My G5210T -> “G6210T” Mod Project

[Hickeroar]

Just titled this in the spirit of my previous G5230T -> "G6230T" thread, though truth be told, the mods on this one didn't need to be nearly as invasive as on that one.

Mods:

• Hipshot Chrome Griplock Locking Tuners
• Brick'sBiggsFix Tuning Stabilizer V3
• Milisten Zinc Alloy Banjo Armrest

I had planned to install a roller bridge just like on the other one, but Gretsch made a design change that negated the need for it. On my G5230T, the bridge posts had very tight tolerances and didn't "rock" at all when the trem was used. This led to tuning instability over the bridge, and the only recourse I found was to use a roller bridge. On the G5210T (and I'm wondering if other new similarly styled G5XXXT guitars), there's a lot of built in "rock" on the bridge posts, and it acts just like a rocking bridge. The amount of rocking it can do very much reminds me of other bridges I've seen where it was done intentionally, so I think this was an intentional (and welcome) change by Gretch as well.

I did have to use some nut sauce on the nut to stop some binding I was seeing there (specifically on the D string), but its tuning stability is rock solid now.

The neck pickup is a lot darker than I was expecting (the domino P-90 in the neck of my Duesenberg is far more articulate). I often skip the middle position on guitars, but the middle on this one just sings. I really like it. The bridge is growly and dirty.

All my conclusions are pretty much the same on this guitar as they were on the other one. Very well made guitar from top to bottom. Here are some pics of the finished product (some of the coloring on these images got borked by the camera. Oh well. I think it's that green paint on the wall throwing things off.):









G5210T-P90, G5230T, G6128T-57 respectively.

 

[JackNangle]

Looks great! I think I’m going to add an arm rest to mine

 

[Marv666]

Looks great! How close does the bigsby b50 with a stabiliser get to a b3?

 

[rockymtnguitar]

Dumb question, but how do you attach the armrest? Is it screwed into the body?

 

[Hickeroar]

Dumb question, but how do you attach the armrest? Is it screwed into the body?

Yes, screwed in. I explained how I went about it in my other post.

 

[Hickeroar]

Looks great! How close does the bigsby b50 with a stabiliser get to a b3?

They're in the same ballpark. The B50 is probably a little stiffer.

 

[collama]

@Hickeroar - still digging the 5120t P90? Have you stuck with the stock P90s?

I can get one $100 off and am super tempted.

 

[oneforsorrow]

I’m very interested in this guitar too but haven’t played one. However, I’m now paying attention to what everyone has to say about the neck pickup as it’s where I spend most of my time playing.

Your mods look amazing!

 

[Hickeroar]

@Hickeroar - still digging the 5120t P90? Have you stuck with the stock P90s?

I can get one $100 off and am super tempted.

Yeah, it's a great guitar. Running the stock pickups, and I don't think I'll ever change them. No reason to.

 

[Hickeroar]

I’m very interested in this guitar too but haven’t played one. However, I’m now paying attention to what everyone has to say about the neck pickup as it’s where I spend most of my time playing.

Your mods look amazing!

The neck is on the dark side, and I usually stick to the neck on most guitars as well. The middle position is really nice though. I usually avoid the middle position on guitars, so that's saying something for me.