[john585]

The Gretsch Malcolm Young Signature Series is a fine enough guitar, but I wanted to make my own replica to be as close to the real thing as Malcolm Young's personally modified Jet. His was a 1960s Gretsch Firebird Jet which has undergone many changes over the years.




My build starts with a Gretsch Electromatic G5246T Double Jet with a silver finish.




We removed the hardware and carefully masked the entire guitar- neck and all- leaving only the soundboard exposed.



I then went at it with a Black and Decker Mouse with 40 grit paper. I decided to not use any chemicals at all for removing the paint because its messy and involves scraping with a putty knife, which always causes gouges.

The silver color came off without too much of a fight, but the seal coat, which can dupe you into thinking you are looking at bare wood, was hard as a rock. I used two pieces of 40 grit on the mouse and eventually put on some work gloves and did the rest by hand. I think that's really the way to go- sand with a power tool to do the bulk of the work, and resort to your hands for the very end to get the last stubborn bits of sealer off.

I spent about 90 minutes total working on the first rough sanding with the 40 grit, and am now totally down to the wood. The soundboard side of the binding did not survive, which was not too surprised about, so I'll have to figure out what to do there later on.




My intention is to replicate the extra switches, pots and unoccupied pickup holes as seen on Malcolm's guitar. His motivation was experimenting, and mine is pure imitation, but I have some thoughts on what to do with the extra switches and pots. I also have a real Fitertron waiting to go into this guitar, as well as a Badass bridge, though if I can ever locate a real Burns tremolo, I'd rather do that- or at least add a 'bishops helmet' cover plate....

Next steps are gradual finer sanding- moving to 80, 120 and then 220 grit. Also planning on new hardware holes.

More to come- Kudos to dbishopbliss who started this same project with the exact same guitar, which really encouraged me to pursue this. - His post is here- http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/el...ouble-jet.html

[johsonrod]

Very cool man! Looking forward to watching this progress!

[fender62custom]

All the best with it!! subscribed!!

[telespank]

Cool project. That's a precious little helper you have.

[DrumBob]

Originally Posted by telespank

Cool project. That's a precious little helper you have.

+1. Your daughter is beautiful.

[j.s.c]

Mmmmh, suscribe this nice project !
Your daughter is beautiful, perfect size for a good guitar stand :-)

[30CalGunner]

Congratulations! I am a but jelous that you got that model, no biggy though I got the newer model the 5448 yesterday actually. I am going to do the same but not quite as far. Just not the middle pickup cavity or mirror screw caps. But here is some advise on the bishop helmet. I made a template myself for one. The length I have is 4 3/4 and width is 3 1/2 on both of the widest parts, the bottom one is a bit wider though. Just draw out a square and freehand one side cut out the half then fold it and trace it. It took me a few tries but I got it pretty close from my eye to what Malcolm's is. I will try to post a picture. Good luck on you modifications.

[john585]

Originally Posted by 30CalGunner

Congratulations! I am a but jelous that you got that model, no biggy though I got the newer model the 5448 yesterday actually. I am going to do the same but not quite as far. Just not the middle pickup cavity or mirror screw caps. But here is some advise on the bishop helmet. I made a template myself for one. The length I have is 4 3/4 and width is 3 1/2 on both of the widest parts, the bottom one is a bit wider though. Just draw out a square and freehand one side cut out the half then fold it and trace it. It took me a few tries but I got it pretty close from my eye to what Malcolm's is. I will try to post a picture. Good luck on you modifications.

I was surfing and found a closeup of the bishops helmet- I think on this or another Gretsch forum, but the dimensions were not there. Thanks for the advice! But I hope I can execute Plan A and locate a Burns tremolo.

[The Marlin]

I love these threads!

Looking forward to the grand unveil!

Marlin

[30CalGunner]

Yeah. I got a little ahead of myself. I have only seen a burns for sale once or twice, but I wasn't really looking either. I hope you can put one on your Gretsch. If I come across any I will definitely let you know. Hope to see more progress on the way.

[Crooner]

I know this may be in direct contrast to your goal, but I feel I must say this: Please consider NOT installing a Burns. I know it's true to Malcolm’s Jet, but (and I speak from experience as I've owned Jets with and without Burns) the Burns is one of the dark moments in Gretsch history. Aside from being less functional than a Bigsby or a "G" hard-tail, it requires you to route into the top (needlessly, IMHO) seeing as there are other tailpiece options.

Sorry, I just had to say it. Now then, if it's what you really want, go for it and don’t look back.

[john585]

Thanks for the comments so far. I need to figure out what I am going to do about a pickup. The stock Electromatic humbuckers are not going to do. I did a shootout with an actual Gretsch Malcolm Young model which appears equipped with a stock Filter'Tron and found the output and tone far better than what the Electromatic had.

I do happen to have an old Filter'Tron I was intending to put in, but am wondering if anyone has any specific advice on alternatives.

I found tvjones.com and see they seem to own the aftermarket for Gretsch pickups. For anyone truly familiar with the early AC/DC sound, does anyone have any specific recommendations for which of the different TV Jones Filter'Tron models? They have a very good website with actual audio samples to help characterize how they sound, but was just wondering if anyone has any direct experience with their products....

[john585]

Originally Posted by Crooner

I know this may be in direct contrast to your goal, but I feel I must say this: Please consider NOT installing a Burns. I know it's true to Malcolm’s Jet, but (and I speak from experience as I've owned Jets with and without Burns) the Burns is one of the dark moments in Gretsch history. Aside from being less functional than a Bigsby or a "G" hard-tail, it requires you to route into the top (needlessly, IMHO) seeing as there are other tailpiece options.

Sorry, I just had to say it. Now then, if it's what you really want, go for it and don’t look back.

Your wisdom and experience is greatly appreciated. I am finding Burns Tremolos are very rare to begin with! (Hey- you don't happen to have one in your parts box you are looking to sell do you? Arm not necessary!)

[30CalGunner]

I dont have direct experience with TVJones. If you are looking to buy from them, i have done my research you want the TV Classics or TV Classics Plus. The TV Classics plus are just a bit hotter pickup. Although I have seen quite a few people pull off a near perfect Malcolm tone with the normal Filtertron, like what you have. The only difference is TVJones are made better and more precise.
Now as you stated you want as close to Malcolms as you can. I found online in a few places those mirror screw caps. The dome chrome pieces he used to plug the switch holes on his guitar. I havent seen them in any hardware stores yet, so online is your best bet. Those will also just thread into the wood like a screw. If not, it will be challenging to install are those leather chrome studs. All they have are two prongs to attach them.
I also know the Electromatic doesn't have a volume knob on the horn of the guitar. Chicago music Exchange sells them $4 a piece. Its just the knob, if you want to just attach it with a screw. Not sure how hard it would be to make it function.

[Faber]

great project...good luck and keep us update...

[john585]

Time for an update:

Here is what the guitar looks like so far. Stripping is complete. I applied two coats of a yellowish wood stain I got from Home Depot by brush, sanding in between with 220 grit sandpaper. I am now at the polyurethane stage, about to apply coat #3 tonight. The tape is deliberately 'walled in' the soundboard, protecting the edge of the binding and sides of the guitar.




Here are my materials- wood conditioner for pre-stain cleaning, a semi-transparent stain (yes, I am using stuff not specific for guitars) and a satin finish polyurethane.



I am hoping one more coat of ploy should do it. Then its off to routing the second superfluous pickup hole! (Though it would have been smarter to do that before finishing!)

Admission- I am less than a rank amateur when it comes to a guitar finish. This is my first and possibly only attempt at this. Comments of more appropriate techniques/materials for better results are welcome. The guitar I am mimicking is not exactly a pretty instrument to begin with, which fits nicely with my 'not going to be pretty' results.

[john585]

This is what a Burns Tremolo (or vibrato) looks like. These are basically impossible to find, as far as I can tell. Earlier, someone discouraged putting one of these on because they are inferior to a Bigsby and they do require some routing. For my purposes, that is okay- my guitar is low enough value where I can accept routing another hole in it, and I have no real intention of actually using the tremolo other than a static tailpiece.



If anyone has one of these for sale or knows where I can get one, I'd be grateful for a PM!

Another photo- this time my hardware. Pictured from left to right- the (Licensed by) Bigsby that came with the Electromatic, after I hacksawed it to closer resemble the Burns, the original bridge, a Bassass tailpiece, incase the hacked Bigsby does not work out, and my old Filtertron.




If I go with the Badass, then I will make a 'Bishops Helmet' to cover where the Burns hole (that isn't there!)

[john585]

Originally Posted by john585

Here are my materials- wood conditioner for pre-stain cleaning, a semi-transparent stain (yes, I am using stuff not specific for guitars) and a satin finish polyurethane.

The exact color is 'Colonial Yellow' (ST-139) of Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain. I got it at Home Depot.

[calvin lee]

lookin cool so far

[30CalGunner]

The only thing about the bad ass bridge is that the mounting holes don't line up. Thats where im at now. I'm sure it can be overcome though.