Gretsch Guitar Discussion Forum

Hairy cochleas revisited

Ricochet — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:42:58 GMT

Perfect pitch may not be so perfect after all...

http://news.uchicago.edu/article/201...rce=newsmodule

Sylvain Sylvain, New York Dolls-Gretsch!

old mark — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:54:52 GMT

The New York Dolls, live in Germany in 1973...Rhythm guitarist Sylvain Sylvain plays a big ol' Gretsch and just RIPS the chords out of it!

You Tube

And again from 2009, Because I Sez So...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67sLTTyWMzI

Singer David Johanson and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain are the only survivors of the original band...they still work, tour and record. Here's the New York Dolls official web page...http://www.nydolls.org/News.html

mark

Bigsby Issues

Tinman46 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:35:48 GMT

Hey all
I'm having some problems with a B5 bigsby on a Tele. If I push down it usually returns to pitch, but not always, and if I pull up a bit it will stick a quarter to half note high until I push it down again. My first suspect was the nut so I filed it out a bit and put some graphite in the slots. Didn't make a bit of difference so I replaced the whole nut with a bone nut and lubricated the slots. Still sticking. One guy I showed it to said the string angle behind the nut was off and added a string tree to the 3rd and 4rth string. That seems to have helped a bit but it's far from perfect. Any other things I should look at? The bridge is a Rutters half bridge and I have Schaller locking tuners. Oh and 10 gauge strings.
Could it be the bigsby spring is a bit too stiff?

New Surf 90's in the house!

Telechamp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:03:44 GMT

Just got my 5120 back from the tech with the new Surf 90's installed. Love 'em!

Nice and clean and crisp, with lots of twang at the bridge. No more mud! All three pickup positions sound great with these pups.

What an improvement over the stock Gretschbuckers! I should have done this pickup swap a long time ago...

Model/Make/Etc. info requested: The Monkees & Gretsch

MonkeesGretsch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:01:17 GMT

Everyone,

I'm hoping Gretsch experts here can assist me with some information. I'm looking to detail the make/model #/year, etc. of the Gretsch guitars and drums used by The Monkees, on television and on the concert stage.

I have attached a few photos of the specific instrument used by each Monkee during their initial run as a group. Could any of you give me as much information as possible on each?

Here's what is pictured:

1. Mike's blonde Gretsch 12-string
2. Mike's red Gretsch 6-string
3. Davy's 3/4 scale Gretsch
4. Peter's Gretsch bass
5. Mike's brownish Gretsch 6-string
6. Micky's gold Gretsch drums

Finally, at the bottom, is a very early promo of the group.

Thank you in advance!

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Float On or Batten Down The Hatches?

NickFitt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:27:21 GMT

I put a set of TVJ's in my Gretsch & I'm running into a small problem. When I installed them I made absolutely sure that the strings were lined up perfectly with the pups never taking into consideration that my bridge likes to slide down towards the high E. This make the strings set way off from under the pups on the higher strings but RIGHT under the lower strings. Should I...
A): Remount the pups, making it the 3rd time that holes would be drilled into the guitar for that reason. I would of course fill the holes with dowels & glue.
B): Mount the bridge in place.
C): Use some other method to keep the bridge from sliding (I'm open to suggestions).
D): Just deal with it.

I value everyone's input here.

Aging Tolex?

GentleBen — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:14:48 GMT

I am constructing new back panels for a blackface Princeton Reverb. Any suggestions on aging the new tolex to blend with the old? :confused:

Newbie here - Need some Gretsch advice

StevieD — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:14:10 GMT

Hey all,

I'm a newbie to this forum. I don't currently own a Gretsch, but I'm getting ready to buy one. I currently play primarily acoustics, although I have a Fender Strat that I like to mess around with. I really like the sound of the Gretsch hollow bodies that I've heard, and had started down a path to buy a G6120. However....as I started to poke around on the Gretsch website, I realized how many different hollow body models they have, and now I'm a bit confused. I'm wondering if anyone can point me to a resource that might provide a general overview of Gretsch models - the primary differences, etc. I don't want to try out a ton of different models - I'd like to narrow the field a bit. Perhaps there is nothing like that out there, but I assume one of you would know.

Thanks in advance.

Blue pearl sparkle jet, upper bout strap lock

theodessakid — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:25:00 GMT

Hi, when I turn the silver nob at the end of the screw to remove it to put my strap on, the entire screw comes out. Its a wood screw and just unscrews.
Anyone else have this problem? Guess I need a toothpick and some wood glue.:D

John gomm inspirational words

Cashfan1 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:57:47 GMT

https://www.facebook.com/jongommoffi...24414697570400

CR Demo's - Moniker Guitars - "Dixie" Part 2

crgtr — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:41:05 GMT

I took another whack at Dixie & stayed on the clean side a bit more (by request) and she did great!

Ok....I think I'm drinking the Kool-Aid..Compton help?!!

TSims1 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:13:56 GMT

Okay, so every other word here seems to be Compton....! Lol....I ordered a g5435t that should be here in a day or two, so my questions are:
* Is there a direct-fit Compton bridge for my g5435t that won't require any mods?
* Which one will give me the most sparkle tonally(aluminum, brass, steel.....)....I come from a Tele background(so I am not scared of top-end bite)....?
* Any other easy quick changes to make the most of this guitar?

Now, I realize as a newbie that this ground has likely been covered here a bazillion times, but I started posting this before I had the bright idea to utilize the search function......lol.....off to do that now...! Still though, hit me up with any info you'd care to share!!

THANK YOU!!!
- T

Pro Jet mods � tools needed

Dennison — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:07:05 GMT

I want to remove the outer tension bar sleeve on the horseshoe Bigsby on my Pro Jet (earlier type) so as to soften the rather stiff Bigsby action. It's easy — just slide out the tension bar, remove the sleeve from the smaller diameter bar and then replace the bar.

All I need to do is remove one of the circlips that hold the tension bar in place — and for that I need the correct circlip (snap ring) pliers that will fit the tiny holes in the circlip. I have two pairs of circlip pliers — both too big, despite being labelled as 'mini' — and I've borrowed a pair from a neighbour: still too big. The tips of the pliers are obviously made of material harder than any fine file I possess because they refuse to be filed down. I've tried the dodge of using two fine pointed scribers (it always worked when replacing pistons on old motorbike engines) but these Bigsby circlips don't want to move.

The holes in the circlips will just take a '40' gauge guitar string, which is about 1mm. Anyone know a UK source of suitable mini circlip pliers — perhaps modelmakers pliers? This simple project is getting ridiculous!

My mini Gretsch!

Telegal — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:42:21 GMT

Check out my mini Gretsch! My amazing boyfriend gave me this as a present from his trip to Western Australia. He found this market stall that had handmade guitar models. He specifically asked for a Gretsch saying it was for me! He is a keeper in my books. :D Sorry about the quality of the pic

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New entry at the top of my guitar wish list

PDogga — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:11:28 GMT

I have today visited a music store here in Perth and after looking at the very nice collection of Gretsch hanging on the wall, I turned a corner and saw the only guitar that I have ever liked the look of more than a Gretsch. Bold statement I know. It is a Duesenberg??? I've never heard of 'em until now. Check this out:-

http://www.duesenbergusa.com/guitars...ell/index.html

Does anyone have one of these or ever played one or know much about them?