The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Vintage Gretsch Guitars: Firebird before/after Setzer Pickgaurd

Firebird before/after Setzer Pickgaurd

- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 19, 2008 4:17 p.m. hagstrom71:

I recently purchased a 64-65 Gretsch firebird that had a broken pickgaurd. Joel at shanghai and member Jackdaniels both recommended Mr Setzer for a replacement. I just wanted to say that he did an incredible job and was really easy to work with. He had never made this exact shape, so I sent him the broken one and he quickly emailed me 2 templates to check out.

Before http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s323/hagstrom71/Gretsch/Firebirdebay2.jpg

After http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s323/hagstrom71/Gretsch/Pickgaurdnew2.jpg

I replaced the black surrounds with gold ones from Joel, I think they look a little better.

Now, I'll keep my eye out for a burns bar. If anyone has any leads on one, please let me know.

Thanks again Setzer
- Rated: 102 ↑
Oct 19, 2008 9:32 p.m. Setzer:

Your welcome and thank you for the chance to do some work for such a cool vintage Gretsch!
- Rated: 41 ↑
Oct 19, 2008 9:41 p.m. J(esse James)D:

Looks very nice.

Cool guitar
- Rated: 32 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 2:19 a.m. gagsy:

Beautiful job - congratulations!
- Rated: 53 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 11:06 a.m. Ratrod:

That looks great!

Would you do me a favor?

Could you measure the pickups output and post it in the Filtertron Pickup Impedance Registry here?

I'm very curious. I'm trying to unlock the secrets to Malcolm Young's tone. Thanks.
- Rated: 77 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 12:53 p.m. sassy:

VERY COOL !!!
- Rated: 42 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 1:56 p.m. JC:

I bet that little thing sounds Big!
- Rated: 61 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 2:07 p.m. Bear:

Hey... that looks GREAT! Nice guitar too!

Paul is really good at pickguards isn't he?
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 6:15 p.m. hagstrom71:

Thanks for the comments guys. It is a great sounding guitar. My first vintage gretsch.

This guitar does not have as much high end as my 2005 modern jet with tv classics. I think this is due to the wood as well as the pickups. Not surprisingly, unplugged it is much more resonant and louder than the modern gretsch. Both are great guitars though.

I thought it would be easy to let go of the modern jet once I got this vintage one, but I can see it will take a little time.

Ratrod, I'll post these in the Filtertron Pickup Impedance Registry Bridge 4.32 Neck 3.96

One issue I want to resolve is that the G and D strings go flat very easily, I think they are getting caught in the nut. I tried swapping bridges just to see and it didn't make much difference. Any thoughts?
- Rated: 53 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 4:27 a.m. Ratrod:

Thanks Hagstrom.

You can easily check if the strings are caught at the nut. Bend the strings behind the nut and hear if it ruturns back to normal pitch.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 11:57 a.m. hagstrom71:

Thanks ratrod.

Before I saw your post, I put some pencil lead in the nut and it has made a big difference. Good to know that is a way to determine if the nut is the culprit.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 12:23 p.m. boobie:

sweet guitar

original case with it ??
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 12:57 a.m. hagstrom71:

Thanks boobie

Yes, the case is original and is in surprisingly good shape.
- Rated: 12 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 2:53 p.m. Chonny:

Good stuff here.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 8:57 p.m. hagstrom71:

There is no serial number sticker in the control cavity, but the number 72878 was scratched in to the inside of the control cavity plate. I am guessing the this was done when the sticker was being lost or something. If this number is correct, which I assume it is, according to the gretschpages SN info page, this would be a 1964. Does this sound like a correct assumption?

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Firebird before/after Setzer Pickgaurd

Oct 19, 2008 4:17 p.m. hagstrom71:

Oct 19, 2008 9:32 p.m. Setzer:

Oct 19, 2008 9:41 p.m. J(esse James)D:

Oct 20, 2008 2:19 a.m. gagsy:

Oct 20, 2008 11:06 a.m. Ratrod:

Oct 20, 2008 12:53 p.m. sassy:

Oct 20, 2008 1:56 p.m. JC:

Oct 20, 2008 2:07 p.m. Bear:

Oct 20, 2008 6:15 p.m. hagstrom71:

Oct 21, 2008 4:27 a.m. Ratrod:

Oct 21, 2008 11:57 a.m. hagstrom71:

Oct 21, 2008 12:23 p.m. boobie:

Oct 22, 2008 12:57 a.m. hagstrom71:

Oct 22, 2008 2:53 p.m. Chonny:

Oct 22, 2008 8:57 p.m. hagstrom71:

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