is historically correct.

Jukebox · March 3rd, 2010, 08:55 PM

The G5120 is only historicaly correect because they never made them till a couple of years ago. Otherwise there is no history of them.

dbirchett · March 4th, 2010, 12:52 AM

I think what wsa meant was that the Electromatic headstock is historically correct for Electromatics made in the '50s. There are nicer ways it could have been done but that's they way they did it then so that's the way they do it now.

coolcat · March 4th, 2010, 02:50 AM

Anybody know of places to go where they can actually paint the headstock to look like a 6120?

russjm · March 4th, 2010, 03:02 AM

If it was me I would leave it as it is, why cover it up? I had a Squier JV Jazz bass for a while, and the previous owner had tried to remove the "Squier" logo to hide the fact that it was a Squier in the first place, and made a total pigs ear of it. Now of course Squier JVs are worth a fortune in good condition.

The guitar is an Electromatic, I'd be perfectly proud to show it as it is, it's a great guitar.

Lottie · March 4th, 2010, 08:08 AM

Welcome from me too.. But, why do you want to remove it? Lottie in Sweden

Lottie · March 4th, 2010, 08:09 AM

P.S. Btw, you can try a overhead black pen and paint over it.. It look like *beep*, but it will be gone..

Arfer MO · March 4th, 2010, 09:32 AM

Why be "ashamed" of Electromatic ?

FrankieSixxxgun · March 4th, 2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfer MO

Why be "ashamed" of Electromatic ?

Yeah, this is my thought as well. I proudly display Electromatic on my Corvette. Other guitarists in the crowd can then go, "Damn, he even plays the **** out of that cheapo Chinese Gretsch too!"

RichBolduc · March 4th, 2010, 09:51 AM

I've seen more band that play out with Electromatic on the head the the expensive Gretchs's

Jukebox · March 4th, 2010, 09:54 AM

All the solidbody Corvettes, even the vintage ones (US made) were Electromatics

BBQ Boogie · March 4th, 2010, 10:18 AM

Thanks once again for all the tips and kind words. Thanks for the welcome Lottie (I've always liked that name).

"Why cover up the Electromatic part of the headstock" you all ask? Here's my history: I've played a TON of Beatle gigs playing bass. I purchased a Hofner Icon model (licensed from Hofner and manufactured in Asia) for little money and modded it up to the expensive Hofner look for very little investment. One of the mods was removing the "Hofner Icon BBass" from the TRC. Mostly the mods happened because many people who play within the Beatle tribute band community are really picky about the gear that you use. Most other tribute bands don't adhere to this policy, but Beatle bands...oh brother do they!

So, I'm not alone in wanting to mod my soon-to-arrive 5120, as I have read many threads about people pin-striping the headstock; swapping the volume/tone knobs for dice to make it look like a Setzer model; outlining the f-holes; putting higher end PU's on; changing the pickguard and/or adding artwork to the existing one.

But enough of my yackin', let's boogie!

russjm · March 4th, 2010, 10:32 AM

......I drove past the Cavern Club in Liverpool today.....not that that has anything to with anything

Yeah, trib bands can be funny about stuff like that, it depends how far you want to take it I suppose. To me, I guess the main thing is to sound right, and the worry afterwards about getting the look right. I guess I'd be no good in a tribute band.

drichard170 · March 4th, 2010, 11:15 AM

This to me this is the only acceptable reason to cover the Electromatic name. I know a guy in one of those Beatle bands and it is true that the fans are screamin's screw counters.

I have found that if the name bothers you personally, then even if it is done well it will never be the same in your heart or mind. Now I can sometimes see doing it on a gigging guitar to stifle the barroom experts. (beatle fans?)

Looking at them on thier own merit, without for a moment thinking about their gorgeous big bothers, I say they beat most any other guitar in the $500 to $1000 range. hands down.

Electromatic and proud.

getbent · March 4th, 2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcat

Anybody know of places to go where they can actually paint the headstock to look like a 6120?

Chiner.

tyguy · March 4th, 2010, 12:33 PM

Anything can be done to the headstock.You can inlay Gibson if you want but you're not gonna' fool anybody into thinkin' it's and old Gretsch or a made in Japan Gretsch.I wouldn't sink too much money into it as it's value goes way down after you buy it.I've made that mistake before.Putting money into chinese/korean Epiphones etc..You're just doin' the next owner a favor and losing money to boot.I'm not saying they're not good guitars and they probably are but,they lose a lot of value when you go to sell.Ty M. "TROLL"

Bear · March 5th, 2010, 04:07 AM

Personally, I'm not ashamed to be playing an Electromatic, but the lettering Gretsch uses really looks cheap to me and I think it detracts from the look of an otherwise beautiful guitar. I used one of the Setzer overlays, a Setzer Falcon sticker to spruce up the headstock and a Setzer pickguard to add pizazz. Everyone still knows it is an Electromatic.

Staudi · March 5th, 2010, 04:09 AM

Looks beautiful Bear!
Love that "G" on the Bigsby!!!

Bear · March 5th, 2010, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Staudi

Looks beautiful Bear!
Love that "G" on the Bigsby!!!

Thanks, that is another Setzer orginal. You might also notice that I changed the bridge to a Tru-Arc and added the "Chet" wire handle to the Bigsby. I love this guitar and the mods are done. The Tru-Arc did amazing things to the tone and the sustain.

Staudi · March 5th, 2010, 04:38 AM

Nice, I love my Compton Bridge too.

Bear · March 5th, 2010, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Staudi

Nice, I love my Compton Bridge too.

I've not had the opportunity to try a Compton bridge but I hear very good things about them.

DaddyDistortion · March 5th, 2010, 08:42 AM

A good jigsaw could easily remove the electromatic guitar from the headstock. Be sure to use one that can handle metal because of the trussrod. Many people seem to collect headstocks nowdays, there's probably a market for it on ebay.
Posted via Mobile Device

BBQ Boogie · March 5th, 2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drichard170

.......I know a guy in one of those Beatle bands and it is true that the fans are screamin's screw counters.

................Looking at them on thier own merit, without for a moment thinking about their gorgeous big bothers, I say they beat most any other guitar in the $500 to $1000 range. hands down.

Electromatic and proud.

Richard - I like your terminology. Great name for a band too. Yes, playing the Beatle circuit is fun, but can be really tiring when it comes to gear. And it costs a bloody fortune to mount a full-on trib. band. I invested in the Asian Hofner and left it at that. For the money, they're great, feel great and look pretty darn cool too.

I also agree with you regarding the electromatic bang-for-the-buck. I think the workmanship and sound quality are really, really good. That's why I'm gittin' one!

Kuroyama · March 5th, 2010, 12:09 PM

As I understand it... G512x is a big part of the current resurgence of Gretsch. Having or removing the "electromatic" from the headstock wont affect your playing any... but IMO for a guitar company as old as this one to get such widespread acclaim from a foreign built guitar... clearly there is something TO this guitar. I'd keep the name. (Even though I do plan to acquire one and pop in some TVJ classics.)

Electromatic is IMO a fine name.

coolcat · March 5th, 2010, 12:32 PM

BEAR!!!! I did not know Setzer made stickers to cover up the "Electromatic" I thought he just sold like a black invisible things you could barely see to cover it up! You deserve commission on this new sale Bear! +1 to Bear! heck +2 to Bear!....I'm in a happy mood! +1000 to Bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DaddyDistortion · March 5th, 2010, 08:35 PM

+1 ?
Posted via Mobile Device

roadjunkie · March 5th, 2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcat

BEAR!!!! I did not know Setzer made stickers to cover up the "Electromatic" I thought he just sold like a black invisible things you could barely see to cover it up! You deserve commission on this new sale Bear! +1 to Bear! heck +2 to Bear!....I'm in a happy mood! +1000 to Bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul is a man of many talents and a great guy to get to know!

dbirchett · March 5th, 2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyDistortion

+1 ?
Posted via Mobile Device

The other Gretsch forum has a voting system for posts/posters. Not sure how it works or what the purpose is but it is a nice way to post appreciation for something.

Don

pkeenan · March 5th, 2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ Boogie

Thanks once again for all the tips and kind words. Thanks for the welcome Lottie (I've always liked that name).

"Why cover up the Electromatic part of the headstock" you all ask? ...
Most other tribute bands don't adhere to this policy, but Beatle bands...oh brother do they!

So, I'm not alone in wanting to mod my soon-to-arrive 5120, ...

If they're that picky, the 512x just won't cut it no matter what you do.

It's not terribly difficult to mask off the Gretsch logo, spray the faceplate black and then use a few clear coats for level and polish. This process will take at least a week, though, to allow time for the finish to dry properly.

HTH
-pk

Jukebox · March 5th, 2010, 10:07 PM

Or you can send it to Curtis over at the GDP and he would be more than happy to help you out.

Gretsch-O-Manic · March 8th, 2010, 06:14 PM

I removed the "Electromatic script from a '99 Pro Jet headstock, then inlaid a piece of thin oyster shell. Masked it off with a laser-cut vinyl stencil, sprayed a light coat of black lacquer over the whole shebang, then removed the vinyl from the pearl and clearcoated the whole thing.

Looks good; easier than cutting a pearl logo and nicer looking than a decal.