Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 I ended up with this is in a trade a few years back, as in another post, I have now fixed the neck/fret board seperation on it (the way I received it). So now here sits a naked Gretsh G5250 Special Jet. I had the idea of putting in another tone or volum pot (can't remember) so it unded up with 3 controls in it--thinking of filling them all and re-arranging them. I have the DeArmond pickups that were stock and purchased a chrome "G" tail piece for it, would install a tune-o-matic style bridge on it. What I do have, are the original electronics, pickups, tailpiece, and of course the body/neck. Everything else was missing or damaged including all the plastics and thumb nail fret markers. So here is the deal, I have a couple of ideas floating in my head on what to do with this, but want to throw it out there and say---If this was yours, as it sits in this bare project state, what would you do to refurbish this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mahuska Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 I have a Blacks Special Jet and like it. Go for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Thanks, I bet if you saw how thick the poly was on yours you'd freak. this one was full of nicks, bumps, and bruises. I really had no choice but to strip it to A) fix the neck right, and B) refinish nicer. I bet the poly on it was everybit of .060" thick---about 1.5mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Why not reinstall the Dearmonds and wrap around, put it back stock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Why not reinstall the Dearmonds and wrap around, put it back stock? Always an option too. But the stock wrap around was pulling foward on the body---my guess is due to the soft mahogany wood. But it is still an option if someone can tell me how to fix that issue properly, as i do have all the stock pieces, minus the knobs and tuners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Always an option too. But the stock wrap around was pulling foward on the body---my guess is due to the soft mahogany wood. But it is still an option if someone can tell me how to fix that issue properly, as i do have all the stock pieces, minus the knobs and tuners. Was there slop in the bushings? You'd have to plug and redrill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Yes, bushings had alot of slop. But I am ok to modifying this guitar. I didn't really want to turn the thread into how to fix this, but rather what would you do if it was yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Yes, bushings had alot of slop. But I am ok to modifying this guitar. I didn't really want to turn the thread into how to fix this, but rather what would you do if it was yours? Well I would restore it too stock, but maybe with a bigsby tailpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tupelo Son Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 ^^Yes, back to stock but with a bigsby tailpiece. and maybe experiment with different pickups. I LOVE Dearmond 2000's in hollowbodies & semi-hollows....but never much cared for them in the Special Jet....IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Oh, I just realized when I said I had all the stock pieces, that I also forgot I do not have any of the plastics (pickgaurd, back cover, T/R cover---even the thumb nail fret markers are gone. What I do have, are the original electronics, pickups, tailpiece, and of course the body/neck. Everything else was missing or damaged. Thus my inkling to modify it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kit_strong Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Instead of a Tune-o-matic I would go for a Compton bridge along with a Bigsby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Muddslide Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 Bigsby fo sho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Gunslinger Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 DeArmond pickups, a Tru-Arc bridge,a bigsby, and finish in black or Gretsch orange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted March 20, 2011 Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 If you go with a Bigs, wouldn't you need to plug the wrap holes and relocate them? sSeems like a t.o.m. type has narrower post spacing. I'd plug the existing holes with the same size dowel in maple. Redrill for the wrap bushings. That you'd never see. You may even be able to do a natural finish that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 20, 2011 My only issue with a bigsby is I already already have two guitars with them. But IF I have to sell it down the road, that could be something that may make the sale---especially that a bunch of you suggested it. I was thinking black finish, but am unsure. I want to keep the Gretsch vibe going though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edge11 Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 Give it to me so i can copper plate it for my metal smithing final this semesterXD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mahuska Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thanks, I bet if you saw how thick the poly was on yours you'd freak. this one was full of nicks, bumps, and bruises. I really had no choice but to strip it to A) fix the neck right, and B) refinish nicer. I bet the poly on it was everybit of .060" thick---about 1.5mm yikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 Er, I'm thinkin' TV Jones, Bigsby and a naturalish nitro finish, maybe in walnut? Edited after realizing you already have multiple Bigsbied guitars, maybe a Trapeze/TOM setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sxyryan Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 If it was me, I'd fill the neck hole, switch hole, paint it a sparkle finish (at this moment thinking blue), wire it like a LP Jr.... oh yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members *BLEEP* Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 Or, you could go crazy and add a metal top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackCat Posted March 21, 2011 Members Share Posted March 21, 2011 Another vote for a Bigsby. But that's not a surprise. I always vote Bigsby. I like this finish on my old Gretsch Corvette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FarToMany Posted March 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 23, 2011 I'll tell ya what I was thinking. Worn black finish (I don't think I could pull off a gloss black smooth finish), red pearl plastics, and chrome hardware. Of course just thinking a black top finish, stain the sided and back---but there is no body binding on the top, so that may look goofy. Whatcha think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 23, 2011 Members Share Posted March 23, 2011 I'll tell ya what I was thinking. Worn black finish (I don't think I could pull off a gloss black smooth finish), red pearl plastics, and chrome hardware.Of course just thinking a black top finish, stain the sided and back---but there is no body binding on the top, so that may look goofy.Whatcha think? You could add binding if you really wanted. That would look pretty nice. I'd look at this as an opportunity to make a gretsch style the way you really want it to look. The demolition is already done so you can rebuild with your own custom ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 23, 2011 Moderators Share Posted March 23, 2011 Plug the current tailpiece holes, stain it black using classic ebonizing liquid (vinegar and steel wool....look it up), fretboard too, then Tru-oil it, put the 2000s back in, Bigsby B50 and roller bridge, plug it in and play, be happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted March 23, 2011 Members Share Posted March 23, 2011 Plug the current tailpiece holes, stain it black using classic ebonizing liquid (vinegar and steel wool....look it up), fretboard too, then Tru-oil it, put the 2000s back in, Bigsby B50 and roller bridge, plug it in and play, be happy This might be a silly question, but how do you get rid of the vinegar smell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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