A Quick PIc of my New Gretsch

Cassady · May 9th, 2008, 07:13 AM

I got a Gretsch G5120 last week, orange of course, and here's a quick picture:

I really like this guitar and have been playing all of my very limited Duane Eddy repertoire on it. It isn't quite as brash and bright as I'd like--it will do Chet Atkins/jazzy tones very well, gets close to Duane Eddy twang, but won't get into that sizzly early Beatles brightness. In other words, there may be a pickup change in its future--I've seen some really neat instructions for installing actual Filtertrons in 5120s and I might give that a try at some point.

It is going to get a new pickguard and I have some Gretsch decals that I'm going to put on the back of the clear guard and then paint over---I'm going to try a white "Electromatic Gretsch" on a black guard and a gold "Gretsch" and Gretsch steer head on a gold guard and see what I like best.

The workmanship of this guitar is quite good: the internal construction is neat and clean and everything I can see is cleanly cut and without glue spills or slop; the binding is neat and tidy; the finish is smooth and fairly thin; the neck is kind of a medium depth and there's not a trace of fret sprout.

What this guitar desperately needs, though, is a properly cut bone nut as it tends to go out of tune quite easily with even moderate Bigsby use. There's also a bit of buzz at times from the Tune-o-matic-type bridge and that's a possibility for replacement down the line. It might also get a longer/stiffer spring in the Bigsby. These aren't big faults (and I think that any decent guitar deserves a bone nut), but might put off someone who just wants and off-the-shelf guitar that doesn't need any work, but that's what the pro-line Gretsches are for, I suppose.

These Korean Gretsches are really nice guitars for the money. If you're interested in the price, I paid $650 with a Gretsch hard case for this one.

Cassady

studio1087 · May 9th, 2008, 07:32 AM

Absolutely beautiful.....congratulations!

FMA · May 9th, 2008, 07:38 AM

Nice guitar.
I have a black one. And I, too, thought the stock pickups lacked a bit of the top end that makes a Gretsch sound like a Gretsch. You can go the Filtertron route, or the TV Jones route. TV Jones pickups are tremendous. That said, on a whim, I popped a pair of GFS Retrotron Nashvilles in mine and it gets you close to the 'tron tone. Now, before the replies start, I'm not saying GFS are the equal to real 'trons or TV Jones pickups. I'm just saying they'll get you in the ballpark for a ridiculously modest sum of money...
Other than that, I too love my 5120. A bone nut would be a good improvement. I just made sure the nut was cut well and put some pencil graphite in the slots and I've never had any tuning trouble. A lot of people replace the tuners, which I think is unnecessary. The tuners are fine. The nut is usually the culprit when you have tuning problems. But you already know that...

jimd · May 9th, 2008, 07:47 AM

Nice guitar! I have one and love it

I'm glad to see you went with the matching pick.

chet · May 9th, 2008, 08:09 AM

You might try adjusting the pickup height. I did that on a Gretsch Pro Jet and it brought out the highs it lacked before.

Tele Fan · May 9th, 2008, 08:15 AM

Congrats. I've got the same axe and it's a blast. You may just want to give her some time to settle in. Mine had a lot of tuning problems when I first got her but after a year and a half they're just about gone. I don't know why but it seems like these guitars just need to get played and everything lines up after a while. Have fun with it.

JimiBryant · May 9th, 2008, 08:18 AM

what's not to like??! LOVE that orange color.
congrats on the great score!

I have a Gretsch Round-Up that took about a year to "break in" but it's been
smooth sailing ever since.

FMA · May 9th, 2008, 08:24 AM

One other thing, a trick to brighten up the pickups. Try lowering the bodies of the pickups and then raising the individual pole pieces. That'll get a bit more brightness and twang out the Gretschbuckers, which, by the way, aren't bad-sounding pickups.

superbadj · May 9th, 2008, 08:26 AM

HEY Cassidy, I've seen your posts on the Gretsch Pages site. Funny how many crossovers there are between these two communities.

Great guitar. My Gretsch Corvette is supposed to arrive today, but even with that, I'm still gassing for a nice Gretsch hollow. The 6118 Annie is my dream. But that electro hollow may have to fill the slot until I can afford a more expensive axe.

Enjoy.

Cassady · May 9th, 2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMA

One other thing, a trick to brighten up the pickups. Try lowering the bodies of the pickups and then raising the individual pole pieces. That'll get a bit more brightness and twang out the Gretschbuckers, which, by the way, aren't bad-sounding pickups.

Thanks, FMA, I'll give that a try--I tried adjusting the pickups, but they're as high as they'll go without adding a spacer. I didn't consider adjusting the pole pieces themselves, though (slaps self on forehead).

Cassady

chet · May 9th, 2008, 08:47 AM

Using heavier strings like .011's might stabilize the tuning problems also.

FMA · May 9th, 2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassady

Thanks, FMA, I'll give that a try--I tried adjusting the pickups, but they're as high as they'll go without adding a spacer. I didn't consider adjusting the pole pieces themselves, though (slaps self on forehead).

Cassady

Maybe my instructions weren't clear. Lower the pickups themselves and then, raise the polepieces. Does that make more sense?

Cassady · May 9th, 2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMA

Maybe my instructions weren't clear. Lower the pickups themselves and then, raise the polepieces. Does that make more sense?

No, your instructions were quite clear. Maybe I didn't express myself as precisely as I would have liked--I'm going to try lowering the pickups and raising the pole pieces and leaving the pickups as they are (maximum height) and just raising the pole pieces. I'll see what works best--I just thought I was out of options with the pickups set at their max height, but didn't think of raising the pole pieces, too.

Thanks,

Cassady

Dennis68 · May 9th, 2008, 09:55 AM

Congrats! Looks great! Is that one part of their annivsary series? Local store has a few and a Country Gentleman as well. All nice guitars.

swooda · May 9th, 2008, 10:37 AM

Those are nice geetars for sure. A little tip with the tune-a-matic bridge. Those things are notorious for rattle. You can coat the keeper wire and saddles with clear finger nail polish and kill that. A little trick I did to my 6120 that worked like a charm.....

ajgus · May 9th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Jump, Jive & Wail my friend!

dobrodoc · May 9th, 2008, 11:31 AM

GREAT guitar!! Congrats! I had to put a 1" spring in mine when I went to .011's flatwounds, and it's a killer guitar now. (well, even more than it was!)

Cassady · May 9th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis68

Congrats! Looks great! Is that one part of their annivsary series? Local store has a few and a Country Gentleman as well. All nice guitars.

Nope, it's the bottom of the line Electromatic series, not an anniversary. It does have a 125th anniversary emblem on the back of the headstock, though...

Cassady

Dennis68 · May 9th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassady

Nope, it's the bottom of the line Electromatic series, not an anniversary. It does have a 125th anniversary emblem on the back of the headstock, though...

Cassady

Well that's good enough, yes?! Again congrats, it's a nice one you have there!

outbreak · May 9th, 2008, 07:00 PM

i wanted one of these for so long that a store near me had, now it's sold :(
later on in the year i'm thinking of buying one if my playing improves

beep.click · May 9th, 2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassady

If you're interested in the price, I paid $650 with a Gretsch hard case for this one.

You got a better price than I did. Congratulations on a cool guitar!!!

voided3 · May 9th, 2008, 10:43 PM

I've had the G5125 (black, DeArmond 2000's) for a few years now and it's a great guitar (this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=517730 ). I recommend two things: 1) adjust the pickup heights w/ the polepieces (that's the only way on this one anyway, but yeah, it makes a huge improvement when the poles match the fretboard radius) and 2) tighten the bolt on the bigsby arm (makes it much more responsive). I also have noted the tuning issues w/ the nut on mine and I will eventually look for a replacement, but the tuners are great on mine so I know it isn't those. Mine has the aluminum rocker bridge instead of a tune-o-matic and that doesn't give me any problems at all; might be worth a try on the 5120.

eddiewagner · Yesterday, 03:37 AM

howdy folks, i will try that polepiece-thing today on mine. i put a rollerbridge and a les-paul-input-jackplate on the 5120 of mine. and of course 11-49 strings.

eddiewagner · Yesterday, 05:41 AM

ha! that was an easy modification. and it brings out the twang of my 5120 quite a bit. took me 10 minutes to do it.
had to take off the pickguard, lower the pups, raise the screws, make shure all is in line. ready.
i think that is a lot of bang for the (zero) buck. thanks for the great advice friends!!!!!
eddie

F1rocco · Yesterday, 05:32 PM

Nice axe.....

I had to have one a few years ago...I bought a 2005 model..I believe they are Burstbuckers.Its just one of the guitars to have to finish of a collection.. Not sure about the newer models...They looked smaller to me almost like a 3/4size...Something was different....I wish I could have got your color...Mine is black but Ive learned to luvit...

Enjoy

May 9th, 2008, 07:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cassady Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 410	A Quick PIc of my New Gretsch I got a Gretsch G5120 last week, orange of course, and here's a quick picture: I really like this guitar and have been playing all of my very limited Duane Eddy repertoire on it. It isn't quite as brash and bright as I'd like--it will do Chet Atkins/jazzy tones very well, gets close to Duane Eddy twang, but won't get into that sizzly early Beatles brightness. In other words, there may be a pickup change in its future--I've seen some really neat instructions for installing actual Filtertrons in 5120s and I might give that a try at some point. It is going to get a new pickguard and I have some Gretsch decals that I'm going to put on the back of the clear guard and then paint over---I'm going to try a white "Electromatic Gretsch" on a black guard and a gold "Gretsch" and Gretsch steer head on a gold guard and see what I like best. The workmanship of this guitar is quite good: the internal construction is neat and clean and everything I can see is cleanly cut and without glue spills or slop; the binding is neat and tidy; the finish is smooth and fairly thin; the neck is kind of a medium depth and there's not a trace of fret sprout. What this guitar desperately needs, though, is a properly cut bone nut as it tends to go out of tune quite easily with even moderate Bigsby use. There's also a bit of buzz at times from the Tune-o-matic-type bridge and that's a possibility for replacement down the line. It might also get a longer/stiffer spring in the Bigsby. These aren't big faults (and I think that any decent guitar deserves a bone nut), but might put off someone who just wants and off-the-shelf guitar that doesn't need any work, but that's what the pro-line Gretsches are for, I suppose. These Korean Gretsches are really nice guitars for the money. If you're interested in the price, I paid $650 with a Gretsch hard case for this one. Cassady

May 9th, 2008, 07:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 43 Posts: 2,812 28 Photos	Absolutely beautiful.....congratulations! __________________ JLG Carry On

May 9th, 2008, 08:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
chet Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 4,809	You might try adjusting the pickup height. I did that on a Gretsch Pro Jet and it brought out the highs it lacked before. __________________ Nets-Mets-Jets-Giants

May 9th, 2008, 08:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 578	Congrats. I've got the same axe and it's a blast. You may just want to give her some time to settle in. Mine had a lot of tuning problems when I first got her but after a year and a half they're just about gone. I don't know why but it seems like these guitars just need to get played and everything lines up after a while. Have fun with it. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

May 9th, 2008, 08:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,006	what's not to like??! LOVE that orange color. congrats on the great score! I have a Gretsch Round-Up that took about a year to "break in" but it's been smooth sailing ever since. __________________ I am very proud of the fact that I'm so humble!

May 9th, 2008, 07:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 961	Nice guitar. I have a black one. And I, too, thought the stock pickups lacked a bit of the top end that makes a Gretsch sound like a Gretsch. You can go the Filtertron route, or the TV Jones route. TV Jones pickups are tremendous. That said, on a whim, I popped a pair of GFS Retrotron Nashvilles in mine and it gets you close to the 'tron tone. Now, before the replies start, I'm not saying GFS are the equal to real 'trons or TV Jones pickups. I'm just saying they'll get you in the ballpark for a ridiculously modest sum of money... Other than that, I too love my 5120. A bone nut would be a good improvement. I just made sure the nut was cut well and put some pencil graphite in the slots and I've never had any tuning trouble. A lot of people replace the tuners, which I think is unnecessary. The tuners are fine. The nut is usually the culprit when you have tuning problems. But you already know that...

May 9th, 2008, 07:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
jimd Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 41 Posts: 383	Nice guitar! I have one and love it I'm glad to see you went with the matching pick.

May 9th, 2008, 08:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 961	One other thing, a trick to brighten up the pickups. Try lowering the bodies of the pickups and then raising the individual pole pieces. That'll get a bit more brightness and twang out the Gretschbuckers, which, by the way, aren't bad-sounding pickups.

May 9th, 2008, 08:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
superbadj TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 33 Posts: 63	HEY Cassidy, I've seen your posts on the Gretsch Pages site. Funny how many crossovers there are between these two communities. Great guitar. My Gretsch Corvette is supposed to arrive today, but even with that, I'm still gassing for a nice Gretsch hollow. The 6118 Annie is my dream. But that electro hollow may have to fill the slot until I can afford a more expensive axe. Enjoy.

May 9th, 2008, 08:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
chet Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 4,809	Using heavier strings like .011's might stabilize the tuning problems also. __________________ Nets-Mets-Jets-Giants

May 9th, 2008, 09:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 631	Congrats! Looks great! Is that one part of their annivsary series? Local store has a few and a Country Gentleman as well. All nice guitars. __________________ -Dennis

May 9th, 2008, 10:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
swooda Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 52 Posts: 647	Those are nice geetars for sure. A little tip with the tune-a-matic bridge. Those things are notorious for rattle. You can coat the keeper wire and saddles with clear finger nail polish and kill that. A little trick I did to my 6120 that worked like a charm..... __________________ "The beatings will continue until the morale around here improves."

May 9th, 2008, 11:22 AM	#16 (permalink)
ajgus Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 861	Jump, Jive & Wail my friend! __________________ I am serious...& don't call me Shirley.

May 9th, 2008, 11:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
dobrodoc Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ware Shoals, S.C. Age: 52 Posts: 285	GREAT guitar!! Congrats! I had to put a 1" spring in mine when I went to .011's flatwounds, and it's a killer guitar now. (well, even more than it was!)

May 9th, 2008, 07:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
outbreak Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Australia Age: 20 Posts: 212	i wanted one of these for so long that a store near me had, now it's sold :( later on in the year i'm thinking of buying one if my playing improves __________________ '07 MIM std tele '07 Epiphone Studio Dot '04ish J&D Luthiers LP copy '07 VOX ad50vt

May 9th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#22 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 566	I've had the G5125 (black, DeArmond 2000's) for a few years now and it's a great guitar (this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=517730 ). I recommend two things: 1) adjust the pickup heights w/ the polepieces (that's the only way on this one anyway, but yeah, it makes a huge improvement when the poles match the fretboard radius) and 2) tighten the bolt on the bigsby arm (makes it much more responsive). I also have noted the tuning issues w/ the nut on mine and I will eventually look for a replacement, but the tuners are great on mine so I know it isn't those. Mine has the aluminum rocker bridge instead of a tune-o-matic and that doesn't give me any problems at all; might be worth a try on the 5120.

Yesterday, 03:37 AM	#23 (permalink)
eddiewagner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 49 Posts: 3,378 27 Photos	howdy folks, i will try that polepiece-thing today on mine. i put a rollerbridge and a les-paul-input-jackplate on the 5120 of mine. and of course 11-49 strings. __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

Yesterday, 05:32 PM	#25 (permalink)
F1rocco Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York Age: 37 Posts: 363	Nice axe..... I had to have one a few years ago...I bought a 2005 model..I believe they are Burstbuckers.Its just one of the guitars to have to finish of a collection.. Not sure about the newer models...They looked smaller to me almost like a 3/4size...Something was different....I wish I could have got your color...Mine is black but Ive learned to luvit... Enjoy