[Woody94]

Hey guys,

New guy here from Michigan. I will admit I have been visting the site for a few months now, and have gained some very valuable info!

Also if anyone has any advise for me I am all ears. I am not just new to the Gretsch line but really guitar playing in general, with a bit of previous experience playing bass.

My dilema is this....I have been fortunate to have a friends loaner Strat to learn on, but its time for me to get some gear of my own. I had been keeping my eyes open for a nice g5125 or 5129 locally, and well I found a really nice g5125, but I have one main concern. For now I am only going to be able to have (afford) one guitar, and since I am learning I want to be able learn muliple styles (classic rock, punk, ect.). You think I could get by with a G5125 or should I maybe start out with a more versatile semi hollow like a dot or casino, or maybe a epi les paul, figuring to pick up a Gretsch Hollowbody down the road when I have more experince??

Sorry for being so long winded...

Any advice from you guys will be appriciated. Thanks.

Dave

[dazzajl]

While all types of guitars do have different qualities, there's no reason that you can't play any style on any guitar. Especially if you're just starting out (in the first year, two or three of playing).

I think it's far more important to have a guitar that you love and makes you want to play and enjoy that time than have the perfect tool for the job, if you're not a working player.

Oh, and of course.... Welcome to the forum.

[NickGretsch]

Welcome Woody

Yep +1 on Dazz's comment.

The look, sound and feel of a guitar will help no end to giving you encouragement to play.

Best bet to try as many different guitars as possible. Strats/solid bodies are great, very comfy but a semi will vibrate and perhaps give more 'feel' but it's all so subjective.

Obviously hope you chose a Gretsch but keep in touch and let us know what you end up with.

[Woody94]

Thanks for replys! I do realize this question is very subjective, but I do appriciate the suggestions. Forgot to add the Pro Jet to list of alternatives...

[freddyfingers]

I agree with all. I think once you develop as a guitarist, you will then be able to more easily tell the difference between a guitar that as more suited to what it is you are trying to learn. If you get one now, make sure it has decent action, as in the strings are not too far from the frets, it stays in tune, and is intonated. Play it for a while, then you will be able to tell the difference between other guitars, as you now have a reference point. Also, a 5125 is not a bad guitar to start on. I started on a late 70's Montomery ward surplus store sg wannabe. Didnt hold tune, didn't intonate, broke strings all the time, and the strings were way over a quarter pinch past the fret board. Slow me down quite a bit until I realized it was the guitar, not me.

Welcome aboard!

[Webster8]

I concur with all the points above. Additionally, I wouldn't let conventional wisdom on the "correct" guitar/musical genre pairings interfere with your choice(s) of guitars. Ed Bickert (Canadian jazz guitar player) played a Tele, instead of a more common hollowbody guitar. Pete Townshend used a G6120 for much of Quadrophenia and Who's Next, both hard rock albums, instead of a Strat or Les Paul.

I've found that certain instruments' "limitations" have actually helped me become a better player. My first electric was an Kramer XL, which had a terribly set up vintage vibrato unit. When it would go out of tune (even after slight manipulation), I had to train my ear to quickly re-tune mid song! And even now, with my Gretsch 6117T, which I love, I find myself reworking patterns since it's hard for me to play very high up on the neck, due to my relatively restrictive upper-fret access and my small fingers.

[cowmoo]

Welcome and hello! It took many years going through tele's, strats, les pauls, to realise i found the Gretsch size body to be right, my first hollowbody was an old antoria L5 copy, but thats because i play a lot of acoustic too, and IF you can push a deal a little and grab a playable acoustic too, that will, IMHO make for a better guitar player in the future.
And i manage to play supersuckers style rock, setzer inspired swing, country, and ramones type punk on my gretsch's, so don't worry about versatility on a 5125!!

[montereyjack66]

Welcome! Many enthusiastic echoes on the previous opinions. My first electric was a St. George handmedown from my big brother, maybe Sears Roebuck or some such thing. It was soooooo out of tune and warped and pretty much into worshiping the devil that all it did was confuse me to the point of giving up. (I did develop some finger strength on that puppy). A well behaved intrument that doesn't undermine you is a blessing provided you are serious and it doesn't just sit in a case. As for the instrument that truly speaks to YOU, she'll find you.

mj

[cybermgk]

Welcome to the forum, and your possible new Gretschitude.

Try the 5125. See if it sings to you. Definately try a Jet, they are outre versatile. Mine can cover the smae ground as my LP, and grounf the LP can't tread.

[Woody94]

Thanks for all the info guys. Much appriciated!

[fender62custom]

Greetings Woody..nothing more to add from what's been said...welcome to the forum!!!

[rhino2104]

Welcome to the forum Woody. As has been said many times over so far get what you like. I wouldn't limit yourself to the preconceived notions of what guitar can play what music. If you want a Gretsch but don't know about a hollow body then check into a Jet, or if you want a solid body, get a Corvette. Personally I say get all of the above when you can afford them Then again my wife who's been playing for years has one guitar and I have 2 electrics and a bass and I've only been playing for a year.

[audept]

Hi Woody, welcome to the forum!

[NeilSt]

I have always believed that the guitar we begin on will inform the way we play in ways we can't really understand...at least not for a long, long time. If you get the 5125, learn on it, get comfortable with it and bond with it -- then that guitar will mysteriously lead the way. And although it may sound like a little bit of mystical hooey, I think that first guitar has a way of helping us learn how to play the way we were supposed to play.

Pictures are required, by the way!

[jaycemumford]

Welcome Woody, the 5125 will be just fine! If you play it and all is well ide buy it!

[Woody94]

Thanks again for all the replys! You guys have offered up some very sound advise, but then I knew from reading stuff hear for a few months that posting up this question, I would get some quality and honest answers. I hope to go and check out the 5125 later this week, and if I bring it home, I will post up some pics

[Woody94]

Quick update. Finally went and took a look at the 5125 that is for sale on my local CL.

Very cool Guitars, I have held a 5120 at my local store, but first time I have seen a 512x in person.

What I did not do yet is bring it home. Its overall condition seemed good (in need of a good cleaning), everything was in working order but I had one concern. Where the neck meets the body there was a crack in the paint that went the entire length of the neck, but just on one side. It was very difficult to tell if it was just possibly say a stress crack in the paint or something more? Also could see a evidence of a very small crack in the finish between the fretboard and the body.

Is this something common with the finish on these guitars in that area (this one is from 2005), maybe something you guys have seen happen as they age, or is it evidence of a bigger problem between the joint in that area?

I took a few pics with my phone and will try to post them up in the AM..

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.