Newbie & his G5124

Griffindude · February 4th, 2009, 05:45 AM

Hi there,
I've recently acquired my first Gretsch [Electromatic G5124] which I love to bits and joined this forum yesterday. I know little about the Electromatic series - I found this one in my local music shop and fell completely in love with it. It would appear that there are differing versions of the G512X in terms of pick-ups fitted etc. Is this the case or do they all leave the factory with the same hardware and end up being customised by the owner? For example, I notice that some of the G512X series displayed on these pages have humbuckers (or "Gretschbuckers" as they appear to be called). Mine has Dearmond 2000s, [great sounding single pole pickups to my ear]. I couldn't get on with the crappy Bigsby compensator bridge that came with it - it didn't move with the tremelo and was a poor fit to the belly of the guitar, so I exchanged it for an adjust-o-matic bridge. Done the trick!! I have noticed that the 5124 doesn't appear to be available in the States. Is this due to its resemblance to the White Falcon? I have seen a couple of others on the web, but they have the awful clear pickguard (why do Gretsch put the clear pickguards on the Electromatics? Nobody likes 'em!), whereas mine has a black pickguard. Much more classy looking, to my mind. Where do they put black pickguards on as standard [as I have yet to see another like mine]? I think I have waffled on for quite long enough now, I'm off to plug 'er in...
Cheers, Martin

EdgeOfQuarrel · February 4th, 2009, 06:11 AM

seems the white ones are available in england and australia a lot more than america.they originally came with compensated bridges and black picguards and dearmonds now all the ones I see have the ****buckers,adjusto bridge an a silver pickguard.I've seen a lot here for years ... might have something to do with that cheney guy and he's model.

Jukebox · February 4th, 2009, 10:18 AM

Sweet loooking guitar! The G512X series all came with Dearmond 2000, the G5120's as the call the, came with the humbuckers. BTW welcome to the forum!

Bear · February 4th, 2009, 11:57 AM

The 5124 would have been a huge hit in the US and would have possibly sold well enough to keep the entire 512X line from being discontinued. The two toned 512Xs that were offered didn't seem to resonate well with the market. Had Gretsch offered more contemporary colors like white, black, orange, Caddy green, or 2-tone green, I believe they would have flown off of the shelves.

Your white 5124 is a real looker, congratulations on acquiring it and welcome to our forum, Griffendude.

I play a 5125 which is the all black version of your guitar to which I've made a few cosmetic mods along with a different bridge and a wire Bigsby arm.

Griffindude · February 4th, 2009, 12:10 PM

So, Jukebox, have I got this right - it was only the G5120 that was supplied with humbuckers? [An academic question, as I am a single pole man out of preference and am ecstatically happy with my Dearmond 2000s].
Yes, Bear, I agree with you that had Gretsch put the G5124 about in the States I think they would have sold like hot cakes, they are so delicious to look at. You talk of the 512X line being discontinued but they still appear to be available according to the latest Gretsch catalogue (with the exception of the G5124, which is completely absent). Am I missing something here?

Griffindude · February 4th, 2009, 12:36 PM

Bear, your axe looks really cool too! [it wasn't there when I last looked!] i particularly like the Gretsch logo that you have on the pickguard. Nice!

Jukebox · February 4th, 2009, 01:21 PM

Yes the G5120 arre the one with humbuckers and the 512X are suppose to be discontinued from the Gretsch line, so rumors have it.

DevilYouKnow · February 4th, 2009, 01:45 PM

Great looking guitar indeed, from headstock to tailpiece. Welcome to the forum.

dafreeze · February 4th, 2009, 05:16 PM

Good to have you here Griffin and congratulations on your first Gretsch. Someone else here has the same guitar, a real looker, and I've been drooling over Bears and his handiwork since I first saw it.

Cassady · February 4th, 2009, 06:22 PM

That is one sweet looking Gretsch that you have there.

If that guitar had been available here, I would have had a hard time deciding between in and my orange G5120.

Play your Gretsch in good health.

Cassady

Griffindude · February 5th, 2009, 05:27 PM

Cheers guys, thanks for all the feedback and putting me somewhat in the picture. Up until a couple of weeks ago I knew absolutely nothing about Gretsch guitars and now I can't get enough. Funny how life is, ain't it?!

Seeing Bear's pickguard on his 5125, I just had to have that logo, so I changed it

djangosgretsch · February 8th, 2010, 03:46 PM

hi there i was wondering how much the pickguard you got made cost you i shure would love one on my g5125

Arfer MO · February 8th, 2010, 04:56 PM

Lovely guitar, lots of twang with those single poles

ikaros_swede · February 8th, 2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear

The 5124 would have been a huge hit in the US and would have possibly sold well enough to keep the entire 512X line from being discontinued. The two toned 512Xs that were offered didn't seem to resonate well with the market. Had Gretsch offered more contemporary colors like white, black, orange, Caddy green, or 2-tone green, I believe they would have flown off of the shelves.

Your white 5124 is a real looker, congratulations on acquiring it and welcome to our forum, Griffendude.

I play a 5125 which is the all black version of your guitar to which I've made a few cosmetic mods along with a different bridge and a wire Bigsby arm.

A 512X in Candy green? That would have been something....and a Compton-bridge straight from the factory...and a cowboycase!
I moded my 5125 with the compton bridge and dice knobs.
Well I think I heading for the bed and hope for dreams about a Candy apple red 6120.

Pappy · February 8th, 2010, 06:22 PM

You can have any kind of pickguard made for you by Paul Setzer, a member here. He made me an amazing pickguard for my annie that's truly a work of art.

jdr1014 · February 8th, 2010, 09:32 PM

That's a real beauty - congrats and welcome!

-PMK- · February 9th, 2010, 02:07 AM

Welcome Griffindude

araT · February 9th, 2010, 03:31 AM

Welcome to GT Griffin!

mikante · February 9th, 2010, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffindude

Hi there,
I've recently acquired my first Gretsch [Electromatic G5124] which I love to bits and joined this forum yesterday. I know little about the Electromatic series - I found this one in my local music shop and fell completely in love with it. It would appear that there are differing versions of the G512X in terms of pick-ups fitted etc. Is this the case or do they all leave the factory with the same hardware and end up being customised by the owner? For example, I notice that some of the G512X series displayed on these pages have humbuckers (or "Gretschbuckers" as they appear to be called). Mine has Dearmond 2000s, [great sounding single pole pickups to my ear]. I couldn't get on with the crappy Bigsby compensator bridge that came with it - it didn't move with the tremelo and was a poor fit to the belly of the guitar, so I exchanged it for an adjust-o-matic bridge. Done the trick!! I have noticed that the 5124 doesn't appear to be available in the States. Is this due to its resemblance to the White Falcon? I have seen a couple of others on the web, but they have the awful clear pickguard (why do Gretsch put the clear pickguards on the Electromatics? Nobody likes 'em!), whereas mine has a black pickguard. Much more classy looking, to my mind. Where do they put black pickguards on as standard [as I have yet to see another like mine]? I think I have waffled on for quite long enough now, I'm off to plug 'er in...
Cheers, Martin

oh come on, she'll catch a cold like that...

bring her home!

nice one Griffindude

Flynnski · February 9th, 2010, 05:39 AM

Dude....sweet!

Griffindude · February 9th, 2010, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djangosgretsch

hi there i was wondering how much the pickguard you got made cost you i shure would love one on my g5125

Hi Djangogretsch,
The pickguard is the standard one that came with the guitar from the factory, all I have done is added a decal of the Gretsch logo to it [attached], printed from my PC.

Cheers

Martin

Michiel · February 9th, 2010, 06:18 AM

Congrats on the guitar and welcome to the forum Griffindude.

Looks like you got yourself a reasonably rare white 5124.
Most common ones in that series are the black 5125 and the red 5129. Essentially they are the same instrument as the one you have. I see though that yours has a tune-o-matic bridge. As far as I know, those only come stock on the 5120/5122 and not on the rest of the 512x.

About the other instruments in the 512x series: the 5120 and the 5122 have humbuckers. The 5120 comes in orange, black or sunburst. The 5122DC in black or walnut stain.

Glad to hear you enjoy your DeArmond 2000s; for me those were the reason to get a 5129.

Happy strumming and enjoy the forum!

keverbus · February 9th, 2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffindude

I have seen a couple of others on the web, but they have the awful clear pickguard (why do Gretsch put the clear pickguards on the Electromatics? Nobody likes 'em!),

Hi Griffindude, welcome to this forum. you're gonna like it here. Nice 5124, indeed somewhat of a rare bird amongst the Electromatics, I guess. I am one of the orange 5120 owners. As for the clear pickguard, I think the earlier 5120 issues had these clear ones, the later ones (including the one I have) have a silver one. I believe though that clear pickguards are nothing new but appeared on the 'bigger brother' 6120's (Chet Atkins) Gretsches in the 1950's, 60's. Eddie Cochran had one but it looks like he made it more opague by sanding the gloss off a bit. Gretsch just announced a limited edition Eddie Cochran Tribute model (see here:http://www.gretschguitars.com/cochran/) where you can see what I mean.

Well congrats again with your 5124
Jos

Griffindude · February 10th, 2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michiel

I see though that yours has a tune-o-matic bridge. As far as I know, those only come stock on the 5120/5122 and not on the rest of the 512x.

Yes, Michiel, mine came with the bigsby pivoting aluminium bridge (I don't know what its real name is) but it was rubbish - didn't pivot as it was supposed to and also was not seated properly on the belly of the guitar, so I changed it for a tune-o-matic. Much much better!

Cheers,

Martin

Sarah93003 · February 10th, 2010, 10:25 AM

I was trying to figure this thread out because it's a year old. I don't think I was even a member then, but, welcome Griffendude! Great looking guitar.

Griffindude · February 10th, 2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah93003

I was trying to figure this thread out because it's a year old.

Yes Sarah, It's been dormant for about 9 months and all of a sudden, like a good active volcano, it erupts again. Strange, that

FrankieSixxxgun · February 10th, 2010, 11:42 AM

Oh, the black on white is nice looking! Welcome to the Gretsch club!

Michiel · February 11th, 2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah93003

I was trying to figure this thread out because it's a year old. I don't think I was even a member then, but, welcome Griffendude! Great looking guitar.

Grin, well spotted Sarah. Funny how much difference a 9 or a 10 makes.
I didn't see that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffindude

Yes, Michiel, mine came with the bigsby pivoting aluminium bridge (I don't know what its real name is) but it was rubbish - didn't pivot as it was supposed to and also was not seated properly on the belly of the guitar, so I changed it for a tune-o-matic. Much much better!

Cheers,

Martin

Yeah, that's the one. I don't know the exact name either; they get called all sorts of names. The most striking one (pun intended) is, I think, the 'lighting strike' bridge or something like that.

I didn't like it much either. During tuning it has to be positioned such that the it balances on the bridge base pins, allowing it to rock back a forth when you use the bigsby.
But when tuning up the strings it tends to start leaning over to one side. At some point it will lean over so far that it stops rocking. Needless to say this is bad for the tuning stability when you use the bigsby often.
I couldn't make peace with it and replaced it for a compton. That turned out to be a good decision.

samueljwestran · August 12th, 2010, 04:44 PM

Hello all,

I fit this thread so well, For I'm a Gretsch Newbie, now owning a g5124. The exact same as Griffindude's. Just a couple of quick question if anyone still checks this thread, it's been dormant for some time.

Firstly, I bought it from a good friend for a great price who got it new, so I know where it's been since it was unboxed, which is a bonus. But I just wanted to know if there was anything I need to do it like set-up wise. I saw Bear's amazing g5125 and saw he's whacked on a wire Bigsby and different bridge. Mine came with a generic bar bridge like Griffindude's. Apart from Bear's looking incredible is there a difference in quality between the two i.e is one better than the other.

Also The scratch-plate on mine didn't come with any Gretsch decal on it. Is it possible to but others or did you guys just print your own?

Anyway, if there any of you guys that check this still, or have suggestion and tips to get a good set up/look then do let me know.

Thanks.

Sam.

S Macp · August 12th, 2010, 05:54 PM

This forum member can make you whatever pickguard you like. Many others have bought from him and sung his praises.

As for your bridge, this is a matter of preference; I quite like the standard compensated bridges, because they're "quick and dirty" to intonate. I'm also a fan of of Compton Compensated Bridges, and put them on both my 5129 (replacing the comp bridge) and Corvette (replacing the TuneOMatic). These are also made by a forum member here ("workknot"), and lots of us rave about them.

Bear had a Tru-Arc on the 5125, which are made by a forum member (Proteus) over at gretschpages.com. Lots of forum members there rave about those as well. The choice is yours, and the difference (sonically) is probably unquantifiable - especially when you run your guitar through effects, amp, and have other band members going on as well. Both are excellent bridges.

In terms of setup, nothing beats having a pro look at it - ask about, locally, if you don't know someone who fits the bill. Aside from that, spend some time tweaking the pole pieces. Check this thread out - the Dearmonds you have are functionally similar to Dynasonics. (Man, I love them! When you get them set up right, they sound truly fantastic.)

Or, you could step outside your door, and look north-east: there's a meteor shower going on!

rockabilly-rebel · August 12th, 2010, 05:58 PM

Too much cloud here

Drewgrass · August 12th, 2010, 06:29 PM

Yep, too much cloud here too.

Griffindude · August 12th, 2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samueljwestran

Also The scratch-plate on mine didn't come with any Gretsch decal on it. Is it possible to but others or did you guys just print your own?
Sam.

Hi Sam, I just printed out a Gretsch logo on my inkjet and stuck it on with paper glue (Pritstick, I think). Cheap and cheerful option! Have fun with your new 5124 - I still love mine to bits, it's an awesome beast!

Martin

PS the meteor shower is fabulous in Hereford tonight!

bluesman345 · August 13th, 2010, 12:29 AM

Another welcome to ya, G'dude! Very nice guitar! I did a similar thing with the pickguard on my 5120. It came stock with the silver paint on the back, but it got scratched. I sprayed gloss black Krylon Fusion paint on front and back, then printed up a logo, lifted from Paul Setzer's site. I finished it off with several coats of Krylon clear coat.

I have a Bigsby aluminum compensated bridge as well. Strange, but I found that the Bigsby bridge made the guitar sound very nasal and thin, very much like a banjo. I settled on a Gotoh Nashville tuna bridge because the slots on the Bigsby bridge got screwed up.

Cheers...

dimszappas · August 13th, 2010, 01:44 AM

Welcome Martin!