Thinking of Modifying Your Gretsch 5120

[admin]

NIck, thanks for your comments and nice photos.

[soundmasterg]

Greg: It will be interesting to see what TV recommends. The darkness, plugged in, is due to the "Gretschbucker" pickups in my view. I do not think you will find that to be the case if you upgrade the pickups. Acoustically you may have a point but I have also found that the bridge has a significant role to play in this regard. The TruArc is an great improvement.

Hi Peter,

Mine actually has been upgraded to the TVJones Classic Filtertrons, but I still think it is a bit dark compared to the more expensive Gretsches that I've played. I'll check into the TruArc bridge...thanks for the tip! I may just save my money and get a nicer Gretsch at some point and sell this one though also.

greg

[admin]

Greg: How does your stock bridge fit the guitar at the base? The stock one I had required some fitting to the top of the guitar by sanding the bottom of the rosewood base. I found that taping sandpaper (smooth side down ) where the bridge should be and then gently sanding it back and forth in its normal orientation but in the direction head to tail on the sandpaper allowed it to conform to the surface and improved the tone. But, even better was the truearc (aluminum) which made the difference for me. The stainless would likely be brighter still. The classics should not sound dark in my view. I also had a bone nut installed.

[soundmasterg]

Greg: How does your stock bridge fit the guitar at the base? The stock one I had required some fitting to the top of the guitar by sanding the bottom of the rosewood base. I found that taping sandpaper (smooth side down ) where the bridge should be and then gently sanding it back and forth in its normal orientation but in the direction head to tail on the sandpaper allowed it to conform to the surface and improved the tone. But, even better was the truearc (aluminum) which made the difference for me. The stainless would likely be brighter still. The classics should not sound dark in my view. I also had a bone nut installed.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the tips! I'm not sure how the stock bridge fits...I'll have to take a look. I had the bridge pinned but other than that and the pickup upgrades, I haven't done anything to it. I'll have to wait until I get a break from school to be able to look at it. I went back to school for an EE and have been flattened with homework since...haha.

Greg

[kenposurf]

Found a pretty good deal on a black 5120 with the pinstriping by JimmyC
Having a set of these pups installed
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml

[antipodean]

Found a pretty good deal on a black 5120 with the pinstriping by JimmyC
Having a set of these pups installed
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml

Going trad or hotting the pups up?

[kenposurf]

Found a pretty good deal on a black 5120 with the pinstriping by JimmyC
Having a set of these pups installed
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml

Going trad or hotting the pups up?

I bought a set of F-Trons from Curtis Novak http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml The pups are a bit too wide and also too narrow to fit the guitar. I have a call into Curtis to see if he has any ideas..I'm a big fan of his work so hope I can use these ..if not onto TV

Update: Just heard from Curtis,,,said he has not seen that problem before but to go ahead and send him the stock and the F-trons back and he can switch the guts and put the F-trons into the stock covers

[jingle_jangle]

Found a pretty good deal on a black 5120 with the pinstriping by JimmyC
Having a set of these pups installed
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml

Going trad or hotting the pups up?

I bought a set of F-Trons from Curtis Novak http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml The pups are a bit too wide and also too narrow to fit the guitar. I have a call into Curtis to see if he has any ideas..I'm a big fan of his work so hope I can use these ..if not onto TV

Update: Just heard from Curtis,,,said he has not seen that problem before but to go ahead and send him the stock and the F-trons back and he can switch the guts and put the F-trons into the stock covers

So, you'll have Filtertrons that look like Dumbuckers...the impedance of the pickups will change in different housings. You may get something that's different in sound from any FT, once you're done.

[charlyg]

Kinda late to the party, but........ I dig the 5120 and Samick in Korea is doing fine work. So far this thing gets every tone I need so I will hold off for a bit on mods....

[kenposurf]

I bought a set of F-Trons from Curtis Novak http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tron-f.shtml The pups are a bit too wide and also too narrow to fit the guitar. I have a call into Curtis to see if he has any ideas..I'm a big fan of his work so hope I can use these ..if not onto TV

Update: Just heard from Curtis,,,said he has not seen that problem before but to go ahead and send him the stock and the F-trons back and he can switch the guts and put the F-trons into the stock covers [/quote]

Paul W wrote: So, you'll have Filtertrons that look like Dumbuckers...the impedance of the pickups will change in different housings. You may get something that's different in sound from any FT, once you're done.


The sound at least to my ear is between a Filtertron and a Dearmond....brighter than a Filterrton which for me is a good thing
It was a hassle to make these all fit but in the end I'm very pleased....that said TV Jones pups are great and would be a drop in mod I believe.
Prior to the 5120 I owned a 5129 w/Dearmonds .Paul W clued me in about those and they sound great right out of the box..no pinstripes! though!

[whojamfan]

Nice job Peter!

I too have been bitten by the Gretsch bug, and thanks to this forum, 2 people were made very happy as a result.

I recently got a Tennessee Rose, and put a Compton aluminum bridge on it. I too was looking at the Tru-Arcs, but for 42 bucks delivered, cut to my string gauge and fretboard radius, and a look I liked, it was the right choice for me. I was going to pin my bridge base as well, but found a little violin bow rosin on the bottom keeps her in place perfectly. The replacement bridge, either one, really makes a great improvement on the instrument, in every respect. More sustain, more tone(without changing it), and all the rattles and buzzes went away. The arc of both allows for a better action. Highly recommend it to anybody.

I also replaced the stock Bigsby arm, and put a Chet Atkins one on, and wow, sure looks sweet!

Anyways, one of these years when I can figure out how to post pics, I'll put some up.

[whojamfan]

Just fitted a chrome jack plate for added strength and a treble bleed cap on the master volume. I highly recommend both, the master volume really gets vintagy as you turn it down now!

[admin]

Excellent Mike. Please post a few photos of this beauty.

[whojamfan]

I would if I could figure out how, very comptarded