NGretschD

andy1839

I've always fancied a Falcon.

So far I'm loving it, G6136T trestle bracing.  It's got incredible feedback resistance, played it at ear shattering volume today through loads of drive pedals and stacking them, not a whistle to be heard.

Just wondering if anyone else has had one or a similar Gretsch finds the case is a tight fit and needs a bit of pressure to close, looking in it looks to be the bigsby that is making the contact.

Also are the TV Jones pickups that much of an upgrade over what's in it?

Any top tips for making these gig proof?
I'm a complete novice when it comes to tinkering with these.


http://i68.tinypic.com/2d173t3.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/28hzfc2.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/21e3pdw.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/ih4nc2.jpg

OilCityPickups

Beautiful .... absolutely gorgeous :-)

TheMarlin

The HS Filtertrons in this are great, I wouldn't bother changing to TV Jones. TV Classics are fine if you play 100% clean, and want that sparkle and jangle, but they don't sound as good as HS Filtertrons.  If you play with any kind of dirt in your signal.  Edge of breakup onwards, the HS Filters are better to my ears.

Just my opinion.  I do like TV Classic Plus bridge pickup, they're my favourite humbucker, but your guitar doesn't need a pickup change.  A lot of Gretsch fans will tell you that swapping the bridge to a Compton or Tru Ark will yield improvements in tone (note separation, sustain, note clarity etc) - almost all of my Gretsches have a Compton or Tru Ark, I'm a fan.

The guitar should be ready to rock!  It's doesn't really need anything.  I NEVER trust the strap buttons on a Gretsch, and usually change them out for Schaller Strap locks, but it's harder to do with a Gretsch B6  - so just keep regular tabs on the buttons, to make sure they're not unscrewing and secured. 

Yes, cases can be snug, but they loosen up with time.

Happy awesome Falcon day!  You have great taste Sir!

dazzajl

Congratulations, the king of guitars right there.

There are many TVJ Filter type options but the common "upgrade" are the Classics. Personally, I've never cared for them very much. They offer a smoother and cleaner sound than standard Filters but I've never liked that direction of Gretsch sound.

Guess it all depends if you're more Chet Atkins or Brian Setzer??

andy1839

TheMarlin said:

The HS Filtertrons in this are great, I wouldn't bother changing to TV Jones. TV Classics are fine if you play 100% clean, and want that sparkle and jangle, but they don't sound as good as HS Filtertrons.  If you play with any kind of dirt in your signal.  Edge of breakup onwards, the HS Filters are better to my ears.

Just my opinion.  I do like TV Classic Plus bridge pickup, they're my favourite humbucker, but your guitar doesn't need a pickup change.  A lot of Gretsch fans will tell you that swapping the bridge to a Compton or Tru Ark will yield improvements in tone (note separation, sustain, note clarity etc) - almost all of my Gretsches have a Compton or Tru Ark, I'm a fan.

The guitar should be ready to rock!  It's doesn't really need anything.  I NEVER trust the strap buttons on a Gretsch, and usually change them out for Schaller Strap locks, but it's harder to do with a Gretsch B6  - so just keep regular tabs on the buttons, to make sure they're not unscrewing and secured. 

Yes, cases can be snug, but they loosen up with time.

Happy awesome Falcon day!  You have great taste Sir!

That's brill, cheers!

The pickups did sound fine to me, I just didnt know if I was missing out.

I have put some washers between the strap locks and the strap, they are a bit odd and I didnt feel comfortable removing the like screws that poke out.

I'll certainly have a look at those bridges, I take it all gretsch bridges just swap out with them being floating?

OilCityPickups said:

Beautiful .... absolutely gorgeous :-)

Cheers bud, just saw your NGD thread, didnt mean to usurp you!
Yours is a great colour, I had an electromatic a couple of years ago, superb guitar.

andy1839

dazzajl said:

Congratulations, the king of guitars right there.

There are many TVJ Filter type options but the common "upgrade" are the Classics. Personally, I've never cared for them very much. They offer a smoother and cleaner sound than standard Filters but I've never liked that direction of Gretsch sound.

Guess it all depends if you're more Chet Atkins or Brian Setzer??

More Justin Hawkins...

  

dazzajl

andy1839 said:

dazzajl said:

Congratulations, the king of guitars right there.

There are many TVJ Filter type options but the common "upgrade" are the Classics. Personally, I've never cared for them very much. They offer a smoother and cleaner sound than standard Filters but I've never liked that direction of Gretsch sound.

Guess it all depends if you're more Chet Atkins or Brian Setzer??

More Justin Hawkins...

  

I salute you Sir!

TheMarlin

If you've had a Gretsch before, do you know about the pickup adjustment?
Pickup height guidline (top of pickups to the strings) http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/flos/tv_jones/installation/height_adjustment.jpg

Pole piece adjustment: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tv+jones+pole+piece+adjustment&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/polepieceadjustmentcopy.jpg

Use these as guidlines, then tweak and finesse by ear.  it usually takes me a day of playing to dial in a set of Filtertrons.

PS. Adjustments work for all Gretsch pickps, Hilotrons, TV Classics, Dynasonics etc etc

Edit:  another tip.  if you have a floating bridge, rub the bridge base with violin rosin.  The bridge will grip good and strong, won't move with palm muting, and won't damage the finish. 

andy1839

TheMarlin said:

If you've had a Gretsch before, do you know about the pickup adjustment?
Pickup height guidline (top of pickups to the strings) http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/flos/tv_jones/installation/height_adjustment.jpg

Pole piece adjustment: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tv+jones+pole+piece+adjustment&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/polepieceadjustmentcopy.jpg

Use these as guidlines, then tweak and finesse by ear.  it usually takes me a day of playing to dial in a set of Filtertrons.

PS. Adjustments work for all Gretsch pickps, Hilotrons, TV Classics, Dynasonics etc etc

Edit:  another tip.  if you have a floating bridge, rub the bridge base with violin rosin.  The bridge will grip good and strong, won't move with palm muting, and won't damage the finish. 

I've only had two Gretsch before, a 5120 and a 6122-1962.
I've got some double sided tape on the bridge, first thing I did cos I cant handle 11's and higher!

The pickup screw heights have a decent stagger on then but I'll have a look at that, cheers.

Any idea what the weird three way tone toggle does?

TheMarlin

andy1839 said:

TheMarlin said:

If you've had a Gretsch before, do you know about the pickup adjustment?
Pickup height guidline (top of pickups to the strings) http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/flos/tv_jones/installation/height_adjustment.jpg

Pole piece adjustment: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tv+jones+pole+piece+adjustment&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/polepieceadjustmentcopy.jpg

Use these as guidlines, then tweak and finesse by ear.  it usually takes me a day of playing to dial in a set of Filtertrons.

PS. Adjustments work for all Gretsch pickps, Hilotrons, TV Classics, Dynasonics etc etc

Edit:  another tip.  if you have a floating bridge, rub the bridge base with violin rosin.  The bridge will grip good and strong, won't move with palm muting, and won't damage the finish. 

I've only had two Gretsch before, a 5120 and a 6122-1962.
I've got some double sided tape on the bridge, first thing I did cos I cant handle 11's and higher!

The pickup screw heights have a decent stagger on then but I'll have a look at that, cheers.

Any idea what the weird three way tone toggle does?

Tone switch.  One cuts the highs for jazzy style playing, the middle is usually the tone out of the circuit (most people leave it on the middle), the last setting is another muddy tone settling - can't remember.  I never use these settling.

andy1839

TheMarlin said:

andy1839 said:

TheMarlin said:

If you've had a Gretsch before, do you know about the pickup adjustment?
Pickup height guidline (top of pickups to the strings) http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/flos/tv_jones/installation/height_adjustment.jpg

Pole piece adjustment: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tv+jones+pole+piece+adjustment&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/polepieceadjustmentcopy.jpg

Use these as guidlines, then tweak and finesse by ear.  it usually takes me a day of playing to dial in a set of Filtertrons.

PS. Adjustments work for all Gretsch pickps, Hilotrons, TV Classics, Dynasonics etc etc

Edit:  another tip.  if you have a floating bridge, rub the bridge base with violin rosin.  The bridge will grip good and strong, won't move with palm muting, and won't damage the finish. 

I've only had two Gretsch before, a 5120 and a 6122-1962.
I've got some double sided tape on the bridge, first thing I did cos I cant handle 11's and higher!

The pickup screw heights have a decent stagger on then but I'll have a look at that, cheers.

Any idea what the weird three way tone toggle does?

Tone switch.  One cuts the highs for jazzy style playing, the middle is usually the tone out of the circuit (most people leave it on the middle), the last setting is another muddy tone settling - can't remember.  I never use these settling.

Nice one, ta!

Probably explains why I've been dialling the treble a bit higher on the amp unnecessarily. 

OilCityPickups

andy1839 said:

OilCityPickups said:

Beautiful .... absolutely gorgeous :-)

Cheers bud, just saw your NGD thread, didnt mean to usurp you!
Yours is a great colour, I had an electromatic a couple of years ago, superb guitar.

It'll be my first 'personal' Gretsch ... even though I've been making Gretsch style pickups for customers for several years ... and no usurping worries mate ... yours is the dog's danglies ... white and gold ... bloody lovely :-)

andy1839

OilCityPickups said:

andy1839 said:

OilCityPickups said:

Beautiful .... absolutely gorgeous :-)

Cheers bud, just saw your NGD thread, didnt mean to usurp you!
Yours is a great colour, I had an electromatic a couple of years ago, superb guitar.

It'll be my first 'personal' Gretsch ... even though I've been making Gretsch style pickups for customers for several years ... and no usurping worries mate ... yours is the dog's danglies ... white and gold ... bloody lovely :-)

I have a wish for white ceramic covers and gold screws...

Sadly a pipe dream.

Winny_Pooh

andy1839 said:

TheMarlin said:

andy1839 said:

TheMarlin said:

If you've had a Gretsch before, do you know about the pickup adjustment?
Pickup height guidline (top of pickups to the strings) http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/flos/tv_jones/installation/height_adjustment.jpg

Pole piece adjustment: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tv+jones+pole+piece+adjustment&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/Drew816_photos/polepieceadjustmentcopy.jpg

Use these as guidlines, then tweak and finesse by ear.  it usually takes me a day of playing to dial in a set of Filtertrons.

PS. Adjustments work for all Gretsch pickps, Hilotrons, TV Classics, Dynasonics etc etc

Edit:  another tip.  if you have a floating bridge, rub the bridge base with violin rosin.  The bridge will grip good and strong, won't move with palm muting, and won't damage the finish. 

I've only had two Gretsch before, a 5120 and a 6122-1962.
I've got some double sided tape on the bridge, first thing I did cos I cant handle 11's and higher!

The pickup screw heights have a decent stagger on then but I'll have a look at that, cheers.

Any idea what the weird three way tone toggle does?

Tone switch.  One cuts the highs for jazzy style playing, the middle is usually the tone out of the circuit (most people leave it on the middle), the last setting is another muddy tone settling - can't remember.  I never use these settling.

Nice one, ta!

Probably explains why I've been dialling the treble a bit higher on the amp unnecessarily. 

The first tone position (towards the pickups) is great with distortion on the bridge pickup. It doesn't sound darker so much, just more mid-rangey.

imalrightjack

All hail the king of sexy NGDs!