Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Ian Price on September 25, 2008, 12:17:38 PM
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As the title suggests I have a bit of a guitar related dilemma. A while ago I was bought a Gretsch 5120 as a present. Whilst it is a nice looking guitar I struggle to play it as the neck is a bit too fat for me. The pickups are also pretty bland sounding as well. For the last few months I have been trying to decide what to do about it and have come up with the following options:
Keep the Gretsch but have the neck profiled, change the pups for BKPs (P90s), change the nut and change the pots. I would also like to turn it into a hardtail (is this even possible?). How much would having this work done roughly cost?
Sell the Gretsch and use the money to go towards buying a Highway 1 strat - change the pups for BKPs (HSS style), change the nut etc.
The other thing that bothers me about this is that the guitar was bought for me by my Dad - he phoned me from the states and asked me about what I thought of them. I did say don't buy it as the neck will be too big for me.
Really not sure what to do - any opinions?
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Crumbs, that's a tough one (my Dad keeps buying us DVDs we already have - we daren't tell him. I keep saying "you need to check first, we've got hundreds like you have", but so far... :roll:)
So, have I got this right - you actually said "don't buy it"? If so, I'd be selling it and getting something I can call "special", then I can tell him "aw Dad, it was gorgeous, but like I warned you I just couldn't play it ... but just look at this beauty I've swapped it for..."
Or have we got some sort of "Dad thinking you need a proper guitar like his heroes played" thing going on here? That might complicate things further I guess... :lol:
If it had a better suited neck , is it your sort of geetar?
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I think the only thing my old man ever bought me was a car. oh, and a bike when I was 9-10.
If either got sold, he would expect the money :P
Sell it, but get something silly on a new one, like specially engraved truss rod cover. If you're not happy with it, and want something new instead then it is best gone.
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Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, Ian, but I get the impression the Gretsch doesn't have much mojo for you - and still wouldn't, even if it had a more friendly neck, better pickups etc.
I'd sell it, but then I have a fairly cavalier attitude towards buying and selling guitars. :wink:
(Having said that, my parents have never quite forgiven me for selling the no-name Japanese LP copy they bought me when I was 16. "It's still a guitar isn't it, what's the difference?" )
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I had a similar problem recently:
1) Gibson LP Standard, bought with money left me by my Granddad when he died
2) A Fender Strat, my second guitar, bought with saved up part-time job money when I was at school
Both guitars I never really bonded with after the initial 'wow'. The LP was heavy and very bright sounding, the Strat a bit dull. Both were sentimentally very valuable to me. I'd toyed with the idea of selling them for a long time, but never really got round to it.
Solution?
A trip to Vintage and Rare, two trade-ins and THAT Custom Shop Tele :D
I'd sell or part-ex the Gretsch for something you really want. Don't mod it - if you don't like it after the mods no-one else will if you try and sell it then...
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Both were sentimentally very valuable to me. I'd toyed with the idea of selling them for a long time, but never really got round to it.
Solution?
A trip to Vintage and Rare, two trade-ins and THAT Custom Shop Tele :D
I'm not quite seeing how you overcame the sentimental value aspect there Dave... other than extreme GAS! :P
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
I was actually going to suggest that earlier Ian - just up from V&R in Denmark St is my favourite shop, er, Regent Sounds, I think...
They're Gretsch stockists and mucho Fender, usually got some Highway 1s. The main man in there is obviously a strat-man, so perhaps that might be worth a visit...
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Well, Ian - just tell your Dad that your house got broken into and that they stole your guitar - you got the money from the insurance and went to buy another one - however, the shop did not have any in stock and could not get any for weeks. Therefore, you did the next best thing and bought a Strat.
Basingstoke is a dodgy place so this will sound perfectly credible!!
Good luck
Mike
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
Hmmm. I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point.... :?
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I had the same sort of dilemma with an amp a while ago. Dad bought me it for my birthday but I never really got on with it, all it did was cleans and nasty distortion (not the good kind either!) and I wanted to play rock so it wasnt ideal. I tried to get it to work for me for about 2 years but it never happened so sold it and got something more suitable. I think he was a bit annoyed/upset but I wasted so much time and money trying to get it to work for me and it never did, as soon as I got the Laney instead everything was fine :) So I'd say if it doesnt work for you then dont bother trying to make it unless there are some quick/easy fixes that may help..
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
Hmmm. I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point.... :?
:) sentiment takes the form of threads? you learn something new every day
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
Hmmm. I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point.... :?
:) sentiment takes the form of threads? you learn something new every day
Well, we say "sentimental attachment", so I picture threads. I have a visual imagination. :oops: :P
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
That's it exactly. No dirty cash involved, the guitars were 'upgraded' to the Tele. Their legend lives on in a complete keeper :D
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:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).
That's it exactly. No dirty cash involved, the guitars were 'upgraded' to the Tele. Their legend lives on in a complete keeper :D
+1 Dave - like your thinking. I always find trades get you less money though.
Philly - as usual you are right. The Gretsch simply has no mojo for me. I have also known to be cavalier with guitars in the past so think it is only the 'sentimental' value that is making me keep it at the moment.
Mikeluke - I have been through so many variations of how I could explain the Gretsch not being there. The one I keep coming back to is the simple truth (although some parts of Basingstoke can be dodgy!)
Finally - thanks to all for the responses so far, it has helped me make my mind up. A tough decision but I do need to be fair to the Gretsch.
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I got great trade-in prices at V&R, like REALLY great. Take the Gretsch in there, and see what you can come out with ;)
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Maybe it's just my parents, but if the replacement guitar was vaguely the right colour, they'd probably not notice.
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I got great trade-in prices at V&R, like REALLY great. Take the Gretsch in there, and see what you can come out with ;)
I don't want to start giving myself ideas, but..... as much as you'd have got by selling them privately (or, let's say, on commission)?
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I got great trade-in prices at V&R, like REALLY great. Take the Gretsch in there, and see what you can come out with ;)
Trouble is Dave I would't get a price that allowed me to get a guitar that I wanted. I don't have lot of spare cash around at the mo (just bought a new tele) hence the need to go private sale (unless V&R offered £400.00ish - and I seriously don't think they would!)
Edit - by tele I mean television. Not tele. :o
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I got £425 for my Strat and £875 for my Les Paul. That's as good as I would have got selling them privately :o
I think there was some wiggle room on the price of the Tele, but even so I was impressed.
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Well, Ian - just tell your Dad that your house got broken into and that they stole your guitar - you got the money from the insurance and went to buy another one - however, the shop did not have any in stock and could not get any for weeks. Therefore, you did the next best thing and bought a Strat.
Basingstoke is a dodgy place so this will sound perfectly credible!!
Good luck
Mike
Uh why not just try being honest. I dont know maybe talk to him and ask him what he thinks about you trading it in for something else. Buying a Strat is not usually a good Idea
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Uh why not just try being honest. I dont know maybe talk to him and ask him what he thinks about you trading it in for something else. Buying a Strat is not usually a good Idea
Yep - said that in my response. Also not sure why 'buying a strat isn't usually a good idea'. I get the feeling you're not a fan of them - am I correct?
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I got £425 for my Strat and £875 for my Les Paul. That's as good as I would have got selling them privately :o
I think there was some wiggle room on the price of the Tele, but even so I was impressed.
That's actually not a bad deal but as you say a some of it was probably due to the price of the tele. Not sure how much I would get in trade if I was looking at a guitar of roughly similar value!
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I got £425 for my Strat and £875 for my Les Paul. That's as good as I would have got selling them privately :o
I think there was some wiggle room on the price of the Tele, but even so I was impressed.
That's actually not a bad deal but as you say a some of it was probably due to the price of the tele. Not sure how much I would get in trade if I was looking at a guitar of roughly similar value!
Not a bad deal? I'd say it's a pretty extraordinary deal! I've never been offered anywhere near that in P/X (and not just because I'm rubbish at haggling).
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Okay Philly - I'm obviously not very good at spotting a good deal!
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I didn't even have to haggle. Over the phone I was offered £400 and £800 against the Tele. When I got down there, I'd been quoted £100 too cheap on the Tele so they upped my trade-in valules so that the 'price to change' was the same.
You gotta love V&R ;)
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I didn't even have to haggle
but.. but..
you ALWAYS have to haggle. Even on guitar picks! :D
do you not find its no fun otherwise?
V&R does seem very cosy, I was tempted to put my name down for notice of any Firebirds coming in.
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I didn't even have to haggle. Over the phone I was offered £400 and £800 against the Tele. When I got down there, I'd been quoted £100 too cheap on the Tele so they upped my trade-in valules so that the 'price to change' was the same.
You gotta love V&R ;)
I think I might just schlep my whole guitar collection down there and see what I come out with! :lol:
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I didn't even have to haggle. Over the phone I was offered £400 and £800 against the Tele. When I got down there, I'd been quoted £100 too cheap on the Tele so they upped my trade-in valules so that the 'price to change' was the same.
You gotta love V&R ;)
I think I might just schlep my whole guitar collection down there and see what I come out with! :lol:
:lol:
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There's a nice '52 Blackguard Tele there Phil ;)
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There's a nice '52 Blackguard Tele there Phil ;)
9.5" radius and they might have a sale....
I jest. But it's all too easy to imagine it happening one day.
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The last few responses on this thread aren't really helping me! Just been on V&R's website and they have this:
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3719
and this:
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3704
I really want them both. I might need to do a Philly and trade a few!
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The Nocasters have a HUUUUUUUUUGE neck. You'll need to try before you buy.
Take the Gretsch and some cash, and have a play ;)
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I really want them both. I might need to do a Philly and trade a few!
That's doing a Dave. Doing a Phil is buy first, then quickly start taking photos and writing eBay ads before the credit card bill comes through. :wink:
I think you should go for the blackguard. And I really like this one:
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3706 (http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3706)
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I'm sure it's a nice guitar to play but for some reason sunburst teles do nothing for me. This is very strange as sunburst strats are my favourite.
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Come on, Ian - in you are gonna go for it then REALLY go for it!!
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3436
:lol:
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Hate 3 tone burst... And what is the joy of buying a '58 Strat NOT beaten up??? :?
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I'm sure it's a nice guitar to play but for some reason sunburst teles do nothing for me.
I totally agree! Actually, I'm not keen on sunburst anything :oops:
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I go through phases with sunbursts, most of the time I like them but generally I prefer solid colours on Strats (he says, having just bought two Strat bodies with transparent finishes...).
But I like that '58 Strat a lot. As for the Tele, I've never seen a sunburst with a black plate like that - but since nobody likes it maybe it'll still be there when I decide to buy it in a year's time! :wink:
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Come on, Ian - in you are gonna go for it then REALLY go for it!!
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.co.uk/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3436
:lol:
That is awesome. It's a shame there's not a close up of the neck - the grain on the headstock looks stunning.
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The Nocasters have a HUUUUUUUUUGE neck. You'll need to try before you buy.
Take the Gretsch and some cash, and have a play ;)
Cheers Dave - as you know I really don't like big necks! The V neck on my '57 reissue strat is my perfect neck profile. I would love to have a tele with the same profile.
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That 58 has a particularly nice three-tone sunburst, doesn't it?... (much like the one on my JV Squier... that I removed x years ago :roll:).
I understand that three-tone on maple-boards are quite rare as well, only some in 59 (and 58 obviously!).
Looks like you'd need to trade in more than your Gretsch though! - don't suppose you've got a spare kidney or small child, have you? :wink:
The way this thread is going Ian, I reckon that the "sane", or "grown-up", advice is "Do not got to V&R, and stop looking at their website!!!"
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The way this thread is going Ian, I reckon that the "sane", or "grown-up", advice is "Do not got to V&R, and stop looking at their website!!!"
Cheers Andy - I nearly considered a visit to V&R, you're matureness has helped hold me back (for a while at least!)
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sell everything its the fecking recession of our lifetimes!!! :lol: