The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Vintage Gretsch Guitars: Dial Up & Flip Up Muffler Question

Dial Up & Flip Up Muffler Question

- Rated: 97 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 10:25 p.m. Setzer:

Are the internal parts the same, besides the actual muffler and differences in the knobs?

I guess what I am wanting to know, or see if anybody can photo it for me, are these parts:

the threaded rod that the full sized knob mounts on and how this attaches or activates the long arm.

edit: I found the patent number for the mute with the dial in Jay Scott's book; 3,134,288. I looked it up on the US Patent site and located some diagrams which are helping.

A old GDP thread I found while searching on yahoo
- Rated: 21 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 7:31 a.m. GentlBen:

I didn't even know they had dial up mutes!

My flip up mutes are useless because push too hard on the strings. Is there a way to adjust the pressure that they apply when fully engaged?

Setzer: Sorry to butt in on your question but for some reason it won't let me initiate a new topic so I have to jump in wherever I can.
- Rated: 97 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 10:17 a.m. Setzer:

Hey Ben, no problem.

You can adjust the mute and the small rod that it is attached to by using a allen wrench. Loosen the set screw and let the rod slip down some. Do it in small increments and test it.
- Rated: 21 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 10:23 a.m. GentlBen:

Thanks Setzer,

I haven't had my Classic but a few weeks and haven't even unsnapped the pad yet!
- Rated: 97 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 10:49 a.m. Setzer:

That is one of the first things I do when I get a old Gretsch with a back pad...unsnap it and take a look. Have a screw driver handy.

I had to make a white plastic access cover for one last night.
- Rated: 65 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 2:35 p.m. antik:

The patent for the dial up mute has a couple of drawings that show how they could have worked although I am not positive this is exactly how the production ones worked.

( To save some time if you look at the patent: #31 is a "relativity stiff" leaf spring that pushes the mute down, away from the string, and keeps one end of the lever in contact with the dial.)

According to Dan Duffy, Gretsch made the change to lever activation to reduce assembly time since the dial up mutes took too long time to install. I may not be remembering correctly but I think he said it took something like 1 hour for installation.
- Rated: 97 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 3:22 p.m. Setzer:

Thanks for the reply antique but I already got that far(Patent and link to old thread...yes 1 hour)...see my first post in this thread.

I however would love to see some actual production version photos of the dial up system.
- Rated: 65 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 5:39 p.m. antik:

Sorry Paul, I must not have read your post very carefully.

I have only ever seen 1 set of photos of the workings of the dial up mute on the interwebs. I think it was on ebay. Unfortunately I did not save the photos. I not not have a clear recollection of all the parts except the parts were rusted and I think there was a tapped hole on one end of the lever. I do remember concluding it looked like too much trouble for me to convert a lever type to a dial.

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Dial Up & Flip Up Muffler Question

Oct 1, 2008 10:25 p.m. Setzer:

Oct 2, 2008 7:31 a.m. GentlBen:

Oct 2, 2008 10:17 a.m. Setzer:

Oct 2, 2008 10:23 a.m. GentlBen:

Oct 2, 2008 10:49 a.m. Setzer:

Oct 2, 2008 2:35 p.m. antik:

Oct 2, 2008 3:22 p.m. Setzer:

Oct 2, 2008 5:39 p.m. antik:

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