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Julie

2013 Gretsch G5120 Electromatic

For the past couple decades the Gretsch name has been plastered across a dizzying array of budget-priced, Korean-made guitars. Nobody, not even Gretsch, can keep track of all the overlapping models, but they do offer an opportunity to get a cool jazz/rockabilly box for 1/3 of the cost of a U.S.A. model, and are an excellent platform for retrofit upgrades.

I picked this up used on eBay for about $300. The stock “Dual Coil” p/ups were pretty naff, so I replaced them with GFS “Retro’Trons” — at $70 for the pair I figured if they turned out a plonker I could always resell ‘em and upgrade to TV Jones, but so far me likey.

Alnico V magnets, with a big, bright, warm sound, plenty of that Filter’Tron “kerrr-ang,” buttery neck tone, and you can even get the Beatles ’65 HiLo’Tron vibe.

I found a used set of Sperzel locking tuners (Brian Setzer uses them on all his Gretsches) on eBay, and had my tech shave about a pound of polyurethane off the back of the neck, wet-sanded, and sprayed it with nitro sealer for a smooth, matte feel.

The bridge is a solid stainless steel Compton which adds sustain and clarity, good intonation, and better matches the fret board radius. He also mounted “peel n stick” sandpaper to the top in the shape of the bridge footprint, which keeps the floating bridge from sliding around and insures proper intonation when changing strings. I also replaced the Bigsby spring with a 1″ which gives it a bit more resistance. Loaded with D’Addario XL .12-.52 “Jazz Light” half rounds.

Julie Julie Guitar Fetish Retro’Tron “Liverpool”

Julie Julie Restringing Julie

Julie Julie Reunion with my old Bay Area band, The Back Pages. Either jamming hot guitar licks or attempting to poop a Lego (™) helicopter. Julie Reunion with my old Bay Area band, The Back Pages. Julie Reunion with my old Bay Area band, The Back Pages.