Members lowbrow Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 I turned this: Into this: 1967 Gretsch Clipper. Added a period correct Gretsch Hi-Lo Tron to the bridge. Added a switch, master volume and a bridge volume control. Also added a Gretsch branded B-6 Bigsby. If the factory made them this way (and they didn't till years later), this is how it would've been done. Not the bridge I intend to use, but the new one is not here yet. Might also get a pickguard made...haven't decided about that yet. Here's a picture of the wiring harness I built for it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted July 13, 2010 Moderators Share Posted July 13, 2010 Beautiful, tasteful work LB:thu: IMO, that is a great way to "cut up a vintage guitar" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members borisdoyle Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great guitars. I am a big fan of guitars. I love playing guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 ^^^^ Most incompetent spammer ever...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted July 13, 2010 Moderators Share Posted July 13, 2010 ^^^^Most incompetent spammer ever...... Maybe it's invisible or subliminal spam, and we're already doomed to buy his wares:cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lachupakabra361 Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Me when i read the title: OH NOOOO!!! Me when i saw the pics: OH YEAH!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members milosch Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 That's kinda cool. I have a 57 Clipper, myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Nice work. That really looks great. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great guitars. I am a big fan of guitars. I love playing guitars. shaddup, noob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 I turned this: Into this: 1967 Gretsch Clipper. Added a period correct Gretsch Hi-Lo Tron to the bridge. Added a switch, master volume and a bridge volume control. Also added a Gretsch branded B-6 Bigsby. If the factory made them this way (and they didn't till years later), this is how it would've been done. Not the bridge I intend to use, but the new one is not here yet. Might also get a pickguard made...haven't decided about that yet. Here's a picture of the wiring harness I built for it.. great job on that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notjonahbutnoah Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Yeah dude, nice work. Such a clean wiring job. I need to post a pic of the guts on my self modded epi paul.... eesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ArKay Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Very well done, congrats Must have been a hell of a job getting the new electronics in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carcinogen Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 One of the reasons why I've tried as hard as possible to avoid owning hollow bodies (I made an exception when I found a Harmony Hollywood for $100) is the difficulty of maintaining the internal parts... you sir, are a better man than I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted July 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Thank you very much everybody! I was actually very nervous about doing this...right up to drilling the first hole in the top I was second guessing myself. But once that first hole was drilled, there was no turning back. I would have never done it if I didn't think I pull it off to look like factory work. I've done a few hollow/semi hollow wiring jobs now and I can say that prep is key. That's a big piece of foam core board in the one pic. I traced the outline of the guitar on it, then located the existing pickup and controls, f-holes and what not. That allowed me to map out where I wanted the new controls and the second pup. Wiring up the harness and tying it together with zip ties like this is essential. I think it also helps to use two conductor shielded cable. Gives the harness some "body" and the shielding is helpful. If you go through these steps, and allow for some slack, it's really not very difficult to get everything fished into the guitar and pulled into place. I use 3/8" OD vinyl tubing I got from Lowes...plus a chopstick. That's kinda cool. I have a 57 Clipper, myself. Oh, nice! That's a full thickness one with a Dyna in the neck. Would love to see photos please! I specifically went looking for a 60's Clipper because I wanted that Casino thickness body these had. 1-7/8th". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Beautiful work. Great concept. (I still most likely wouldn't have done that to a vintage Gretsch.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Excellent job, Lowbrow. The upgrades look like they were meant to be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EllenGtrGrl Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great job! I'm not 100% sure, but I think they did briefly make a 2 pickup Clipper near the end of its production. BTW, how much did the Clipper cost? I had to sell my Tim Armstrong to put tires on my car, and I'm looking for another hollow Gretsch (preferrably with Dynas, or HiLos), that doesn't cost a bundle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted July 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 BTW, how much did the Clipper cost? I had to sell my Tim Armstrong to put tires on my car, and I'm looking for another hollow Gretsch (preferrably with Dynas, or HiLos), that doesn't cost a bundle. Bummer Ellen, sorry to hear it. I got this one on ebay, but think I got pretty lucky. For what ever reason, the last minute bidding frenzy didn't occur, so I walked away for $595 shipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stratocaster202 Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great guitars. I am a big fan of guitars. I love playing guitars. MUST HAVE AXE-FX When you said cut up I was expecting a table or something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members datru Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great guitars. I am a big fan of guitars. I love playing guitars. Sig worthy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jim_Soloway Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great job but I have one complaint. The pickup selector switch should have the heavy metal tip that Gretsch always used on this sort of layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted July 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Great job but I have one complaint. The pickup selector switch should have the heavy metal tip that Gretsch always used on this sort of layout. Thanks Jim! You are correct, it should have one! But all the ones I have at hand are designed to fit import switches. That's a USA Switchcraft and I'm not sure where to get a switch tip that'll fit it...one of the many little details I need to sort out yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BryanMichael Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 You won't get your money back on those mods and upgrades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EllenGtrGrl Posted July 13, 2010 Members Share Posted July 13, 2010 Bummer Ellen, sorry to hear it. I got this one on ebay, but think I got pretty lucky. For what ever reason, the last minute bidding frenzy didn't occur, so I walked away for $595 shipped. Thanks for the info! I think I'll put a saved search up on the 'Bay for Clippers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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