Members shaun126 Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 Just picked this guy up. Obviously everyone suggests upgrading to some TV Jones pickups, but not looking to put that much money into it at the moment. Wondering if any of you guys own one, and if so any mods you have done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fendson Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 I own one of these and really love it! I updated the harness and put TV classics in it. Stock it is a fine axe, but I find the humbuckers too "Gibson like" and not enough "Gretsch like". I do like the humbuckers that come with it though and wouldn't mind finding a cheap body somewhere to mount them in. I have a compton steel bar bridge that I have yet to use. I need to get that on it ASAP. The 5120 is one of the best bang for your buck guitars out there IMO. It is very well built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 I agree it is a very well made guitar. What is the advantage to the steel bar bridge ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fendson Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 A little more sustain and bite. A bit nastier if you will. The one drawback would be the intonantion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 A bit of a trade off then, I guess. I have read some people complaining that the tuners suck, they seem fine to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 HNGD! That's hot! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vanderwaal Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 hell yeah! there is nothing wrong with the tuners. some people complain about the gretschbuckers but i don't have a problem with them. that's not to say that someday i won't be tossing some tv jones' at it. it is my main gigging guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members epi56ebony Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 Love mine. I have the clear pickguard and it has the 125th anniversary plate on the back of the headstock. Orange. Rockabilly lives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fendson Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 A bit of a trade off then, I guess. I have read some people complaining that the tuners suck, they seem fine to me Yeah, the tuners are fine. It was probably the nut that was giving folks the trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vanderwaal Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yeah, the tuners are fine. It was probably the nut that was giving folks the trouble. yeah, now i will someday replace the nut (i get some pinging on the g string) and get a bar bridge of some kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members profgalen Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 `I replaced pups with GFS Memphis Filtertrons and A Wilkinson roller bridge. Sounds much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fendson Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 I need to get my bar bridge on. I have had the bridge for a little over a year and have no idea why I haven't tried it out yet. I know the folks over on the gretsch pages rave about bar bridges. It makes sense to me, and I doubt the intonation would be much of an issue at all. Jut crank it to 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notjonahbutnoah Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 Roomate has one, he doesn't play it, I do. Man, if you've got a good amp, you really don't need pickups. It has great stockers. Also, the bridge is not attached to the body, so change strings one at a time. You probably knew this, but I didn't when I found this for him on CL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 `I replaced pups with GFS Memphis Filtertrons and A Wilkinson roller bridge. Sounds much better. Yeah, that is what I have in one of my Tele's, so I am thinking of trying something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted January 11, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 So what would be preferred, and why? Roller bridge vs. bar bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flatspotter Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Oh, hell yeah. Mine has TV Jones Classics, a roller bridge, new tuners, and a Chet Atkins handle. I liked the stock pickups, but they were really microphonic with a little bit of distortion. The tuners held tune fine, but felt cheap. Oh yeah, I made a decal and painted the pickguard like BlackCat's because his is so cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members datru Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Does a 5129 count? :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MyNameIsMok... Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Does a 5129 count? Sweet baby Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Is that a black one in the OP? It looks like it might be green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cortfan Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Just my opinion, but the original filtertrons and hilotrons gave Gretsch the original "great Gretsch sound". I know T.V. Jones pups are fantastic, but I have been able to get by with the stock hilo's in my '64 Tennessean for the last 45+ years. ymmv. My tuners and rocking bar bridge have done a fair to middling job as well. All of ya'lls pics are real beauties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emory Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 i had a 59 double anniversary I sold when I moved to Asia (thought it would be kindling after climate here, had it for 36 years) and have been lusting after another one. Either 5120 or 5122, don't want to break the bank. Like to see guys fixing that clear pickguard... wtf? So this thread isn't helping my gas any, thank you very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Surrealistic Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Does a 5129 count?Or how about a 5124? (with pickguard removed 'cos I prefer it that way) In action: kL9F4AMIBlo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orourke Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 I've got this original 1959 Anniversary Model. It sounds best with 11's and open tune slide: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 My main guitar has become a 5120. My mods are no pickguard, penny under Bigsby spring and a Gretsch bar bridge. I actually have a pair of TV Jones Powertrons I could drop in...but I've been having too much fun playing it to bother so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted January 12, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Is that a black one in the OP? It looks like it might be green. Black, just bad lighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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